The 12 Bar BluesBY ETTA SELIM 8H1

12 Bar BluesC

CEGAC

CEGAC

CEGAC

CEGA

FFACD

FFACD

CCEGA

CCEGA

GGBDE

FFACD

CCEGA

CCEGA

G G GRest and

Count

1, 2

C3 D C3These 3 notes are played in

quick succession.

G F CRest and

Count

1, 2

C3 D# F F# G A# C4

All or some of these notes can be used for the musical technique “IMPROVISATION”. Improvisation means to make up as you go along. This is played within the time slot “1-8 count” on the melody line.

An arpeggio is a type of broken chord whose notes are played quickly in order as opposed to simultaneously; to give a chord a harp-like effect. The word is derived from the Italian word arpeggiare, to play on a harp

Arpeggio Chords

Scale Melody Line

History: SlaveryThousands of Africans went to America in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were forced to go by slave traders who wanted the Africans to work for them. Life was appalling for the Africans because they were estranged from their families and auctioned. About 15% of the slaves died on the ships. The ones who were sold were treated horribly and made to work for no money at all and against their will.

Slave trade route

Music played an important part in the lives of African slaves because it made them happy. It was also the only thing that their “owners” couldn’t take away from them.

They made instruments from whatever they could find. For example, jawbones were turned into percussion instruments by scraping the teeth with metal objects.

The most popular instrument was the drum. This could be played with sticks or with your hands.

List of instruments

used:• Shakers (made

from containers

half-filled with

pebbles)

• Drums (of different

shapes and sizes)

• Tambourines

• Anklets• Scrapers• Fiddle• Stringed

instruments

History: Music

Painting of slaves dancing and playing music

HistoryFreedom: Better or Worse?

The slaves were set free in 1865.However, freedom was worse than slavery for many of the black Americans because they were denied jobs and mistreated. The freed slaves invented a new style of music called “Blues music”. The blues songs express all the unhappiness and mistreating that they endured during their time as slaves and afterwards. The 12 Bar Blues is the most common form of Blues. The length is 12 bars, hence the name. Improvisation is important in blues music because it means the tunes are always similar.

HistoryA Few Notable Blues Singers

Robert Johnson

Eric Clapton

Johnny Lee Hooker

Name: Robert JohnsonDOB: May 8, 1911No. of songs: 29 Info: Robert Johnson is best known as one of the greatest blues performers of all time, a recognition that came largely after his death at age 27. His hits include "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" and "Sweet Home Chicago," which has become a blues standard.Death: August 16, 1938. The suspected victim of a deliberate poisoning.

Name: Eric ClaptonDOB: March 30, 1945Info: This musician is ranked among the greatest rock and roll guitarists of all time, with songs such as "Crossroads" and "Wonderful Tonight”. He helped to spread blues music with a mixture of traditional songs and his own pounding songs such as “Layla”.

Name: Johnny Lee HookerDOB: August 22, 1917Info: Blues singer and guitarist John Lee Hooker was one of the most distinguished figures in blues and was a great influence on bands such as The Rolling Stones. He began his career in Detroit in 1948 with the release of Boogie Chillun, the biggest of his several hit records. He toured continually, and had an unusually successful career, appearing in concerts and on recordings with many of the leading figures in rock.

HistoryThe Development of Blues Music

Blues music was divided into country blues and city blues. City blues was a more sophisticated sound backed with a piano or a whole band.

Blues singers use a method called the “call and response” in their songs. This method of singing came from African slaves and their homeland. In blues music the “call” is the singer and the “response” is an answer from a guitarist or other instrumentalist.

Over time, a new genre of music sprung up from blues: Rhythm and Blues (R&B). The difference between the two was that blues music was much louder and fiercer. Also, most or all of the instruments were amplified and a lead singer or guitarist was usually accompanied by a backing group.

Blues songs usually were about love and characters in trouble.