Jul/9/08
12comments

Ukulele Scales: Blues Scale

The Blues Scale is very similar to the minor pentatonic scale. There’s only one new note: the flattened fifth (also known as the devil’s interval).

C Blues Scale

The extra note fits in to the minor pentatonic like this:

C Blues Scale Fretboard

Looks like this in tab:

C blues scale tab

And sounds like this:

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C Blues Scale

Here’s me having a little mess around with it.

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C Blues Mess Around (MP3)

D Blues Scale

Like the minor pentatonic, you can change the key of the blues scale just by moving the same pattern up the fretboard. The lowest note on the scale is the key that it’s in. For example, the D blues scale starts on the second fret of the C string like this:

D Blues frets

And this in tab:

D Blues Scale Frets

F Blues Scale

The same deal with F. Starting on the fifth fret of the C string.

F Blues Frets

blues ukulele scale tab

If you want tab for the ‘blues mess around’ – and plenty of other ukulele blues – check out my How to Play Blues Ukulele ebook.

12 Comments

  1. J-Hob July 9th, 2008 6:44 pm

    I’m really enjoying these music theory posts, can’t wait for the blues e-book! I do hope a tab for your little blues mess around or something similar will be in there, it sounds great!

  2. Scorpion July 9th, 2008 6:54 pm

    How do you get all those blues chords?

  3. Woodshed July 9th, 2008 11:58 pm

    John: Hopefully, if I can work out what it was I played.

    Scorpion: The basic chords I used were just C5, F5 and Gm. The other notes in there are all from that pattern. You might be interested in this: Slayer – Raining Blood (PDF)

  4. Art Crocker July 10th, 2008 12:29 pm

    Thanks for the Blues Scales, for some reason I have never run across them. The CBlues Mess Around you did is very cool. I do hope in your spare time you will be able to tab out something close to it.

  5. Nelson July 10th, 2008 4:28 pm

    I <3 yewwww!
    Lovin’ the theory stuff you’re dishin’ out!
    Thanks again, man.

    And whaaa?! Raining Blood?!
    ….joo crazy.

  6. Scorpion July 10th, 2008 5:05 pm

    Thanks for the tab I’ve been waiting for it, right now I’m just practicing to get the next part fast enough and practicing throwing my head around.

  7. Woodshed July 10th, 2008 9:55 pm

    Art: Yep, it’s been tabbed.

    Nelson: I’m blushing now.

    Scorpion: Good luck with it.

  8. uli October 30th, 2008 9:23 pm

    your blues e-book rocks!

  9. Woodshed October 30th, 2008 9:51 pm

    Thanks, uli.

  10. tenaday November 27th, 2008 6:15 am

    any chance i can get that mess around blues tab? i just found the site, looks great. thanks!

  11. Woodshed November 30th, 2008 9:50 am

    tenaday: It’s in my How to Play Blues Ukulele ebook.

  12. chuck carr August 23rd, 2009 3:16 am

    Having a blast with this. I got the ebook as well as a couple uke blues dvds. Definately worth the $ and effort. Chuck

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