Bluegrass Tunes that Typically Incorporate Blues Scales

[JonZ]

I need a list of Bluegrass tunes that typically incorporate notes from the Blues scales. I know that you can use Blues scales over a fiddle tune, if you want, but I am looking for exemplars of Bluegrass tunes built on Blues scales. The easier, the better.

If you can, also list the chord structure. I.e.: "I I IV V", etc.

Bonus Question

Is it common to use the major Blues scale of the key over the I and the minor Blues scale of the key over the IV and V in Bluegrass?

[Ky Slim]

Could you clarify what you call the blues scale(s)? A person could argue that all BG tunes incorporate notes from the blues scale.

Clinch Mtn. Backstep might fit what you are after. The chords are I - V.

This is from Hot Licks For Bluegrass Fiddle. All notes but 2 are included in these blues scales.

[JonZ]

Major: 1 2 b3 3 5 6
Minor: 1 b3 4 b5 5 b7

I guess it would come down to tunes that use prominently b3 over major tonality.

[Ky Slim]

Gotcha. Clinch Mtn. is a good example of that then.

On your bonus question I guess the answer is yes because the minor blues scale has the 4 in it. The 4 note, which works well over the IV chord obviously, is also the note that makes the V chord a seventh chord.



Walls of Time and High On A Mountaintop would be good examples of songs. Both have I, IV, V and bVII chords.

[mbruno]

It's not common to switch from major feel to a minor feel - though there are plenty of songs that do that. Though, when the feel changes, it's not typically changed for 1 chord of a progression but over the whole progression (drawing a blank on bluegrass tunes, but Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd has a minor solo and a major solo).

Most often, you'll stick with either major or minor feel - but you one method of soloing is to solo over the chord being played and not over the key of the tune. What I mean is, in a 1 4 5 blues in say F, you could play the F mixolydian over the F chords, the F Dorian over the Bb chords, and F Ionian (or C major scale) over the C. Playing with the minor 3rd and natural 3rd of the chord is pretty common too - which gives the bluesy feel.

[JonZ]

Apparently it is common to use both the major and minor blues as I describe in the OP in Jazz. "The Blues Scales: Essential Tools for Jazz Improvisation" is basically about using the two scales together.

[John Gardinsky]

I don't think Monroe was so rigid as to stick to one scale per tune. If you combine your major and minor examples above you have a sizable part of his catalog covered....though you might add a major 7 note in there too. Often the particular notes that are emphasized change according to the chord progression and the feel of the tune.

[JonZ]

I think the idea is that using the major Blues over the I and the minor Blues over the IV and V gives you more of a feeling of tension and release.

[John Duncan]

IMO here are the tunes that you are looking for:

Big Mon
Salt Creek
Red Haired Boy
Clinch Mountain Back Step
Come Hither to Go Yonder
Tanyards
Wheel Hoss
John Hardy
I am a Pilgrim
Reuben

Many of the vocal tunes from the 1945-46 Bluegrass Boys rep used flat 3's, 5's and 7's and steps in between. My favorites are:

"Can't you Hear me Calling" "When you are Lonely" and "Traveling this Lonesome Road"

[JonZ]

Isn't Red Haired Boy an Irish fiddle tune?

[John Duncan]

Yep. Are you looking specifically for tunes and songs written by Bill Monroe, Jim and Jesse, Ralph Stanley, Flatt and Scruggs etc that incoporate a blues scale? There are many standard bluegrass tunes that use the blues scale. A lot of them will be older than bluegrass though.

I would add "Surefire" by Bobby Osborne. "Stoney Creek" by Jesse Mcreynolds.

"Dusty Miller" would qualify but it's not an original and older than bluegrass. So would "Cattle in the Cane".

[Ky Slim]

I guess it would come down to tunes that use prominently b3 over major tonality.

I think he is looking for tunes where a b3 played over a major chord is part of the main melody or theme. Walls of Time seems to me to be a really good example.

Boats Up River, though not BG, also does this.

Mississippi Waltz actually has the bIII chord and sounds very bluesy to me.

[JonZ]

I think he is looking for tunes where a b3 played over a major chord is part of the main melody or theme. Walls of Time seems to me to be a really good example.

Boats Up River, though not BG, also does this.

Mississippi Waltz actually has the bIII chord and sounds very bluesy to me.

Yes, b3 over major.