12 BAR BLUES

BY JEMIMA EDWARDS 8H1

The arpeggio cords are also known as blue, red and green.

♥ The three primary chords are C, F and G.♥ The secondary notes are: (notes that make

up the primary chords)♥ C- c, e, g, a♥ F- f, a, c, d♥ G- g, b, d, e♥ When playing a chord on the piano or key

board you do this♥ Note 1- miss 2-note 3-miss4-note 5 and 6.

ARPEGGIO CORDS

C E G A

CC E G A

CC E G A

CC E G A

CC E G A

FF A C D

FF A C D

CC E G A

CC E G A

GG B D E

FF A C D

CC E G A

CC E G A

FA

C DG

BD

E

The melody line is played with the chords. In some parts of the song

it is the same time and in other parts its after you

play a chord.

C3 D

D#

G

12 BAR BLUES SCALEC3

D#

F F#

G A# C4These notes are the notes used in the scale of

the 12 bar blues

All or some of these notes can be used for the musical

technique ‘improvisation’. The improvisation is played in the

time slot of the ‘1-8 count’ from the melody line.

C3 F G

D# F#

A#

SALVERY

During the 18th and 19 centuries, thousands of Africans were forced to

go to America. They had little amounts of food and had to work

really hard; they were also separated from their family.

They went through a lot of pain and suffering. They were set free from being slaves in 1865. although they were set free it was still hard for them because they faced poverty and homelessness; they were not able to get jobs.

♫ Blues music was to express the problems they faced as slaves during there work to make them happy.

♫ There most popular instrument was the drum which was played by the palms of their hands, fingertips and sticks. They used other instruments like drums, sticks, shakers and tambourines.

HISTORY OF BLUES MUSIC Blues music uses

improvisation. Improvisation means to make music up as you go along. They also use ‘call and response’ this is a way they perform by making the singer sing first half line and response frim the guitarist or other instrumentalist.

There are two types of blues which are country

and city. City blues is more louder and fiercer.

Also the sound is amplified. There is also a

lead singer or guitarist which was usually accompanied by a

backing group.