The Blues Scale in Dropped D Tuning
Here is the D Blues Scale over two octaves and in 2 positions. It is the same as the D minor Pentatonic scale you learned earlier, except it has one added note, the raised 4th (or flattened 5th) degree, which gives it a bluesy character. This note is sometimes referred to as "The Blues Note".
The next example uses the raised 4th degree. This note can evoke a "dark" or "emotional" quality. Blues players use this to great effect.
Here is a Heavy Rock riff which makes good use of the D Blues scale. The chromatic motif going from G up to A is a common way of incorporating the Blues Note.
You will also notice this motif is played in two separate octaves, and in bar 3 the open 6th string is used as both a melodic "anchor" and a rhythmic re-enforcement, so that the motif in a higher octave retains it’s heavy sound and momentum.
Here is a longer example using the low E tuned down to D. Any notes or chords involving this string will have different fingerings than normal tuning, while the other strings remain the same. Once you have learned this example, experiment with this tuning to create your own parts.
