Minor Blues

From the moment you play a minor blues scale you will

quickly understand how you too can add a blues feel to your

music.  This scale obviously is used in blues but is also used

heavily in rock and country. The minor blues scale takes the

minor pentatonic scale and adds on a flat 5th.  There are five

different positions on the neck to play this scale but the one
below is my favorite.

guitarinternational.com

The Root note is the red dot and the black is the flat 5th turning

it from just a minor pentatonic into the blues minor scale.  In

an “Am” pentatonic (“penta” – 5, “tonic” – note) scale you would

see  “A, C, D, E, G” when you add the sixth note (the flat 5th) it

becomes bluesy  “A, C, D, Eb, E, G” .  This is a moveable scale so get

familiar with this scale all over the neck.  You can see and learn all

five positions here, this chord chart is simple and the one I printed

 off in the past. 

If you’re interested, the major blues scale adds a flat 3^rd to its

pentatonic scale.  In “A” it would be:  “A, B, C, C#, E, F, F#”.  Here’s

a picture of a Major Blues Scale (the red dot is the root and the 

green is the flat 3rd). 

yellowguitarbooks.com

Song to hear -  3 O'Clock Blues, B.B. King     

Song to learn -  Tab for 3 O'Clock blues by B.B. King  

Passion

A passion is something that you put a lot of hard work, discipline,
and time into yet the more you put in the more joy you receive in
return.  There are few things in my life that I have a true passion
for: my family, my Savior Jesus Christ, and playing guitar.  All of
life's passions should be shared with others.


When ever I can I try to put the passion I have for playing guitar in
others.  If I learn of a friend or co-worker that has stopped playing I
try to entice them to start playing again, offering to help them buy a new
guitar or to get together and play.  I have often given a few beginner
lessons to someone that has just purchased a guitar, hoping that what little
I may teach them in the short time we meet that they can learn enough to
play and learn for a lifetime.
  

(Doc Watson and Clarence Greene sharing their
passion on the streets in the 1950's)

Finding a new song or a new friend that plays always makes me want
to play more and work harder to be better.  Get back to it,   
find a new song or stop by your favorite guitar shop, even passions
need rekindled every once in a while.


Song to listen to - Doc Playing Beaumont Rag
Song to learn     - Tab for Beaumont Rag