Blues in the key of G: jam track lesson – lesson 1: shape 1.
This is the first lesson in the G Blues Scale guitar series. The lesson series include audio, scale diagrams and instructions.
Instructions
The G Blues scale (see diagram below) can be used over the whole track (see chord progression below), but the final outcome of your solo can be improved by some slight adjustments:
1) Over the I chord (G7), think about how you address the 3rd (Bb) in the scale. It clashes with the B in the chord. A common procedure is a 1/4 bend. On the other side, Bb is a great target note for the IV (C7) chord.
2) Over the IV chord (C7), F note, will sound unsatisfying since it clashes with the E in the chord.
3) When the tune shifts to the V chord (D7), C is a great target note.
Start the jam track by pressing the play button in the audio element below and use the notes presented in the diagram and try to improvise in the style of blues.
"Texas Blues Rock in G"
Jam track info
Instruments: Bass, drums and rhythm guitar Chords: G7, C7, D7 (see full progression below) Tempo: 120 BPM
Dividing scales into shapes is a standard method for learning them. It helps the process of establish a visual acquaintance over the whole fretboard. This lesson focus on the shape 1 of the G Blues scale played in 3rd position, or, one octave up in the 15th position.
Try not to approach you solo by only think about the scale pattern but also which actual notes you are playing.
Also try to make use of techniques such as slides, bends, hammer-ons and pull-offs. A tip is to bend the note on the 3rd string, 5th fret since it will sound great in most cases regardless if you bend a half or a whole step (notice that the D tone at the 3rd string, 7th fret also are included in the scale, but in shape 2).
Explanations
Chords and structure - This blues jam track in in 4/4 time is structured as a 12-bar song, by far the most common song structure in blues. It also uses one of the most standard chord progressions including the I chord on the first four bars. The chords are played in a progression as seen below:
12-bar structure chords in each chorus.
G7
G7
G7
G7
C7
C7
G7
G7
D7
C7
G7
D7
Each bar last for two seconds. The complete structure is played four times (notice that in the last repeat, the D7 turnaround in the 12th bar is replaced with a G chord). The more you jam over 12-bar blues jam tracks with I, IV and V chords, the more you train your ear to hear the chord changes.
Lessons overview
G Blues Scale guitar series include these lessons:
