Bass Lesson 18 - Pentatonic and the Blues Scale

I'm sure by now you have heard about this “pentatonic” scale. It is closely related to the blues scale. This lesson will focus on how the two can work together. And of course, we will talk about how to play these scales.

First let’s look at the major pentatonic scale. To construct a major pentatonic scale you will have to know the major scale. Take a Cmaj scale and commit the 4th and 7th degrees. Instead of playing C D E F G A B C you will play C D E G A C. This is the Cmaj pentatonic scale. Notice there are only 5 different notes, thus the prefix “pent.” Remember this pattern; like many other scales and shapes, you can move this pattern around the fretboard and still have a major pentatonic scale but in a different key. As long as you are familiar with the major scale pattern, learning the pentatonic scale pattern is easy. We should look at this scale on the fretboard before we move on to the minor pentatonic scale.

 

 The next scale of importance is the minor pentatonic scale. To construct a minor pentatonic scale, you simply omit certain scale degrees to satisfy the 5 notes per octave requirement. Instead of removing the same scale degrees as the major scale, remove the 2nd and 6th degrees of the minor scale. Using the Am scale as an example, instead of playing A B C D E F G, play A C D F G. This is the Am pentatonic scale. It, like the major pentatonic scale, has 5 different notes per octave. You can take this pattern anywhere on the fretboard and it will treat you well. Take a look at this scale on the fretboard and be sure to compare it to the Amaj pentatonic scale. Practice these two patterns up and down as well as across the fretboard. This will ensure that you know the pattern well and can repeat it if you are put on the spot. 

 

 The blues scale is closely related to the minor pentatonic scale. Some may argue that there isn't a blues scale; this is because there are a few notes called the blue notes that you could play with other scales and make them feel “blue.” This section of the lesson focuses on the blues scale that is most commonly played. The “blue notes” are the 3b, 5b, and 7b scale degrees, with the 5b note coming late in the 1940’s in bebop. The minor blues scale can contain 5 – 8 notes depending on what your position is; honestly, play as many notes as you would like to. To create a blues scale, add in the 5b to the minor pentatonic scale. Take a look at the Am blues scale on the fretboard and observe it a bit more.

 

As is true with many other patterns, you can move this scale around the fretboard as well and produce the same minor blues scale but in a different key. Now, let’s compare this scale to the Amaj scale. The first note is the same, the root note of A. The second degree is one of the “blue” notes, the flat 3rd, C. Next comes a major 4th, flat 5th, and a major 5th. The 5b is one of the blue notes as well. The flat 7th is the G on the D string, and the last note is the resolving tone, A. When you play this scale you will feel the intensity of the blue notes. You may even find improvising over this scale very easy, as it is the blues scale. Remember that blues revolves around the heart and feeling that you put into playing. Be sure to practice each of these scales as they are very popular in all music. Make sure to move them around the fretboard as well. If you have any questions feel free to post in the GLI forums.

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