What makes a Blues scale different from a typical European scale?

Answer 1

The Blues scale is distinct from typical European scales primarily due to its inclusion of "blue notes," which are flattened notes that add a unique expressive quality. Specifically, the Blues scale often features a minor third, diminished fifth (or augmented fourth), and minor seventh, creating a sound that conveys melancholy and tension. In contrast, European scales, like major and minor scales, follow a more structured pattern of whole and half steps without these altered tones, resulting in a different emotional character. This makes the Blues scale particularly suited for the improvisational and expressive nature of Blues Music.