Improv with blues scales
Hi David,
Just checking in that you have three blues scales C, G and D. Does that suggest blues scales used for 1st, 2nd and 3d position solos etc? If so Im going to stop sweating out the D Blues scale and focus on C and G.
The piano player Im working with is asking me to learn other blues scales in other keys. Seems like if I were playing in the key of Eb second positon Id still be playing the same Blues Scale using a Bb harp.
Could you also then clarify on the use of the Pentatonic scales for licks and improv.
Please clarify.
Gary
Just one more follow up. I saw another view of the G blues scale and it used 6B 6D 7D 7B 8D 9D 9B
Can you explain the idea of the modified scale and multiple versions?
Gary
Hello Gary. Unfortunately, the blues scale is missing two notes in that range of the harmonica... the flat-3rd (Bb) and flat-5th (Db). With only one of the blue notes available (flat-7th, F, 9), it's not that bluesy. The 7 (major-3rd) and 6 (2nd) can help to fill out the scale, but the 3rd will not sound bluesy, it will sound light. I don't recommend that you use the 7 draw, major 3rd, it's not inline with the sound that the blues scale is trying to make. Using 6 draw and 6 draw bend does sound bluesy... experiment with that. This gives you 6+ 6' 6 7+ 8 9 9+. This is the way I present it in the Movement Exercises/Scales lesson here https://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/movement_exercises_study_2_scales
I thought this was a duplicate question, but I see that there is another question here as well. Read my reply to other post first, and then this for your last questions...
Minor Pentatonic is used when you want to sound very blues, or are playing in minor. The Blues Scale is the same as the Minor Pentatonic, with the addition of the flat-5... another bluesy note. They are interchangeable.
The Major Pentatonic is used when you want to play light and happy (think jump and swing blues, country, ballads, pop music, etc.).
Both scales guaranty a feel. If you stick to those notes, you'll get the quality I mention. The creativity of what you do with those notes is up to you.