Possible Notes for the Blues

The "Blues" in A might use the notes of: A, D, D#, E, G for a total of 5 notes.

The "1" means the index finger on the left hand; the "2" means the middle finger on the left hand; the "3" means the ring finger on the left hand; and the "4"means the pinky finger on the left hand. This pattern requires either a long stretch to get from the A note to reach the C note. You need to be careful however to keep the rest of your fingers close to the strings so that you can return to the proper home position as you continue through the pattern.

Closed Position A Blues Pattern (Note: The chords used: A, D, and E7)
E string: \_______________________________________________
B string: |____|____ _|______|_____|_____|___ |_____|_____|____
G string: |____|_____ |______I_____|_____|___ |_____|_____|____
D string: |____|_____ |______|_____|___1_|___ |__3__|_____|____ Notes: G, and A (octave)
A string: |____|______|_____ |_____|___1_|_2_ |__3__|_____|____ Noted: D, D#, E
E string: |____|____ _ |_____|_____|____1_|___ |_____|___4 |____ Notes: A (the root tone) and C
..............nut.....fret.........fret.......fret.......fret.......fret

Because this pattern contains no open strings, it is easy to move this pattern down the neck of the guitar or even to make it start the pattern on the 5th string rather than the 6th string as listed above. If this A blues pattern were moved to the fifth string it would then be a D blues pattern and if this D blues pattern were moved up the neck toward the sound hole it would become the E blues pattern.

Closed Position E Blues Pattern (Note: The chords used: E, A, and B7)
E string: \__________________________________________________________
B string: |____|____ _|______|_____|_____|____ |_____|_____|____|_____|_____|
G string: |____|_____ |______I_____|_____|____ |___1_|_____|___3 |_____|_____| Notes: D, and E
D string: |____|_____ |______|_____|_____|____ |___1_|___2_|__3_|_____|______| Notes: A, A#, B,
A string: |____|______|_____ |_____|_____|____ |___1_|_____|____|__4__|______| Noted: E, G
E string: |____|____ _ |_____|_____|______|____ |_____|____ |____ |_____|______|
..............nut.....fret.........fret.......fret.......fret.......fret

As you move the pattern down the neck it is a bit easier to play because the frets are closer together. Many of the notes in this pattern can be "bent", "hammered", or "pulled" which will be covered in other articles. The importance of this type of pattern is that if the chord progression being played is a traditional three chord blues progression then these notes will fit with the three chords without much consideration for matching to a particular chord. There is naturally a tendency to play the root tone of the chord being played.

The A pattern listed can be extended (just play the same letter name notes.) The E pattern can also be extended.

Look at the pattern, It starts with the root tone and then skips two frets, then when playing the next sequence of notes you have three notes in a row, then a note and a skip for the next string. You should experiment to see if you can find the other similar patterns.(Note: The pattern of three may shift location, but will stay a group of three in a row for example.

Personally I like to play this on the 5th string and moved down where it will be an E blues pattern. Many of the blues songs I would play are commonly in the key of E and this fits better with my finger-style of playing. You may also want to consider how you will pick this with a flat pick. Many musicians insist that a constant up and down motion of the flat-pick is essential. Other musicians will not have constantly alternation of the flat-pick, but instead as they move from string to string may have two down-strokes in a row for example.

You have to work at skips in this pattern or you will begin to sound pretty much the same in all your blues picking. I was a guitar player in the "old" coffee house days so my blues songs are the old traditional blues like "This Nine Pound Hammer", "Frankie and Johnny" etc.