Blues Scale

The Blues Scale is one of the most popular scales used in blues guitar and blues music, hence the name. One nice thing about the scale is that it is very easy to learn and implement, especially if you already know the pentatonic scale, I have heard the blues scale referred to as the pentatonic blues scale, not sure where it came about but if that’s what you’re looking for you should be looking for the blues scale, as the pentatonic blues scale is not the correct way to pronounce it. There is only the blues scale and pentatonic scale, in rare cases somebody might say the pentatonic blues scale referring to the blues scale because they are so similar.

Now that is cleared up let’s look into the theory of the blues scale a little. As I mentioned it is very similar to the minor pentatonic scale actually it is almost exactly the same. Except the blues scale has an extra note, the blue note. I discuss the theory of the pentatonic scale and basic music theory on this site also, I suggest you brush up on those pages as it will make understanding the blues scale much easier. Now back to the theory the extra note that is included in the blues scale is the augmented 4th or diminished 5, theses notes don’t fit in the traditional scale, it give the scale/blues that unique feeling. Other important notes in the blues include the 3rd the 7th, messing around with these notes will really give you that bluesy sound.

I have posted the all the positions of the blues scale for guitar here. I plan on making some images soon so they will be easier to read. After you learn the pattern I recommend you just play along with some blues cd’s and get the feel of them and that should give you a good start. Well, I hope this page was useful for you but by no means is an all inclusive guide to the blues scale or blues guitar to really gain some in depth knowledge of blues guitar in blues music I recommend this instruction course, it really covers everything you’ll need to know as far as the guitar goes, if you don’t play the guitar I’ll post some good resources on here soon. I’ll have to do a little research to make sure I recommend a good source.

This is a diagram of the blues scale, it is just the basic pattern used. There are several other boxes that I will add very soon. To explain this box a little the number are the fingers you should use. This box can be moved any where on the guitar just line up the red 1 with any note and you are then playing that notes minor blues scale.