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How to Combine Blues Scales

The blues scale is an easy-to-learn scale for use in composing and improvising. It can be applied to a straightforward blues progression as well as many other conventional and unconventional song forms. Once you learn the blues scale in one key, it can be used over many chords and transposed to many other keys. Blues scales can even be combined within a song or chord in order to create new sounds.

Things You'll Need

  • Musical instrument
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Instructions

    • 1

      Learn the blues scale in a key of your choice. The blues scale consists of the following interval pattern:

      m3-W-H-H-m3-W

      "m3" represents a minor third, "W" a whole step, and "H" a half step.

    • 2

      Practice using that blues scale over the standard blues progression of that key. The standard blues progression is generally "I-IV-V." For example, in the key of Bb, a standard 12-bar blues might use the following progression:

      || Bb / -- / -- / -- / Eb / -- / Bb / -- / F / Eb / Bb / -- :||

    • 3

      Consider using the other blues scales over the corresponding other chords in the blues progression. In Bb, this could involve both the Eb and F blues scale. Typically, a blues musician primarily uses only the Bb blues scale over a Bb blues progression, but other scales can be used as well.

    • 4

      Experiment with using both the Bb and Eb blues scales over a single chord in the blues progression. Combining scales over a single chord is one of the more common scale combination techniques. Continue experimenting with other arrangements of blues scales. There is no one right way to play the blues; as long as you truly feel the music, your blues will be real.

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