Got the Blues?
How do you introduce the Blues to your students?
Summer is a great time to sit back and ponder. Are you rethinking your repertoire list for the upcoming year? Are you exploring a new technique to incorporate? Are you studying new ideas you picked up from the latest conference? Well, let me give you one more topic for your summer reading list: an easy way to introduce the Blues to your students.
Where to begin? Do you jump right into playing new pieces and hope that some knowledge might rub off? Do you explore Lead sheets? But then there might be more chords than you really want to deal with at the moment. Do you sit down and learn the entire chord dictionary? Then look for a piece to apply them in some way? Or maybe listen and study jazz solos from iconic players? All of these ideas can be great starting points, but if you’re like me, argh!! It’s so overwhelming! It’s enough to give you the blues…… 🤦♀️
Hold on! Let’s start with some simple, baby steps. How about we focus on just 2 aspects of the Blues style: the chord progression of the 12 Bar Blues and how to get started creating a solo over those chords.
What is the 12 Bar Blues chord progression?
Here’s the structure: 4 measures of the “I” chord, 2 measures of the “IV” chord, 2 measures of the “I” chord, 1 measure of the “V” chord, 1 measure of the “IV” chord, and 2 measures of the “1” chord (or 1 measure of “I” and 1 measure of “V7” for the turn around). This BLUE CHART shows it much better. (see chart to the Right)
A great way to start learning the Blues (or more specifically - this chord progression) is to listen to some music and point along to the chords on the chart as you hear them played. Then you (or your teacher) can play these chords in root position while saying the chord names to help get your ears focused. Don’t have music to listen to at your finger tips? TRY THIS ONE: Got the Blues Backing Track
Do you have a Blues piece that you’ve already played? Pull it out and see if you can identify the chords. Do they match this 12 Bar Blues structure? If not, can you find the ways it was altered?
Now that we are beginning to understand this pattern….
Let’s talk about creating a SOLO over these chords.
There are a variety of way to teach Improvisation. Here are a few suggestions:
Teach the Blues Scale, in this case: C E♭ F F# G B♭ C and experiment.
Too hard? Just use the notes from the C Major Scale.
Too hard? Just use 5 notes: C D E F G (the C Penta scale)
Take an existing melody and alter it in some way.
Make up a new melody- use repeated notes and simple patterns.
Not ready to improvise on your own? Let’s take it one step at a time...
What if you had a suggested solo, AND you had the freedom to rearrange it as you pleased?
Look at this Solo choices sheet. (Image on the Right) You can play song this from top to bottom and your solo is already made for you! OR you can cut up the page on the dotted lines, re-arrange the lines and make your own solo! (see image below, Right) Follow the 12 Bar Blues chart to help you know how to organize it. There are 4 choices for the “C” chord, but only 1 option for the F7 and G, F measures. BUT - if you trade parts with another level, you’ll have more choices for these too! AND, what if these solos choices were in 4 different levels? Elementary, Late Elementary, Early Intermediate and Intermediate.
Intrigued, but don’t know where to begin?
Check out this new resource: Got the Blues? a 12 Bar Blues Study + Build a Solo for Private Students or Multi Level Ensemble.
Lots of options here:
Teach and play the Ensemble - It’s satisfying to play all by itself!
Play & listen to the Backing Track (included for FREE) to teach the 12 Bar Blues structure. Have students say the name of the chord for each measure, while they feel the beat. Ex. m. 1 “C”, m. 4 “F”.
Have students play the Solo choices page from top to bottom - instant solo to add over ensemble. Want more choices for the Solo, let students mix & match parts. Ex. Intermediate can choose for all 4 levels, while Elementary might need to improvise - maybe try just playing the chord name as a whole note, for something more simple.
(Make extra copies of Solo choices) and have students cut up the lines to mix & match a new solo. Just be mindful of the 12 Bar Blues structure so you have the right chord at the right time.
Lastly, put it all together - let 1 student at a time try their solo while others play the ensemble OR let students try their solo while playing the Backing track (it plays for 4 times through).
Do you still have the Blues? NOT anymore! This piece will have everyone smiling!
What’s included: Teacher’s instructions: Blues definition, Lesson plan, Suggestions & options. 12 Bar Blues Chart - post in your room or give to students: shows chord progression form, and chord names with notes in the chord included in this piece. Student page: Instructions on how to use the Build a Solo activity. 4 pages of Solo choices, to used as straight through or mix & match! Plus, the score and parts for a Multi Level Piano Ensemble.
Ways to use this Lesson:
Key: C Major with “blues” notes in accidentals.
Time signature: 4/4
Skill development: Ensemble - learning chord names & notes and the 12 Bar Blues structure. Typical Left Hand patterns & Right Hand licks & accompaniment figures. Solo - experience how to organize a solo before playing it, what notes fit with which chords, go beyond? Try improvising your own solo!
What level: Multi Level: Elementary, Late Elementary, Early Intermediate, and Intermediate.
How long: Cover + 1 page Teacher notes, 1 page Student instruction, 1 page 12 Bar Blues Chart, 4 pages Solo choices, 2 pages Score, 4 pages: 1 page for each part: 14 pages total, Performance time 02:00.
Make sure to grab the FREE Backing Track. Great to share with students to explore at home on their own or use in class for a low stress option.
LOVE this idea? Here’s another Improvisation Study ⬇️
I’d love to hear your experiences with teaching the Blues or your work with Multi Level Ensembles or teaching Improvisation!! Please send me some comments or an email. Inspiration, from teachers like you, are what fuel my fire!
Looking forward to hearing from you!! -Susan
