Blues in the key of A: using a single scale – lesson 1: shape 1.
This is the first lesson in the Blues soloing series. The diagram below shows the "first position" version of the scale. There are five different main shapes for a certain scale.
Blues in A jam track
"Shuffle Blues"
Instructions: Since the track only include one chord (A7), the A Blues scale can be used over the whole track. But consider how you address the 3rd (C), which mismatch the chord tones (see in-depth explanation below).
The Blues scale in the 5th position has easy fingerings (it is the only shape for this scale that includes four and not five frets), and is included in many common blues licks. Besides from playing the notes indicated by the dots, try to make use of techniques such as slides, bends, vibrato and hammer-ons.
One thing to take notice of is the notes on the 5th string, 6th fret and 3rd string, 8th fret. These are so-called blue notes, which mostly is used as passing notes, meaning a note that you don't stay on for a longer time.
Notice also that you can move the whole shape on octave up the fretboard. From the 5th position to the 17th position, that is. This will expand your sound color palette.
Dividing scales into shapes is a standard method for approaching them and helps the process of establishing a visual acquaintance. The shape presented above is called the first position of the Blues scale and is recommended to start with. It is recommended that you in the beginning limit yourself to one shape at a time and expand your span over the fingerboard as you progress. Chord and scale - This particular blues jam track is based upon only one chord, the dominant A seventh. The dominant seventh is the most common chord type in blues. The Blues scale (a.k.a. the Pentatonic Blues scale), as its name imply, is a perfect choice to use for blues lead guitar. Here are the notes of the chord and scale and how they relate:
A7 chord intervals and notes.
1
3
5
b7
A
C#
E
G
A Blues scale degrees and notes.
1
b3
4
b5
5
b7
A
C
D
Eb
E
G
There is not a perfect match between a A7 chord and the A Blues scale, but it will still sound great to use the scale over the chord. One thing to consider is the 3rd interval and how it differs between scale and chord. The scale includes the minor 3rd (m3) whereas the chord includes the major 3rd (M3). It will not always sound great to play the b3 over the A7 chord (I chord) and one way to tackle this is to bend the b3 note. It can be a half tone or a quarter tone bend, both will work and the reason is they imply the C#. See how this can be done by the
following licks:
When it comes to licks like these, you don't have to play them exactly at a certain point with the music, although the timing is important and also over which chords they are played.
