meddyliol - Posted - 05/11/2007:  03:47:51

Hi, as a follow up from my previous message, I should have had a good look through the forum first. I found some stuff on blues on the banjo which is exactly what I want (not bottle neck slide though). There was some mention of the blues scales, can anyone let me know what they are or wher I can find them? I seemed to look everywhere but I need some tabs of the scales if possible.
Sorry to be a nuisance but I have this need to learn.

Thanks again

Brian

banjovy - Posted - 05/11/2007:  10:04:00

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G blues scale(closed and moveable)

frmertd - Posted - 05/11/2007:  10:11:21

I can't get you any scales, I've never learned any in my whole life! (and I play mandolin, guitar and banjo). But I do know some good licks for blues. I also know if you spend alot of time at the 3rd and 5th frets ( and 1st on the 2nd string) you will hit blues notes. If you want to play some blues (a little more fun than playing scales , in my opinion), there is an arrangement in the tablature section that is full of great licks. It's the nine pound hammer song done John Mceuen style. There are probably 8 great blues licks there up and down the neck you can steal and put in all your songs. That in my opinion is how you become a banjo player, learning licks and putting them in mult songs, not playing scales.
If you want to figure out some scales, and I am definately not very good at this "theory" stuff. I have been told before that the blues scale is where you take the major scale and flatten the 3rd and seventh.
So for the G major= G A B C D E F#
The blues version = G A Bb C D E F
So you can take your banjo and figure out those notes. Again, alot will fall on the 1st, 3rd and 5th frets, good luck!!!

"There's only three chords in bluegrass: G , C and that other one" Ralph Stanley

Banjophobic - Posted - 05/11/2007:  10:22:13

It also helps to understand a blues scale and how it differs from other scales, to understand its construction. This way, you'll be able to find the notes that you hear/feel. While blues is all about feeling, you cannot play what you cannot find. Instead of just memprizing patterns (which is a start), try learning how to change into 'blues' mode hwere ever you are on the neck. It wont happen overnight, but its really worth it if yoyu're serious about playing blues on the banjo ( or any instrument).
The blues scale actually derives form a minor pentatonic, but most see it as an altered major scale:

1 - b3 - 4 - b5 - 5 - b7 - 1


So if you using this in relation to the G major,for example:

G major= G A B C D E F# G

to 'blue' this up= G - Bb - C - Db - D - F - G

these altered notes are called (what else) "blue notes"- (b3,b5,b7)

This is a good starting place for understanding the blues scale idea. Next you have to be able to find these notes in and around the 3 chord shapes, and in any region of the FB. That's what will take the time and effirt. Once you have this going, the REAL trick is to use the notes as a blues player would-go for FEEL, not number of notes. Bends are also used to add even more feel to the notes, so add that into the scale idea. Listen to as much blues mucis too, to absorb the feel.

meddyliol - Posted - 05/11/2007:  11:19:08

Thanks a lot for your info chaps. I will pursue all of your comments.

Thanks again

Brian

banjovy - Posted - 05/11/2007:  14:38:28

quote:

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Originally posted by banjovy

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G blues scale(closed and moveable)

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