Learning the blues scales for alto sax is an essential skill for any saxophonist looking to play jazz or blues music. The blues scale is a six-note scale that is often used in blues and jazz music to add a unique flavor to solos and melodies.
What is the blues scale?
The blues scale is a six-note scale that is derived from the major pentatonic scale. It is called the “blues” scale because it is often used in blues music, but it is also commonly used in jazz and rock music. The notes in the blues scale are:
Root, flat third, fourth, sharp fourth, fifth, and flat seventh.
For example, if we are playing in the key of C, the notes in the C blues scale would be:
C, Eb, F, F#, G, Bb
How to play the blues scale on alto sax
To play the blues scale on alto sax, you will need to know the fingerings for each note. Here are the fingerings for the C blues scale:
C – 1, 2, 3 / Eb – 1, 2 / F – 1, 2, 3, 4 / F# – 1, 2 / G – 1, 2, 3 / Bb – 1, 2, 3, pinky
Practice playing the blues scale up and down several times until you are comfortable with the fingerings.
Why learn the blues scale?
The blues scale is an essential tool for any saxophonist looking to play jazz or blues music. It can be used to add a unique flavor to solos and melodies, and it is often used in improvisation. By learning the blues scale, you will be able to improvise with more confidence and creativity.
Blues scale exercises
Here are some exercises that you can use to practice the blues scale:
Exercise 1
Play the C blues scale up and down several times.
Exercise 2
Play the C blues scale in different rhythms, such as eighth notes or triplets.
Exercise 3
Play the C blues scale in different keys, such as G or F.
Exercise 4
Play the C blues scale in different octaves, such as starting on the low C or high C.
Blues scale licks
Here are some common blues scale licks that you can use in your solos:
Lick 1
Starting on the root note, play the following sequence:
Root, flat third, fourth, flat fifth, fifth, flat seventh, root
Lick 2
Starting on the flat seventh, play the following sequence:
Flat seventh, root, flat third, fourth, flat fifth, root
Lick 3
Starting on the fifth, play the following sequence:
Fifth, flat seventh, root, flat third, fourth, flat fifth, fifth
Conclusion
Learning the blues scale for alto sax is an essential skill for any saxophonist looking to play jazz or blues music. By practicing the blues scale exercises and using common blues scale licks, you will be able to improvise with more confidence and creativity. So grab your saxophone and start practicing!