If you want to be able to play in the Jazz-Blues style, then I’m going to ask you to include these two Blues tone "variations" into your Blues scale training. All you’ll need is to do is expand the Blues scale by two notes (a Major 6, and a major 7). After that, you'll just need to allow for continued practice of proper phrasing technique in order to build and incorporate this new sound...




In this video, I am going to show you how to add these two notes and then how to exercise them in order to not only help to increase the understanding of the new patterns with these intervals.

Along with that, I’m going to help you with understanding the sound that results from adding these notes to the Minor Pentatonic /Blues scale over the next 30 days.

WATCH THE VIDEO:





WHAT SCALE IS THIS?
Modified scales are always a unique factor in a musicians tool-bag. The scale I have for you in this lesson is based off of the Minor Pentatonic.

However, we’re going to be talking about a scale for playing Jazz or Blues or both, and so it will have modifications to support that. The pattern I have in this lesson is a scale that was first shown to me by Jazz Guitarist “Joe Diorio.”

And, when he showed it to me, he stressed that, if I practiced this scale for a month, within that time I’d start to discover some really incredible sounds happening from its application.

And, he was right.

The details behind this sale are that it’s built from the framework of the Minor /Blues Pentatonic, but there will be a couple of “easy to apply” twists and turns that we’re going to make with this scale which will allow it to offer us a brand new direction of sound.

To get things started, what we’re going do here is begin by running through some patterns that offer a more colorful approach to the Blues direction.

And, if you stick around till the end, we’ll also add one extra tone that will move us into the Jazz direction. So, let’s get started…




PATTERN 1). Diminished 5th and Major 6th
Here’s our first guitar neck pattern for what I’m going to refer to as an expanded “Blues Scale.” First, I want to start - by getting you to play it through.

High Register Shape:
Key of "G" Blues



In this layout, we have the standard tones of the Minor Pentatonic, with the intervals of; “R1, b3, 4, 5 b7,” Plus, there’s also the diminished 5th. Which creates the “Blues” scale effect.

I’ve also included the Major 6th tone as well, which offers us a slightly more sophisticated sound for Blues. You’ll notice the “Dim. 5th” and the “Maj. 6th” tones are highlighted in Blue!

Next, let’s play this scale in a few more locations, so you have additional options for applying it over places of the fingerboard. Here it is in the lower octave based off of the 5th string 10th fret…

Upper Neck Position:
Key of "G" Blues





Now here it is played off of the 4th-string in 5th position.

Mid-Neck Position:
Key of "G" Blues





Here’s another 4th string version, but this one is based in the 3rd position

Low-Neck Position:
Key of "G" Blues






I wanted to take a moment to let you know, that if you have an interest in expanding your playing knowledge even further, then I have a great offer.

With any donation over $5, or any merchandise purchase from either my Tee-Spring, or my Zazzle store, I’ll send you a free copy of THREE of my most popular digital handouts.

One is called, “Harmonized Arpeggio Drills” (it’ll train you on developing your diatonic arpeggios).

Another one is my “Barre Chord” handout which includes a page showing all the key signatures along with a chord progression that applies barre chords.

Plus, you’ll get my Notation Pack! It has 8 pages of important guitar worksheets for notating anything related to; music charts, guitar chord diagrams, and TAB.

Just send me an email off of the contact page of CreativeGuitarStudio.com to let me know about either your donation or your Merchandise purchase and I’ll email you those digital handouts within 24 hrs.




PATTERN 2). Adding the Major 7th
Next, we’re going to modify the layout of our “Expanded Blues Scale” by adding a Jazz flavor to the sound of the scale.

To do this we’re going to insert a Major 7th tone which will add another chromatic concept to the scale.

High Register Shape:
Key of "G" Jazz-Blues




Next, let’s play this Jazz modified scale in a few extra locations so you have more options for being able to apply it.

Here it is, located in the lower octave range based off of the 5th string’s 10th fret.

Upper Neck Position:
Key of "G" Jazz-Blues



 


Now here it is played off of the 4th-string in 5th position.

Mid-Neck Position:
Key of "G" Jazz-Blues






Here’s another 4th string version, but this one is based in the 3rd position

Low-Neck Position:
Key of "G" Jazz-Blues







CONCLUSION:
If you take these scales and experiment with using their sound along with how the different intervals - that build their structure - can start to work together to create a Blues, as well as, a Jazz effect over different Minor chords.

The effect does not stop there. Because this scale most certainly works over Dominant chords as well. 

After using the scale for a few weeks, you’re going find that you’ll start to get a much better understanding for hearing how to manipulate the use of these intervals.

Then, after 30 days time, you’ll start being able to use these new sounds at a much higher level of skill and comfort when it comes to creating interesting Jazzy-Blues lines from this group of notes.