Tale of Contents The Blues Scale in A Minor Position Position 5 Position 6 Position 7 Position 5 8 -Must Know Chords 9
The Blues Scale in A Minor If you want to e ale to play the Blues as well as related music genres like ock and Jazz, you have to know the Blues Scale. The Blues scale is a pentatonic minor scale with the addition of a lue note. This lue note is actually the flattened fifth of the scale. In the key of A minor, the fifth is, and so the lue note is always flat. This single note is what gives the Blues its distinct sound that has a certain vocal quality. In this ooklet, we have outlined all five positions of the Blues Scale in A minor in fretoard diagrams. You would read these diagrams as if you were looking at your fretoard while you are playing. We also have laeled the fretoard diagrams with fret numers (from 0 to, 0 meaning open string) as well as the notes of each open string in standard tuning to make it easier to read. Presented elow is the legend for the symols we have used in the fretoard diagrams: = oot = note oot of note the scale of the (A) scale (A) = Blue = note Blue () note () = Other = notes Other of notes the scale. of the These scale. These have numers have numers in the in diagrams the diagrams for suggested for fingering i.e. i.e.,,,,,.,.
Position B G D A 0 5 6 7 8 9 0 5 6 7 8 9 0 In playing each position, rememer to play one note per finger. You can practice each position either in its entirety or in a so-called three-string oxed positions e.g. play the scale in either top three strings or ottom three strings at a time.
Position B G D A 0 5 6 7 8 9 0 5 6 7 8 9 0 The fingering presented here is different from how you would play pentatonic minor in position. This is ecause the suggested fingering for position allows you to play one note per finger. If, for example, you would use the typical fingering i.e. using fingers and for C (8th fret) and D (0th fret) in the 6th and st strings, you would have to slide your th finger to play the lue notes. 5
Position B G D A 0 5 6 7 8 9 0 5 6 7 8 9 0 You may have oserved that the suggested fingering for each position shifts reference i.e. finger on the 0th fret th string and then finger on the 9th fret rd string. This is to accommodate the lue notes for a one-finger-per-note approach rather than having to slide the th finger towards the lue note. 6
7 A D G B 5 6 7 8 9 0 5 6 7 8 9 0 0 B Position We have presented position in two different locations in the fretoard. The first one utilizes open strings while the second one is played an octave higher.
Position 5 B G D A 0 5 6 7 8 9 0 5 6 7 8 9 0 You may have oserved that the suggested fingering for each position shifts reference i.e. finger on the rd fret nd string and then finger on the nd fret rd string. This is to accommodate the lue notes for a one-finger-per-note approach rather than having to slide the th finger towards the lue note. 8
Must-Know Blues Chords B7 Track B7 B7 (short) B7 (short) Track Track C7 C9 C9 X X X X X C7 Track 5 C7#9 X C7#9 Track 6 X X C Track 7 7 7 7 7 (alt) (nd Track version)) 9 C Track 8 G7 X X X X X 7 (short) Track 0 Track 7 (short) G7 5fr (Optional note) G7 G7 G9 0 GuitarZoom.com 9
Must-Know Blues Chords G7 (short) Track Track G7 (short) Bm7 (SV version) G9 G9 G G Track Bm7 Bm7 Track 5 Bm7 Track 6 (SV version) X X X X X X X X X X fr fr m7 (SV version) m7 (SV version) A9-5 Track 9 Gm7 Track 50 Am7 Track 5 9-5 9-5 Track 7 m7 Track 8 (SV version) A9-5 Gm7 Am7 X X X X X X X 5fr 5fr 0
Must-Know Blues Chords A7 X A7 Track 5 ememer, these are ut a few of the many chords you can implement into your playing. I encourage you to purchase a asic ook of chords to keep in your guitar case which will aid you in learning new chords. Also, don t forget to look for repeating patterns within chord shapes as well.