It is important to understand what scale is appropriate or available when soloing over a blues progression. The most common blues is a I, IV, V progression or a twelve bar blues. These progressions tend to contain the same types of chords, usually all of them being seventh chords, major or minor chords. The most common of these arrangements contains only seventh chords.
If we take the blues progression containing only seventh chords, we will find that one scale will not fit these chords perfectly, in a musical sense. If we try to match a scale with the chords, we could play the mixolydian mode over the I chord, in the same key of the I chord. We could take this approach to the other chords and play the mixolydian mode in the same key over the IV chord and V chord. This is one approach to solo over this type of progression.
A blues progression can also be constructed around entirely major chords in the I, IV, V pattern. In this instance, use the I major scale to solo with. It will fit perfectly with the chords, and it will difficult to hit a wrong sounding note.
If a blues progression is composed of entirely minor chords, it is best to use the natural minor scale or the minor pentatonic scale to solo with. These scales will work perfectly, as the notes contained within are the same notes used to construct the minor chords.
I would like to introduce the most common blues guitar scale, and explain when it is best suited. This scale is simply called the blues scale, and is the same as the minor pentatonic scale, but has a flat five added to it. If you recall, I mentioned that the most common blues progression is made up of entirely seventh chords(R,3, 5,flat7). This is the one scale that is best suited to play over this type of progression. It may occur to you that this scale has a minor or flat third in it - whilst the chords are using major thirds. It doesn't fit, or make musical sense! Well, in a nutshell this is what gives the blues such a "bluesy" sound - the flat 5 also gives this "bluesy" sound.
I hope you're not too confused by now! So, to find a scale to solo over a typical blues progression, typically a I, IV, V chord progression, firstly look at the I chord. If it is a seventh chord, you could match each chord with the mixolydian mode in three different keys. You could also just use the minor pentatonic scale or the blues scale in the key of the I chord. For example if the I chord is a B seventh, you would use the B blues or minor pentatonic scale. If it is a B major or B minor as the I chord you would use the B major and the B minor scales respectively. You could also just use the B blues scale over these two progressions as well, or a combination. When playing the blues you have many options available to you, so have some fun and experiment with these various blues guitar scales.
If we take the blues progression containing only seventh chords, we will find that one scale will not fit these chords perfectly, in a musical sense. If we try to match a scale with the chords, we could play the mixolydian mode over the I chord, in the same key of the I chord. We could take this approach to the other chords and play the mixolydian mode in the same key over the IV chord and V chord. This is one approach to solo over this type of progression.
A blues progression can also be constructed around entirely major chords in the I, IV, V pattern. In this instance, use the I major scale to solo with. It will fit perfectly with the chords, and it will difficult to hit a wrong sounding note.
If a blues progression is composed of entirely minor chords, it is best to use the natural minor scale or the minor pentatonic scale to solo with. These scales will work perfectly, as the notes contained within are the same notes used to construct the minor chords.
I would like to introduce the most common blues guitar scale, and explain when it is best suited. This scale is simply called the blues scale, and is the same as the minor pentatonic scale, but has a flat five added to it. If you recall, I mentioned that the most common blues progression is made up of entirely seventh chords(R,3, 5,flat7). This is the one scale that is best suited to play over this type of progression. It may occur to you that this scale has a minor or flat third in it - whilst the chords are using major thirds. It doesn't fit, or make musical sense! Well, in a nutshell this is what gives the blues such a "bluesy" sound - the flat 5 also gives this "bluesy" sound.
I hope you're not too confused by now! So, to find a scale to solo over a typical blues progression, typically a I, IV, V chord progression, firstly look at the I chord. If it is a seventh chord, you could match each chord with the mixolydian mode in three different keys. You could also just use the minor pentatonic scale or the blues scale in the key of the I chord. For example if the I chord is a B seventh, you would use the B blues or minor pentatonic scale. If it is a B major or B minor as the I chord you would use the B major and the B minor scales respectively. You could also just use the B blues scale over these two progressions as well, or a combination. When playing the blues you have many options available to you, so have some fun and experiment with these various blues guitar scales.
About the Author:
Clause N Dillon has been learning and playing music for over two decades. He has recently released an easy to follow guitar scales and soloing E Book which will help any guitar player to learn lead guitar and soloing. For a limited time we have arranged for our valued readers to receive a free copy by clicking the blue text. Learn Guitar Scales, Blues Guitar Scales
