Tip of the Day

Step 2 - Get to know each range of the scale very well

Improvise on holes 1-3 to many different jam tracks (jam tracks with a major feel, not a bluesy feel) until you can stay exclusively within this scale. Then work holes 2-4... then 4-6... then 6-10. Final goal is to be able to improvise within this scale without thinking too much.

When working the major pentatonic scale it's best to work with a light jam track... this is the context of this scale.

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Now for the other important scale for us to learn... the Major Pentatonic Scale. This scale is used for playing jump and swing blues, rhumbas, country music, rock and ballads.

2nd Position = 1 2+ 2 3" 3 4 5+ 6+ 6 7 8 8+ 9+ 10

Step 1 - Memorize the scale, ascending and descending.

Let's put it all together...

Step 1 - Memorize the scale of focus, ascending and descending

Step 2 - Get to know each range of the scale very well (this is more affective than trying to apply the entire scale across the range of the instrument)

Step 3 - Get to know how each note in the scale relates to the chord you're playing over (use a jam track) continue reading...

Step 3 - Get to know how each note in the scale relates to the chord you're playing over

If we do this for the first three holes we get...

Blues Scale: 1+ 1' 1 2" 2 3'

I7 Chord = 1 (5th), 2" (flat-7th), 2 (Root) and 3' (Bluesy 3rd)

IV7 Chord = 1+ (root), 2 (5th) and 3' (flat-7th)

V7 Chord = 1+ (flat-7th) and 1 (root)

Try to play only the notes that match the given chord you're playing over as practice to different jam tracks.

Step 2 - Get to know each range of the scale very well

Improvise on holes 1-3 to many different jam tracks until you can stay exclusively within that scale. Then work holes 2-4... then 4-6... then 6-10. Final goal is to be able to improvise within the scale without thinking too much.

When working the blues scale it's best to work with a minor jam track. The blues scale works well over major as well, but playing to a minor track will keep you more honest... all bends have to be dead-on or it sounds bad... this creates good feedback.

One of our readers recently asked about lessons on scales. There is one lesson at the moment on how to use the blues scale (Minor Playing), but to be honest there's not much to study about scales. I will have lessons down the road, but basically the two scales we use the most and need to know well are the Major Pentatonic Scale (light playing) and Blues Scale (bluesy playing).

Step 1 - Memorize each scale, ascending and descending. continue reading...

As current subscribers here's your head start... this will be official as of the March 1st announcement. Improvising/Song Writing lessons will start to go on the site in March. Have fun and enjoy the process... it doesn't matter what skill level you're at... this is your student concert!

Shuffle King
BluesHarmonica.com Original Instrumental Songwriting Contest

Sponsored by Hohner Harmonicas (hohnerusa.com), MegaTone Amps (megatoneamps.com), Eminence Speakers (eminence.com) and Fritz Hasenpusch Custom Mics (harpmicman.com)

Prizes: continue reading...

Let's now look at the IV7 Chord in 3rd Position (same as the I7 Chord in 2nd Position and V7 Chord in 2nd Position)

I7 Chord
- G B D F

I7 Chord Blues Scale
- G Bb C Db D F G

First Octave: 1+ 1' 1 2" 2
Sequentially this is complete, running out of range for the bottom two notes of the scale.

Second Octave: 2 3' 4+ 4' 4 5 6+
This is complete and very usable.

Third Octave: 6+ (7) 7+ 8 9 9+ (10"+) continue reading...

The I7 Chord in 3rd Position is the same as the V7 Chord in 2nd Position.

I7 Chord
D F# A C

I7 Chord Blues Scale
- D F G Ab A C D

First Octave: 1+ / 1 2" 2 3''' 3" 4+ 4
Complete

Second Octave: 4 5 6+ 6' 6 7+ 8
Complete

Third Octave: 8 9 9+ 10 10+
This is missing the flat-5 (Ab) and the final octave note (D), but is very usable.

D Major Scale continue reading...