RELATED PAGES: A scale is not really a "Jazz", "Blues" or "Rock" scale. A scale is just a collection of notes or pitches. It's how a scale or theses collection of notes are used that is more important. Some scales are more common in one style vs. another.
For the Blues, your can base the scales you will need from the Minor Pentatonic (Blues) and Pentatonic (Major Pentatonic) scales. These two scales form a core scale foundation that you can create or derive additional scales from playing in a variety of “blues” styles.
Here are two Minor Pentatonic and Pentatonic scale shapes to memorize.
Initially, you can simply memorize the scale by its shape - not worrying about the particular notes.
The circled note or birdsyeye in the fingerboard shape is the root or letter name of the scale. Knowing the name of the scale and where the root is, allows you to transpose the scale to additional common keys.
A scale that uses all seven notes, in order without skipping or repeating a one of the seven letters of the music alphabet, A, B, C, D, E, F, and G is called a full diatonic scale. The Major is one such scale: C D E F G A B C', the white keys of the piano.
A five note scale is called a Pentatonic scale. Pent meaning five and Tonic is the one or main note that establishes the tonality of the scale.
For a C Pentatonic scale the notes are C D E G A C'. This is the major or dominant scale without a fourth or sixth scale degree.
For a C Minor Pentatonic scale the notes are C Eb F G Bb C'. This is the major or dominant scale without a fourth or sixth scale degree
The final C in the Pentatonic scale above is really just a resolution of the scale and the start of the next octave - not a duplicate letter.
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Blues Ukulele - Styles
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D Blues Scale and Progression
Related Lessons for: Learning the Blues on Ukulele
Here a few lessons that might be of interest to the topic and principles covered in this lesson.
Lesson Info
A practical approach to learning the Blues scale on ukulele. The Blues scale is one of the first scale most plays whatn to learn. It's a great to build on for your additional essential scales.
Lessons Link
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- Go to full lesson: Learning The Blues Scale on Ukulele
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Lesson Info
The Major Scale or Ionian scale is a diatonic scale, made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first one octave higher. In solfege these notes correspond to the syllables "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti/Si, (Do)",
Lessons Link
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- Go to full lesson: The Major Scale
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Lesson Info
The six essential scales are: Blues, Major Pentatonic, Mixolydian, Dorian, Aeolian, and Ionian. These six can get you through a wide variety of traditional and contemporary music.
Lessons Link
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- Go to full lesson: Six Essential Scales for Ukulele
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Ukulele Doodling - An Introduction to Scales and Soloing on Ukulele
Lesson Code: UL107
Published: 2005-01-02
Updated: 2013-03-25
Lesson Info
An Introduction to Scales and Soloing on Ukulele using the C Pentatonic Scale. Taking what you might already know and using it in different ways. Exploring the entire ukulele fingerboard. Anyone can have hours of fun just doodling around and exploring the ukulele's possibilities.
Lessons Link
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- Go to full lesson: Ukulele Doodling - An Introduction to Scales and Soloing on Ukulele
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What is the different between a Scale and a Mode?
Lesson Code: UL110
Published: 2005-01-02
Updated: 2012-01-04
Lesson Info
The term scale and mode are used interchangeably and in a strict theory sense there is a big difference between a scale and a mode or modal scale. They are NOT the same, even if they are the same notes. A scale and mode can contain exactly the same notes.
Lessons Link
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- Go to full lesson: What is the different between a Scale and a Mode?
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Related Books
All book sizes are 8.5" x 11" unless noted and music stand friendly, "lay flat" coil binding.
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QS1UKES
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QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, C Tuning
Six essential scales for C tuned ukuleles. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales are covered in all keys with one octave scale fingerings starting on any finger.
The QuickStart series of scale fingering books are available in a variety of tunings for ukulele, guitar and bass guitar.
Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-6-5 Published: September 2003 Pages 98
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QS1UKES
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QS1UKES-G
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QuickStartScale Fingerings for Tenor and Baritone Ukulele, Volume I, G Tuning
Six essential scales for G tuned ukuleles. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales are covered in all keys with fingerings.
The QuickStart series of scale fingering books are available in a variety of tunings.
Tunings: G with low or high D - (DGBE or dGBE).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-5-8 Published: March 2004 Pages 98
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QS1UKES-G
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QSUAT-C
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QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads C Tuning
Major, minor, diminished and augmented arpeggios fingerings in all keys for C tuned ukuleles.
Available in C and G tunings.
Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-016-4 Published: November 2005 Pages 96
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QSUAT-C
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QSUAT-G
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QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads G Tuning
Major, minor, diminished and augmented arpeggios fingerings in all keys for G tuned ukuleles.
Available in C and G tunings.
Tunings: G with low or high D - (DGBE or dGBE).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-017-1 Published: November 2005 Pages 96
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QSUAT-G
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6SUF
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Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering
Learn the principles to navigating the ukulele* fingerboard.
Fingering is one of the most universal topics. Whether your style is Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz or Classical, these principles will improve your technique, your solos, even your sight reading.
Think of fingering as a series of pathways. When you learn to connect these pathways, there are benefits not only to technique but also to creativity. All fingering on the ukulele can be reduced to 6 principles of motion. Each principle has physical and musical characteristics that you can use to improve your playing.
* The fingering principles in the books are suitable for ANY ukulele tuning.
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ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-041-6 Published: March 2006 Pages 42
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6SUF
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RMA1
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Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-2-7 Published: January 2003 Pages 90
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RMA1
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PM1
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Daily Practice Material for the Contemporary Musician
Scales, intervals and sequences for daily practice for musicians.
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-011-9 Published: July 2007 Pages 74
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PM1
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SCALES.PHP | Updated: Monday, 26th March, 2012 @ 02:31pm