Master the Blues Scale – Imagine the possibilities this will unlock!

Learning the Blues Scale in A
This is a fun scale to explore. As a modern guitarist of any style, you’ll find it’s the most important scale you’ll ever learn. Here’s why:

Generally speaking: A scale is a series of notes on guitar, that are used to play a solo over the top of a chord progression.

So, let’s start by learning it on the 5th Fret, on the low E string, in the Key of A.

The root note of the scale in the diagram below (represented by the Number 1) is A, because we are starting on the A note. The blues scale works best with songs that start with Minor chords or Power chords, and is a scale you can use to play along with a million rock and blues songs. In fact it’s the most common scale in rock music.

Here’s what it looks like on a neck diagram. Note: The diagram is turned upside down so that it resembles the same shape you will see – when looking down at your guitar neck. It’s the same direction that you see in Tablature (TAB).

Fake Major Scale Ex 1 Blues for comparison

* It’s a good habit to use a different finger for each fret when playing scales. So if you are playing a scale that has four frets involved, try to use a different finger for each fret.

[The numbers above refer to the order in which the notes should be played. (not the finger numbers, like in chord charts)]

Once you learn the scale, you can practice its notes in any direction or combination. But to start with follow the patterns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Then back down again 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

TAB IT!
It’s important that you get used to reading chords and scales in Tablature (TAB).  Below is the TAB version of the EXACT same scale as above. Remember that the numbers used below refer to the fret numbers. If you haven’t read my beginning lesson on tablature yet, please Check it out.

Ex 1.
———————————5–8———————————–

—————————5–8—————————————–

———————5–7———————————————–

—————5–7—————————————————–

———5–7———————————————————–

—5–8—————————————————————–

It’s worth mentioning once more:
It’s a good habit to use a different finger for each fret when playing scales. So if you are playing a scale that has four frets involved, try to use a different finger for each fret.

Why is learning the blues scale life-changing as a guitarist?

  1. Because once you memorize this scale pattern in the key of A, you will know how to play it in all keys!  All you need to do is move it to a different fret and start the scale there.
  2. Because once you know this scale pattern, you have the key to figuring out about 90% of the greatest guitar solos ever recorded!

Example: If someone were playing a blues song in the Key of C minor: All you would need to do is find the root note and start the scale there. In this case, the root note would be C which is located on the 8th fret of the low E string. This would be called the Blues Scale in C.  This scale will be used in someway or another the rest of your life as a guitarist. SO like taxes and death, you better get used to it 😉

The blues scale has its roots in African American music. Black artists invented the blues scale within the Blues style of music, which became the heart of Rock-n-roll (Sorry Elvis fans, the KING did not invent Rock-n-roll). Hard rock and Metal were formed from the roots of Rock and these scales as well. Black Americans additionally developed the earliest forms of Jazz. After learning this scale, I highly recommend googling the history of the blues and jazz to get a better understanding of its rich history and the early artist who created and nurtured its forms.

Although the following guitarists use other scales and modes at times:

  • If your listening to B.B. King – you’re listening to the blues scale.
  • If your listening to Metallica – you’re listening to the blues scale.
  • If your listening to Robert Cray – you’re listening to the blues scale.
  • If your listening to Pink Floyd – you’re listening to the blues scale.
  • If your listening to Led Zeppelin – you’re listening to the blues scale.
  • If your listening to Chuck Berry – you’re listening to the blues scale.
  • If you’re listening to Stevie Ray Vaughn, Clapton, Blackmore, Slash, Van Halen, Hendrix, Rhoads etc. etc. – – –  you are listening to them soloing with…. The Blues Scale… you get the picture.

This is one of the easier scales to master because there are only two patterns in it:

  • Play a note, skip two frets play a note.
  • Play a note, skip one fret and play a note.

Important
Look at the pattern above. See the way the whole scale is played, and try to memorize its shape.

Homework

Try to practice learning the blues scale up and down and in both directions for at least a half hour each day until it becomes comfortable.

Once you become comfortable with this scale it’s time to start learning Alternate Picking. All scales you master need to be played with alternate picking, so you might as well start getting your feet wet.

Extra Credit

    • As mentioned before, if you want to know more about the blues and blues music origins search for it on google or

wikipedia

    • .
    While you may not find total agreement on all articles. If you read many of them, you will see a theme forming.

A Final Note
If you play rock, country, metal or even bluegrass, this will be THE scale you will use to build all of your solos, and guitar licks & riffs. If you ever start playing Jazz, classical or progressive rock sometime in the future, you will STILL refer to this scale at times, as it’s one of the foundations of all guitar playing.

Remember, learning the blues scale and playing it in your music is about soul. So have fun with it, but remember to dig down deep.

-Tommy