Major minor blues confusion

[BrianJoeSandy]

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View: https://youtu.be/-1rFPPHjpC8?list=PL72622716108403F1

How to play A major blues. He explains how to transition to the 4th D and 5th E. he starts with recommending riffing on A C C# E F#. If I were to add in the B that would be the A major blues scale. But it would be (a mode of) the F# (minor) blues scale and the normal 4th and 5th would be B and C. Does this mean that over the standard simple blues progression I could choose one of two blues scales?

 

[Jazzaferri]

No...not if you want something musical

 

[Dibbs]

I don't know how anyone is going to learn anything from that video.

Yes, you can play a (minor) blues scale on the tonic or on the 6th in a major blues and you can switch from one to the other. You can use use blues scales on the root or 6th of the current root rather than the the keynote. With care, you can even use a blues scale on the 5th or the 3rd of the chord. In all cases you have to be careful with certain notes depending on the current root. Trying to give a load of rules would probably be confusing. I suggest you sit at a piano (or other keyboard) and figure out what works where. Play a root position 7th chord in your left hand and listen to the sound of each note in the various blues scales against it.

 

[Colin the Bear]

If one needs instructions how to play the blues, maybe one should stick to classical music.

All the notes you'll ever need to play blues.

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View: https://youtu.be/E0F42lasles

 

[Dibbs]

Ah! The author of the "build Rome in a day" guitar method.

 

[BrianJoeSandy]

No...not if you want something musical

So what is he up to?

 

[Colin the Bear]

Playing solo? Play what you want.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I don't know how anyone is going to learn anything from that video.

I agree.

Does this mean that over the standard simple blues progression I could choose one of two blues scales?

Over a standard (major) blues you can get away with a minor blues scale over the whole shooting match. This gets boring v quickly.

And/or you can use a major blues scale based on the root of each of I, IV and V chords.


That is a very basic generalisation that can help you start off, but will only render something musical if you learn a lot more or (better possibly) listen and get the feel of great blues players.

 

[Tenor Viol]

I was *cough* <splutter> improvising *cough* err, is it hot in here? Over a Gmin blues the other day in my lesson. Before anyone gets too excited, it wasn't on a sax...

 

[Jazzaferri]

if you don't understand the blues.....forget about playing them for a while and listen to the greats.....there are dozens of lists, many styles. I suggest you learn what the harp does in the blues...Lil Walter, Paul Butterfield or others and learn to play like that.

If you don't hear it in your head, you wont be able to play anything real, and you sure don't need theory or scales to play the blues. its mostly about rhythm(spaces between notes), feel and in between tones. You do need to be proficient in F# and B if your a tenor player or C# and Ab if your an alto person.

 

[Jazzaferri]

I have no idea what he is up to...maybe trying to make a buck @BrianJoeSandy

to be honest I haven't heard him really play...but as a teacher....hmmmmmmm

 

[Colin the Bear]

C# and Ab if your an alto person.

C# is concert E. Concert A would be F#, although concert B might come in useful.

 

[Jazzaferri]

LoL....you are so right F# it is. don't know why I was thinking of B

 

[BUMNOTE]

Not more confusion....still trying to get over other thread!!!!!!.Bumnote.

 

[Jazzaferri]

yah I get it. I was probably thinking tenor key.....happens more often these days.....I'm told it has something to do with grey hairs on the face and no hairs on the head....but that is from my other half and what would she know....

 

[Colin the Bear]

It's simpler to talk concert and let every one sort themselves out.

 

[kevgermany]

It's simpler to talk concert and let every one sort themselves out.

Only if you say it's concert, otherwise....

 

[trimmy]

Only if you say it's concert, otherwise....

Exactly after all it is a saxophone forum

 

[thomsax]

Derrick "Big Walker" Walker. Great guy and a good player. A dear friend as well and I've learned a lot from him. I went to Stockholm for a Blues Saxophone day with Big Walker and he was come down here to tech at our first Rocksax Workshop. Everyone love this guy. He use to play with Ben "King" Perkoff and they were touring with Big Mama Thornton, Percy Mayfield, Albert King ....... back in the late 70's/early 80's.

 

[Jazzaferri]

I will confess to something here. Way back in 1966 the jug band I was playing washtub bass and singing in Opened for Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee. while listeneing to them go on at each other like an old married couple while we all got drunk in the green rooma fter, it became very obvious that they didn't know a lick of theory. but the sure could play the blues.

good suggestion @Colin the Bear, only trouble is I get confused whether I am thinking concert or whatever, Its lucky for me that I have an old SML that is full of notes so all I have to do is shut up, listen and play the notes it tells me too.