Session 3 : Blues Building Blocks

1st Form 2nd Form 3rd Form (^) 4th Form (^) 5th Form

Using the Minor Pentatonic Scale in Blues

When playing the blues, an easy way to get started is to
solo using the minor pentatonic scale. The minor
pentatonic scale includes two of the three blues notes.

For example, an A minor pentatonic scale is A-C-D-E-G.
If you looked at this collection of notes as if the note A
was the root then C would be the flatted 3rd, D would
be the 4th, E the 5th, and G would be the flatted 7th.

So, a very basic way to begin soloing over an A blues would be to use an A minor pentatonic scale.

Adding a Blues Note to the Minor Pentatonic Scale

The minor pentatonic scale has two of the three blues notes in it. If you add
the last blues note (the flatted 5th) to the 1st minor pentatonic form then all of
the blues notes are covered with a minor modification to the form. Here is the
1st minor pentatonic form with the added blues note.

Pentatonic Forms With Added Blues Note

Here are all five of the pentatonic forms with the added blues note. These are based of an A minor
pentatonic form. The open circle is the minor root and the diamond is the added blues note.

= Minor Root = Blues Note

Pentatonic Scale Bends

There are three good places to bend notes on a minor pentatonic
scale. They are...

• from the 4th up to the flatted 5th (half-step bend) or
  perfect 5th (whole-step bend).


• from the flatted 7th up to the root (whole-step bend).


• from the flatted 3rd up to the major 3rd (half-step bend)
  or the perfect 4th (whole-step bend).

In the 1st minor pentatonic form in Am the three notes to bend are shown here
as open circles. These notes are good to bend in all of the forms, so practice
bending these pitches in all of the five forms.

= Notes to Bend

Playing Tip

An easy scale to use in blues is the

minor pentatonic scale.

For example, in an A blues you could

use an A minor pentatonic scale.

Playing Tip

Add the blues note to the

minor pentatonic scale for

an even “bluesier” sound.

Blues Guitar with Steve Krenz 41 http://www.learnandmaster.com/bluesresources