Here we have a standard major key 12-bar blues progression known in the industry as a Grinder. It’s one of the more common rhythmic grooves that you will find in the blues. Lots of time on each chord and this groove is often played as it is here with 5th chords and embellished with 6th chords. This one has the slow change to IV chord.

Once you hear the common 12 bar progression and that very identifiable major key blues rhythm you know that the jam is wide open for soling opportunities. Which avenues you ultimately decide upon utilizing will depend on your playing style and what types of moods or sounds you want to create.

What Relates to all the chords:

Try E Minor Pentatonic & Blues over all the chords for that minor bluesy vibe. Minor Pentatonic is often the first choice amongst blues players over I-IV-V blues progressions.

E Minor Pentatonic = E, G, A, B, D

Try E Major Pentatonic over all the chords for that sweet major sound. Remember that for most major key jams you can use Major Pentatonic over all the chords This will give you that sweet major bluesy sound that is quite different than the minor sound. Keep resolving back to those E notes to slam-dunk that major tonality:

Major Pentatonic = 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

E Major Pentatonic = E, F#, G#, B, C#

E Major Pentatonic is the same as C# Minor Pentatonic. E Major and C# Minor are relative major and minor. If you think more in terms of Minor Pentatonic or just know those shapes then play all your C# Minor Pentatonic scales, but start on and emphasize the E notes and it will be sweet sounding E Major Pentatonic.

E Major Pentatonic = E, F#, G#, B, C#

C# Minor Pentatonic = C#, E, F#, G#, B

(Same notes – just emphasize the root of the mode, E.)

Try E Dorian over all the chords. Because we know that both Major Pentatonic & Minor Pentatonic will work, we then know that the Dorian mode will also work. Dorian is considered more of a minor mode, but works great over major key I-IV-V blues, swings, and shuffle progressions.

Dorian has the minor elements in it (b3, b7) but also has some major elements, (2nd, 6th). So in these blues progressions the Dorian mode will give you that hybrid kind of minor/major sounds as it combines the elements of both minor and major.

Dorian Mode = 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7

Dorian is the 2nd mode in any major key. To determine E Dorian ask what major scales’ 2nd note is an E note. The answer is D. So E Dorian is the same as D major:

E Dorian = E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D

D major = D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#

(Same notes – just emphasize the root of the mode, E.)

To play in E Dorian just play all your D major scales but start on and emphasize the E notes. Try resolving your licks focusing on those E notes to bring out that minor Dorian tonality.

Try mixing E Minor Pentatonic & Blues, E Major Pentatonic, and E Dorian over all the chords. Notice how going back and forth from the five-note pentatonics to the seven-note diatonic scales can be quite refreshing to the ear. Experiment and get creative!

Treat each chord like a separate event:

• Be sure to time your changes over each chord and listen closely to the rhythm to ensure you don’t get caught playing the wrong scale over a given chord.
• Try moving Minor Pentatonic & Blues over each chord. Play E Minor Pentatonic & Blues over the E chord.
• Play A Minor Pentatonic & Blues over the A chord. Play B Minor Pentatonic & Blues over the B chord.
• Try moving Major Pentatonic over each chord. Play E Major Pentatonic over the E chord. Play A Major Pentatonic over the A chord. Play B Major Pentatonic over the B chord.
• Try moving the Dorian mode over each chord. Play E Dorian, (=D major), over the E chord. Play A Dorian, (=G major), over the A chord. Play B Dorian, (=A major), over the B chord.