the standard chord sequence used in blues music, based on the C, F and G

two or more notes played at the same time; they are usually played as three notes in a triad

a guitar playing technique used in blues music which uses a slide or bottleneck to slide up the strings

Finger picking guitar - Video

Slide guitar - Video

12-bar blues chords audio

Playing the chords - video

12-bar blues chords - video

Task C feedback - video

Blues music and the 12-bar blues

Music

The role of the instruments and the bass pattern

Boogie-woogie

The blues scale

Building an improvisation

Creating an idiomatic blues performance

In this unit, pupils learn about the 12-bar blues, the stylistic and musical features of blues music and the role of the instruments in a blues ensemble. They develop an extended improvisation and build a stylistic blues performance.

The 12-bar blues

a group of musicians performing together e.g. a choir, band or orchestra

to create music or a musical idea on the spot

when the rhythm emphasises (accents) notes in between the main beats

a short repeated musical idea used in popular music

Bass Pattern - Video

Counting the bass pattern - Video

Check - Audio a

Check - Audio b

Check - Audio c

Feedback - Video

Chords and bass pattern - Video

Moving both hands - Video

Extended syncopated version - Video

an upbeat style of blues music and the name of the piano accompaniment pattern used in boogie-woogie

alternating between two notes rapidly; sounds like a trembling effect

when the notes are played in a short, detached way

Boogie-Woogie Pattern - Video

Boogie-Woogie Pattern With Chords - Video

Semibreve Chords - Video

Syncopated Chords - Video

Moving Both Hands - Video

a scale typically used in blues music; it uses blue notes which gives blues its distinctive sound

the lowered or flattened notes in the blues scale, typically the 3rd, 5th and 7th

With Blue Notes Audio

Without Blue Notes Audio

Blues Scale Video

Blues Scale Melody Video

Melody Phrases Video

Where do The Chords Land Video

Melody With Boogie-Woogie Pattern Video

Check 1 - Audio a

Check 1 - Audio b

Check 1 - Audio c

Check 2 - Audio

a section of music where the melodic ideas are made up on the spot

the different sections within a piece of music or how these sections are organised into phrases

a short musical idea that recurs throughout a piece of music

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Went Out for Tea Audio

My Kettle Climbed the Three Peaks Audio

This is How We Play the 12-Bar Blues Audio

'Try' Backing Track

This is How We Play the 12-Bar Blues Over the 12-Bar Blues Audio

Improvisation Audio

Blues Scale Example 1 Video

Blues Scale Example 2 Video

Blues Scale Example 3 Video

Motif Improvisation Audio

Start With the Motif Video

Notes in a Sequence Video

Make the Motif More Complex Video

Semibreve Chords Improvisation Video

Boogie-Woogie Pattern Improvisation Video

if something is idiomatic it is appropriate to the style (e.g. blues music using blues features such as the blues scale and syncopation)

a melodic phrase structure, common in blues music, where the first phrase (A) is repeated then followed by a contrasting phrase (B)

when the piano plays in octaves it plays the same note (e.g. C) but 8 notes apart

The 12-bar blues

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