With your knowledge of chord tones, the blues scale is now just another dimension that you. This video shows a musicians hands as he explains and demonstrates how to play the c minor blues scale. Jan 31, 2014 free minor pentatonic blues scale chart. Blues music scales chart for jazz improvisation jazz theory. Blues scales are the most famous sounds of the xx century music.
The b flat minor blues scale is bb, db, eb, e, f, ab, bb this scale is enharmonically equivalent to a sharp minor blues. This pdf contains the scale charts for the blues scale in all keys for guitar in standard tuning. Learn how to play the d blues scale on the piano piano. The 30 musthave blues piano licks blues transcription and bass arrangements. For instance, in the c blues scale the notes are c eb f gb g bb c. Just the blues scale can be considered a basis for a particular key blues. The best way to get used to playing the blues is to have a go at improvising over the top of a 12 bar blues chord progression. What scales to play over a song in a major key guitarhabits. First, he comps for, and interacts with, other players as they solo.
The eflat in the c blues scale makes it sound minor, but the scale is customarily played on top of major chords. The subtonic or leading tone is the seventh degree of a scale. D minor blues scale positions along the fretboard online guitar. Dm piano chord d minor charts, sounds and intervals. You can also click on the image below and use it in png format. Learn how to play the a blues scale on piano free video. I have also included the 5 box patterns you need to learn in. The 30 musthave blues piano licks blues groovewindow. The flat third, flat fifth and flat seventh notes of the scale are the blue notes of the. The 1st construction, using the major scale, starts at lesson 3. The solution below shows the e blues scale, on the piano, treble clef and bass clef. This fivenote scale is similar to the major scale, but with the 4th and 7th degrees removed. Even beginner piano students can have fun practicing blues improv just have them stick to the black keys while you improv on e.
Pattern 1st 2nd flattened 3rd 3rd 4th 5th 6th flattened 7th 7th. Blues scale in general it can be used on every chord but above all on min7 th and dominant 7th chord. Below, youll find five common piano chord progressions used in music, both today and throughout history. Summertime dm notes piano pdf summertime jazz piano lesson stride and blues scale. A collection of scales for piano starting on the root c. After you understand the scale, you can experiment on your own. The d minor blues scale contains the following notes. The fretboard is shown with the lowest pitch string at the bottom and the highest pitch string at the top unless youve tuned your instrument differently. We also have already spent some time acknowledging the blues scale. Dm9 piano chord d minor ninth charts, sounds and intervals. In the case of c pentatonic, the three chords are c7 f7 g7.
If you have tried transcribing blues in the past you may have found it difficult because you were only aware of the minor blues scale. Show me chords that sound good with a d minor pentatonic scale. Since the key of e appears on the circle of fifths diagram as both a major and minor key, the lesson steps explain both ways of constructing this blues scale for this key. The blues scale is so important for anyone who wants to play the blues. Heres a diagram of the melodic d minor scale on piano. If d minor is sounded for eight measures, you may use the d blues scale. The solution below shows the d blues scale, on the piano, treble clef and bass clef since the key of d appears on the circle of fifths diagram as both a major and minor key, the lesson steps explain both ways of constructing this blues scale for this key the 1st construction, using the major scale, starts at lesson 3 the 2nd construction, using the minor. This scale is made up of the notes d, f, g, g sharp, a, c, and d. Called the one six four five progression, iviivv is often used as the main progression throughout an entire song. Keep reading and ill tell you the fingering for the scale. Dont get me wrong on this, its perfectly legitamite to use the minor pentatonic scale over dominant blues chords. The exercises in this book use the major scale, pentatonic scale, blues scale, and chromatic scale. Armed with your knowledge of the major and extended blues scales, listen and transcribe from your favourite players.
The major scale is easiest to see by looking at the white keys on the piano. When we combine all three scales, we get a scale that looks like this. Free pdf downloads of c major, c harmonic minor, and more. Every scale determines a key,that is an harmonic combunation of tones based on that scale. Switch out the regular twooctave majorminor scales for a minor pentatonic blues scale. The solution below shows the e blues scale, on the piano, treble clef and bass clef since the key of e appears on the circle of fifths diagram as both a major and minor key, the lesson steps explain both ways of constructing this blues scale for this key the 1st construction, using the major scale, starts at lesson 3 the 2nd construction, using the minor. For right hand fingering, start on the a with your thumb. Several typical pentatonic blues licks will be used as a starting point to develop your knowledge of the pentatonic scale. If you are stuck in the pentatonic box then this is the way. Gordon is he feels, one of his most important books because of the nature of the blues scale and how it is used to improvise in many styles of contemporary music. Listen to it and learn about its interval structure.
This is the hardest part about learning to use the major blues scale. Free minor pentatonic blues scale chart saras music studio. Each of the five chapters focuses on 1 of the 5 patterns of the caged system. How to play the c minor blues scale on the piano piano. For more advanced students, have them play a 12 or 16bar blues form underneath. Almost all music genres being born in the last hundred years come from blues above all in notclassical music. D minor pentatonic scale diagrams d minor pentatonic fretboard diagram. Here are pictures and notes of the minor pentatonic blues scales.
The major blues scale for jazz piano georgia on my mind. Lets learn the blues scales on piano and keyboard in every key. In western music theory terms, the blues scale is practically inexplicable. I have quite a few students who are fans of playing the blues. The white keys with a black key in between are a whole step apart and the ones without a black key in between are a half step. Guitar lesson dm blues lick using blues scale youtube. Or, in the same way, the g blues scale with the chords g7, c7 and d7. Piano chord progressions chord arrangements for songwriters. Major pentatonic scales are especially common in traditional folk music, country and gospel. These are the four most common scales in pop and rock music. Welcome to lesson 3 of the pentatonic scale, pentatonic blues licks. In this lesson you will be learning some ways to use the pentatonic scale in a solo. These chord progression represent just a small sample of the many, many progressions that are used by composers and songwriters. Dm9 piano chord dm9 for piano has the notes d f a c e.
Learn the d blues scale note positions and names on the piano, treble clef. They are the 5 notes of the minor pentatonic scale, plus one additional note. Therefore, he needs two different types of voicings. If you already know about the minor blues scale and would just like to know how to play it in five positions as.
The eb blues scale is exceptionally easy to play on piano just play the black keys and add the note a. Download our free pdf versions of each scale with fingering. I have also included the 5 box patterns you need to learn in order to memorize the blues scales in all keys. The scale is widely used in pop, classic rock, blues, country and other styles of music. Each scale has a different use and application in jazz piano. Learn how to form major and minor scales in all keys. The major scale uses onenote from each letter of the musical alphabet.
It may be used to create the underlying theme and feeling of the whole composition. Blues scales are used in many musical kinds for example in blues, jazz, rock and roll, funk, soul rhythm and blues, dance, pop. Since our weather has been so blue up here, i thought it might be fun to work on our improv skills with minor pentatonic blues scales. Dm piano dm guitar dm ukulele dm mandolin dm banjo. Heres a little something that ive been working with in the studio this week. The blues chord progression lasts 12 bars thus the phrase 12bar blues that move in a familiar pattern using those three chords. For a complete lesson on the minor blues scale, read this lesson.
If you already know about the minor blues scale and would just like to know how to play it in five positions as well as the open position of d, read on. The right hand begins the scale with its thumb on the d. The mixodorian blues scale for blues soloing learn jazz. E major blues scale charts for piano music motivated. The solution below shows the d blues scale, on the piano, treble clef and bass clef since the key of d appears on the circle of fifths diagram as both a major and minor key, the lesson steps explain both ways of constructing this blues scale for this key the 1st construction, using the major scale, starts at lesson 3 the 2nd construction, using the minor pentatonic scale. This scale is much used above all in blues,pop,jazz,soul,funk,rhythm and blues,rock. The basic formula for the blues scale can be used in any key but some keys will lend themselves easier to play on the piano. For instance, in the c blues scale the notes are c eb f gb g. The major pentatonic scale is the easiest and most effective scale to play over a major key and delivers an uplifting blues country sound. Walk your way up the scale until your fourth finger gets to the g sharp.
Whole and a half, whole, whole, whole and a half, whole. Essentially, the blues is a specific progression that uses the c7, f7, and g7 chords. A blues scale consists of 6 different notes, namely the root, flat 3rd, 4th, flat 5th, 5th and flat 7th of the major scale. The scale is made up of the notes a, c, d, e sharp, e, g, and a. Blues scale lesson, blues scale in all keys by michael. This lesson on the basic blues scale for piano blues will cover how to find the right blue notes that are added to the major scale and will give some suggestions on how to use this new scale to improvise on the 12 bar blues progression. Its one of those piano scales youll want to master. The fingerings of the major blues scale resemble fingerings that you may already know for the minor blues scale but starting on different notes. D minor blues scale positions along the fretboard online. The white keys with a black key in between are a whole step apart and the ones without a black key in between are a. D f g ab a c for a complete lesson on the minor blues scale, read this lesson. This sassy scale will enable you to riff, solo and improvise as you play. This video would be helpful to anyone learning to play blues piano.
Scale diagrams can also be labeled with either letters or scale degrees. The only 3 chords you need to master the blues on piano. Jul 24, 2011 the b flat minor blues scale is bb, db, eb, e, f, ab, bb this scale is enharmonically equivalent to a sharp minor blues. The scales are used often for composing melodies and for improvisation. Here are pictures and notes of the major pentatonic blues scales. These charts highlight the notes and chords of e blues scale. Piano chord voicings for jazz combo the pianist has a few functions in a jazz combo. The solution below shows the d blues scale, on the piano, treble clef and bass clef. Since the key of d appears on the circle of fifths diagram as both a major and minor key, the lesson steps explain both ways of constructing this blues scale for this key. The blues scale can also be used over minor chords when the minor chord is sounded. Learn how to form other types of scales in all keys. There are a total of 430 finger exercises in this book.
Remember that for the melodic minor scale, when descending, you play the natural minor scale. Everything in this book is presented in the key of a minor so that you can see how it all relates together and so that you can begin to string licks together into larger ideas. Piano pentatonic blues scales overview with pictures. The mixodorian blues scale for blues soloing learn. You can get more charts in with custom tunings using my interactive scale generator here. A nice combination are the chords am7, dm7 and e7 together with the a pentatonic blues scale. If youre a beginner you can still learn how to play stride by using simpler 2 or 3 note chords. Move up the scale finger by finger until you hit the e sharp with your fourth finger. Dminor9 dmin9 dm79 dm7add9 d79 d7add9 dmin79 dmin7add9 piano sound. Easy way to learn to play e blues scale on a piano using our notes and chords charts. E d g b e a pentaton c minor scale box 1 glitarsik. Master the minor pentatonic scale using the whole fretboard. For the sake of brevity, ill only look at playing blues in the key of c.