How to Create a Blues Solo on Piano (Scales and Phrasing)

To create a blues solo on piano, form the major blues scale (major pentatonic plus the minor third) or the minor blues scale (minor pentatonic plus the tritone), then build a short, singable motif from it and play it, and smaller pieces of it, over the 12-bar blues.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Beginner · 10 min

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This lesson is the soloing part of Jason Zac's blues piano series. It is for pianists who already know the 12-bar blues chord progression and a bluesy left-hand rhythm, and now want the right hand to improvise. You will learn two blues scales, how to build them, and how to turn a tiny melodic idea into a full solo.

Step 1: Build the major blues scale

The major blues scale comes from the major pentatonic scale. Penta means five, so it has five notes: degrees 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the major scale. You skip the 4th and the 7th.

• C major pentatonic: C, D, E, G, A, C
• C major blues: add the minor third, Eb, between the 2nd and 3rd: C, D, Eb, E, G, A, C

That Eb is the blue note of the major blues. It is what creates the blues vibe.

Step 2: Build the minor blues scale

The minor blues scale comes from the minor pentatonic scale, which is very popular in rock music.

• C minor pentatonic: root C, minor third Eb, perfect fourth F, perfect fifth G, minor seventh Bb, then C
• C minor blues: add the tritone, the note between the 4th and 5th, F# (also called Gb): C, Eb, F, F#, G, Bb, C

Step 3: Run the scales over the blues

Start simply. Play each scale up and down in the right hand while your left hand keeps the blues rhythm going. Go slowly at first. Both scales work across the entire 12-bar progression, over major and minor chords alike. Feel free to cross into the next octave and simply enjoy the sound.

Step 4: Create a short motif

Next, invent a very small hook, or motif, and play it across the whole 12-bar cycle. One way is to sing a short idea first and then find it on the piano. Jason's example mixes notes from both blues scales:

G, F#, F, Eb, C, Bb, C, Eb, C

He slides through the chromatic notes at the start as a glide, which you can do too. For variety, you can replace the Bb with an A for a different colour. Do not overdo these changes, but do try them.

Make it lyrical

Keep the motif singable: something a singer could easily sing. Actually sing it yourself. If it is easy to sing, it will sound great on the piano and listeners will enjoy it more.

Accent beats 2 and 4

In your melodic playing, bring out the 2nd and 4th beats by playing them a little louder. This brings out the blues flavour.

Step 5: Extract sub-phrases

You do not have to play the whole motif every time. Take small pieces of it, perhaps just the first half, then later just the second half, and use them as separate phrases. One motif can give you two or more sub-phrases. Leave a gap after a short piece, or follow it with something else, then return to the full phrase. This keeps your line interesting while the melody stays recognisable.

How to practise

1. Form the C major blues and C minor blues scales and play them up and down until your fingers are comfortable.
2. Add your left-hand blues rhythm and play the scales over the 12-bar form.
3. Sing a short motif, find it on the piano and play it through the full 12 bars.
4. Accent beats 2 and 4.
5. Play the same 12 bars with shorter pieces of the motif, with gaps, and with the whole phrase.

These ideas help you write blues melodies as a songwriter or play a piano solo with your band.

Questions about this lesson

What is the difference between the major blues and minor blues scale?

The major blues scale is the major pentatonic with the minor third added (in C: C, D, Eb, E, G, A). The minor blues scale is the minor pentatonic with the tritone added (in C: C, Eb, F, F#, G, Bb).

Which blues scale should I use over the 12-bar blues?

Either one. Both the major blues and minor blues scales work over the entire 12-bar progression, including over major and minor chords, and you can even mix notes from both in one phrase.

How do I start improvising a blues solo if I'm a beginner?

First play the blues scale up and down over your left-hand rhythm to get your fingers going. Then make up a short, singable motif and repeat it through the 12 bars.

How can I make one blues lick last a whole solo?

Extract smaller pieces of the motif, such as just its first or second half, and play them as separate phrases with gaps in between. Then bring back the whole phrase so the solo stays varied but connected.

Practise it

• HexatonicPractise six-note scales with staff notation, piano playback and rhythmic groupings.
• RunwayExplore runs, fills and licks with a chosen start and landing note.
• Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
• All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.

Related lessons

• Beginner Piano Exercises That Actually Sound NiceThree musical beginner piano exercises from Jason Zac: repeat E G# A B over changing left-hand bass notes, improvise grooves on the E minor pentatonic over a steady pulse, and pair each note of the Ab major scale with the diatonic third below it in the left hand.
• How to Write a Melody on Piano Using the Pentatonic ScalesTo write a melody over a chord progression on piano, build the major pentatonic (scale degrees 1, 2, 3, 5, 6) or its relative minor pentatonic, then create tunes from mechanical note patterns, by singing phrases and playing them back, and by repeating a short motif that fits every chord.
• Piano Improvisation: 3 Ways to Use the Pentatonic ScaleTo improvise with the pentatonic scale on piano, build it by dropping the 4th and 7th from the major scale (or the 2nd and 6th from the natural minor), play it in the right hand, and move the left hand through root notes taken from the parent scale.
• 12 Bar Blues Piano for Beginners (Sing and Play Along)The 12 bar blues uses only the I, IV and V major chords (C, F and G in the key of C), arranged in three four-bar lines: I-I-I-I, IV-IV-I-I and V-IV-I-I, with optional IV in bar 2 and a V turnaround in the final bar.