Are you tired of your blues solos sounding like you're just "running up and down scales?" The secret to that professional, sophisticated blues sound is Chord Tones. Today, I’m breaking down how to use arpeggios to target the right notes at the right time.
This is a more intermediate-level concept, but I’m going to walk you through it step by step and keep it as musical as possible.
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In this lesson, we move beyond the basic minor pentatonic box. I'll show you how to overlay an arpeggio on top of your favorite blues shapes. This allows you to "hit the changes" just like the greats—BB King, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
We’ll cover:
⦿ What chord tones are and why they matter
⦿ How to build a dominant 7 arpeggio
⦿ How arpeggios fit inside the pentatonic scale
⦿ Using chord tones on the 1, 4, and 5 chords
⦿ When to switch between arpeggios and pentatonic
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0:00 - Intro / Why Chord Tones Matter
2:14 - The C7 Arpeggio Shape (Step-by-Step)
3:17 - Connecting Arpeggios to the Pentatonic Box
4:51 - Pro Tip: The Major 3rd "Hammer-on"
6:09 - Adding the "Sus 4" for More Flavor
7:52 - Practical App #1: Following the Chords (1-4-5)
8:56 - Practical App #2: The "Hybrid" Approach
10:45 - How to Practice This (Beginner to Intermediate)
11:37 - Jamming with Arpeggios vs. Pentatonics
13:34 - Final Tips