Blues scale
The blues scale is a scale that comes from the blues music and contains the characteristic blue notes.
Formation of the blues scale
It arises from the pentatonic scale in a minor key by adding the diminished fifth.
Another variant of the blues scale is created by the major third is added to the above scale. This gives the following scale:
The existence of major and minor third and pure and flatted fifth in this scale should enable the non-existent actually in the Western chromatic tonal system, to approach lying between large and small third and perfect and diminished fifth Blue Notes by the fact that the two adjacent tones in succession be played or shared.
This is suggested that these tonal combinations are frequently played in the Blues, on the other hand is the fact that the two- tone e - it sounds completely different than a single tone between these two tones, and that the Blue Notes are not necessarily between the semitones of the said scale.
Application of the blues scale
The blues scale is an attempt to approach the intended sound or display their sound in the manner of a scale. In the musical practice, there are different ways to approach this ideal. A singer can naturally change the pitch of any. But on many instruments, it is possible to produce sounds outside the chromatic tuning.
Stringed instruments
When you play the melody on the guitar, it is possible to pull the fretted note and thereby increase its pitch. This bending allows, inter alia, playing Blue Notes. (Ie You play to display the Blue Note not both tones, but grips the bottom, and pulls it to the required height. This technique is also used unconsciously by experienced guitarist. )
For non- fretted instruments (eg violin), this technique is also possible, but can be used directly, a desired tone.
Harmonica
Also on the harmonica, a very typical instrument of the blues, can be produced by the Bending with special blowing and traction techniques also change the pitch of blue notes.
More Blue scales
Analogous to built on the pentatonic minor blues scale, there is a major blues scale, which is based on the major pentatonic and, based on C, the tones c, d, it, e, g, a, and b has.
Then there are the blues-rock - and-roll scale ( minor pentatonic and major pentatonic added incl tritone: c, d, it, e, f, tot, g, a, b ) and the so -called B. - as - king- blues scale (c, it, f, tot, g, a) that are not quite so " chubby " acts as the minor blues scale.
Schematic representation of different scales Blue
Further Reading
- Hal Crook: How to Improvise. Advance Music, 1991, ISBN 3-89221-031-4.
- Richard Graf, Barrie Nettles: The chord scale theory and jazz harmony. Advance Music, ISBN 3-89221-055-1.
- Frank Haunschild: The new harmony, Volume I, 1997, ISBN 3-927190-00-4.
- Axel Jungbluth: jazz harmony. Schott, 1981
- Frank Sikora: New jazz harmony. Schott Music, 2003, ISBN 3-7957-5124-1. ( with 2 CDs)
- Gerald Smrzek: The Book of Scales. Canticum Edition, 2004.
Swell
- Scale
- Jazz
- Blues