BLUES PIANO
Play the Blues Scale in Every Key
Welcome to this quick guide on how to play the minor blues scale
in every key, brought to you by Birds Piano Academy. In it you will
find:
Minor blues scales in every key
Fingering suggestions
Notation
Scale illustrations for quick and easy referencing
It also illustrates the I, IV, V chord positions, as well as the 12 bar
blues chord progressions in every key. You can then apply the
rhythms and playing techniques you have learnt (or are currently
learning) in the course. Alternatively you can support your blues
scales with basic chords or the simple accompaniment suggested
on page 3. Let's begin....
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The Minor Blues Scale
Like all scales, the minor blues scale is built up of the same
intervals (an interval is the musical word for the distance between
two notes/keys). If you can memorise the specific interval pattern,
then you can figure out the scale without the need to refer to
anything. Don't worry though, I'll still show you the scale in every
key.
In order to understand the pattern you first need to understand
what whole steps and half-steps are. If you already do, please skip
ahead.
A half-step is when you move from any white or black key on the
piano to the nearest white or black key (also known as a semitone).
A whole step is simply two half-steps (also known as a tone).
Half-Step: Whole-Step:
That's all you need to know. Here is the pattern to play the minor
blues scale in every key:
whole+half - whole - half - half - whole+half - whole
All you then need to do is start on the key you want to play the
scale in and follow this pattern. For example the minor blues in C:
W+H W H H W+H W
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The 12 Bar Blues
Here is an overview of the structure of the 12 bar blues. For
greater detail please refer to Section 3 in the video course.
The 12 bar blues is the most commonly used chord progression in
the blues genre, and in it's basic form uses the I, IV, V chords.
These refer to the 1st, 4th and 5th chords of the key in question.
For example, if the are playing in the key of C, the I, IV, V chords
would be C, F & G:
C-D-E-F-G-A-B
I - ii - iii - IV - V - Vi - Vii
You would then apply these chords (using which ever blues
techniques you have chosen) to this structure:
Cx4 - Fx2 - Cx2 - Gx1 - Fx1 - Cx2
Ix4 - IVx2 - Ix2 - Vx1 - IVx1 - Ix2
You've probably already noticed, but it adds up to 12 bars
altogether hence the name! If you are just starting out, a simple
rhythm pattern to use in the left hand is to alternate between an
open/perfect fifth (1st & 5th intervals) and the 1st and 6th.
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Blues In The Key of A
Now that you understand how the blues scale is constructed I'm
going to show you it in every key with suggested fingering. I'll also
show you the I, IV, V positions for the 12 bar blues progression.
The numbers indicate
the fingering
suggestions for the
right and left hands.
The forward slash
indicates the
alternate finger if you
wish to continue up
to the next octave.
I, IV, V Chords
Ax4 - Dx2 - Ax2 - Ex1 - Dx1 - Ax2
Ix4 - IVx2 - Ix2 - Vx1 - IVx1 - Ix2
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Blues In The Key of B ♭
I, IV, V Chords
♭ ♭ ♭
B x4 - E x2 - B x2 - Fx1 - E x1 - B x2 ♭ ♭
Ix4 - IVx2 - Ix2 - Vx1 - IVx1 - Ix2
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Blues In The Key of B
I, IV, V Chords
Bx4 - Ex2 - Bx2 - F x1 - Ex1 - Bx2 ♯
Ix4 - IVx2 - Ix2 - Vx1 - IVx1 - Ix2
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Blues In The Key of C
I, IV, V Chords
Cx4 - Fx2 - Cx2 - Gx1 - Fx1 - Cx2
Ix4 - IVx2 - Ix2 - Vx1 - IVx1 - Ix2
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Blues In The Key of C ♯
I, IV, V Chords
♯ ♯ ♯
C x4 - F x2 - C x2 - G x1 - F x1 - C x2♯ ♯ ♯
Ix4 - IVx2 - Ix2 - Vx1 - IVx1 - Ix2
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Blues In The Key of D
I, IV, V Chords
Dx4 - Gx2 - Dx2 - Ax1 - Gx1 - Dx2
Ix4 - IVx2 - Ix2 - Vx1 - IVx1 - Ix2
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Blues In The Key of E ♭
I, IV, V Chords
♭ ♭ ♭
E x4 - A x2 - E x2 - B x1 - A x1 - E x2♭ ♭ ♭
Ix4 - IVx2 - Ix2 - Vx1 - IVx1 - Ix2
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Blues In The Key of E
I, IV, V Chords
Ex4 - Ax2 - Ex2 - Bx1 - Ax1 - Ex2
Ix4 - IVx2 - Ix2 - Vx1 - IVx1 - Ix2
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Blues In The Key of F
I, IV, V Chords
Ex4 - Ax2 - Ex2 - Bx1 - Ax1 - Ex2
Ix4 - IVx2 - Ix2 - Vx1 - IVx1 - Ix2
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Blues In The Key of F ♯
I, IV, V Chords
♯ ♯
F x4 - Bx2 - F x2 - C x1 - Bx1 - F x2 ♯ ♯
Ix4 - IVx2 - Ix2 - Vx1 - IVx1 - Ix2
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Blues In The Key of G
I, IV, V Chords
Gx4 - Cx2 - Gx2 - Dx1 - Cx1 - Gx2
Ix4 - IVx2 - Ix2 - Vx1 - IVx1 - Ix2
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Blues In The Key of G ♯
I, IV, V Chords
♯ ♯ ♯
G x4 - C x2 - G x2 - D x1 - C x1 - G x2 ♯ ♯ ♯
Ix4 - IVx2 - Ix2 - Vx1 - IVx1 - Ix2
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