Description
Using the Blues Scale-Part 3. I always tell my students that all they need to know to get a gig is their blues scales. They always think I’m joking and that there is no way it can be that easy but the truth is that 90-95% of today’s songs are in one key. The band vamps and plays the same groove and key for the whole song. The person that can stand up and play an authoritative solo using the blues scale is the one who will get the gig. Unfortunately, most of the young players today don’t really know their blues scales like they should. Sure, they all say that they do but then when I have them play a solo using one it is usually dead, lifeless and uncreative. The problem is that most young people today are given advice to use a blues scale on this solo or that solo but then no one ever shows them how to use it. They are just given the scale and told to improvise.
In this lesson I take on the job of showing you exactly how to use each note of the blues scale over major,minor and dominant grooves. I teach about each individual note of the scale and how it relates to the chord behind it. I also talk in depth about what I feel are the tendencies of each note and tactics that I use when playing the blues scale over static backgrounds and chords. Part 3 is mainly focused on using the C blues scale over a C minor chord as well as adding the notes A and D to the scale to create more of a Dorian sound. I demonstrate all of these sounds on the tenor sax with a background track playing behind me so you can hear how these ideas sound to the music. Listen to these 3 lesson on the blues scale, practice like crazy and I’ll see you out there on a gig one of these days! Enjoy! (27 minute video lesson)
Jazzsurfer (verified owner) –
These are a great addition to the already excellent audio versions of ‘Using the Blues Scales 1 & 2″. I would recommend getting both the audio versions and the videos. My reasoning is that the audio versions give you a great introduction about the scales, how to use, and what other notes you can throw in – but with specific reference to the D Blues scale. The videos do the same thing with specific reference to the A & C Blues scales therefore giving the student a whole bunch of licks, ideas, etc in at least 3 Blues scales.
On the audio versions I use software that slows the licks down and enables me to really get the stuff that Steve plays under my fingers. It’s then much easier to change the key (again using the software) and learn them in the new key.
The whole suite of Blues stuff is (in my opinion) much better value than the other stuff that I have bought (books etc) so much so that I am going to ditch the books and just concentrate on the stuff Steve produces. For me it shed light on the whole thing – filled in the gaps and has given me solid ammo that I can use on gigs.
Great stuff Steve – and thank you.
Peter (verified owner) –
The best lessons,explanation on blue scales using blue scales ever.thanks