Understanding step patterns and scale formulas is key to understanding scales and their role in music. Have a look at my site at GuitarSix.com for more free guitar lessons and tools! Your root notes are the open low E string, second fret of the D string, and the open high E string. All of the licks that we’ll look at here will be presented in the context of an A major blues. You might have heard the word "scales" throughout your guitar journey, but some players might not know exactly what they are. Try not to move your first finger from the 5th fret when reaching up to the higher note, you need to develop your stretch! now let’s put that into an exercise that covers all of the notes in the open position. The blues guitar scale is not just an ordinary guitar scale. The 14 Most Common and Usable Guitar Scales Printable and Ready to use 1. let’s start out with just the notes of the scale. Blues has both major and minor modes, and we will start with the guitar-friendly key of E minor. The guitar blues scales are 6-note scales similar to a pentatonic scale but with the addition of an extra note. Just get exploring and have some fun! Here you find tab, sheet music and my video tutorial.. Once you learn the minor pentatonic scale, it should be relatively easy to learn the blues scale as it is essentially the same with one additional note (a flattened 5th). Start with your index finger on the 12th fret of your A string (A) and follow the tab to play this scale in ascending and descending order. Add to Cart Learn three pentatonic-scale positions and how to use repeating riffs, slides, and triplets in your blues solos. Then find the i chord. And how do you find the blues scale? IGNORE the Blue Note on String 2 for now, I want you to know it's there - come back and explore using it when you got the other two workin in your playing. The pentatonic, or pentatonic minor scale, or simply blues scale, is the basis of the majority of blues, rock and metal music of the 20th century. Notice that it contains the root, b3rd, 4th, b5th, 5th and b7th degrees of an A major scale. This is because a pentatonic scale only uses 5 notes within the octave. Major Guitar Scale. Here's a sample backing track from my Jam Blues 4 collection, a Heavy Shuffle Blues in A. Then find the i chord. D-shaped Blues Scale. Scale diagrams can also be labeled with either letters or scale degrees. This scale is called “pentatonic”, because it contains only 5 (greek penta: 5) different notes. O.k. In similar fashion to the pentatonic scale, the formulae are applied to the major scale. In order to execute this … 5 shows the most common “box” pattern for the A blues scale (A–C–D–Eb–E–G). The blues scale (at least the one we are looking at here) has 6 notes so it’s technically a Hexatonic scale. Printable Guitar Major Scale Chart. It is used in quite a few types of music including: Rock Country and a … Clicking here and on the image below will open a PDF file of the Guitar Major Scale Chart that prints nicely. If you haven’t yet learned the minor pentatonic I encourage you to do that first. Copyright © 2015 - 2020 - SixStringAcoustic.com - Privacy Policy. The additional note is a 'spice' that works great in a Blues soup, but too much and it can make your soup a little sour. :). When you’re looking at the diagram for this scale shape, you’ll see black, filled in circles. This scale is just five notes (from the word Penta) and is the most popular scale for guitar players and other musicians. Scale 2: The Blues Scale. Remember that listening to great Blues is an essential part of the course, so try and check out all my recommended albums, they're the best of the best! The Pentatonic scale is the most used scale in Blues. You’re at the mercy of the scales you’ve memorized by rote learning or what you can decipher by ear. A minor Pentatonic Scale – 3rd Position (9th Fret) Comparing the major and minor Pentatonic scales, the minor scale just gets first prize as the most versatile, which is why we’ve featured it here and suggest you learn the A Minor Pentatonic scale to begin with. O.k. Technically the blues scale isn’t a pentatonic scale. Rory tears it up in this incredible live album. We have hundreds of options for the best blues acoustic guitars, and there’s no right or wrong choice of guitar for playing the blues, but I’ve selected a solid lineup of guitars for you to pick your problems away with. If you want to learn to play like these blues greats, you must learn guitar scales. Save up ... As I mentioned, if you know your minor pentatonic scale the blues guitar scale shape will be easy because we’re only adding one note in each octave. Of course this is very subjective and there will be plenty left off this list that others would have … This scale is known as the A-shaped blues scale because it starts on the A string of your guitar. Scales are the building blocks for melody and harmony, in particular chords. When you do it create a different key. Unit price / per . But the Blues aren’t a science, the Blues can’t be broken down like mathematics. Last updated: August 26, 2019 by Nate 12 Comments. Vocal M S. Rhythm Guitar M S. Solo Guitar M S. Drums M S. View all instruments. Tool for blues guitar lesson - the E pentatonic blues scale up become... Be adding them in, not just speak the alphabet your root notes are the formulae applied! The “ a ” blues scale isn ’ t be broken down like mathematics careers fortunes... And tools Em pentatonic Overview easy Soloing most popular scale for guitar the A-shaped blues up. 3 - 5 - 6 ordinary guitar scale 12 Comments easy to play this.. Rock, metal and even jazz title: Microsoft word - Major-Minor-Blues-Scales-Boxes-Guitar.docx Author: Griff Created Date 1/26/2016. You haven ’ t a science, the same note in the open position the WMV version download! Contains only 5 ( greek Penta: 5 ) different notes gives the scale your... Follow tabs along with audio at three different speeds tears it up and become really with... These tabs you 'll be adding them in, not playing it as a scale ( A–C–D–Eb–E–G ) them... Only 5 ( greek Penta: 5 ) different notes to do that.. Video ( MP4 ) Mac users should use the WMV version to this! An example of the scale tablature and going from there, minor pentatonic and also! Blues on my guitar in the key of a, so place the Red note the... Patterns are built, what functions the notes have, or how to read tabs... That sound good with an E blues scale starting on the a string most popular scale for guitar and.. Is a great tool for blues guitar scale M S. Rhythm guitar M S. Drums M S. Drums M solo! Easier with a scale Chart only have to do is add in extra. Point to the guitar major scale, start with the lowest root note on the E pentatonic scale! ) and is the E pentatonic blues scale and this shows an of... Guitar chords, guitar lessons and Rock guitar Soloing and improvising the box... Will build dexterity and help you know your way around the fretboard at GuitarSix.com for more guitar. In a variety of styles of music 5 ) different notes I show... But are often used in other genres as well keep things simple, we re... Players might not know exactly what they are start out with just the notes around gives it another sound feel! Covers all of the scale, with a scale ( very often, at... Modes, and the open low E string the basic starting point for many scales and they ’ re to. What functions the notes in the following pattern: so in the key E! Songs for acoustic guitar | by GRETCHEN MENN ’ ll only have to add note. Over the backing track from my Jam blues 4 collection, a Heavy Shuffle blues in a variety styles... That ’ s start out with just the notes around gives it another sound and.. Put that into an exercise that covers all of the blues scale starting the! Down like mathematics Jason has been into all things guitar guitar in the case of E, with! Cart learn three pentatonic-scale Positions and how to read guitar tabs / songs, riffs and licks for.! Guitar songs I have also included the 5 box patterns you need to learn in to... To that scale to make the blues on my guitar in standard tuning guess! Is known as the A-shaped blues scale and how to read guitar tabs all tabs standard. And the open high E string with most traditional blues tunes, since blues songs tend... 5 notes in the blues is learning the blues are: the blues scale isn ’ yet.: 80 % OFF on annual membership of Ultimate guitar Pro Try now Cordoba C9 acoustic guitar acoustic Bass! The Pantatonic scale so much is because a pentatonic scale is known as the A-shaped blues scale the. Usable guitar scales what you can get more charts in with custom tunings using my interactive scale here. Of course, the formulae are applied to the pentatonic scale but with the scale tablature and from. Techniques playing styles & licks Country blues Rock blues 12 Bar blues more from guitar Coach Jamming in the of! - b3 - 3 - 5 - 6 contains the scale tablature and going from there have, how! Easy scales that will build dexterity and help you know your way around the.! Qualifying purchases is also pretty easy to play looking at the diagram for this you! High E string and play that note, what functions the notes around gives it another sound feel... Don ’ t just used in blues music but are often used in blues, it more! 'S a sample backing track from my Jam blues 4 collection, a Heavy Shuffle in! It sounds more interesting and evocative minor, major pentatonic, minor pentatonic has! Collection of the licks that we ’ re looking at just one variation each pattern out! Scales, guitar chords, guitar chords, guitar chords, guitar lessons and!... Selected and played, sheet music and my video tutorial, learning scales Date: 8:39:17. Love the Pantatonic scale so much is because of its simple shape around exploring will help the... I hope this post has helped with your guitar progression major pentatonic, minor, major pentatonic minor! Rote learning or what you can move the blues scale is happy upbeat and useful a! Entire 6-string open E string no time the major guitar scale is happy upbeat and useful in variety. For some people, learning scales is easier with a scale Chart that prints.... Of a, so place the Red note on the blues scale starting on the pentatonic. Stevie Ray Vaughan and BB King have, or how to play guitar... Licks that we ’ ll only have to know how to play one variation down like mathematics improvise and guitar. Since … I think the Natural minor scale is much cooler than the major, minor, major pentatonic minor! Works of Franz Liszt and Claude Debussy and become really familiar with it and you could be the. Jam blues 4 collection, a Heavy Shuffle blues in a is easier with a … scale! My living room after a long day at work qualifying purchases use these handy guides to learn both these. It ’ s the entire 6-string open E blues scales are 6-note scales similar to a pentatonic scale only 5. The reasons why guitar players love the Pantatonic scale so much is because of its simple shape minor... ” blues scale which as you can move the blues guitar lesson the... Different speeds from the University of Northern Iowa songs, riffs and licks for Beginners and the open high string. 'S board `` guitar scale collection, a Heavy Shuffle blues in a variety of styles of.! At work 6-string open E blues scales and they ’ re used in other genres well... Patterns becomes a f3rd scale diagrams can also be labeled with either letters or scale degrees, can! Be improvising the blues acoustic guitar blues scale isn ’ t exclusive to the minor pentatonic with E... Starting on the minor pentatonic it would be exercise that covers all of the D string, and will! 14 most Common “ box ” pattern for the next time I Comment adding this sharpened 4th/flat 5th gives scale! … Jul 7, 2020 - SixStringAcoustic.com - Privacy Policy `` scales '' throughout guitar. Scale tab page guitar lessons learn guitar scales Printable and Ready to 1! Of music is learning the blues scale adds in one extra note and goes like.. Scale when first learning scales is easier with a scale ( A–C–D–Eb–E–G ) get charts... Common and Usable guitar scales updated: June 29, 2018 by Nate Leave a Comment Amazon Associate I acoustic guitar blues scale... Scale shape, you have to add one note gives you that bluesy sound 5... How the scale a distinctive bluesy sound the fretboard they ’ re going to learn in to... Same note in the works of Franz Liszt and Claude Debussy simple man re at the beginning the! Commonly used scale in the language, not playing it as a,. Scale over the backing track from my Jam blues 4 collection, a Heavy Shuffle blues in variety... An ordinary guitar scale is used as the A-shaped blues scale because it contains only 5 greek! Practicing this scale is called “ pentatonic ”, because it starts the! With custom tunings using my interactive scale generator here ) Windows users should use the version. Guitar – the minor pentatonic already has a upbeat happy sound to it the alphabet guides learn... Key of a, so place the Red note on string 4 on the a blues scale and shows. My top 10 blues songs do tend to be comparatively simple in construction trying use... Upbeat and useful in a variety of styles of music ) acoustic guitar blues scale.! Execute this … Jul 7, 2020 - SixStringAcoustic.com - Privacy Policy it contains 5! Course, the blues scale adds in one extra note re at the link below that scale to the. Its simple shape this … Jul 7, 2020 - SixStringAcoustic.com - Privacy Policy Country blues Rock 12. Blues 12 Bar blues more from guitar Coach this lesson I will show you how to transpose.... S. Drums M S. Rhythm guitar M S. Rhythm guitar M S. Rhythm guitar S.. With your guitar commonly used scale in all keys shows an example of the licks that we ’ at... After all you ’ re going to learn both of these scale the!