Alternate fingerings for blues scale form 3

Because of the way that the notes fall on the neck of the guitar, there are a few different ways that you can finger blues scale form 3. Which one you use really depends on where you came from, and where you are going. All of them are valid ways to play the scale in different situations.

Here is the way that was listed on the previous page.

|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|-----|
|--1--|--2--|--3--|-----|-----|
|--1--|-----|-----|--4--|-----|
|--1--|-----|-----|--4--|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
         |
        8th fret

This fingering is common if you are going up in the scale. It is more awkward coming back down.

|-----|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|-----|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|-----|
|-----|--1--|--2--|--3--|-----|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|-----|--4--|-----|
|--1--|--1--|-----|-----|--4--|-----|
|-----|-----|--2--|-----|--4--|-----|
               |
              8th fret

This fingering is common coming back down, but more awkward going up.

|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|-----|
|--1--|--2--|--3--|-----|-----|
|--1--|-----|-----|--4--|-----|
|--1--|-----|-----|--4--|-----|
|-----|--2--|-----|--4--|--4--|
         |
        8th fret

A lot of times you will use your 2nd finger to make the shift in positions on the 3rd string as you are going up.

|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|-----|
|--1--|--2--|--2--|-----|-----|
|--1--|-----|-----|--4--|-----|
|--1--|-----|-----|--4--|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
         |
        8th fret

Equally as common is to use your 1st finger to make the position change on the 3rd string as you are headed back down

|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|-----|
|--1--|--1--|--2--|-----|-----|
|--1--|-----|-----|--4--|-----|
|--1--|-----|-----|--4--|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
         |
        8th fret

Back to the main blues scale lesson