Jazz Guitar : Using Major and Minor Blues Scales Lesson

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Many elements of the blues are present in traditional jazz improvisation.

In this video, you will learn how to use the "major blues" scale (derived from the major pentatonic) and the well-known "minor blues" scale (derived from the minor pentatonic.)

Examples are demonstrated on a blues in the key of C :
C7, F7, C7, C7
F7, F7, C7, A7
Dm7, G7, C7, G7

for more info see the jazz guitar licks lesson at
http://www.jazzguitarlessons.net

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz
• guitar
• lesson
• blues
• scale
• chord
• lick

[TheRhythmspace1]

Yes it's a good idea to mix in the major blues scale: C,D,Eb,E,G,A and the minor blues:C,Eb,F,Gb,G,Bb. And the major definately gives a Country flavour to your lines. If anyone would like to check out further uses of pentatonic/blues scales in the jazz idiom...pick up a copy of Steve Khan's book "Pentatonic Khancepts". Pretty thorough approaches to dealing with this aspect of improv.

And I agree with Scrbacca07- if you could intensify/focus on the volume...that would be great. Cheers!

[jazzguitarlessonsnet]

@TheRhythmspace1 Oh yes. This is a good one. I never mentioned the Khancept book(s) anywhere but they are nice addition to a jazz guitarists library. Sorry about the volume. I have a lot on my plate now but when I can find the original files, I will re-upload with louder master volume. Thank you M-A

[SupairDup]

people who watch this and haven't had a chance to really delve into this stuff should note that you may not want to play exactly the types of riffs you would in an A blues scale transposed on C the tonal centers change and if you really focus on the "root" of the A blues scale it can sound odd. Instead you should note that the C tonic and the chord tones (E and G) are where the the minor third (C) the 5th (E) and the dom7 (G) would be on an A blues scale. It's subtle but it makes a difference

[jazzguitarlessonsnet]

@SupairDup Nice observation. What you're saying is 100% accurate. We need to "adjust our ears" so they gravitate around the right root! Thank you. M-A

[bonbelel]

wow i think i finally get it! by using Bb minor pentatonic over the IV chord in a Bb blues, u are spelling the 5 b7 1 b2 2 & 4 of the chord. hahaha

[jazzguitarlessonsnet]

@bonbelel YES!!! Good job in figuring it out. I was just about to send you a reply when I saw you new comment. (-:

[bonbelel]

hi, recently i have been studying a few parker and sonny stitt blues solos. i noticed that when they play over the 1 chord they usually use the relative minor pentatonic (or the major pentatonic), but then when they move to the 4 chord they use blues scale built on the 1 degree of the key (for ex: Bb blues on eb7 chord) just as u did in this vid. this really confuses me and i have always thought that on the 4 chord u use the relative minor pentatonic. can u explain how does it work in theory?

[jazzguitarlessonsnet]

@Scarbacca07 Hello. Yes yes. I will have to see what I can do and just boost everything up ... I'm not sure if I'll be able to do for all of them it since I "lost" some of the original files for those old old (2 years) videos. Thank you.

[Scarbacca07]

Great lesson!

The only problem I notice is, all of your videos are REALLY quiet - I have to practically put my ear to the speaker, with everything on max volume, to make out what you're saying and playing. With any other video, I can fill my room with sound.

If you could find a way to fix this, I would greatly appreciate it, since what I CAN hear, I love!

Many thanks,

EV

[jazzguitarlessonsnet]

@Masterovermind Thanks. Now we are on the "same page".