The blues scale

One more note

The A minor pentatonic: A, C, D, E, G. The blues scale adds E♭, between D and E. It’s the diminished fifth, the “blue note”.

A, C, D, E♭, E, G

In position 1, the blue note is in two places: A string, 6^th fret and G string, 8^th fret. Both are easy to reach, between two notes you already play.

A passing note

The blue note is a passing note: you move through it, you don’t stop on it. Play it between D and E, going up or down, and rest on E or on D.

e|--------------|
B|--------------|
G|-5-7-8-7-5----|
D|-----------7~-|
A|--------------|
E|--------------|

This lick climbs the G string, touches the blue note (8^th fret), comes back down and lands on the A on the D string, with vibrato. Play it slowly: hear the blue note grind, then resolve.

The blue note in the other positions

It’s in every pentatonic position, always between D and E. In position 2, you find it on the G string at the 8^th fret, as in position 1; in position 3, on both E strings at the 11^th fret. The A blues scale pages show all five positions.

Over the progression

Improvise over the blues in A, with a shuffle. Start with the pentatonic alone, then slip the blue note into every other phrase.

Two places where it sounds especially good:

• over D7 (bars 5 and 6): E♭ is just a half step above D, the root; climb up to it, then come back down;
• just before the return to A7: a descent E, E♭, D, C, A brings you home.

You’ve got it when…

• You can point to the blue note in position 1, on the A string and on the G string
• You can play the blue note lick, with the final vibrato
• You slip the blue note into your phrases over the progression, in passing, without stopping on it