1

Table of Contents
The Blues Scale in A Minor

Position 1 4

Position 2 5

Position 3 6

Position 4 7

Position 5 8

21-Must Know Chords 9

The Blues Scale in A Minor

The Blues Scale in A Minor

If you want to be able to play the Blues as well as related music genres like Rock and Jazz, you have to know
the
Blues
ThetoBlues
scale
pentatonic
scale like
with
theand
addition
a blue
note.
This blue
If you
want Scale.
to be able
play the
Bluesisasawell
as related minor
music genres
Rock
Jazz, youof
have
to know
the Blues
Scale.
note
is actually
flattened
fifth
ofwith
the the
scale.
In the
of Anote.
minor,
fifth
is E,
and so the
theflattened
blue note
is
The Blues
scale is athe
pentatonic
minor
scale
addition
of akey
blue
Thisthe
blue
note
is actually
fifth of
the scale.EInflat.
theThis
key ofsingle
A minor,
the is
fifth
is E, and
so the
the blue
is always sound
E flat. This
single
is whatvocal
gives the
Blues its
always
note
what
gives
Bluesnote
its distinct
that
hasnote
a certain
quality.
distinct sound that has a certain vocal quality.

In this booklet, we have outlined all five positions of the Blues Scale in A minor in fretboard diagrams. You
In this booklet, we have outlined all five positions of the Blues Scale in A minor in fretboard diagrams. You would read these
would read these diagrams as if you were looking at your fretboard while you are playing. We also have ladiagrams as if you were looking at your fretboard while you are playing. We also have labeled the fretboard diagrams with fret
beled
the
fretboard
numbers
(from
0 toof22,
0open
meaning
open
string)
as well
as itthe
notes
numbers
(from
0 to 22, diagrams
0 meaningwith
openfret
string)
as well as
the notes
each
string in
standard
tuning
to make
easier
to
of
each open string in standard tuning to make it easier to read.
read.
Presented below
is the
legend
for thefor
symbols
we have used
in theused
fretboard
diagrams:
Presented
below
is the
legend
the symbols
we have
in the
fretboard diagrams:
R

=
Root
of the(A)
scale (A)
= Root
note
ofnote
the scale

=
Blue(Eb)
note (Eb)
= Blue
note
=
Otherofnotes
of the These
scale. These
have numbers
the diagrams
for suggested
fingering
1, 3,
2,4.
3, 4.
= Other
notes
the scale.
have numbers
in theindiagrams
for suggested
fingering
i.e.i.e.
1, 2,

Position 1
E

RR

3
4

10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

In playing each position, remember to play one note per finger. You can practice each position either in
playing each
remember
to play one note
per finger.
You can
practice
eachscale
position
its entirety
in
itsIn entirety
or position,
in a so-called
three-string
boxed
positions
e.g.
play the
in either
eitherintop
three or
strings
a so-called three-string boxed positions e.g. play the scale in either top three strings or bottom three strings at a
or bottom three strings at a time.
time.

Position 2
E

E
0

3
9

10

b
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

The fingering presented here is different from how you would play pentatonic minor in position 2. This
The fingering presented here is different from how you would play pentatonic minor in position 2. This is because the sugisgested
because
the for
suggested
forplay
position
2 per
allows
you
to play
oneyou
note
peruse
finger.
If, forfingering
example,
fingering
position 2fingering
allows you to
one note
finger.
If, for
example,
would
the typical
you
wouldfingers
use the
fingering
i.e.
fingers
and
forstrings,
C (8thyou
fret)
andhave
D (10th
i.e. using
2 andtypical
4 for C (8th
fret) and
D using
(10th fret)
in the26th
and41st
would
to slidefret)
yourin
4ththe
fin-6th
and
1stplay
strings,
you
would have to slide your 4th finger to play the blue notes.
ger to
the blue
notes.
5

Position 3
E

D
A

4
1

E
1

3
4

10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

You may have observed that the suggested fingering for each position shifts reference i.e. finger 1 on
You10th
may have
thatand
the then
suggested
fingering
shifts
reference
finger
1 on the 10th the
fret 4th
the
fret observed
4th string
finger
1 on for
theeach
9thposition
fret 3rd
string.
This i.e.
is to
accommodate
blue
string and then finger 1 on the 9th fret 3rd string. This is to accommodate the blue notes for a one-finger-per-note apnotes for a one-finger-per-note approach rather than having to slide the 4th finger towards the blue
proach rather than having to slide the 4th finger towards the blue note.
note.
6

Position 4
3

E
B

G
D

1
b

4
1

3
R

RA

10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

We have presented position 4 in two different locations in the fretboard. The first one utilizes open
We have presented position 4 in two different locations in the fretboard. The first one utilizes open strings while the
strings while the second one is played an octave higher.
second one is played an octave higher.

Position 5
E

R
b

10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

You may have observed that the suggested fingering for each position shifts reference i.e. finger 1 on
You3rd
mayfret
have2nd
observed
that
thethen
suggested
fingering
for each
reference
i.e.to
finger
1 on the 3rd fret
the
string
and
finger
1 on the
2ndposition
fret 3rdshifts
string.
This is
accommodate
the2nd
blue
string and then finger 1 on the 2nd fret 3rd string. This is to accommodate the blue notes for a one-finger-per-note
notes for a one-finger-per-note approach rather than having to slide the 4th finger towards the blue
approach rather than having to slide the 4th finger towards the blue note.
note.
8

21 Must-Know Blues Chords

Download Tracks Here: http://guitarzoom.com/gmembers/essential-blues-scales-chords/

Download Tracks Here: http://guitarzoom.com/gmembers/essential-blues-scales-chords/

Page 33

Page 33
(Tracks 32-53)

(Tracks 32-53)

B7

Track
32 Track 33
B7
B7
B7 (short)
B7
(short)

Chords

Chords

Track 32

B7

B7 (short)
B7
(short)
Track
34 Track 33
C7
C7

C7
C9

Track
37 36
C13
C13
Track
C7#9C7#9

C7#9
C7#9
35 36
C9 Track
C9Track

Track
Track34
35

C7
C9

X
X

XX

E7
C13

Track
38 37
Track

E7
C13

X
1

11

22

33

11

21

32

43

33

22

11

33

22

3
3

4
4

4
4

(Optional note)

C13
E7

C7#9
C13 C7#9
C13

Track 36
C7#9C7#9

Track
Track
37 36

E7
E7
E7

Track
Track
3837

TrackTrack
38 39
(alt)
(2nd
version))

C13
E7

11

11

(Optional note)

E7
E7 E7 (short)

Track 41
G7(short)
Track 40
E7
E7G7
(short)

Track 42
G7
41
G7Track
(short)
G7(short)
G7

X X

X XX

39 40
(alt)
Track
(short)
(2nd Track
version))

X
1

E7

X X

X XX

XX

5fr

2fr

5fr

22

1
1

22

33

1
2

3
3

2
4

(Optional note)
Track 40
E7 (short)
E7 (short)

Track
40
E7
41
G7(short)
E7Track
(short)
G7

(Optional note)
41
G7(short)
Track 42
G7
G7
G7Track
(short)

G7
Track
43 Track 42
G9 (short)
G7
(short)
G9

2011 GuitarZoom.com

G9

Track 43

G9

2011 Eric
7 Beaty
2011 GuitarZoom.com

2011

21 Must-Know Blues Chords

4

Download Tracks Here: http://guitarzoom.com/gmembers/essential-blues-scales-chords/

Download Tracks Here: http://guitarzoom.com/gmembers/essential-blues-scales-chords/

G7

Track 41

G7
X

Track 42
G7 (short)
G7 (short)

43
G9
G9
Track 44
G13 Track
G13

G13
Bm7

X X

X XX

X X

2fr

(SRV
version)
Em7
Track
49
Track 48
A9-5
A9-5
X
X
X
X
5fr
5fr

5fr

Track 50
Gm7Gm7
Track 51
Am7
Am7

33

44

A7

Track 52

A7

Track 51
Am7

13

Track 52

Am7

X
1

A7

10
Track 51
Am7

33

Track 49
A9-5
A9-5
Track 50
Gm7Gm7

X
5fr

Am7

Em7 (SRV version)

Em7 (SRV version)

(SRV version)
Em7
Track 48
X
X

44

Track 50
Gm7Gm7

Track 47
E9-5
X

31

42

44

XX

Page 34

21

Track 47
E9-5
X

11

tial-blues-scales-chords/

2011 Eric
7 Beaty
Bm7 (SRV version)
E9-5
(SRV version)
Bm7
Track 46

E9-5

XX

(SRV version)
Bm7
Track 46
XX
X

Bm7 (SRV version)

(SRV
Bm7
Track 46
Trackversion)
47
E9-5
E9-5

2fr

Bm7
version)
Track 45
Bm7 (SRV
Bm7

Track 44
G13
Track 45
Bm7

Page 3

Page 34

(Optional note)

21 Must-Know Blues Chords

4

A7

Track 52

A7
Remember, these are but a few of the many
chords you can implement into your playing.

I encourage youthese
to purchase
basicabook
Remember,
are abut
fewof of the many chords you can
chords to keep in your guitar case which will aid
implement
into your playing. I encourage you to purchase a
you in learning new chords.
basic book of chords to keep in your guitar case which will aid
Also, in
dont
forget tonew
look chords.
for repeating
patterns
you
learning
Also,
dont forget to look for repeating
within chord shapes as well.
patterns within chord shapes as well.
-Eric
2011 Eric Beaty

2011 GuitarZoom.com

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