Half Tone/Whole Scales In Your Blues

Enhancing Your Blues Playing with Half Whole Tone Scales

Hello again! In this installment of our series, we'll explore adding some spice to your blues playing by using half whole tone scales over bar four in the 12-bar blues progression.

Understanding Half Whole Tone Scales

Half whole tone scales are exactly what they sound like. You're essentially moving up from a particular note in half tones and then whole tones. Here's how it works:

• Pattern: One note, two notes, one note, two notes, and so on.

Application Over Bar Four

When applying this over bar four, it will lead into the IV chord. To start, you want to play from the third of D, specifically from F sharp. Here's a brief overview:

• Starting Note: F sharp
• Scale Usage: Familiarize yourself with this scale, as it will add some depth to your sound over bar four.

This technique is reminiscent of Robin Ford's style, who often utilizes this device to transition between chords. Bar four is an excellent place to experiment with more unconventional notes as you lead back to a strong chord.

Demonstration

I'll now demonstrate how to use the half whole tone scale over bar four. Listen out for it in the following example:

• Count-in: One, two, three.

Example Licks

Lick 1: The Rundown to the IV Chord

Here's the first of three example licks you can play using the half whole tone scale. It's a simple rundown to land on the IV chord:

• Starting Position: Fifth fret
• Move: From the fifth to the sixth, back to the fifth again.
• Description: Run down the scale until you reach D, landing nicely on the IV chord.

Let's hear that again with the music:

• Count-in: Two, three, four.

Lick 2: Up and Down on D and G Strings

The second lick will again aim for the IV chord but will focus on the D and G strings, using a more sneaky up-and-down pattern:

1. Start on the seventh fret on the D.
2. Move to the fifth fret on the G.
3. Then back to the seventh fret on the D.
4. Continue this pattern with:
   • Seventh and ninth frets
   • Eighth and tenth frets
   • Repeat down to the fifth and seventh
   • And down to the fourth and sixth frets

Let's illustrate that once more before we add some music:

• Count-in: One, two, three, four.

Lick 3: Using Double Stopping

The third lick is a bit different as it utilizes double stopping to play the lick and make use of the half whole tone scales:

• Starting Position: Ninth fret on the E and G strings.

• Pattern: Run down the scale, finishing nicely with a sound that resembles a D7 chord.

• Bonus Tip: It's particularly effective to slide from the fifth to the third fret as you play.

Let's try this with some music:

• Count-in: One, two, three.

Conclusion

We'll repeat that one more time so you can better understand where it sits in the overall progression. Remember, it's always beneficial to lead into your lines with some double stops beforehand to create a smoother transition and a more cohesive sound in your playing.

• Count-in: One, two, three, four.

Happy practicing!