How To Play a Blues Scale

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Surfing around the web this week, I was thinking a lot about blues scales and I found an interesting article that talked about how to play a blues scale on the piano. It was rather informative and made me realize that blues scales are important. I've pasted this article below for you to check out yourself. It's a great way to begin moving your right hand with blues scales and playing chords with the left hand.

How to play a blues scale on the piano
By SuzDoyleMusic

http://www.ehow.com/how_4455659_play-blues-scale-piano.html

* PLAY THE REGULAR C Major SCALE.
On the keyboard, play notes 1 through 8, also called the letter names C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C.

* NOW PLAY THE NOTES OF THE C BLUES SCALES
Instead of C scale notes (1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and 8), play notes number 1, b3, 4, #4, 5, b7 and 8 (note names C, Eb, F, F#, G, Bb and C). Use your Thumb on the white notes and the pointer or middle finger on the black notes.

For additional information on the C,D and A Blues Scale visit:

http://ladydpiano.blogspot.com/2008/07/learn-blues-piano.html

* BONUS
Can you figure out the riffs to Smoke on the Water, Iron Man, and Indagadadavida? They all use notes of the C Blues scale (hint: They start on the C note)

* PLAY THE BLUES - C CHORD
Press and hold the C chord with your left hand, and play the C Blues scale with your right hand

* PLAY THE BLUES - F CHORD
Play the F chord in your left hand, and play the C blues scale with your right hand.

* PLAY THE BLUES - G CHORD
Play the G chord in your left hand, and play the C Blues scale with your right hand.

Tips & Warnings

The C blues scale (based on the 1 chord of the scale), also works well with the 4 chord (F), and the 5 chord (G).

Most blues songs are made out of just 3 chords (the 1, 4 and 5 chords). You can improvise and make up melodies using the blues scale built on the 1 chord, which goes nicely with all 3 chords used in the song.

Learn How To Play The Piano>



* Just for fun listen to this 2 min. video
A great old number that always seems to go down well!

Old Piano Roll Blues!



Cheers,
~ LadyD

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