Do you know what Blues scales are? Want to learn the blues scale on the piano or your keyboard? Do you want to know how it can help you to improvise? In this article we are going to talk all about the blues scales.
What exactly is a blues scale? Before understanding this, we need to know what a "blue note" is, which consists of a musical note that comes from the scales used in the work songs practiced by African American peoples during slavery.
In Portuguese it can also be known as Nota Fora and is often heard in songs of the Blues and Jazz rhythm. The blues scale is the pentatonic scale plus the blue note, which is also called the pentablues.
Although it is something obvious, the Blues scale is not exclusive to pianos and keyboards, it is possible to make these scales on the guitar and acoustic guitar with ease, in addition to other instruments.
Some curiosities about the blue note and blues scale
The concept of major or minor is non-existent in Traditional Blues, what commands are its dominant chords & its undefined sonority in its melodies. The musician who uses the Blues is playing freely with the rhythmic placement, delaying the intonation and leaving it undefined.
The Blues scale is one of the first taught in improvisation schools and courses, being the only one beyond the pentatonic scale and the major scale. Unfortunately, some keyboard players find the blues scale quite complete and don't even study in fear.
The term & nbsp; "Blues" came from "to have the blue devils", which literally means "to have the blue devils" that is, to be melancholic, homesick and sad at the same time that there is a certain revolt. Is that why the sadness of Amused mind is blue?
The blue note is a passing note, it should only appear in the middle of other notes and not as a resting note.
Did you know that there is a Jazz and Restaurant club called the Blue Note quite famous in Greenwich New York? It has expanded and currently you can find these Blue Note clubs in various places in Japan, China and Slovakia.
In the blues scales we have the hexaphonic, which consists of six notes in the minor pentatonic scale, plus the fifth degree of the original heptatonic scale. In addition to Heptatonica with seven notes and Nonatonica with nine notes.
The pattern of blues scales
The blues scales usually follow the pattern of one and a half tones – tone – semitone – semitone – one and a half tones – tone. The table below can help understand more about this pattern:
| DEGREES | 1 | 3- | 4 | 5- | 5 | 7- | 1 |
| C (p) | of | mib | fa | solb | Sun | sib | of |
| F (fa) | fa | lab | sib | dob | of | mib | fa |
| Bb (si) | sib | red | mib | fab | fa | lab | sib |
| D # (D) | re# | fa # | Sun# | over there | over there# | of# | re# |
| G # (sun) | Sun# | si | of# | re | re# | fa # | Sun# |
| C # (do) | of# | mi | fa # | Sun | Sun# | si | of# |
| F # (fa) | fa # | over there | si | of | of# | mi | fa # |
| B (si) | si | re | mi | fa | fa # | over there | si |
| E (mi) | mi | Sun | over there | sib | si | re | mi |
| A (there) | over there | of | re | mib | mi | Sun | over there |
| D (reverse) | re | fa | Sun | lab | over there | of | re |
| G (sun) | Sun | sib | of | reb | re | fa | Sun |
Complete course on Improvisation with blues scale
Unfortunately I have neither the ability nor the knowledge to share with you readers some lessons on improvisation with a blues scale. Fortunately, I know the guy who will help you step by step with improvisation with Blues.
O Walter Amantéa took one of his several courses specifically on improvisation with a blues scale. There are more than 32 classes divided into 11 modules, equivalent to 6 months of face-to-face classes.
All of this for a price that is less than a portion of a live piano course. We believe that with this impromptu course you will save 5x more than any other similar course.
The course is recommended for any pianist or keyboardist who are having their first contact with improvisation, even for those who are lost in this area or do not know where to start.
In this course you will end your fear of improvisation, you will learn your first improvisation, you will learn the trail of the blues scale, stimulate your creativity, build vocabulary, make bases and explore countless possibilities with improvisation.
Rather than me writing zucchini, I prefer that you go to Walter Amantéa's page and see with your eyes the proposal for the classes of the online course “Domine Improvisos na Escala de Blues”. Just click the button below:
One of the advantages of Walter Amantéa's courses is that you don't need to know anything about music to do any of my courses. Its methodology is based more on the visual and sound aspect of the piano or keyboard.
I hope you enjoyed this short article that talks a little about the blues scale. If you liked the article don't forget to share it with friends and leave your comments. Thank you and see you next time!