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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Soloing Over 12 Bar Blues

Posted by: Legion Nov 8 2010, 11:22 PM

I've been trying to lock down what kind of scales to play when playing over the 12 bar blues. First I played straight pentatonic minor, sounded kinda boring, but it worked, then I found out that to capture more of the blues flavor you want to add the major 3rd and 6th. Then I found out that when the rhythm moves to the IV, you should switch keys, so in E, when you move to the IV you would play in A and likewise over the V you'd play in B. But this is where I get a little lost. Over the I you would basically play the E blues scale with the major 3rd and 6th added. Over the IV do I do the same thing? Is it just A blues with the major 3rd and 6th? Same question for the V.

I've seen lessons/articles online about licks to be played over the IV, etc, but I'd really like to know what my note options are so I can come up with my own.

Posted by: stratman79 Nov 9 2010, 08:14 PM

Hey man, there are lots of options but its one of those funny things that its easy to do but hard to sound great.
I say mix up Major & Minor pent... so if the song is in A a 2 bar A minor lick follewed by a 2 bar A major pent lick.

Ivan did a great lesson on this (its only level 3 or 4 but it is great to understand)

Also picking out chord tones of the chord below are importamt not just lindly wailing over the top. Working round arpeggios would help...

Really (as in any stlye) be aware of the chords underneath and the harmonic relation & tensions you are creating with your melody.

Posted by: Daniel Realpe Nov 10 2010, 01:57 AM

yes, I agree. Don't think about theory that much. Blues is a genre where you have to use your ears a lot. So try all the notes in the blues scales on that IV change and see which one you like the most, or suits the most. Then attack that note on different forms, like sliding, vibrato, non vibrato, etc

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 10 2010, 02:20 AM

The essence of blues is to mix minor and major scales naturally, while inserting the blue note. Try to mix both of these scales equally well, and use blue scale and chromatic approach here and there, and you will see how it can sound awesome!