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Lesson 11

Scales​

Scale Theory, Adding the #4 / b5 Tone​

Natural minor scale.

Blue Note​

When this note is added to the minor pentatonic scale, we then call the combined scale the blues scale.

In general, this blue note would be called a #4 when moving up to or past the 5th scale step; or a b5 when moving down to or past the 4th scale step. This is because, in music theory, you very rarely move from an altered note (# or b) to the natural note of the same name.

Am blues scale567891011121314151617181920EBGDAE111111111b3b3b3b3b3b3b3b3b34444444455555555b7b7b7b7b7b7b7b7b5b5b5b5b5b5b5b5

Chords and Progressions​

Turnarounds​

Remember that the last two bars of a 12-bar blues progression are called the turnaround. The function of the turnaround is to move from the I chord to the V chord, which "wants" either to go back to the top of the tune and go through it again, or to go to the final I chord and end the tune.

Here are some alterations and substitutions for the turnaround.

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Practice​

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