What scale next

I know the major scale perfect and I wana no which scale to learn next!
What is the blues scale? i put it up on my wall and then my friend came along and said it was wrong!!
Is there "a blues scale" or is there many types that get branded a blues scale!!
I had the pentatonic scales plus an extra note, but isnt the blues only 5 notes?

There is a Blues scale, and it's not pentatonic .
This is the blues scale in the key of A

e--------------------------------------------------------5-8
b---------------------------------------------5-8-----------
g-------------------------------5-7-8-----------------------
D-------------------5-7-------------------------------------
A-------5-6-7-----------------------------------------------
E-5-8-------------------------------------------------------


The Pentatoinc is of course different, and it's either Major Pentatonic (mostly in country) or Minor Pentatonic (mostly in Rock & Blues).

Since you know the Major scale perfectly, it's time to learn the modes derived from it.

1-Ionian (the Major Scale)
2-Dorian (same as the Major but change the root to the 2nd)
3-Phrygian (change root to 3rd)
4-Lydian (change root to 4th)
5-Mixolydian (change root to 5th)
6-Aeolian (natual minor,change root to 6th)
7-Locrian (change root to 7th)

Apply the patterns you come up with to different keys.
Also search for Harmonic Minor & Exotic scales, they're so cool to have fun with.

To get a blues scale from a major scale, take out the seventh and the fourth. Add a flat 3rd. This will give you a minor blues. For a major blues scale, take a minor scale, remove the 2nd and the 6th. Add a sharp 4th.

I can play all those scales SLY, but it´s still hard for me to use them. Any tricks and tips beside only practicing ´em.

Ok, well knockin on heavens door solo is in G, so how can i go about playing a different mode over it?

The modes for G are A dorian, B phrygian, C lydian, D mixolydian, E minor, and F# locrian. You can play any of those . . . but you'll still just be playing G major, because that's the key of the song, and all solos will have to resolve back to G to sound good.

Originally posted by Dejan Sajinovic
I can play all those scales SLY, but it´s still hard for me to use them. Any tricks and tips beside only practicing ´em.

Hmm, I don't know special tricks about using the scales, but of course you don't have to use them all.

Anyway, Pick some scales that you like , stick with them for a while , then you'll find yourself a little bored so you'll pick other scales , etc.
In a couple of months, you'll find out that you've gained a lot of experience using these scales.

The single scale that most opened up my playing (aside from Major) was the Harmonic Minor scale. IF you like angry heavy music (suitable for flamenco, metal, classical or jazz) give it a try it's great scale for purging yourself of angst.

Here's A Harmonic Minor: ABCDEFG#A

Here are the intervals:
WHWWHTH,

the triads (starting on the root):
Minor,Diminished,Augmented,Min/Dim,Maj/Aug,Maj/min,Dim/Aug

Have fun!

Hmm could i not play a G dorian or that? or G aelian, etc?

Nope, cause you'd be changing keys.

G dorian is F major. And G aeolian is Bb major.

So basically modes are totally useless and dont really exist?

Wrong again, son.

Modes are the basis of the many different styles of music that we have today. Pop is basically major and minor. If you want a jazzy sound, use dorian. If you want a darker sound, use locrian, phrygian, or harmonic minor. Celtic or blues, try mixolydian.

What you have to understand is that the chord progression that you're playing over has to be in the key of whatever mode you're using. Playing G mixolydian over a G major progression would sound like crap. But G mixolydian over a G mixolydian progression would sound celtic and airy.

Em ok, so i can play a G Dorian over a G Dorian progression.... but you said G dorian is F major. So wouldnt i simply be playing an F major scale over an F major progression, thus while bother renaming it G Dorian??!?!?!?!!?

Originally posted by SLY
[B
1-Ionian (the Major Scale)
2-Dorian (same as the Major but change the root to the 2nd)
3-Phrygian (change root to 3rd)
4-Lydian (change root to 4th)
5-Mixolydian (change root to 5th)
6-Aeolian (natual minor,change root to 6th)
7-Locrian (change root to 7th)

[/B]

Hang on a sec, you mean, modes are basically emphasising other different notes in a scale other than the root note. for exam knockin on heavens door consists of the chords G D C, those notes of which are played and sustained alot in the solo. A different mode would be emphasising an E a lot would change it from G major to Mixo... scale, is that what you talking about by altering the root?

Originally posted by Axl_Rose

Originally posted by SLY
[B
1-Ionian (the Major Scale)
2-Dorian (same as the Major but change the root to the 2nd)
3-Phrygian (change root to 3rd)
4-Lydian (change root to 4th)
5-Mixolydian (change root to 5th)
6-Aeolian (natual minor,change root to 6th)
7-Locrian (change root to 7th)

Hang on a sec, you mean, modes are basically emphasising other different notes in a scale other than the root note. for exam knockin on heavens door consists of the chords G D C, those notes of which are played and sustained alot in the solo. A different mode would be emphasising an E a lot would change it from G major to Mixo... scale, is that what you talking about by altering the root? [/B]

First, you're right about the emphasising thing. If you have a Cmaj, and you used the same notes but changed the root to the 6th which is A, that would be Amin (aeolian) scale. Then you'll find final note you'd like to end with is A. That's what I mean by changing the root.

Second , you miscounted the Gmaj scale :p. If you changed the root of a Gmaj into E, that would be an Emin (aeolian mode), not Mixo.
If you want to go Mixolydian from Gmaj, your new root would be "D".

Originally posted by Axl_Rose
.....but you said G dorian is F major. So wouldnt i simply be playing an F major scale over an F major progression, thus while bother renaming it G Dorian??!?!?!?!!?

Like SLY says, it all depends on the note you emphasize in your solo. If you wanted to play in G dorian you would start all your playing on the G note in the F major scale and resolve back to G. Your chord progression would probably do the same.

Try improving over Gm7, C7, Dm7. Play in F major, and start and end all your solos on G. Wala! . . . you'll be playing dorian.

Ok!!! but couldnt you purposely emphasise notes like that without ever knowing they are called modes?! I mean, surely theres, therefore, nothing to learn in modes?! surely we should tell people to emphasise notes that sound unique or strange. Like in stairway to heaven solo, first decending run ends on an... em... the scale is A minor pent or C major pent, it ends on an G i think, and it sounds weird, but in key!

Yeah, but it'd be like someone adding two and two without knowing they were doing math. You can go that way for a while, but sooner or later, you'll start to realize the limits of your knowledge and that flying by the seat of your pants isn't the best way to go (which is where I think you are now).