The Blues Scale © 2003 Jim Conquer

www.theguitarschool.biz

In this article we will explain the Blues Scale and how it is formed. Firstly, I
must stress the need for the reader to cover Minor Pentatonic Scale theory
article prior to this.

To form the Minor Pentatonic Scale, we first take the Natural Minor Scale
(Previous article) and by selecting only the first ,third, fourth, fifth and seventh
tones from the scale, we form the pentatonic. As follows, in the A Minor
Pentatonic Scale, we have A, C, D, E and G notes ascending and descending.
To this we simply add the flattened fifth note also. (i.e. Eb note in this scale)
A C D Eb E G
Using our fingerboard diagram below, we can then form the Blues Scale pattern
as follows:

Notes and their positions on the fingerboard

String Numbers 1=E / 2=B / 3=G / 4=D / 5=A / 6=E

1
2 F G A B C D E
3 C D E F G A B
A B C D Eb E F G
4 E F G A B C D
5 B C D Eb E F G A
6 F G A B C D E

Beginning on the 6th string we play: 6th String A, C

5th String D, Eb, E
4th String G, A
3rd String C, D, Eb
2nd String E, G
1st String A, C

The Blues Scale can be used to play over any of the chord sounds in the basic
Blues Chords Article covered earlier, and these, along with all download
articles, will be illustrated utilising audio downloads which will soon be
available via our site.

Enjoy.............

All the Best…