Blues guitar lesson
Pentatonic scales
Blues guitar scales
The blues pentatonic scales are iconic to most guitar players.
They are the scales which most of us use to get started. Finding the bends
trills and runs which make these scales so expressive to use.
Always a musical adventure
In the pentatonic system there are actually five scale patterns, which are positioned
up and down the fretboard. The pentatonic scales contain five notes. Which is why
there are only the five scale shapes. However for this particular
course the focus will be on the first three positions.
Blues music consists of primarily 12 bar repetitions, using the root, the fourth
and fifth notes of the scale. For this example the key is A, the fourth will be a D
and the fifth is E.
Scale Position One
In this introduction we look at the first position pentatonic.
It is a minor scale which produces a a very unique tone.
Minor scales are determined by having a flattened third note
We are using it at the key of A for ease of reference. As it’s a well
used scale position in blues.. This scale can be be found with the root note on the
fifth fret of the sixth string at the A note.
The illustration below shows the pattern.
Starting with the root note, they will be
A and C on the E string.
D and E on the A string.
G and A on the D string
C and D on the G string.
E and G on the B string.
A and C on the E string.
There is a variation of this scale which adds two extra notes into the pattern.
The illustration below shows this.
The two added notes are both D#/Eb appearing on the A and G strings.
These are collectively known a blue notes.
Scale Position Two
The second position pentatonic is a major scale.
Major scales are determined by having a major third note
Staying in the key of A this scale can be be found with the root
note on the eighth fret of the sixth string at the C note.
The illustration below shows the pattern.
Starting with the root note, they will be
C and D on the E string.
E and G on the A string.
A and C on the D string
D and E on the G string.
G and A on the B string.
C and D on the E string.
The variation of this scale adds three extra notes into the pattern.
The illustration below shows this.
The three added notes are both D#/Eb appearing on the G and both E strings.
These are collectively known a blue notes.
Scale Position Three
The third position pentatonic is
unusual because it has no third note and therefore falls
outside the rules that define major and minor scales.
To clarify: Minor scales are determined by having a flattened third note.
Major scales have a natural third note.
This one jumps from the first, second to the fourth and fifth.
This scale can be be found with the root note on the
tenth fret of the sixth string at the D note.
The illustration below shows the pattern.
Starting with the root note, they will be
D and E on the E string.
G and A on the A string.
C and D on the D string
E and G on the G string.
A and C on the B string.
D and E on the E string.
The variation of this scale adds three extra notes into the pattern.
The illustration below shows this.
The three added notes are both D#/Eb appearing on the D and both E strings.
These are collectively known a blue notes.
The illustration below shows this.
The three added notes are both D#/Eb appearing on the D and both E strings.
These are collectively known a blue notes.
As an exercise try working through the scales at different positions.
As an added incentive try to name them.
This study was taken from our blues guitar course
and will soon be available in ebook format.
For further details on the full course please see the link below.
Blues Guitar Course