top / dc / head / de capo

Hip to any of the above terms in the page title and what they mean? They are all in the glossary, so click and scroll for a brief definition if ya choose. On this page these terms all identify the same musical event. A rather important one for that matter, especially for the emerging learner in getting hip to the 12 bar blues form. What we are trying to do is to develop the ability to consistently be able to recognize and hear the downbeat of measure one of each chorus as they occur within a multi-chorus solo. Simply the first beat of each new chorus, we need to be able to aurally know when it occurs to orientate ourselves as to where we are in the music. The ability to recognize when this precise point occurs in the music is an important first step in getting our blues voice organized.

So why is aurally recognizing the first beat of measure one important? In most every blues tune, the whole song is comprised of the 12 bar cycle played many times back to back. The top of the chorus is simply the downbeat of a new cycle of 12 bars. By hearing the top, we know the starting point of a new cycle of 12 bars. We get our bearings for the coming chorus and with this perspective can better understand how players chose which pitches for certain spots in the form, build solos and climaxes, substitute chords and embellish the form.

As new blues improvisers, sensing the top of the chorus or form helps us to organize our own ideas, making better sense of the music. Eventually it all evolves towards artistic expression, and knowing of the form and top of the cycle is an important first step in getting there. Cool with this? So, can you recognize the tops / dc's / head's / edge's in the following 18 chorus blues solo? Key of C blues, 4 /4 time. Example 1.

click and try to hear the top of each chorus

Can you feel and identify where the "top" or first beat of each new chorus starts in the above solo? This downbeat occurs 19 times in the music. If you can clearly recognize the "top of the chorus", cool, off you go. If not, the following ideas will help you develop this essential ability.

One way to find the top is to simply count the measures as the music moves along. We do this by counting in a musical way, simply keeping track of measure numbers. Ever done this before? It's very easy and an important ability to acquire. The following chart simply is a numerical representation of the musical beats in the 12 bar blues form. Knowing the music is in 4 / 4 time, simply start the music and count each measure as numbered in the chart which follows. Try tapping your foot and counting the sequence of numbers as they appear in the chart which follows. Example 1.

The first number in each group represents the measure number in relation to the 12 bar cycle. The 2, 3, and 4 of each group are the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th beats of each measure of the 4 / 4 time. Got the counting together? The number 1 in the above rows of numbers is the downbeat and the spot in the music that we are trying to identify aurally. The ability to aurally recognize this downbeat at the top of the 12 bar cycle gives us a needed perspective to help to shape our blues, gives a bit of closure to the form and allows us to begin to shape our musical ideas in a organized format.

Here is another blues song, 11 choruses in the minor tonality, can you identify when the "top" occurs? Try counting the measures in the manner presented above. Example 2.

click and try to hear the top of each chorus

In this next example, we return to the music from example one above and musically articulate or accent the top. This accent simply makes that one beat sound louder. Musicians call this accenting and change in volume musical dynamics. So, listening for the top, now accented for easier recognition. Example 3.

click and try to hear the top of each chorus

Got it? Can you clearly hear when the "top / dc / head / edge" occurs? The terms top / dc / head / edge describe a very simple point in the actual music, while the ability of a learner to recognize it is way important. Simple concept / important skill. Just so that when your jamming and you call out one of these terms, or hear one of these labels, or the leader points to their head and then starts to play the pickup notes to the original melody whatever, the idea that the form of the music you are playing, is heading towards the downbeat of measure one, at the top of whatever cycle your playing. Now cue up your favorite blues tune and locate the top, exploring how the artist gets there and what they do when arrive.

What's next? Lets look combining scales and chords in the blues format. Choose a color, major or minor?

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore Roosevelt