Blues Pentatonic scale
You’ll love this part, especially if you already know the standard 2 octave blues scale that every guitarist knows, This one:
Everyone who starts guitar learns this scale. It is a proper scale, nothing wrong with it. But. Go and watch a Stevie Ray Vaughan video. He plays this scale, but he also goes all over the neck. The reason he can do this is simple; the notes in this pattern are all over the neck, not just between these three frets. Just like with the modes.Let’s map them out like we did with the major scale and break them up into modes. But to make it easier to understand and because most blues is in E G or A, I’ll do everything in this section in the key of A. Remember; it applies to all the keys. Once you have learned these patterns, you can move them up or down to change key. If you already are familiar with the above pattern then you must already know this.
The blues scale is made up of 5 notes taken from the Major scale. Like this:
C D E F G A B (Major scale)
C D# F G A# (pentatonic/blues scale)
Pentatonic means 5(penta) tones(tonic)
It’s like a quicker version of the major scale. It enables you to play along with someone who is using the major scale without clashing with his music.
Okay let’s map all the notes in A blues.
Let’s make it less confusing by taking away the grace note between D and E.
That’s better. Now you can see how you can break this up into 5 modes.
Do you see how we now have 5 separate modes? So you can play a scale of A blues ‘underneath’ the normal blues scale or above it. You can play blues in A anywhere on the neck. Indeed any key.
Learn all 5 patterns.Then, like every blues man worth his salt does,play a 3 octave run right through all 5, like this:
Note how there is no three finger stretch anywhere in this scale pattern.
Stevie Ray Vaughan uses this run all the time; it gives you loads of range.
Try this too, an even faster way of playing a three octave blues run with the same pattern for each octave.
These are all great ways to increase your range and speed.
Once you can play all these patterns and know how they work together, you can play from one to another therefore playing up the neck. This will mean you can emulate anyone that impresses you, what’s more you will only need to watch what another guitarist is doing once in order to copy it.
If I were to name three people, how many times would I need to tell you there names in order for you to remember them. Once right? Well that is how it will be once you learn to use these patterns with each other and play with the same methods the best use. You will even stumble on tunes yourself. You will be just jamming with your guitar then you will say to yourself, “hang on, that was wossname”. Great moments, they are.
When you are on the key fret playing the basic pattern, always keep your index finger pressed on the first 3 strings. This way, you only need worry about your ring and pinky finger. And you can play most of your riff by hammering on and off thereby speeding things up.
Here’s a riff that gets used to death by everyone who ever picked up a guitar:
Or a more extended version:
You can see how it would be much faster and easier to play if you kept your finger down across the three strings at the fifth fret.
Watch any blues guitarists index finger; it stays planted right there all the time.
Look at the cover of this book…
The same rule applies when you are using any of the other five blues modes.
Here’s a few more standard riffs that you can add to your catalogue.
Every guitarist uses these riffs, they are common property. You make them your own by playing them in your own way or coming up with new ones. These are examples to inspire you to get your own sound.
Another big tip.
When you are bending a note use 2 or more fingers behind the finger that is playing the note. It needs all the support it can get, and always bend the string towards you.
Read more...
