The elements of music in the blues
Melody
Identities of a blues melody consisted of the following:
- many of the melodies move within the A scale made up of the 1st, flattened 3rd, 4th, flattened fifth, 5th and flattened seventh of a major scale. The 2nd and the 6th are omitted. - a minor A five note scale. scale with the addition of a flattened fifth
- it was common to include Flattened notes. - usually the flattened third, fifth or seventh note of the scale
- the performer often Composing music on the spot or during a performance. over a chord progression
- Several notes sung to one syllable. are heard in many blues vocal melodies
Harmony and tonality
The factors that are associated with blues music include:
- the harmony is predominately related to the The main note of a scale or key, from which the key gets its name., Fourth tonal degree of the scale and a closely related key. and The fifth tone or degree of any of the major or minor scales.
- minor 7th A collection of usually three notes played together. and other Chord extensions use notes in the chord other than the 1st, 3rd and 5th of the triad. are heard
- Combination of notes that sound harsh when sounded together. harmonies are a common feature
Structure
The structure of blues music is still heard today in lots of different genres of music.
The A style of blues music using a 12 bar chord progression using primary chords I, IV and V. sequence is the most used chord progression in blues music. The sequence orientates around the tonic, subdominant and dominant chords of the A pattern of sharps or flats at the beginning of a piece of music indicating which are to be played.. It is also common practice to fit A recurring pattern, often on guitar. around the chord changes.
In the key of C this would be:
Where one melody is answered by another. is a feature of work songs where the leader would call out a line and the rest of the group sings in response.
Metre, rhythm and tempo
If asked to discuss these elements remember that:
- blues is usually in 4/4 Numbers or letters written at the start of a piece of music depicting how many beats are in a bar and what type of beat are in each bar.
- there is Rhythm patterns where stressed notes are placed off the beat. to emphasise the weak beats
- A jazz style in which notes are always syncopated rather than played evenly. rhythms are heard- quavers are uneven and give a A group of three equal length notes played in the space of two, eg three quavers played in the space of two quavers. feel to the beat
- early blues music was very slow but got faster as the style developed
- A bass part that is used in blues music moving in crotchets usually following the notes of the chord with the addition of a minor 7th. lends a steady rhythm to the music
An example walking bass line from So What by Miles Davis
Instruments
The most popular instruments used in blues are:
- brass instruments - often heard playing with To dampen or temporarily switch off a sound.
- saxophone
- acoustic and electric guitar
- Dixieland drum kit
- double bass - a walking bass line is a common harmonic device in which the bass will play notes of the chord and notes leading to the next chord
- the double bass is played A playing technique in which the strings of an instrument are plucked. - more so than Bowing the strings.