Blues Minor Pentatonic Scales

The blues minor pentatonic scale is based off the minor pentatonic scale. Be sure that you have read and understood the previous lesson before you continue in this lesson. The blues scale is a staple for blues playing and most commonly used scale for improvisation in blues. If you want to play the blues like Jimmy Hendrix and BB King, this is the most fundamental scale that you must master.

The difference between the blues guitar scales and the minor pentatonic guitar scales is the addition of a flatted 5^th note. This gives the blues scale the unique bluesy sound due to the dissonant nature of the flatted fifth. With the huge amount of scales and theory that a guitarist has to learn and memorize, I have attempted to make things easier here. Building on the knowledge of minor pentatonic scale, you can derive the blues scale by simply adding the flatted fifth to the scale patterns.

Compare the minor pentatonic and blues minor guitar scales

A minor pentatonic scale

I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	I
A	-	C	D	E	-	G	A

A blues minor pentatonic scale

I	II	III	IV	V^b	V	VI	VII	I
A	-	C	D	Eb	E	-	G	A

Shapes of the Blues Minor Pentatonic Scale

Basically, we are maintaining the overall shape and patterns of the minor pentatonic scale. The difference is the inclusion of the flatted fifth note which is highlighted in blue.

Blues Minor Pentatonic Scale Pattern 1

Blues Minor Pentatonic Pattern 1

Blues Minor Pentatonic Scale Pattern 2

Blues Minor Pentatonic Scale Pattern 3

Blues Minor Pentatonic Scale Pattern 4

Blues Minor Pentatonic Scale Pattern 5

Blues Minor Pentatonic Pattern 5

Blues Minor Pentatonic Exercise

In this exercise, I will show you some licks and riffs using A blues minor pentatonic scale. You should probably play around with the blues scales and come up with some of your own riffs. Blues is about playing with feel and the licks do not necessarily need to be technically challenging. So, if you are a beginner, just start slow and keep the technical stuff low.

Blues Minor Pentatonic Lick 1

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Blues Minor Pentatonic Lick 2

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The blues scale is very versatile and can be used in various ways. If you are really into blues, you must get this scale down and create a few of you own licks. Have fun jamming around and let your creative juices flow. Cheers.