Blues lines can take the form of just about anything. From long melismatic bebop intricacies to one long honk from an angry sounding tenor saxophone. In between is potentially everything else that has ever been devised by anyone who plays any variety of any kind of blues. I think that just about covers it. So, sky’s the limit yes? For pedagogical purposes, I sort things about by a few common forms that blues lines tend to follow. Take your pick. All roads will lead to our own musical home eventually.
| one idea per chorus / 12 bar blues | running one idea through the 12 bar blues form |
| transposing one idea / 12 bar blues | transposing one idea through the 12 bar blues form |
| call and response | the first form of musical communication? |
| cliche blues licks | some cool ideas for beginning players |
| blues vamp lines | common blues vamp ideas for the creative artist |
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." Walt Disney