Question on Blues scales...?

Question

If the pattern of the blues scales is 1, 3b, 4, 5b, 5, 7b, 1 then how come most of the blues scales don't fit this pattern? An example is the Gb blues scale which is Gb, A, B, C, Db, E, Gb

Gb is not F, A is not Bb, C is not Db... Even with different names for the notes, not all of them fit the pattern.

Answer 1

The scale you typed out DOES fit that pattern (by sound anyway)

TECHNICALLY it is a "Cb" and not "B" and it is "Fb" and not "E"

Yes, these note exist - but usually only for technical reasons like this.

Answer 2

You can play blues in any scale, any key, if you can make it "fit". I tend to play a modified pentatonic scale - the modification is that I play the chromatic scale right over it when I feel like. One comment made about the way I play was "you tend to go out in the twinkies but you always manage to come back in and make it fit". As long as it sounds cool, the theory is kind of irrelevant to the final "product". You can analyze a song to death, but the final judgement is ALWAYS "does it sound cool?" Don't worry too much about the theory, unless you are in a class and need to impress the professor.

Answer 3

Answer #1 IS CORRECT. A basic blues scale is just a b3rd, b5th and a b7th could be referred to a minor 7th scale note which is a half step lower, or basically a whole step lower then the tonic.

Answer 4

Take a major scale, knock out the half-steps and you have a pentatonic scale. Use it, and throw in a half-step or two where they sound right.

Answer 5

Additionally, Gb is not F, it is F#, A is not Bb, it is Bbb or A, which is what it is, A. C is not Db, it is C, or Dbb. You are so confused you're confusing me!