The BluesHow are these images linked to the Blues?

The BluesGuitar , Piano and Harmonica are all common Blues instruments

Slavery is linked to the Blues – the music came from the suffering of African American people

Where did the Blues come from?

When slavery ended in America around 1865,Blues music began to develop from the songs and lives of African Americans who still lived in poverty and inequality.Blues music developed from the slave songs and work songs that were sung all over the ‘deep south’ of America.The ‘deep south’ states are Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia.

• Q: How is it possible for blues musicians from all over the world to get together, and play a song together, without any prior rehearsal?

• A: By learning a common song structure – the 12 bar Blues.

12 Bar Blues Chord Pattern

C C C C

F F C C

G F C C

Chords

• C E G = C chord• F A C = F chord• G B D = G chord

‘Walking’ Blues Bassline

C E G E C C C

F A C A F C C

G B D B F A C A C C

The Blues Scale

C Eb F Gb G Bb C

Common Blues Lyrics

Sadness

Misery

Loneliness

Feelin’ Bad

Losing someone or something…

Bad luck

Hard workLife is unfair

Being poor

The devil is playing tricks

Blues

Features of The Blues

• 12 Bar chord structure• Walking Bass line• Swinging rhythm – 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and…• Improvisation using the Blues Scale• Melancholy lyrics