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Learning Goals To master commonly-used blues forms To add standard comping patterns to your repertoire To understand the big three blues rhythmic “feels” To add some tasty blues and boogie licks to your bag. Links to Lessons Blues Rhythm The Big Three Blues Feels Shuffle/Swing Rhythm & Notation Blues Scales Minor Blues Scale, Theory & Ear Training
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A good intro builds excitement and establishes expectations before jumping into a tune, while a turnaround (typically the last two bars of a chorus) keeps the musical momentum going and leads the listener back to “the top” of the next chorus. A staple of boogie/blues is “that b3-b5 thing”… Don’t try to name the chords, but
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A good intro builds excitement and establishes expectations before jumping into a tune, while a turnaround (typically the last two bars of a chorus) keeps the musical momentum going and leads the listener back to “the top” of the next chorus. A commonly-used idea is to emphasize a dominant harmony (the V chord). In this example,
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Notice that these three simple notes (5-6-1, So–La–Do) work great over all three primary chords… Download Hi-Res PDF of Score learn more… Intro/Turnaround #1
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Did you know that it is a common practice to simplify the music notation for shuffle/swing music in order to make the score easier to read? That said, if we wanted to perform the notes [almost] accurately in swing/shuffle rhythm, the music notation might look a bit like this, using a 4/4 time signature… Written using
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A variation of Triplet Riff #1…. Note the simple three note structure (b3-3-1) played on each chord. Such minor 3rd-major 3rd juxtaposition is a staple of boogie, blues, and rock… The skip from E up to C presents a little technical challenge, easily met by lateral and in/out hand/arm motion and circular playing… Download Hi-Res PDF of
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Note the simple three note structure (b3-3-5) played on each chord. Such minor 3rd-major 3rd juxtaposition is a staple of boogie, blues, and rock… learn more… Blues & Boogie Woogie School: Triplet Riff #2
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A good intro builds excitement and establishes expectations before jumping into a tune, while a turnaround (typically the last two bars of a chorus) keeps the musical momentum going and leads the listener back to “the top” of the next chorus. A common pattern is to establish a tonal center, then to move in contrary motion
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This idea plays the exact same riff (5-6-1) over all three chords… Download Hi-Res PDF of Score learn more… Triplet Riff #1
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