Learning the blues scale on bass is essential to anyone seeking to incorporate its sounds into their music. It consists of six notes and can work well over dominant chords.
The major blues scale is similar to the minor pentatonic scale with one additional note – the flatted fifth. Use this scale when playing blues basslines, bass fills or solo bass solos!
Major
Learning the major scale on bass is an excellent starting point when creating bluesy, low-end grit basslines. This scale can be applied to chord tonals (major, minor or dominant) for soloing over any blues progression.
The major scale is composed of intervals made up of whole tones and half tones, so it’s relatively straightforward to learn. Simply memorize its pattern of whole steps followed by half steps – as bass is transposing instrument, be aware that your pattern needs to move up or down neck as needed for it to fit any key you play in.
Start off by learning a major scale fingering pattern that covers the first four frets of your bass guitar. This pattern can easily be found online and in books; its learning process should take you no more than an afternoon! Plus, once complete it will allow you to access this scale without finger shifts!
Next step should be adding the minor third into this pattern. Although adding just three notes will only slightly alter its sound when combined with blues chords, adding this extra bit of tension gives your scale extra pop when used alongside them. Furthermore, using your pinky finger on any fret (including fifth fret!) helps develop the habit of using that finger for hitting some octaves with ease.
Once you’re familiar with major and minor pentatonic scales, it’s time to move onto some other bass scales associated with different genres of music. A common example is the blues scale; which is simply an adjusted version of minor pentatonic. The key difference here is that 2nd and 6th notes from this scale have been removed so as to give five note scale that can be played across any tonality without hitting notes that clash.
Minor
Scales are key for creating memorable bass lines that bring songs alive, but beginners may feel overwhelmed by all of them. To help make life simpler for newcomers to the bass world, there are some basic scales all bassists should learn as an introduction – one such scale being minor blues scale.
The minor blues scale is a six-note scale (not counting an octave) used in numerous musical genres. You might hear it in rock riffs, funk grooves or jazz bass fills; it is also an integral component of blues music itself.
Minor blues scale is similar to major pentatonic, except without 2nd and 6th notes – this gives it a distinct sound which makes it especially suitable for blues music. To play it, start at your root note and move up one step until reaching 2nd note of scale (5th note), before repeating pattern until reaching root again.
Minor blues scale is unique because it contains both minor, major and perfect intervals – a difference that sets it apart from other bass scales which typically only include minor or major intervals – giving its distinctive sound.
Notice how the third note in a minor blues scale is one note lower than in its major equivalent, creating what’s known as a flat third and giving this scale its distinctive bluesy sound.
Be mindful that while this scale is often associated with blues music, it can also add a bluesy flare to any chord. Just be sure to use it tastefully and sparingly; excessive use could quickly sound out-of-tune. Also consider practicing it with different chords so that you get an understanding of its sound on each type of chord; this will allow you to identify which notes work best with each type of chord.
Lydian Dominant
Are you searching for ways to add something special and memorable to your blues tracks? Consider learning the Lydian Dominant scale as it offers a distinct sound derived from melodic minor scale. With bass lessons dedicated exclusively to this scale, you will soon be on your way to crafting rich and captivating music that stands out from the pack.
Lydian Dominant Scales can add tension and sound great over dominant seventh chords that contain an “11,” especially those containing #11. Their raised fourth note gives these chords an attractive sound while creating tension – created by the tension created by the tritone between third and seventh of a dominant seventh chord, which has long waited to be resolved (this tritone creates blues’ signature sound).
There are various approaches available to musicians looking to resolve tritones, from simple substitutions and modifications to more intricate modifications and extensions. One way to begin solving tritones is to learn some basic patterns that work over dominant seventh chords, then incorporate #4 of the Lydian Dominant Scale into these patterns as practice before finally exploring phrases incorporating this note.
A key benefit of Lydian Dominant scales is their versatility – they work well over any type of dominant seventh chord and even serve to reinvent traditional progressions like Cmaj7-G7 by substituting G7(#11). Their raised fourth and minor seventh offer an engaging blend of brightness and bluesiness that adds some extra dimension to melodies.
Lydian Dominant scale is ideal for melodies requiring greater complexity or exoticism, due to its proximity to melodic minor scale. As its connection allows it to evoke sophisticated emotions, Lydian Dominant makes for an excellent choice when used for production or jazz improvisation.
MIDI provides the ideal method of practicing Lydian Dominant scale, as you can transpose and edit its notes to fit any key. We have assembled an assortment of premium MIDI files containing everything needed for mastering this scale; from chord tones to arpeggios. Get them today to start exploring all that the Lydian Dominant scale offers you!
Country Blues
The country blues scale is similar to the minor blues scale but features one extra chromatic note per octave known as “blue”, giving it its distinct country blues sound. Like its counterparts (minor and major blues scales), it works well when playing over major chord progressions as well as rock or funk bass lines; especially useful when performing with dominant 7 chords since this extra note allows you to bend it up or down for tension-and-release effects necessary.
The major blues scale on bass guitar features some interesting intervals and notes that give it its distinctive sound, such as its signature major 2nd and major 3rd notes that can both be bent up or down for that classic country blues sound found in artists like Clapton or B.B. King’s music. Learning this scale will enhance improvisational playing skills significantly!
As illustrated by the diagrams above, both the minor blues scale and major blues scale share similar patterns, yet behave very differently when played. This is due to the minor blues scale being modified by chords like bbbbb7 while major blues doesn’t contain these key intervals. Therefore, it is imperative to practice both scales on multiple fretboard positions to gain an understanding of how they fit together.
Blues scale is usually implemented into larger scale patterns for use over an entire song. This often results in only short sections being played before being switched out for another scale pattern for the remainder. It is possible to incorporate minor blues scale riffs throughout an entire piece – such as in B.B. King’s song “The Thrill Is Gone”.