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SCALES THEORY - Lesson 9 - Blues and chromatic scales

Andrew Milner

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  • Nov 11, 2019
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    So like, scales get the blues in different color chromatics or what?
    1. Topics of discussion
    2. Blues scales
    3. Chromatic scales
    1. Topics of discussion

    In this tutorial, we are going to discuss blues scales and chromatic scales. So, let's have some fun.

    2. Blues scales

    Blues scales are very common in guitar songs. There are many versions for them, but the most commonly used blues scales are the ones based on pentatonic scales.

    In order to create such a blues scale, you simply need to add a chromatic tone to the pentatonic scale.

    As you remember, the major pentatonic scale is obtained by playing the first, second, third, fifth and sixth notes of a major scale. And in order to obtain a major blues scale, we need to add a flatted third note to this scale.

    As a result. the notes of the major blues scale are:

    1 2 ♭3 3 5 6

    Those are the notes of the major scale which are played as part of the major blues scale. For example, a C major blues scale will consist of the C, D, E♭, E, G, and A notes.

    Here are some examples of how you can play the C major blues scale, based on major pentatonic scales. First up, the A form:

    Cblues_Aform.png

    Next up, the G form:

    Cblues_Gform.png

    Next in line is the E form:

    Cblues_Eform.png


    Let's take a look at the D form now:

    Cblues_Dform.png


    Finally, let's take a look at the C form:

    Cblues_Cform.png


    Minor blues scales function in a similar manner. The only difference is that you will be adding a flatted fifth note. As a result, the formula for them is the following:

    1 3 4 ♭5 5 7

    An example of a minor blues scale would be A minor blues, which consists of the A, C, D, E♭, E, and G notes.

    Here are some examples of how to play this scale. Let's start with the G form:

    Ablues_Gform.png

    Next up, the E form:

    Ablues_Eform.png


    Next in line, the D form:

    Ablues_Dform.png


    Another form is the C form:

    Ablues_Cform.png


    And finally, the A form:

    Ablues_Aform.png


    3. Chromatic scales

    Chromatic scales are quite possibly the easiest of scales to understand. In order to obtain a chromatic scale, you have to play every note located inside an octave.

    For example, the C chromatic scale consists of the C, C♯, D, D♯, E, F, G, G♯, A, A♯, B, and C notes. Here's how it looks like: can't upload more than 10 photos in the same post

    And here it is played back.

    Chromatic scales are neither major nor minor. As for their usage, they aren't used as a whole scale to write a song. Rather, when composing, people tend to use chromatic tones, which are notes located outside of the scale the song is written in.

    And that about covers it for this tutorial. In the next one, we are going to take a look at the diminished scale. See you then.
     
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