12 bar 1 / 4 / 5 / minor blues

Blues in the minor tonality. The 12 bar blues is simply three / four bar musical phrases, which when combined together create the 12 bars of one complete chorus of a 12 bar 1, 4, 5 blues. The 1, 4, 5 part of it refers to the root numbers of the chords used and are derived by adding numbers to the letter names of the pitches which comprise the blues scale. Curious to learn this musical form? If new to the blues, learn as much of the following melody as possible, it's basically a C blues scale up in quarter notes and down in eighth notes. Getting this line under your fingers will give you a working feel for the blues grouping of pitches in the minor tonality.

Hear how the one melodic idea, created in a basic call and response, simply repeated three times to create the first chorus? Chord symbols for the 1st chorus. Three / four bar phrases.

Bars 1 through 4. The first phrase starts on the One chord or tonic. First theme created from the pitches of the blues scale sets the tone of the solo.

Bars 5 through 8. The second phrase starts on the Four chord in bar 5. Back to tonic in measure 7. Same melodic idea.

Bars 9 through 12. The third phrase starts on the Five chord for bar 9, moves to Four in bar 10, then back to tonic in bar 11. The Five chord in bar 12 creates the Five to One cadential motion for the return to the tonic. Again, same melodic idea.

complete sound file for the first chorus, try jamming along, 10 choruses of 3 chord blues in C minor.

Got the line or some part of it under your fingers? If not, keep trying? If it's out of reach just play the roots of the chords for now. Maybe just the tonic if that's the available pitch. If the line is cool for you, as time permits go to the loop below and improvise your own lines. Use the pitches from the melody to create your melodic ideas. Remember, the melody of the tune we are improvising on is oftentimes a continual source for ideas while soloing.

practice loop for jamming, 10 choruses of 1st chorus minor blues changes in C minor, you add the melody line.
practice loop for jamming, 10 choruses of uptempo 1st chorus minor blues changes in C.

Ideas for blues lines? Blues chords? Examine the pitches of the blues scale? Take the blues challenge perhaps? Click below.

What about blues in the major tonality? What's this about a blues magic?

What you can do, or dream you can, begin it: Boldness has a genius, power and magic in it.

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