How to Play the Minor Blues Scale | Guitar Lesson

In the above video, we learn how to play a simple, 6-note scale that’s incredibly important in not only blues but also rock, metal, jazz, country and even pop – the minor blues scale. 

Providing you already know the minor pentatonic scale (if you don’t please go to the lesson and all will be revealed) – learning the minor blues scale is pretty darned simple. Why? Because it’s merely the 5-note pentatonic with one extra note added – the flattened 5th or “blues note.” Compare Diagram 1 (A minor pentatonic scale fretboard pattern) with Diagram 2 (A minor blues scale fretboard pattern) and you’ll literally see what I’m talking about!

DIAGRAM 1

DIAGRAM 2

As mentioned at the start of the video, in addition to countless memorable solos, runs and licks, the minor blues scale is directly responsible for a plethora of amazing riffs including Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” intro and the Led Zeppelin classic, “Heartbreaker.”

As promised in the video, here is the A Minor Blues Scale in guitar tab format as well as the above fretboard diagram. The numbers below each one represent the suggested fretboard-hand fingerings: 1 = index finger, 2 = middle finger, 3 = ring finger & 4 = pinky.

A MINOR BLUES SCALE (ASCENDING)

To close, as also promised in the video, here are tabs for licks 1, 2 and 3, together with a downloadable version of the A minor backing track I played them over.

BLUES SCALE LICK 1

BLUES SCALE LICK 2

BLUES SCALE LICK 3

Have fun with your useful new fretboard friend – the minor blues scale!
The post How to Play the Minor Blues Scale | Guitar Lesson appeared first on inSync.