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 ARCHIVED TOPIC: Most common / useful scales in bluegrass


Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/386795

G - Posted - 11/10/2022:  15:51:38


Hi. I searched to see if this has already been answered, but haven't found anything. Sorry if I missed it.



I'm recently developing a greater understanding and appreciation of theory. Consequently I want to learn some scales on the banjo fretboard and kind of "map them out" alongside the 3 main chord shapes. (Banjophobic did something like this in one of his excellent LOTW videos, for the pentatonic scale). With that in mind, I'd like to hear people's opinion on this issue:



What scales are the most commonly used, or the most useful scales, in bluegrass? I'm gonna make a guess - in order of which scale gets you the most bang for the buck: (1) major scale, (2) minor pentatonic, (3) major pentatonic, (4) minor blues, (5) major blues.



If it makes any difference, I am (or would like to be!) gravitating towards JD Crowe style of backup. Very bluesy, so I'm wondering if the major scale should maybe take a back seat to the pent/blues scales. Also, would I be best off focusing on the minor pent/blues, vs the major pent/blues?



I'm sure the answers are evident within JD's (or whoever's) playing, but I don't have the understanding at this point to do that in any reasonable amount of time. Keep in mind though, I am not asking for an explanation of the scales. I already understand what they are, how they're defined, and their characteristic sounds.



Thanks in advance!



 



 

Texasbanjo - Posted - 11/11/2022:  04:45:00


If you're interested in melodic picking, then learn the melodic major and minor scales. There are many ways they are used in melodic playing. Melodic scales tend to use open and fretted notes.

There are several instruction books out on melodic playing and scales. Janet Davis has one and so do several other. Right now my mind is blank on who, but I'm sure someone will chime in with author and titles.

jan dupree - Posted - 11/11/2022:  11:08:41


I'm taking lessons from a top recording and touring Professional, who plays Progressive styles. He has me on Gmin Pentatonic and Gmaj Pentatonic scales. You bend strings in the Gmaj Pentatonic scale so it isn't exclusively a Gmaj scale.

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 11/11/2022:  12:32:02


here's my map


G - Posted - 11/15/2022:  19:06:32


Thanks everyone for the info. Texas banjo, I didn't really have melodic in mind but it's something I would love to get into down the road.

Jan, I figured the two pentatonic scales would be a good choice.

Rick, coincidentally, I recently came across some of your material while looking for resources to help visualize the fretboard. Your stuff is amazing - some of the best I've seen. It's just the kind of thing that works for me. (I'm guessing you're a great instructor!)
What about my specific question regarding scales though... are there certain scales that tend to be more useful in bg? (esp licks and solos)

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 11/16/2022:  08:12:57


The vast majority in Bluegrass and other music genres is the major pentatonic scale with the three blue notes added. That gives you 10 of the possible 12 notes available. BTW if you continue to study music in relation to intervals of the scale it will all become simple math.

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 11/16/2022:  10:25:39


edit:
The vast majority in Bluegrass and other music genres is the major scale (7 notes) with the 3 blue notes added. That gives you 10 of the possible 12 notes available (no b2 or b6). BTW if you continue to study music in relation to intervals of the parent scale it will all become simple math.

G - Posted - 11/16/2022:  12:02:53


Thanks again @mmuussiiccaall - helpful stuff. I assume the blue notes (flat 3,5,7 if I understand it) are used sparingly , like a spice. And melody notes are more likely to be found in the major pentatonic scale (as a subset of the major scale)?

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 11/16/2022:  13:03:15


Yes, that’s the idea, but forget about the pentatonic scales stay in the major scale. You will notice as I posted on earlier threads that the 1chord is 135. The 4 chord is 146, the 5 chord is 257 of that parent scale. Find a tab of any song you like, and start writing down the intervals of the scale above the notes, and all this will become clear.

G - Posted - 11/16/2022:  13:18:03


Will do! Funny, after decades of banjo and guitar I only recently figured out that the IV is 1-4-6 and the V is 2-5-7 (of the parent). Amazing what you understand when you start to look further at theory. It helps! I find noodling worth the banjo with a fretboard map in front of me makes a lot of lights go on.
Thanks again. :)

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