Slide Guitar Lesson: Blues Scale in Open E Tuning

So you know how to play the blues scale in standard guitar, but you’ve not yet figured out how to play it in Open E Tuning. No slide guitar lesson would be complete without an explanation of this highly used scale.

The Blues scale is simply “The Scale to Know” when playing blues slide guitar.  Duane Allman relied heavily on the blues scale for many of his slide guitar licks, and this scale is a must-know for any slide guitarist.

The blues scale is really just the Minor Pentatonic scale with one note added, the b5. Many slide licks come from the blues scale, and you would be missing out on some of the best slide guitar licks if you didn’t master this scale. Here’s one version of how to play it in the key of E.

open e blues scale

When Learning slide guitar it is imperative that you learn this scale.  This particular pattern is used in countless Allman Brothers, Derek Trucks, and Bonnie Raitt slide guitar licks.  I’ve put together a complete Slide Guitar Course that cover all aspects of beginner Slide Guitar in Open E Tuning to more advanced slide guitar using intervals and tremolo.

John W Tuggle
John W Tuggle

I love teaching the blues and have created numerous training courses and lessons to learn how to play like BB King, Clapton, Duane Allman, and more. Get Started Now

3 Comments

  1. I have been looking for tabulature beginning books for the slide guitar in the key of e. I see the display on this page is such. Can you help me with beginning books?
    TKS
    waunita

  2. this is great dvd!!…i’m a guitarist with 30 yrs experience…and 3 solo cds….i wanted to take my blues/southern rock into the definitive sound of trucks/ allman while still having the flexibility to be creative….this dvd is just perfect!!…it teachs precise techniqe and hands over some of open e’s hottest licks without dictating a gendre….wanna play awesome slide…buy this!!!

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