Adding These Four Blues Patterns To The One You Know

Patterns of the blues scale with notes A, C, D, Eb, G, and A. — Picture of Patterns 2 to 5 of the Blues Scale

Adding these four blues patterns to the one you know already will increase your ability to play the blues scale all over the guitar.

After playing pattern one (link to my pattern one page) for a while you can now add these four patterns for complete connection of the entire fretboard giving you the option to play anywhere.

Just learn the new pattern one at a time. Memorize the pattern, then repeat until all four patterns are learned.

Pattern Two

This one starts on the 6th string, the 8th fret, to the 10th fret.

Use fingers 2 and 4 for C and D, then slide with your 4th finger into Eb
Strings 5 and 4, use fingers 1 and 4
Third String use fingers 1, 2, and 3
On strings two and three, use fingers 2 and 4. Slide your 4th finger into Eb.

You can substitute the Eb on string 6 to fifth string 6th fret

Pattern Three

This one starts on fret 10.

Use fingers 1, 2, and 3 for the sixth string,
Fingers 1 and 3 for strings 5 and 4 with the 4th finger on Eb
Third-string, use fingers 1 and 4
Second-string use the same set of fingers, 1 and 4
Last string use fingers 1, 2, and 3

You could substitute the Eb on the fourth string to third-string, 6th fret

Pattern three of the blues scale for adding these four patterns to the one you already know — Pattern three of the blues scale

Pattern Four

This one starts on fret 12.

For the fourth pattern start with fingers 1 and 4 on the sixth and fifth strings
On the fourth string use fingers 1, 2, and 3
Third-string use fingers 1 and 3
Second-string use fingers 2, 4, and slide 4th finger up to next fret for Eb
String one use fingers 1 and 4

The first E on the sixth string you can play the 11th fret Eb and mirror this on the first string instead of playing the Eb on the second string 16th fret

Pattern Five

For the last and final pattern, start on the 15th fret. You can also start on the 3rd fret since this is the same pattern before pattern one 12 frets lower.

Last pattern use fingers 2 and 4 for both sixth and fifth string, slide 4th finger up for Eb
Fourth and third strings use fingers 1 and 4
String two use fingers 2, 3, and 4
First string use fingers 2 and 4

Alternatively you could substitute the Eb on the fifth string to the fourth-string 13th fret

Pattern five of the blues scale for adding these four patterns to the one you already know — Pattern five of the blues scale

Fingering for adding these four patterns to the one you know

Finger choice can be a personal preference, start with this and then try your own fingering, there are no rules. Please note some of the alternate choices to play the Eb’s.

I try to stick to the pentatonic minor fingerings with the exception of the third pattern. On this pattern here I start the example with the first finger. This choice is probably what everyone would convert to, but you could also start with fingers 2, 3, and 4 for strings 6, 5, and 4. Then shift to the first finger for strings 2 and 1.

In Conclusion

Learn each new pattern one at a time. Practice these patterns with an A minor or A blues backing track. Connect adjacent patterns in different ways to come up with longer patterns. By adding these four patterns to the one you already know, this will be possible.

As always thanks for checking this out. I hope this helps learn the other patterns in connection with pattern one. Have fun practicing!