And now, a musical dicussion (vol. II)

[bassist_25]

Since half of the topics have nothing to do with the theory, the performance, the writing, or the business of music, I thought I would post a thread discussing one of said topics.

So, let's talk about the blues scale. I always had trouble delineating the difference between the blues scale and the penatonic scale, because I always thought of the blues scale as simply a pentatonic scale with a chromatic blue note in between the 4th and 5th degrees. Furthermore, the chromatic note really has no harmonic qualities that should set it apart as a proper scale. Technically, it shouldn't even be considered a part of tertian harmony since it cannot be harmonized to a relative third. Now that I think about it, the pentatonic scale really isn't all the useful as a harmonic scale since the IV and V chords would require non-diatonic tones, but I disgress.

Discuss. (or talk about beans if you wish)

(sorry about the theory-heavy thread, but I thought I had to create a musical topic before Rockpage.net became Cnn.com. My Pa thread was moved, so I had to think of another topic. )

[lonewolf]

So, let's talk about the blues scale. I always had trouble delineating the difference between the blues scale and the penatonic scale, because I always thought of the blues scale as simply a pentatonic scale with a chromatic blue note in between the 4th and 5th degrees.

That is what it is and that one note is what delineates it from the pentatonic.

Furthermore, the chromatic note really has no harmonic qualities that should set it apart as a proper scale. Technically, it shouldn't even be considered a part of tertian harmony since it cannot be harmonized to a relative third.

Actually, it is used as a transitional note from 4 to 5. Although it doesn't harmonize well in a particular key by itself, when going from 4 to b5, you can maintain the harmonic tones from the 4th for the b5 blue note (forgot what that chord would be called). You can do the same thing going from 5 to 4. Queen's Brian May uses this kind of harmony progression in a lot of those triple leads, although he goes way beyond the blues scale. Check out "Keep yourself alive" to see how he harmonizes from 4 to b5 to 5.

[MOONDOGGY]

Yaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy. Beans make me poop!

[Punkinhead]

That chromatic note has tons of harmonic qualities...That's your "evil" flat fifth if you listen to metal, that's your "sad" flat fifth for blues. Any metal band you listen to will use the shit out of the flat fith...It's quality lies in its darkness if you listen to it and use it right...

[bassist_25]

Punkinhead, I was mainly talking about harmonizing the tritone to a relative third. (as in tertian harmony)

Lonewolf, I think I know what parts of Keep Yourself Alive you're talking about.

It's always good to have a little theory talk.