Improvising 402 - The Blues Scale

The blues is all about going for the sound you hear in your head as opposed to matching a specific scale to a specific chord. The blues scale can be moved from chord to chord, but works best as the scale from the tonic over each chord.

For example: 

Play the B blues scale over a blues in B (B7, E7, F#7).  Yes, you can play the E blues, and the F# blues over their respective chords, but you’ll be departing from the tonal center a tad (which is cool sometimes). 

The b5, while not in any of the chords, just works perfectly. You have to listen to where you want to use it, but it can be hung on or run by quickly.   Play some of these jam tracks and remember: use all 5 patterns and connect lead lines!

Jam Tracks:

1.  Blues in G

2.  Blues in E

3.  Blues in A