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There is not a "heavy metal" scale. Not a "country"
scale. But there is a blues scale. And this blues scale is not
just used in blues music. But it will definitely add a bluesy
sound to what ever style you plug it into.
A blues scale is nothing more than a minor pentatonic scale with
an added note. That added note is sometimes referred to as the
"blue note". That particular note creates a certain
amount of tension that is a common sound in the blues.
Below is a basic minor pentatonic scale form, and then that same
form with the addition of the "blue note".....appropriately
colored...blue.
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Basic
minor pentatonic
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Basic
blues
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 = Numbers
show the suggested fingering
 = Scale root
 = Added blue
note
The blues scale only consists of 6 different note names. But
when playing a blues scale on the electric bass you are going
to play more than just 6 notes. You are going to play all of the
possible places for those 6 notes within one position.
A C blues scale consists of the notes C
E F G
G and B.
Below are the names of all of the note in a basic C blues scale
form.
|--E -|-----|--F--|-G--|
-1st string
|--B-|-----|--C--|-----|
|--F--|-G--|--G--|-----|
|--C--|-----|-----|-E--|
-4th string
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8th fret
So you see that there are only 6 different note names. Once you
reach the 6th note, you will start back with the C note again.
|--2--|-----|--3--|--4--|
-1st string
|--6--|-----|--1--|-----|
|--3--|--4--|--5--|-----|
|--1--|-----|-----|--2--|
-4th string
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8th fret
So keep in mind as you play the other blues scale forms found
in this lesson, they will not neatly start and end on the root
of the scale. They are just forms that cover all of the note possibilities
in an entire position.
Page 2, the blues scale formula
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