bluesmode - Posted - 02/04/2016:  14:11:50

Cmaj blues sc: C, D, Eb, E, G, A  pause C

Amin blues sc: A, C, D, Eb, E, G, pause A

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_sca...nor_scale

To quote from the blues scale section of this site: "Note well that the Cmajor blues scale and its relative minor the A minor blues scale, both comprise the same notes. They differ only in which note is nominated as the root.'

imo, the Major blues scale is a Gold mine, and logic would dictate that it is just as important as major / minor scales or major /minor Pents. I rarely play the 3 note semi-tone sequence as separate notes, but rather slide in and out of them. and as all  scales, use scale fragments below the root and above the octave. As I believe I've mentioned previously, I've used the Major blues scale very successfully for many years for Dom7 blues, Swing, Country and Folk, and for almost any thing Major.

I would really like to know if anyone else uses this major blues scale regularly and fluently. 

....hoping to hear from....someone....

graeme - Posted - 02/04/2016:  16:16:55

Without the b7, I find the blues is short something.  It doesn't sound quite "enough", I think.

People might suggest the 6th is actually a 13th, but this is only the case if the 7th (and preferably the 9th also) is present.

Lonesome Fiddler - Posted - 02/04/2016:  18:17:32

With that C scale, add a flat five (the Gb) and also toggle up and down between the C and B (the maj7) to give your blues a jazzy vibe.  Be a hipster.  Grow a goatee.  If you really truly want to hang uptown, do it in the key of Bb.  Plus, on the fiddle it's actually easier than doing it in C.  Crazy man!

bluesmode - Posted - 02/04/2016:  22:21:52

Graeme: yes, the b7 does sound nice. This may be the first time I've deliberately put that b7 in and heard it. (feeling a bit sheepish) How could I have missed that! I like it a tad better going down than up, but I see what you mean. although I think the straight b5 minor scale might be better for 'harder' blues and the add b7 for bluesier blues, if that makes sense. Either way b7 sounds good.

Lonesome Fiddler: I already have the goatee   but yes, I also like the add b5. Not sure about the toggle between C and B yet, but the b5 definitely puts a jazzy spin on that major blues scale.

Thanks a lot Guys, both those tips are great, and muchly appreciated. 

bluesmode - Posted - 02/05/2016:  20:13:59

@Lonesome Fiddler: I was playing around with that C maj blues scale add b5. With the Gb, same as a raised fourth (F#) for C, I can hear a distinct Lydian flavor from the raised fourth..... makes me like the scale even more, as I like Lydian mode very much.

bluesmode - Posted - 02/05/2016:  20:30:20

quote:

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Originally posted by graeme

Without the b7, I find the blues is short something.  It doesn't sound quite "enough", I think.

 

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@Graeme: I'm confused now about the b7. For the traditional b5 minor blues scale in A..... A, C, D, Eb, E, G,  wouldn't the b7 already be there with the G note?

Without thinking about it too much, I started playing the scale as: A, C, D, Eb, E, G, Ab, (A). Wouldn't the Ab be a maj7?  

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 02/06/2016:  10:09:04

quote:

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Originally posted by bluesmode

 

quote:

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Originally posted by graeme

Without the b7, I find the blues is short something.  It doesn't sound quite "enough", I think.

 

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@Graeme: I'm confused now about the b7. For the traditional b5 minor blues scale in A..... A, C, D, Eb, E, G,  wouldn't the b7 already be there with the G note?

Without thinking about it too much, I started playing the scale as: A, C, D, Eb, E, G, Ab, (A). Wouldn't the Ab be a maj7?  

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The Ab comes in handy as the 3rd of the V chord.

bluesmode - Posted - 02/06/2016:  14:31:41

@mmuussiiccaall: yes, this scale does seem to work, and I'll try it over the V chord. Thanks for that!

....but I'm still confused about this b7 thing. With the traditional b5 - 6note - minor blues scale, doesn't it automatically include a b7 ??

It just dawned on me. Graeme may be talking about a b7 for the major blues scale, which I just tried. it works, but I'm not convinced that without it "it is short something." I think it might be a bit too much / over-kill, at least for the way I use the Major Blues Scale. on the other hand, I can see it would have uses. I think I like Lonesome Fiddlers add b5 to maj blues sc. better.

..... between those bebop scales and this stuff, my head is swimming with intervals. I think I'm still in control with it all though.

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 02/06/2016:  15:20:24

quote:

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Originally posted by bluesmode

 

@mmuussiiccaall: yes, this scale does seem to work, and I'll try it over the V chord. Thanks for that!



....but I'm still confused about this b7 thing. With the traditional b5 - 6note - minor blues scale, doesn't it automatically include a b7 ??



It just dawned on me. Graeme may be talking about a b7 for the major blues scale, which I just tried. it works, but I'm not convinced that without it "it is short something." I think it might be a bit too much / over-kill, at least for the way I use the Major Blues Scale. on the other hand, I can see it would have uses. I think I like Lonesome Fiddlers add b5 to maj blues sc. better.



..... between those bebop scales and this stuff, my head is swimming with intervals. I think I'm still in control with it all though.

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Are you using the major blues scale over the I chord and the minor blues scale over the rest of the 12 bar blues progression as is usually done?

bluesmode - Posted - 02/06/2016:  17:12:56

nope. I usually do the opposite, if in E.... E min blues scale over the one, switch to an A major blues scale for the 4. I thought that's the way a lot of guitar players did it, even to the point of being cliche'd.

If I did an Emaj blues sc. over the one I'd stick to the Emin blues sc. over the 4. That's what you are talking about, yes? That works great also.

For me, which way it goes depends on if the background is more Dom7 based or, how shall I put it, more 'power chord' based, I think of that as 'harder' blues as opposed to Dom7 - blusier blues. make sense?

as for the V, I rarely know which way I'm gonna jump until I get there.

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 02/06/2016:  17:59:13

quote:

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Originally posted by bluesmode

 

nope. I usually do the opposite, if in E.... E min blues scale over the one, switch to an A major blues scale for the 4. I thought that's the way a lot of guitar players did it, even to the point of being cliche'd.



If I did an Emaj blues sc. over the one I'd stick to the Emin blues sc. over the 4. That's what you are talking about, yes? That works great also.



For me, which way it goes depends on if the background is more Dom7 based or, how shall I put it, more 'power chord' based, I think of that as 'harder' blues as opposed to Dom7 - blusier blues. make sense?



as for the V, I rarely know which way I'm gonna jump until I get there.

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yep moving it it with the chords is the more "country blues" style

bluesmode - Posted - 02/08/2016:  20:09:27

...or how 'bout this...start the one on Emin blues sc. for the 4, go to an E dorian (which is the same as A mixo) but more bluesy than country if you emphasize the dorian rather than mixo, and a lot less country than an A maj blues scale.

Chops Chomper - Posted - 02/08/2016:  21:20:04

Man you guys confuse me

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 02/09/2016:  07:23:40

quote:

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Originally posted by bluesmode

 

...or how 'bout this...start the one on Emin blues sc. for the 4, go to an E dorian (which is the same as A mixo) but more bluesy than country if you emphasize the dorian rather than mixo, and a lot less country than an A maj blues scale.

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That'll get you a b7 over the IV chord that was discussed earlier by graeme.