The Major Blues Scale
The major blues scale is a
variation of the major pentatonic scale just
like that the minor blues scale is a
variation of the minor pentatonic scale.
That is why they are sometimes named
pentatonic blues scales. By adding
the b3 "blue note" to the major
pentatonic scale, the music takes on
that familiar bluesy sound.
The blue note usually used as a passing
note and if you hold this note too long
it sounds like off key.
The formula of the major blues scale is 1 2
b3 3 5 6
However the major blues scale consist of
six notes it still has the all
facilities of the pentatonic scales;
easy to remember and play fingering
patterns, good over many chord
progressions and so on. And also major
blues scale can be played
interchangeably with the major
pentatonic scale.
The scale has a very cheerful sound and
finds itself used in musical styles like
country and bluegrass.
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If you play the major pentatonic
scale adding b3 what you play is exactly the
major blues scale.
The major blues scale formula:
1
2 b3 3 5
6
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C
D E G A |
Eb added (b3) |
C
D Eb
E G A |
If you have written the pentatonic
scales lessons you have already known
that every major pentatonic scale has a
relative minor pentatonic scale
and vice versa. So that we can easily
say that G major blues scale has the
same notes with A minor blues scale.
The only difference is the rote notes
and the tone of these two scales. We did
not show an image for this because we
have already done it in major and
minor pentatonic scales lessons.
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