How to play a blues scale on the piano

A blues scale is used to make cool melodies and improvisations in jazz, rock, blues and even heavy metal music. This article shows you how to play a C Blues scale on the piano.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A piano, keyboard, or software/ computer keyboard facsimile.

1. 
   Play the notes of the regular C scale.

   PLAY THE REGULAR C Major SCALE.
   On the keyboard, play notes 1 through 8, also called the letter names C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C.

2. 
   The notes of the C Blues scale

   NOW PLAY THE NOTES OF THE C BLUES SCALES
   Instead of C scale notes (1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and 8), play notes number 1, b3, 4, #4, 5, b7 and 8 (note names C, Eb, F, F#, G, Bb and C). Use your Thumb on the white notes and the pointer or middle finger on the black notes.

3. BONUS
   Can you figure out the riffs to Smoke on the Water, Iron Man, and Indagadadavida? They all use notes of the C Blues scale (hint: They start on the C note)

4. 
   The C Chord in the left hand, the C Blues scale in the right.

   PLAY THE BLUES - C CHORD
   Press and hold the C chord with your left hand, and play the C Blues scale with your right hand

5. 
   The F Chord

   PLAY THE BLUES - F CHORD
   Play the F chord in your left hand, and play the C blues scale with your right hand.

6. 
   The G chord

   PLAY THE BLUES - G CHORD
   Play the G chord in your left hand, and play the C Blues scale with your right hand.

Tips & Warnings

• The C blues scale (based on the 1 chord of the scale), also works well with the 4 chord (F), and the 5 chord (G).
• Most blues songs are made out of just 3 chords (the 1, 4 and 5 chords). You can improvise and make up melodies using the blues scale built on the 1 chord, which goes nicely with all 3 chords used in the song.

Resources

• Suz Doyle Music web site
• Other articles by SuzDoyleMusic