Dictionary: B Blues Scale

When you add a diminished 5th note to the B minor pentatonic scale (the F note, in this case), you now have the B blues scale.  Try it over B.  Any B.  You may like the results.

Jam Session 106i with B E B G B E D F# (Guitar, Drums)

 

Here are some show/lesson/jam session notes for Jam Session 106i:

• Both Jon and Ryan play guitar;
• The Pro Tools plug-in Digidesign Strike provides the drum beat;
• The only program that uses Strike is Pro Tools, but it comes in many flavors, such as HD, LE, and M-Powered.
• Pro Tools LE for music production can be as "inexpensive" (if around $300 fits that description) as purchasing a Digidesign Mbox 2 Mini (USB interface) to more option-filled hardware like Digidesign Digi 003 Workstation (FireWire)...and beyond?
  
• In any case, the chords are B E B G B E D F#.
• Ryan goes back and forth between the B Mixolydian mode and the B blues scale (both above), depending on the chord (or not!).  For example:  Mixolydian (B E B) Blues (G) Mixolydian (B E) Blues (D F#).
  

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Lesson #34: Blues in B (Guitar, Intermediate)

If you've been paying attention to our other 12 bar blues lessons, you pretty much know the drill:

B 2 3 4
B 2 3 4
B 2 3 4
B 2 3 4

E 2 3 4
E 2 3 4
B 2 3 4
B 2 3 4

F# 2 3 4
E 2 3 4
B 2 3 4
B 2 3 4*

*The last bar has several variations in which to "turn around" to the beginning. I personally like (bars 9-12):
F# 2 3 4
E 2 3 4
B 2 3 4
E F F# 4

or when the groove is slower, a slightly offbeat:
F# 2 3 4
E 2 3 4
B 2 3 4
B 2 (E F F# yeah)

or a more conventional (for fast or slow tempo):
F# 2 3 4
E 2 3 4
B 2 3 4
B 2 F# 4

Here's the blues scale in B to solo above the 12 bars mentioned above:

B Blues Horizontal (Guitar, Intermediate)

Scale: B blues

Notes: B D E F F# A

Hollow Circles: B notes

Orange Circles: B minor pentatonic, diagonal pattern

Gray Circles: B blues outside of the minor pentatonic diagonal pattern

Blue Circles (Blue Note): F notes

Example Chord Progression for Rhythm Guitar: B5 E5 B5 F#5 E5 B5

B Blues Diagonal (Guitar, Beginner)

Scale: B blues

Notes: B D E F F# A

Hollow Circles: B notes

Orange Circles: B minor pentatonic

Blue Circles (Blue Note): F notes

Example Chord Progression for Rhythm Guitar: Bm G D A

B Blues Vertical (Guitar, Beginner)

Scale: B blues

Notes: B D E F F# A

Hollow Circles: B notes

Orange Circles: B minor pentatonic

Blue Circles (Blue Note): F notes

Example Chord Progression for Rhythm Guitar: Bm Em F#m Em