Shuffle Lick 3, Which Chords?

[peezhu]

OK, Licks 1 & 2 you can play over the 4 & 5 chords, but when we get to lick 3, the bend has to go to half a step to fit over the 4 & 5 chords. Can somebody please splain this? In simple terms, I'm a simple man.

 

[Terry B]

Because a full step bend would reach a note that clashes with the 4 and 5 chords, but it does not clash with the 1.

Also this is a lick using the major sound which is normally only used over the one chord.

 

[peezhu]

Since it's major, why only one note that doesn't work? If I change to box 3 for a minor sound, some of the notes from that lick aren't there.

 

[Terry B]

Lick 3 only has 3 notes (4 counting the bent note) from the major blues box. Two of the notes are in box 3 of the minor pentatonic, and the half step bend is also in box 3 minor pentatonic. So with a half step bend, you're making it sound minor which works over the 4 and 5.

If you don't bend that note, or give it a full step bend it remains major, therefore only to be used over the 1.