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EntertainmentHow to Play Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Play the Blues Scale on the Guitar

Transcript

Let’s talk about the Blue scale. Blue scale is a bit of a misleading term.

Real Blues players don’t really think of scales. They may have practiced scales at some point, but the actual playing of the blues is not picking notes from a scale, but rather, the Blues scale as a concept, is something that captures a bit of the Blues flavor that can be used as a tool. So, when most people use the term Blues scale, it refers to minor pentatonic, with a flat fifth added. So, what I mean by that, is the pentatonic scale has five notes.

Okay? So, if I add an extra note in between the fourth and the fifth, I get this note. It sounds kind of funny on its own, but if I throw it into the mix, it sounds like this. If I play the same thing an octave higher, I get this. I’m adding a little bravado and a slight bend on the third, this makes it sound a little bluesy-er too. So, you’ll hear that in a lot of riffs, you’ll hear it in some blues licks. Blues, again, is certainly not limited to the Blue scale, but it’s good to know. Here are a couple of examples of playing in a metal style, using the Blue scale. And, that’s this lesson.

Have fun with the Blue scale.


Lessons in this Guide

What Are Rock Cliches?

How to Play Heavy Metal Guitar with Alex Skolnick

How to Do 2 Octave Sweep Picking on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Do Right Hand Fretting on Heavy Metal Guitar

Cross String Picking Mechanics on Heavy Metal Guitar

4 Finger Vibrato Techniques on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Do 1 Octave Sweep Picking on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Do 2 Techniques with Two-Hand Tapping on Guitar

How to Play Legato on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Do 3 Techniques with Two-Hand Tapping on Guitar

How to Play Lead Heavy Metal Guitar Melodic Licks

How to Shred on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Do Alternate Picking & Play 16th Notes

How to Play String Skipping Arpeggios on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Use the Whammy Bar on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Improve Speed on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Play a Major Arpeggio on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Speed Pick on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Play Heavy Metal Guitar Solos

How to Play Pinch Harmonics on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Change Keys in Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Play Sixteenth Note Triplets on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Play Natural Harmonics on Heavy Metal Guitar

4 Improvisation & Phrasing Techniques on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Play Pedal Notes on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Play Triplets on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Play Thrash Metal Rhythm Guitar

How to Use Drop B Tuning on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Play Heavy Metal Power Chord Riffs

How to Use Rests in Rhythmic Patterns on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Play Metal Guitar Riffs in Drop D

How to Play Heavy Metal Guitar Riffs in E Minor

How to Play Rhythmic Patterns on Heavy Metal Guitar

How to Play Heavy Metal Power Chords

How to Play Heavy Metal Guitar Riffs in A Major

How to Play 1 Fret Bends on Heavy Metal Guitar

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