The blues scale is a foundational element in blues, rock, and country guitar playing. It’s a six-note scale that instantly evokes the soulful sound of the blues, acting as a powerful tool for improvisation and adding depth to your guitar riffs. Think of it as the secret ingredient that separates blues guitar heroes from the rest. Essentially, the blues scale is a minor pentatonic scale with an added chromatic note, the “blue note,” which injects that signature blues flavor.
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Learning to Play the Blues Scale on Guitar: A Comprehensive Guide
Mastering the blues scale is a game-changer for any guitarist looking to improvise over blues chord progressions, whether it’s a classic 12-bar blues jam or a high-energy rock and roll track. Beyond improvisation, practicing the blues scale significantly improves your ear training, enabling you to identify and incorporate those captivating blues licks you hear in your favorite songs.
Similar to pentatonic scales, the blues scale comes in both major and minor variations. This lesson will concentrate on the minor blues scale, specifically the A minor blues scale, one of the most commonly used scales in blues music. We’ll break down four distinct positions to play the A minor blues scale across the guitar fretboard. Then, you’ll discover three moveable minor blues scale shapes that empower you to play the minor blues scale in any key. Finally, we’ll put it all together by learning to play a 12-bar blues in A and incorporating practical blues scale exercises to solidify your skills.
Understanding the Notes in the A Minor Blues Scale
The A minor blues scale is composed of six notes:
- A
- C
- D
- D# (Eb) – The Blue Note
- E
- G
The intervals that define the minor blues scale remain consistent regardless of the key. These intervals are: Whole step and a half step, Whole step, Half step, Half step, Whole step and a half step, and Whole step. (Referring to the intervals between each subsequent note in the scale).
In the A minor blues scale, the fourth note, D#, is the crucial blue note. The chromatic movement from D to D# to E (two half steps) is what creates that quintessential “walking blues” sound that gives this scale its unique character and bluesy edge. This blue note is where the magic of the blues scale truly lies, adding that expressive and soulful quality to your playing.
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Exploring A Minor Blues Scale Positions on the Guitar Neck
Just like other scales, the A minor blues scale can be played in numerous positions along the guitar neck, offering different tonal colors and fingerboard navigation options. For this lesson, we will focus on four fundamental positions that provide a solid foundation for playing the A minor blues scale.
When examining the following guitar scale diagrams, keep these conventions in mind: “O” represents an open string. The numbers in the diagrams correspond to your fretting hand fingers:
- Index finger
- Middle finger
- Ring finger
- Pinky finger
1st Position (Open Position)
To play the A minor blues scale in the 1st position, often referred to as the open position, utilize your index finger for notes on the 1st fret, middle finger for the 2nd, ring finger for the 3rd, and pinky finger for the 4th fret. This position is located at the beginning of the fretboard, utilizing open strings and lower fret numbers.
5th Position (E-Shaped)
To play the A minor blues scale in the 5th position, position your index finger to fret notes on the 5th fret, middle finger on the 6th, ring finger on the 7th, and pinky finger on the 8th fret. This scale shape begins on the 5th fret of the low E string. This particular position is also commonly known as the E-shaped blues scale due to its visual resemblance to the E major barre chord shape.
7th Position (D-Shaped)
The A minor blues scale in the 7th position commences with your index finger positioned on the 7th fret of the D string. As you ascend this scale shape, you’ll need to perform a slight hand shift upwards by one fret as you reach the B string. This adjustment is necessary to allow your index finger to comfortably reach and fret notes on the 8th fret of the B string. This position is also referred to as the D-shaped blues scale due to its relation to the D major barre chord shape.
12th Position (A-Shaped)
To play the A minor blues scale in the 12th position, begin with your index finger on the 12th fret of the A string. This scale shape requires a hand position shift of one fret upwards as you ascend to the B string, positioning your index finger on the 13th fret. Subsequently, you’ll need to shift your hand back to the original starting position as you transition to the high E string. This position is known as the A-shaped blues scale because of its similarity to the A major barre chord shape.
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Deep Dive: Kirk Fletcher on the Blues Pentatonic Scale
For an insightful look into the related pentatonic blues scale, check out this Technique of the Week segment featuring Kirk Fletcher (renowned for his work with the Fabulous Thunderbirds and the Mannish Boys). In this video, Kirk Fletcher, a master blues guitarist, expertly breaks down the pentatonic blues scale, a crucial scale for beginner blues guitarists and a stepping stone to the full blues scale. Fletcher not only explains the scale but also demonstrates his favorite blues phrases rooted in the pentatonic scale, offering valuable insights into practical blues application.
Blues Scale Guitar Tabs: Moveable Shapes for Every Key
Now that you’ve visually explored the guitar scale diagrams for the E-shaped, A-shaped, and D-shaped blues scales, the following guitar tabs will provide a clear representation of how to play each of these scales in both ascending and descending directions using standard musical notation for guitar.
A key advantage of these scale shapes is their moveable nature. This means that the patterns you learn in these tabs can be shifted and played anywhere along the neck of your guitar. By understanding the root note in each shape and moving the entire pattern, you can play the minor blues scale in any key you desire. A helpful practice technique is to learn and memorize the notes on the E, A, and D strings of your guitar. This knowledge will greatly assist you in practicing and transposing these moveable scale shapes up and down the fretboard with confidence.
E-Shaped Blues Scale Tab
This scale shape is called the E-shaped blues scale because it starts on the low E string of your guitar. Begin with your index finger on the 5th fret of your low E string (which is the note A), and follow the tab notation to play this scale in ascending and descending order.
A-Shaped Blues Scale Tab
This scale is known as the A-shaped blues scale because its root is found on the A string of your guitar. Start with your index finger on the 12th fret of your A string (A), and carefully follow the tab to play the scale as it ascends and descends. Remember the slight hand shift upwards by one fret when you reach the B string, and then shift back to your starting position when you move to the high e string!
D-Shaped Blues Scale Tab
This D-shaped blues scale in A minor begins on the seventh fret of the D string (A). Start with your index finger on the 7th fret and prepare to shift your hand up one fret as you ascend the scale and reach the B string. When descending, you’ll shift your hand back to the initial position on the G string. However, be aware that you’ll need to shift up one fret again when you descend further and reach the low E string to complete the scale shape.
(Note: The tab for D-shaped blues scale is missing in the original article. While I can describe it, a visual tab would be ideal here if available from other sources to enhance the article further, but adhering to the source material, I will omit the visual tab.)
Playing the 12-Bar Blues: Blues Scale in Context
The blues scale truly shines when played over various chord progressions, but it finds its ultimate home and expressive potential when used over the 12-bar blues progression. The 12-bar blues is a traditional blues structure built upon three chords: the I, IV, and V chords of a key. In the context of the A minor blues scale, these chords are A, D, and E (typically played as dominant 7th chords in a blues context – A7, D7, E7). However, to achieve an authentic blues shuffle rhythm, you won’t be strumming these chords in their full voicing. Instead, you’ll play simplified versions, often just the root and fifth, or root and sixth, on two strings to create that signature rhythmic “chunk.”
When you play a 12-bar blues progression, you’ll likely recognize its familiar sound immediately. It’s the bedrock of countless blues songs and is also a foundational element in early rock and roll and country music. Understanding the 12-bar blues is essential for any guitarist wanting to play blues authentically.
To play the 12-bar blues effectively, use downstrokes and emphasize the first and third beats of each measure to capture the correct rhythmic feel. This 12-bar blues pattern is often described as a blues shuffle due to its characteristic rhythmic feel, which creates a driving and danceable groove. Below is a guitar tab illustrating a standard 12-bar blues pattern in A.
(Note: The tab for the 12-bar blues pattern is missing in the original article. Similar to the D-shaped scale tab, including a visual tab here would significantly enhance the practical application of the blues scale in a 12-bar blues context. However, adhering to the source material, I will omit the visual tab.)
Blues Scale Practice Exercises: Developing Your Blues Fluency
Practicing the A minor blues scale is not only a fantastic way to train your fingers and improve your fretboard dexterity, but it’s also crucial for developing your ear and internalizing the sound of this versatile scale.
Exercise 1: Scale Position Mastery: Begin by practicing playing each of the A minor blues scale positions (open, E-shaped, D-shaped, A-shaped) individually. Focus on smooth transitions between notes, clean articulation, and consistent rhythm. Practice each position until you can confidently play it ascending and descending without hesitation.
Exercise 2: Improvisation with a 12-Bar Blues Backing Track: Once you are comfortable with the scale positions, find a looping accompaniment of a 12-bar blues in A (easily found on platforms like YouTube or music practice apps). Practice playing the A minor blues scale in each position over this backing track. Experiment with a syncopated rhythm (as explored in Fender Play lessons) to add a more authentic blues feel. Start by playing the scale in sections, perhaps treating the notes on each string as a musical phrase. Listen intently to the backing track and try to make your scale playing interact with the groove. As this becomes easier, challenge yourself by breaking up the scale into smaller, three- or four-note sections that span across strings, creating more melodic and less scale-like phrases.
This type of practice is invaluable for developing your improvisational skills and may even spark new and exciting blues licks and riffs of your own as you explore the scale in a musical context.
Exercise 3: Chromatic Scale Runs with Blues Shapes: Another highly effective way to practice blues scales on guitar and internalize the moveable shapes is to systematically play each shape up and down the entire neck of your guitar. Starting with the E-shaped blues scale, for example, play the scale ascending and descending, beginning at the first fret. Then, move up one fret and repeat the E-shaped scale pattern. Continue this chromatic ascent, moving up one fret for each repetition of the shape, until you reach approximately the thirteenth fret (or as high as comfortable). Once you reach the top, begin moving down one fret for each cycle until you return to the first fret.
Playing the scales across a wide 12-fret (or more) span on your guitar allows you to hear the blues scale in every key. This is excellent ear training and helps you understand the relationship between the moveable shapes and different keys. As an added benefit, you can use this exercise to actively memorize the notes on the E, A, and D strings by verbally naming the root note of each scale as you move up and down the neck. This combines physical practice with note recognition, accelerating your fretboard knowledge.
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