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December 19, 2007
The Blues Scale
Modern American popular music all traces back to the blues in one way or another. Guitarist and Pandora senior music analyst Bob Coons swings by the studio to talk about the blues scale, a six-note (heptonic) sequence of tones that appears in countless tracks. It's a scale that changes the feel of any song in which it appears. We show how the scale is fluid, with bending pitches and blue notes, and Bob plays some blues-inspired passages to show this scale in action.Hop onto this link here to see images of string bends, to hear examples of songs that feature the scale, and for some great blues stations.
Here is a blues radio station we built, based on the seeds of five legendary blues songs. These five songs are listed individually as examples below, as "Legends of Blues."
MUSICAL TERMS INCLUDED IN THIS PODCAST
| Root note | Blue note | Detune | Blues riff |
| Minor three | Bent note (bending the note) | Dropped D tuning | Sharp fourth / sharp four |
| Tritone | Leading tone | Pentatonic scale | Flat fifth / Flat five |
| Octave | Chromatic step (half-step) | Heptonic scale | Diminished |
| Half-diminished | Full-diminished | Root instruments | Tonal center |
| Diabolus in musica | Bent third | Fixed-pitch instrument |
LEGENDS OF BLUES
by Blind Lemon Jefferson |
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by Willie Dixon |
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by Robert Johnson |
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by Big Mama Thornton |
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by Muddy Waters |
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Here Bob bends the three -- the string moves up on the neck, and so does the pitch. |
CLASSIC ROCK BLUES RIFFS
by Deep Purple (G blues scale) |
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by Iron Butterfly (D blues scale) |
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by Cream (D blues scale) |
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by Jimi Hendrix (B blues scale) |
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by Black Sabbath (E blues scale) |
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The inimitable Bob Coons, in one of the Oakland rooms that he helped convert from a shoe factory into a rehearsal studio back in 1984. |
NEWER RIFFS IN THE BLUES SCALE
by Rage Against The Machine (D blues scale with one leading tone) |
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by Pearl Jam (F# blues scale) |
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by Metallica (Eb blues scale) |
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by Ministry (D blues scale with two leading tones) |
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by Nirvana (E blues scale with one leading tone) |
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by Elastica (Bb blues scale) |
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That shirt is Bob's band circa 1982, Cone 5 Oxidation. They used to rehearse here nearly 25 years ago. |
MAKING THE THREE BLUE (MINOR AND MAJOR THIRD), IN UNEXPECTED CONTEXTS
by Hank Jones |
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by Henry Mancini |
THE BLUES SCALE IN PLACES YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT
by the Spice Girls (E blues scale with one leading tone) |
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by Madonna |
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by Michelle Branch |
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by the Chemical Brothers |
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Second guy from the left? Bob Coons, on tour, 1982. |
Comments
Amazing segment. Thank you.
Pandora.com is amazing. I don't sit at the keyboard now without Pandora playing.
I have listened to more new music the past few weeks than ever before. And more music from different genres than ever before.
Love it!
Posted by: GoingLikeSixty at December 20, 2007 05:37 PM
Great blues lesson. Look forward to more to come. Also enjoyed your blues station. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Sunshine/Rainbow at December 21, 2007 04:10 PM
I love pandora! Works so perfect... The fine thing is, that the podcasts are also available in germany, even with IP-Restrictions.
Tanks for your great work! Michael
Posted by: Michael at December 22, 2007 01:39 PM
This is terrific stuff, especially for someone fascinated by blues but with a mostly classical and folk background. Thank you so much, and thank you for Pandora. I have discovered so many great bluegrass and other artists I hadn't even heard of.
Posted by: Kevin Traynor at December 24, 2007 01:29 PM
After having listened to all the podcasts in the past months, I'm finally taking the time to say a big THANK YOU!! to all of you for the amazing job you do everytime time. This is so far my favourite podcast of all (I'm an amateur guitarist and I loved Bob Coons' touch on the instrument!), but even when you're talking about genres and techniques that I'm not specifically interested in, I find that you're always able to switch on my curiosity.
So thanks to Kevin Seal and to all of the "crew" for the nice work, and also for speaking such a clear and understandable English! :D (I just wish that the Radio could still work here in Italy... :( )
A nice 2008 to everybody!
Nicolas
Posted by: Nicolas at December 27, 2007 07:17 AM
I'm too new to computers, I get "lost" a lot. My insurance agent told me about Pandora and I am elated! I can't sing or dance worth a damn, but I've been collecting music for forty years, everything from Lena Horne to the Black Eyed Peas.I totally love and appreciate Pandora, best thing that's happened to me since 1974! I want to be listening to Pandora in the "afterlife"! lol
Posted by: Daniel at December 28, 2007 07:31 PM
I enjoy, I learn, I love what you do!
Thanks!
Jay
Posted by: JJMann at December 30, 2007 10:10 PM
great! cool! awesome! great! great! great! cool! awesome! yay! woohoo! thankyou!
Posted by: Joe at January 3, 2008 09:08 AM
Love the Station it is not only offers difference styles of music but music education for us musicians. Please tell me when will you have an blues series for "Tenor Saxophone". Peace.
Posted by: Tony G. at January 3, 2008 01:15 PM
Bob totally Rocks (and Blues)! Somebody get that guy a recording contract now!
Posted by: Mike Nolan at January 7, 2008 03:47 PM
New here. A bassist - an old bassist in age - new to the instrument (7 yrs). Very informative. Thanks.
Posted by: Dave at January 9, 2008 08:45 PM
I'm in the UK and have followed the podcasts since the beginning... will losing Pandora on the 15th January affect my ability to download the podcasts...?
I've found them incredibly useful in a number of different ways, and I was really looking forward to some of the upcoming 'casts...
Posted by: Keith at January 11, 2008 01:40 PM
Ahhhh Bob??? All the sudden I have a guitar for sale.
After that butt kickin lesson Im back to square one.
I will be hunting down every second you offer her on Pandora.
If you have other lessons how can I get them?
That was amazing! really. And a sweet guitar I might add.
I remember as a kid watching some R&B band and the guy had a Les Paul like that. It sounded incredible, and I always loved that sound.
tony
PS Pandora is the total bomb. I listen to it every day. Great way to find new people. Ive bought many CDs of new people from here.
thanks tons
Posted by: tony at January 12, 2008 07:28 PM
this is awssome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: rosanna at January 18, 2008 04:16 PM
Hey Bob! You so ROCK!!!!!! Miss you! G
Posted by: Gail at January 20, 2008 08:48 PM
Is this my old friend Bob Coons? You don't look like you.
Posted by: Bana at January 21, 2008 10:22 PM
I want to be able to hear more from Bob Coons on my computer at work.
Posted by: Lorfeld at January 23, 2008 12:48 PM
GREAT INTERVIEW WITH THE LEGEND BOB COONS ABOUT THE BLUES. LOOKING FORWARD TOWARDS THE NEXT INTERVIEW.
Posted by: RKALEIVA at January 24, 2008 08:22 AM
I am an old man.
I have played guitar and percussion for almost 20 years.I love what I do!Bip-de-bop!
I am 44 yrs old,whether that matters at all is neither here nor there.
I love to see people put their ideas in new ways.
IT IS HARD TO BE NEW!!!
Trust me when I say,"Do what you feel is right.If you have a good drummer,it does make it easier for the guitar player!And the energy comes through in the music!"
All musicians must love what they do!Not just the drummer!
Work together!?
Scott
Posted by: scott at January 26, 2008 11:31 PM
There should be a link to purchase the artist's album(s). I would imagine that was considered already so why leave it out? I was looking for one but didn't see it?
Great new feature, thanks!
Posted by: ben10dough at January 27, 2008 05:12 PM
There is, Ben10dough -- From the Pandora tuner, there are one-click-away links for purchasing from Amazon and from iTunes. Similar to "Tell me why you're playing this song," but just "Buy - on iTunes" or "Buy - on Amazon."
Posted by: Kevin Seal at February 4, 2008 12:34 PM
Pandora is super tight on the real. how do you guys do it? Keep on rockin in the genome, peasce from Texas.
Posted by: Chris Hensley at February 5, 2008 10:28 AM
Glad to hear it, Chris.
Regarding some of the previous comments... Bob Coons is indeed a fantastic guitarist. If you would like to reach Bob directly, email me at Kevin -- at -- Pandora -- dottt -- communal, and I'll forward that message to Bob himself.
Posted by: Kevin Seal at February 13, 2008 03:11 PM
With a last name like mine, you can imagine the remarks I get about living up to my name in general. As a bit of a musician / guitarist, I tend to hear these remarks in a more particular context in the music stores and venues I frequent. I am out there trying to make Dr. Faustus' and Robert Johnson's bargain, and sell my soul to the devil for ultimate knowledge and skill; I just need to find the right crossroads. I'd thought to invest in a satellite navigation system, but maybe more of this on Pandora will get me there. Thanks. Keep it coming.
Posted by: Bob Player at March 11, 2008 04:15 AM
I really enjoy listening to the Blues and Pandora is awesome. I love to surf the web and can listen to the best music on here.
Thanks to Pandora and its free, and with all the songs you can find here is the best.
Posted by: Melinda at March 11, 2008 08:53 PM
Hey Bob! I have been trying to find you since I left the Bay Area in 1993. Remember the old '58 les paul special?We had some great times. The Z-team with Henry etc...I am now teaching my 11 and 15 year old sons the guitar. Time flies This sight is a great tool for teaching my boys. Look Me UP!amelodyman@comcast.net
Posted by: steven goodwin at March 23, 2008 11:46 PM
Pandora is fantabulous(fantastic+fabulous). I iked hearing it though I am an Indian. Keep up the good work and hoping to hear more from you. Thanks.
Posted by: Teenage Love at March 28, 2008 02:35 AM
Bob -- or shall I say, Mr. Player -- and Melinda, thanks for your support. Glad you're liking what you're finding.
Steven, I'll tell Bob you say hi.
And Teenage Love! You'll hear much more from us. Stay tuned, eh?
Posted by: Kevin Seal at April 18, 2008 02:29 PM
Wow that's quite a bit of information in a small package, enough to keep a person busy for a lifetime. Thanks man!
Posted by: Scott Bringe at April 24, 2008 12:47 PM
thank you
Definitely
Recording at Home
The Dominant Seventh
The Role of the Producer
Posted by: برامج at May 5, 2008 06:51 AM
Greetings folks. I'm new and wanted to say hi.
Posted by: llamafruit at May 19, 2008 11:04 AM
tank you
verygoooooooooooood
very nic
Posted by: games at May 26, 2008 09:31 AM
Sorry to post this here but I am a big Bob Coons fan. Is there any website to check out where Bob is playing or what he is up to. Would love to see him live, have been wanting to see him since I got the Altar of the King album. Thanks for any help. You rule Bob
Posted by: Omishoebuckle at June 25, 2008 01:02 AM
thanks for the songs
Posted by: jbr at July 21, 2008 05:27 PM



