The mixodorian blues scale for blues soloing learn jazz. The scales are used often for composing melodies and for improvisation. Practicing, using the exercises found in this booklet or in vol. This fivenote scale is similar to the major scale, but with the 4th and 7th degrees removed. The final point i will cover is how the piano simplifies learning the key signatures. Using the blues scale for guitar fundamental changes music. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any way wo express written permission. Major pentatonic scales are especially common in traditional folk music, country and gospel. In the case of c pentatonic, the three chords are c7 f7 g7.
These are the four most common scales in pop and rock music. Good explanation, in the fewest words possible, of scale construction, theory, and modes. The blues scale is one the first scales that students of improvisation learn and generally it ends as being the only scale that they use besides the major and pentatonic scales. Figure 5 chromatic scale musicians tend to like to. The 1st construction, using the major scale, starts at lesson 3. A blues scale consists of 6 different notes, namely the root, flat 3rd, 4th, flat 5th, 5th and. Pentatonic and blues scales is a minibook a fundessential that gives you a short, inspiring injection of creativity. Essential tools for jazz improvising i learned quite by accident from the forum all about jazz. This book can teach anyone music theory and keep a smile on their face the entire time. It is usually considered the forerunner of both jazz and rock, and it breaks many of the conventions of classical music. Tim wrote the well known exploring jazz piano and improvising blues piano books and has several others to his name. Pentatonic scales are killer scales to play over blues and over iivv changes.
After the pentatonic minor scale and major scale, the blues scale is probably the most widelyused scale in guitar improvisation. Besides the standard major and minor scales, there are two scales that are more common to playing blues and boogiewoogie. E major blues scale charts for piano music motivated. But i want to write for guitar players, and take into consideration the peculiarities, limitations recommended. Perhaps youve tried to study music theory on the internet, in books, or even with teachers, but without understanding or get put into practice the concepts. For instance, in the c blues scale the notes are c eb f gb g. If you dont want notes, here are picture scales with all the major scales plus fingering for each hand. For right hand fingering, start on the a with your thumb. The trick is to find interesting and effective exercises to make your fingers remember those scales. Whole and a half, whole, whole, whole and a half, whole. Olav torvunds guitar pages music theory book of the month january 2005 happy traum. I have a shelf full of scale books and several apps as well. These charts highlight the notes and chords of e blues scale.
University musical encyclopedia the theory of music and piano technique by e. Robin gibelhausen, music teacher, illinois basic music theory. Any standard music theory book or course will introduce the basics of western music. Music theory pdf ebook music theory is a simple matter, but the books complicate the subject.
Almost all music genres being born in the last hundred years come from blues above all in notclassical music. 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. The blues scale is simply a pentatonic minor scale that has been embellished with a single, additional note. The exercises in this book use the major scale, pentatonic scale, blues scale, and chromatic scale. You can go a mile deep on theory elsewhere if you want, this is all you need to learn and practice scales. A nice combination are the chords am7, dm7 and e7 together with the a pentatonic blues scale. I have played various instruments over 24 years and because of. A blues scale consists of 6 different notes, namely the root, flat 3rd, 4th, flat 5th, 5th and flat 7th of the major scale. 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.
Dec 17, 2014 learn formulas for forming this scale. As well as explaining the underlying idea, i give examples of how the theory applies in. Pattern 1st 2nd flattened 3rd 3rd 4th 5th 6th flattened 7th 7th. Free sheet music piano blues by the most likes by the most well noted by the most commented by new releases by the most downloaded by the most listened by the most listened human original instrumentation first by works titles by composers by oldest additions with video first level. Blues scales are the most famous sounds of the xx century music. The scale is made up of the notes a, c, d, e sharp, e, g, and a. The eflat in the c blues scale makes it sound minor, but the scale is customarily played on top of major chords. I have quite a few students who are fans of playing the blues. Every scale determines a key,that is an harmonic combunation of tones based on that scale. When we combine all three scales, we get a scale that looks like this. Blues scales blues is an irresistible tonality for a guitar player. Transcribing from solos is the most effective way to learn to improvise. Free minor pentatonic blues scale chart saras music studio. Blue notes central to the blues sound is that of blue notes.
The scale syllabus can help you uncover new sounds. Below you can find a selection of downloadable pdf files containing the. Blues music scales chart for jazz improvisation jazz theory. To learn more about blues turnarounds, guitarists should check out the blues lessons turnarounds, theory of 6ths, soloing with 3rds and 6ths and riffbased blues with 9. 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. Often new players are drawn to the instrument because of a desire to play the blues. An introduction to the chromatic harmony of the blues scale. Blues scales are used in many musical kinds for example in blues, jazz, rock and roll, funk, soul rhythm and blues, dance, pop. As a jazz educator with a large experience i am constantly looking for educational material on jazz harmony, theory, improvisation and composition, and also on specific topics like this book of dan greenblatt. Pdf total guitar the ultimate scale book guilherme. Being able to construct a wide range of chords and voicings is an essential skill for the jazz pianist. National jazz workshop a summer jazz camp at shenandoah. This one is the best and the least expensive, but for the apps.
Download our free pdf versions of each scale with fingering. When playing a twelve bar blues in the key of bb, use the bb blues scale. The notes of the whole tone scale, an example with a whole tone scale. If youre a beginner on this page, i have good news for you. In western music theory terms, the blues scale is practically inexplicable. Robin gibelhausen, music teacher, illinois basic music theory by jonathan harnum is an excellent book for people of all levels.
This pdf contains a minor 251 line transcribed from a chet baker recording. This book is a pdf file and can be opened and printed. Be sure to subscribe to the youtube page to stay up to date with the many lessons i will be adding. The pentatonic scale, major and minor free piano lessons. An introduction to blues turnarounds, intros and endings. When playing a blues solo, the blues scale is treated interchangeably with the minor pentatonic scale. It contains scale diagrams with notation and tablature for each scale and. 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. Heres a little something that ive been working with in the studio this week. The main scales of western music are major and minor scales.
This is because this scale is really the blues scale with one note missing. Learn how to play the a blues scale on piano free video. Blues piano scales, chords, and chord progressions for. How to form the blues scale on piano piano scales youtube. Each of the below jazz piano lessons introduces a particular concept found in jazz. A lot of people are under the impression that blues piano is not for beginners. Here are pictures and notes of the major pentatonic blues scales. The most common idea of a blues scale, and the quickest and easiest to pick up consists of a minor pentatonic scale with the added flatted fifth because use of the flatted fifth does not depend heavily on context and may be relied upon almost as frequently as any of the other notes in the pentatonic scale. Or, in the same way, the g blues scale with the chords g7, c7 and d7.
Guitar pentatonic and blues scales fundamental changes. Jan 31, 2014 free minor pentatonic blues scale chart. I have quite a few students who are fans of playing the. The eb blues scale is exceptionally easy to play on piano just play the black keys and add the note a. Perhaps youve tried to study music theory on the internet, in books, or even with teachers, but.
The only book ever published showing the beginning jazz soloist how to improvise a real solo using only scales, the major and minor blues scales. It doesnt take up too much lesson time, and students will be really. The notes of the chromatic scale, an example with a chromatic scale. Even beginner piano students can have fun practicing blues improv just have. Despite its name, the blues scale is not only used in blues music. 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. To play the blues is a fascinating undertaking because it can be both simplistic and yet intangibly tricky to master. The chromatic scale lists every note available in our western european diatonic music system. Lets learn the blues scales on piano and keyboard in every key. The solution below shows the d blues scale, on the piano, treble clef and bass clef.
For example, in an a minor blues scale, the added note would be d sharp. Music theory pdf ebook for musicians and normal people. Music theoryblues wikibooks, open books for an open world. They just ooze that minor bluesy vibe or sweet major vibe. Piano pentatonic blues scales overview with pictures. The blues scale can also be used over minor chords when the minor chord is sounded for 2, 4, 8, or 16.
Easy way to learn to play e blues scale on a piano using our notes and chords charts. For instance, in the c blues scale the notes are c eb f gb g bb c. Move up the scale finger by finger until you hit the e sharp with your fourth finger. The scales are identical except for the addition of one note, the b5 in the blues scale. 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. There are a total of 430 finger exercises in this book. The solution below shows the a blues scale, on the piano, treble clef and bass clef since the key of a appears on the circle of fifths diagram as both a major and minor key, the.