Recommended Fingering for Blues Scale

Recommended Fingering for Blues Scale

Right hand        C (1)    Eb(2)   F(3)    Gb(4)     G(1)    Bb(3)    C(4)

For 2 or more octaves use the following fingering:

up = 123413 123413 123413 

down = 431432 131432 131432 

These three piano styles (rock, blues, and boogies) have a few common characteristics. We will cover one feature this time.

They all use the blues scale.

What exactly is the blues scale?

We all know there are 12 major and 12 minor scales. The way to form them is by using the formula:

whole    whole    half    whole   whole   whole   half steps

The blues scale is different from the traditional scale.

Blocked 5ths and 6ths Bass Patterns

C

CG / CA / CG / CA

F

FC / FD / FC / FD

G

GD / GE / GD / GE

Here I am playing Beach Buggy Blues from a very long time ago!

Walking Bass Line

C

C, E, G, A (single bass notes)

F

F, A, C, D

G

G, B, D, E

Extended Walking Bass Line

C

C, E, G, A (ascending) Bb, A, G, E (descending)

F

F, A, C, D (ascending) Eb, D, C, A (descending)

G

G, B, D, E (ascending) F, E, D, B (descending)

A former piano student playing the acoustic piano.

Previous Posts on the Blues:

Beach Buggy Blues

Bittersweet Blues

Don't Want To Leave You Blues

How To Play Clarinet Blues

out-with-blues-scale-in-with-mixolydian

Surfin' for Dem Blues

Trems and Fills

Another great resource to add to your library, Salsa101 Do you like to play Salsa music?

All the best,

-- LadyD



"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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