Dictionary: G Blues Scale

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

Dictionary: G Minor Pentatonic Scale

The G minor pentatonic scale is convenient to use for improvising solos and composing melodies over a G minor chord progression, especially if you are unsure whether to use the Aeolian, Dorian, or Phrygian mode at any given moment.

The G minor pentatonic scale sounds especially bluesy over a G major chord progression.  If you want an even bluesier scale, stay tuned ...

Modes in G

For larger mode maps:
G Lydian
G Ionian
G Mixolydian
G Dorian
G Aeolian
G Phrygian
G Locrian

See also:
G Major Scale
G Minor Scale

Modes with 2 Flats

For larger mode maps:
Bb Ionian
C Dorian
D Phrygian
Eb Lydian
F Mixolydian
G Aeolian
A Locrian

See also:
Bb Major Scale
G Minor Scale

Dictionary: Gm Chord

If you're looking for a simpler guitar chord chart, check out this entry from July 2007.  If you're looking for a non-standard, non-G?-B?-D? spelling of the G minor chord, it's right below:

Dictionary: G Minor Scale

This scale is the relative minor of Bb major.  In the table below, you'll enter G harmonic minor territory with the chords to the right:

Gm	Bb	Adim	Bbaug
Cm	Eb	Ebm	Cdim
Dm	F	D	F#dim

Four #Chords for #Guitar / and for #Keyboard (#Piano, etc.)

Four #Chords for the #Keyboard / Four Slightly Different Chords for the #Guitar (Next Week's #Facebook #Preview!)

 

Starting next week, we'll see you on Facebook again! 

G Melodic Minor for the #Keyboard (#Piano, etc.) / and the #Fretboard (#Guitar)

Four Chords for #Piano / Four #Chords for #Guitar

Jam Session 102l with G5 Bb5 C5; F5

Here are some show/lesson/jam session notes for Jam Session 102l:

Ryan uses a glass slide for some lead licks. The vocal mics pick up some of the slide noises. Repositioning mics might reduce (but not eliminate) picking up the sound. A noise gate could work. Cranking up the amps so that the mics pick up amp sounds would be a good plan, too. In any case, here's the tab:

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Jam Session 102k with Gm C Bb

Here are some show/lesson/jam session notes for Jam Session 102k:

Dunlop-brand Tortex picks have a similar feel as Delrin-material picks from other brands.

    Gm                    C        Bb
e |-3-------------------|-8--------6---------|---------------------|
B |-3-------------------|-8--------6---------|---------------------|
G |-3-------------------|-9--------6---------|---------------------|
D |-5-------------------|-10-------8---------|---------------------|
A |-5-------------------|-10-------8---------|---------------------|
E |-3-------------------|-8--------6---------|---------------------|

Here's one prominent lick used during the jam:

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G Minor Modes

These modes in G have a major key sound mostly because of the minor 3rd, Bb:

Dorian: G A Bb C D E F G
Phrygian: G Ab Bb C D Eb F G
Aeolian: G A Bb C D Eb F G


The G minor triad (notes in bold) also exists in these three modes.

Lesson #12: Power Chords in G Minor (Guitar, Intermediate)

I don't know if this lesson truly qualifies as an "intermediate" lesson, but it does take some experience to realize why these tonally ambiguous root-5th power chords are in the context of G minor (or Bb major):

Bb Chord Progressions: IV and iv Substitutions

Remember from last time:

I. Bb major
ii. Cm
iii. Dm
IV. Eb major
V. F major
vi. Gm
vii(b5). Adim

Remember that the Bb major diatonic scale is as follows: Bb C D Eb F G A Bb

Remember that the relative minor of Bb major (the chord and the scale) is G minor.

The G natural minor scale is as follows: G A Bb C D Eb F G (compare with Bb major).

The G harmonic minor scale is as follows: G A Bb C D Eb F# G (note the singular difference between the natural and harmonic minor scales).

Now we have those ground rules established, it might help in the songwriting process to punctuate the IV chord with a iv chord, which makes things a bit Beatlesque (for lack of a better word). Going back to the simple relative minor substitutions from last time, let's try the following progression:

I-V-IV-IV: Bb F Eb Eb

Let's replace the V chord with its relative minor, the iii chord.

I-iii-IV-IV: Bb Dm Eb Eb

Let's try the III chord instead.

I-III-IV-IV: Bb D Eb Eb

Let's replace the second IV chord with a iv chord (which is a minor chord).

I-III-IV-iv: Bb F Eb Ebm

Anyway, to connect with the natural minor and harmonic minor scales mentioned above, let's look at the IV and iv chords.

IV. Eb major chord (Eb G Bb notes)

iv. Eb minor chord (Eb F# Bb notes)

Experiment with different chord progressions, and the best of luck to you in the songwriting process.

Bb Chord Progressions: iii and III Substitutions

Remember from last time:

I. Bb major
ii. Cm
iii. Dm
IV. Eb major
V. F major
vi. Gm
vii(b5). Adim

The Bb major diatonic scale is as follows: Bb C D Eb F G A Bb

Therefore, the relative minor of Bb major (the chord and the scale) is G minor.

The G natural minor scale is as follows: G A Bb C D Eb F G

The G harmonic minor scale is as follows: G A Bb C D Eb F# G

Now we have those ground rules established, it might help in the songwriting process to substitute the mellow iii chord with a more confident III chord. Going back to the simple relative minor substitutions from last time, let's try the following progression:

I-V-I-V-IV-V-I (I-V): Bb F Bb F Eb F Bb (play Bb F quickly)

Let's replace some I and V chords with their relative minors, vi and iii respectively.

I-V-vi-iii-IV-V-I (vi-V): Bb F Gm Dm Eb F Bb (Gm F)

Let's replace the iii chord with a III chord (that is a major chord).

I-V-vi-III-IV-V-I (vi-V): Bb F Gm D Eb F Bb (Gm F)

Anyway, to connect with the natural minor and harmonic minor scales mentioned above, let's look at the iii and III chords.

iii. D minor chord (D F A notes)

III. D major chord (D F# A notes)

G Blues Horizontal (Guitar, Intermediate)

Learning this expanded pattern will give you total control over the G blues scale - horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. It is advisable to memorize the entire scale in chunks that are four frets wide. Here are a few things to be aware of:

1. Hollow circles represent the G note.
2. Orange circles represent a simple pattern for the G minor pentatonic scale: G, Bb, C, D, and Eb notes.
3. Gray circles represent the rest of the pentatonic scale, outside of the simple diagonal pattern from yesterday.
4. Blue circles represent the jazzy-sounding blue note of the scale: C#.

G Blues Diagonal (Guitar, Beginner)

This pattern of the G blues scale will make you move in a mostly diagonal motion, relative to the fretboard. Here are a few things to be aware of:

1. Hollow circles represent the G note.
2. Orange circles represent a simple pattern for the C minor pentatonic scale: G, Bb, C, D, and F notes.
3. Blue circles represent the jazzy-sounding blue note of the scale: C#.

The blues scale sounds great above several varying chord progressions, from those resembling a major key (G7, C7, D7) to those more minor in nature (Gm, Bb, C) to the relative major (Bb, F, Gm, Eb), etc.

G Blues Vertical (Guitar, Beginner)

This pattern of the G blues scale will make you move in a mostly vertical motion, relative to the fretboard. Here are a few things to be aware of:

1. Hollow circles represent the G note.
2. Orange circles represent a simple pattern for the G minor pentatonic scale: G, Bb, C, D, and F notes.
3. Blue circles represent the jazzy-sounding blue note of the scale: C#.

The blues scale sounds great above several varying chord progressions, from those resembling a major key (G5, C5, D5) to those more minor in nature (G5, Bb5, C5) to the relative major (Bb, Eb, F), etc.

Gm (Guitar, Beginner)

"Gm" is not only an automobile manufacturer, it also signifies the G minor chord:

1. Using the length of your index finger, make a bar from the Low E string to the High E string, behind the 3rd fret.
2. Your middle finger will not be used for this chord.
3. Place your ring finger on the A string, behind the 5th fret.
4. Place your pinky finger on the D string, behind the 5th fret.
5. Play the G minor chord.