Unit 3-2: 12-Bar Blues

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Recognize 12-bar blues patterns in examples from the repertoire and identify any variations in the pattern.
Improvise over a 12-bar blues pattern using chord tones or pentatonic collections.
Demonstrate further proficiency in performing 2:3 polyrhythms in rhythmic sight-reading examples.

Preparation for Class

Read:

Improvising a chordal accompaniment to a melody (Chenette, Foundations of Aural Skills)

Explore

Try improvising a melody or arpeggiating the chords in these 12-bar blues progressions in A and E. These are by BearlyMusic.

Reference Aids

The 12-Bar Blues Progression
Source: Ben Dunnett , "12-Bar Blues," on Music Theory Academy

Note: The second chord (m. 2) is also often replaced with a IV chord.

This image shows the Roman Numerals for a 12-bar blues progression: I, I, I, I - IV, IV, I, I - V, IV, I, I or V

The Proportion of Chords in the Rolling Stone Corpus with Roots of I, IV, V, Broken Down by Decade
Source: David Temperley, The Musical Language of Rock, Example 11.2 (p. 249)

This graph is a proportion of chords in the rolling stone corpus with roots of I, IV, V, broken down by decade. The graph shows an overall decrease (from 0.9 in the 1950s to 0.65 in the 1990s) in proportion.

In-Class Activities

Improvisation

Rhythmic Improvisation (Hemiola): Continued practice with 2:3 polyrhythms from Unit 2-4.
- - Rhythm Grid with Takadimi syllables
  - Rhythm Grid without rhythmic syllables
Improvising with the 12-bar Blues: Use the videos in the "Watch" section above or another backtrack of your choice to practice improvising over the 12-bar blues progression. You can work with the I, IV, and V chords or experiment with pentatonic collections.
Improvisation with a Partner: Try the Open Music Theory activity here during class or outside of class as part of an assignment. (PDF | MuseScore | Backing Track)

Sight Reading

Sight-Singing (Blues Melodies): Sight read melodies in the section "Blues Scales."
Sight-Singing (Skips in IV and V): Continue practice sight-reading melodies in all sections.
Rhythm Sight-Reading (Polyrhythm): Continue sight-reading two-part rhythms in the section "Two against Three." Perform the rhythms with a partner or sing one part while you clap the other. These rhythms include triplet divisions across one and two beats.
Rhythm Sight-Reading (Triplets): Continue sight-reading rhythms in all sections. These are melodies that incorporate triplets over once or two beats that can be performed against a steady backing track to practice feeling 2:3.

Sight Singing: Blues Melodies

Sight Singing: Skips with 4 and 6

Rhythms: 2:3 Polyrhythms

Rhythms: Triplets

Aural ID and Dictation

Theory Anthology: Examples that use the 12-bar blues pattern in a standard way and some with minor variations. Your instructor or a partner gives you the name of a blues song. Open the lyrics for the song in a site like Azlyrics. Mark on the lyrics where you hear the chord changes for the pattern. Take note if you hear any variations.
- - For an additional list of examples to practice with see Scott Lipscomb's collection of "12 -Bar Blues Songs" from History and Styles of Rock.

Theory Anthology: 12-Bar Blues

Assignment

Assignment 3-2

NEXT STEP

Next Lesson: Descending 4ths & 5ths

Additional Practice

Auralia:
- Pop Chord Progressions: Level 3
- Rhythm Dictation: Level 11
Musition:
- Rhythm Tapping: Levels 9a, 9b
- Polyrhythms: Levels 1–2

Page updated

Report abuse