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Forums :: Ask Instructor David Barrett

2nd Position Blues = 11 Position Blues?

1 reply [Last post]
Thu, 01/18/2018 - 22:33
Rishió
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Joined: 08/16/2016

On a C Harp, the 2nd Position Blues Scale (G) is like the 2nd position Minor Pentatonic scale (G Minor) with 1 extra note. Since G Minor scale is the relative Minor of the as B-Flat Major scale (11th Position), does that mean that the 2nd Position Blues scale is the same as the 11th Position Blues scale, but with a different root note? To be more specific, can I play B-flat blues on a C Harp using the same scale I would use when playing G Blues on the C Harp, with b-flat as the root note?

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Fri, 01/19/2018 - 09:14
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David Barrett
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Joined: 12/20/2009
"On a C Harp, the 2nd

"On a C Harp, the 2nd Position Blues Scale (G) is like the 2nd position Minor Pentatonic scale (G Minor) with 1 extra note."

That's right

"Since G Minor scale is the relative Minor of the as B-Flat Major scale (11th Position), does that mean that the 2nd Position Blues scale is the same as the 11th Position Blues scale, but with a different root note? To be more specific, can I play B-flat blues on a C Harp using the same scale I would use when playing G Blues on the C Harp, with b-flat as the root note?

The G Blues scale is G Bb C Db D F G

The Bb Blues scale is Bb Db Eb E F Ab Bb... these notes are not really in common

The Bb Minor Scale is Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb... closer with this

Give it a try, maybe you can find some use out of it. I have not heard of a player doing this.

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