Blues melodies make heavy use of the blues scale whether in
major, minor, or modalcontexts. Early blues styles use simple
melodic rhythms that are easily memorized.Bebop blues melodies have
a more dense melodic rhythm and a potential increase inchromaticism
(notes outside the key). Modal blues melodies tend to be diatonic
to themode, but there may be some non-diatonic notes if modal
interchange is used in the harmony.
The blues scale can take several other forms. The simplest blues
scale is a minor pentatonic scale.
This scale is particularly useful for novice writers and players
because any and all of thenotes can be used freely, regardless of
where one is in the progression.
