The Blues

[charlie]

What is the blues?
The blues is 12 bars.

• 4 bars I-7
• 2 bars IV-7
• 2 bars I-7
• 1 bar V-7
• 1 bar of IV-7
• 2 bar of I-7

For example, a 12-bar blues in the peoples key of Bb would be:
Bb7-Bb7-Bb7-Bb7
Eb7-Eb7-Bb7-Bb7
F7 - Eb7-Bb7-Bb7

That’s about it.

A helpful method for learning to improvise over any changes, is to use Barry Harris’ method of playing scales through the changes. What scales would you play over a 12-bar blues in B-flat?
Bb7 up
Eb7 up
Bb7 up&down
Eb7 up&down
Bb Major up&down to the 3rd of G-Maj
F7 up&down
Bb Major up
F7 up
(up: from root to 7, down: from 7 to root)

If you learn to play the blues, you will hear it everywhere.

 

[charlie]

 

[charlie]

 

[charlie]

 

[charlie]