The Vertical Blues Scale
The blues scale is largely a horizontal phenomenon, used melodically. But it can also be turned 90 degrees for a new harmonic perspective.
I realized this recently when I was listening to "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" by Charles Mingus and reviewing the chord changes.
The melody is essentially derived from an F blues scale, but is harmonized with a mixed bag of chord types, taken from the major mode, minor mode, the blues scale and borrowed chords from closely related keys like Bb minor (IV of i) or Eb major (VII). (Generally speaking it is extremely common in blues to borrow from the key of the subdominant (Bb major or Bb minor) or from the leading tone (Eb major) and its "friends", Ab and Bb and Db.)
Here are the chords and the possible key from which the chord is "borrowed". (Note: these are taken from my old Real Book, which apparently had the version for Bb instruments. Concert key is probably Eb blues).
F7: F Major
Db7: Blues Scale (Cb or B-natural)
Gbmaj7: Blues Scale or Bb minor (IV chord in F minor)
B7 (Blues Scale, F Major)
Eb7 (VII in F Minor)
Bbmin7 (iv in F minor)
C7 (V in F minor)
Gmin7 / C7 (ii-V in F Major)
D7: This is an odd one, but may be derived from the use of descending parallel dominant 7ths chord by old blues guitarists, as they would move one chord shape across the neck.
G7: Blues Scale (B natural)
Bb7: (F major or Eb Major)
I realized this recently when I was listening to "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" by Charles Mingus and reviewing the chord changes.
The melody is essentially derived from an F blues scale, but is harmonized with a mixed bag of chord types, taken from the major mode, minor mode, the blues scale and borrowed chords from closely related keys like Bb minor (IV of i) or Eb major (VII). (Generally speaking it is extremely common in blues to borrow from the key of the subdominant (Bb major or Bb minor) or from the leading tone (Eb major) and its "friends", Ab and Bb and Db.)
Here are the chords and the possible key from which the chord is "borrowed". (Note: these are taken from my old Real Book, which apparently had the version for Bb instruments. Concert key is probably Eb blues).
F7: F Major
Db7: Blues Scale (Cb or B-natural)
Gbmaj7: Blues Scale or Bb minor (IV chord in F minor)
B7 (Blues Scale, F Major)
Eb7 (VII in F Minor)
Bbmin7 (iv in F minor)
C7 (V in F minor)
Gmin7 / C7 (ii-V in F Major)
D7: This is an odd one, but may be derived from the use of descending parallel dominant 7ths chord by old blues guitarists, as they would move one chord shape across the neck.
G7: Blues Scale (B natural)
Bb7: (F major or Eb Major)
