Blues chord progressions typically begin with four bars of E major in its 1 chord position and progresses through to two measures of A major and B major 4th chords and then 5th chord B major (the “1-4-5-5 progression”). This progression can be found in many songs.
Scales
The blues scale is an integral component of blues guitar playing. This scale essentially comprises the minor pentatonic scale with one extra note (known as “blue”) added at its core – known as “blue”. This provides it with its signature sound while also enabling ascending or descending runs of chromatic notes that add tension and excitement to your playing.
There are various variations of this scale used in blues music. The minor blues scale is very accessible and is useful across most major chord progressions; additionally, ambiguous dominant 7 chords benefit greatly as this scale allows for clear root note playing without clashing with its 7th note counterparts. Furthermore, its similarity to minor pentatonic scale makes it suitable for minor keys as well.
Major blues scale is another variation on the blues scale that builds upon similar intervals to minor pentatonic, yet includes a flat third note – known as blue note or simply “b3.” This scale provides an effective tool for soloing over blues songs as its distinctive sound adds flair to solos while giving the opportunity for bends that are often found in blues guitar.
The blues augmented scale can be more challenging to learn, but is very useful for creating distinct sounds. Based on the minor blues scale but adding an augmented sixth note for more chromatic sounding notes. This scale can be applied in numerous musical genres including rock and jazz music styles.
Practice these scales over a jam track is key to mastering them; this will allow you to hear how the scales sound while practicing bending over major second and minor third notes, which are both staples in blues guitar. Just be careful not to overuse these scales as overdoing it could become tiresome and predictable.
Chords
Blues music places great importance on chords. Repetition of certain chords creates tension that adds an essential aspect of blues music.
To achieve this effect, chord structures need to be slightly dissonant – hence why chromatic notes play such an integral part of blues music: their dissonant qualities contribute greatly towards its unique sound and give blues its distinct soundscape.
Blues music typically employs two basic chord shapes – E and A forms – as variations on a full barre chord shape, respectively rooted on E and A strings. E forms are commonly used for 1 chord in 12-bar blues progressions while A forms can be found used for 4 and 5 chords; other movable forms such as shell chords (cut-down versions of full barre chord shapes that only contain essential tones) may also be employed.
Movable shapes can also be beneficial for beginners as they do not require the use of pinkie fingers to play them. Furthermore, these exercises help beginners develop fretboard navigation. You can practice playing E and A shapes starting at the 3rd fret and working your way up the neck while continuously switching between these two. This exercise will consolidate chord shapes as well as making playing blues easier!
Blues music often uses dominant 7th chords to subdue major chords and create what is known as “Bird Blues.” This technique, particularly popularized by Charlie Parker who created bebop saxophonist music, often produces 4-chord changes into 1-3-5-b7 (D7 chord), often called 1-3-5-b7 or D-F#-A-C chord progressions. Hence its moniker.
Reharmonization may not be strictly necessary in blues music, but it can certainly add an effective touch. One main benefit is giving the music an emotionally charged sound – something which has made this genre such a success story!
Rhythms
Blues guitarists must develop the foundational rhythms necessary for playing blues guitar in order to excel. Because blues is such a highly syncopated style, learning techniques such as hammer-ons and pull-offs is paramount in creating your own distinctive rhythmic style and creating that essential emotional feel found within blues music.
There are various blues rhythms, and one of the most popular is known as 12 Bar Blues Progression – a set sequence of chords repeated every 12 bars of music, usually featuring playing one chord for four bars, then four for two bars, then five for one bar – giving your song an engaging rhythmic structure which creates tension and resolution as well as being an effective way to practice switching chords.
Another popular rhythm is slow change blues, an alternative to the traditional slow blues progression which adds an additional beat between each change of chords for added momentum and to make listening to it more compelling – frequently used by artists such as Joe Bonamassa.
Blues players use different strum patterns in addition to changing chords, including straight eighth-note rhythm or syncopated patterns. Finding one you are comfortable playing takes practice – try practicing slowly at first until eventually you will be playing an entire series of chords without difficulty!
The blues scale contains notes that excite both tension and resolution, creating its signature sound and creating an emotional response from listeners – making blues an effective form of art.
Rhythm is a key part of any song, but especially so in blues music. Mastering its unique rhythms and tempos can set apart this genre, and all musicians should strive to perfect this aspect of blues music.
Variations
Blues chord progressions can be altered in various ways to add interest or diversity to a song. One way is through using a hammer-on/pull-off technique on E chords; these techniques involve striking bass or middle strings before lifting off your finger to change how they sound; they may also be combined with other notes for more complex chords.
Change the strumming pattern to add variation to a blues chord progression by altering its strumming pattern, such as by switching between simple rhythm and fast-paced patterns. This will bring life and energy back into your music! Another effective technique is using syncopated rhythm, wherein all beats in one bar don’t arrive simultaneously – particularly effective when combined with slower blues rhythms.
Many basic blues chords are open position chords, making them simple to learn without needing to learn complex fingerings. This makes learning these chords simpler than learning new fingerings for more complex chords, as well as providing you with the foundation needed to play more intricate ones without learning new fingerings each time. Blues chords also tend to be more harmonically complex than regular major chords with many intervals present that give them their distinct sound distinguishing them from other styles of guitar music.
The 12-bar blues progression is one of the most frequently utilized versions of blues music. This structure comprises four bars of the 1 chord (E), two bars of 4 chord (A), and one bar of 5 chord (B). This style can be found both minor and major blues songs.
A variation on this progression is the 16 bar blues. This form contains four more bars than its 12 bar counterpart, often used to create an effective turnaround at the end of songs.