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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, we will revisit the key features of blues music with reference to examples of the genre.

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This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

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6 Questions

Q1.
Where is famous blues artist Miles Davis from?
Correct answer: America.
Canada.
England.
Q2.
Which pitches are heard in the G major scale?
Correct answer: G A B C D E F# G
G A B D E G
G Bb C Db D F G
Q3.
Which pitches are heard in the G major pentatonic scale?
G A B C D E F# G
Correct answer: G A B D E G
G Bb C Db D F G
Q4.
Which pitches are heard in the G major blues scale?
G A B C D E F# G
G A B D E G
Correct answer: G Bb C Db D F G
Q5.
What is improvising?
Copying another musician.
Following a score.
Correct answer: Making up the music on the spot.
Q6.
When do you improvise in "Bags' Groove"?
All the way through.
At the end.
Correct answer: Between the heads.

8 Questions

Q1.
If you are playing a 12 bar blues in G, what would the I, IV, and V chords be?
C, E and G
Correct answer: G, C and D
G, F and A
Q2.
If we transpose the 12 bar blues structure to F, what three pitches would we play?
Correct answer: F Bb and C
F E and D
F G and A
Q3.
What is a 'turn around' chord in the blues structure?
Where a band repeats the same chord over again.
Where the band plays a chord in a different key.
Correct answer: Where the last chord in the structure is chord (V) instead of chord (I).
Q4.
How is a walking bass line created from chords?
Correct answer: A walking bass line is the notes of the chords 'broken' into an ascending and descending pattern.
A walking bass line is the notes of the chords played an octave apart.
A walking bass line is the notes of the chords played together at the same time.
Q5.
What types of instruments were used in early blues music?
Brass and woodwind,
Concertina and vocals.
Correct answer: Percussion and guitar.
Q6.
What is a blues 'head'?
Correct answer: A main melody or theme that will repeat throughout a blues song.
A solo improvisation.
The 12 bar blues arrangement.
Q7.
Which pitches are heard in the G major blues scale?
G A B C D E F# G
G A B D E G
Correct answer: G Bb C Db D F G
Q8.
What is improvising?
Copying another musician.
Following a score.
Correct answer: Making up the music on the spot.