The Blues

When jazz musicians speak of the blues, they are usually referring to the 12 bar blues. There are many derivatives of the blues, but the most common chord progression I-IV-I-V-I. This chord progression is in its most basic format.

Throughout the history of jazz, nearly every jazz musician at one time or another has played or recorded the blues. Since jazz is such an individualistic form of music, each musician and period of jazz has its own “sound”. For example, Dizzy Gillespie plays the blues in a much different way than Louis Armstrong or Miles Davis, yet all are valid examples of jazz musicians performing the blues.

The blues is one of the threads that hold the entire history of jazz together. Blues was one of the earliest forms of music played by jazz musicians and continues to be played today. In each period of jazz music, including Dixieland, swing, bebop, hard bop, modal and avant garde, we find the blues. There is a style that should be appealing to everyone.

One reason that the blues is found in all of these periods is its flexibility of expression. The blues can be simple or complex harmonically. It can be fast, medium, or slow in tempo. It can be major or minor in tonality. It can express almost any emotion (happiness, sadness, joy, loneliness, desire, outrage, peace, etc.).

By listening to many different artists performing the blues from numerous periods, your aural skills and your improvisation will improve.  You should also be able to better relate to what is being played on the recordings.  This is an excellent way for you to gain aural knowledge of historically significant jazz musicians, while at the same time honing your listening skills.

Blues Examples

Click the sheet music for various Blues Progressions

                                                                                #1                    #2                       #3                     #4

Blues Examples in Various Keys

Click on the sheet music for various Blues Progressions in different keys

                                                            F Concert Treble Clef          F Concert Bass Clef            Blues in F key of Bb            Blues in F key of Eb

The Recordings

1. Louis Armstrong – West End Blues

2. Sidney Bechet – Blue Horizon

3. Count Basie & Lester Young – One O’Clock Jump

4. Duke Ellington – C-Jam Blues

5. Charlie Parker – Parker Mood

6. Charlie Parker – Blues for Alice

7. Dizzy Gillespie – Blue ‘N’ Boogie

8. Thelonious Monk & Milt Jackson – Misterioso

9. Sonny Rollins – Blue 7

10. Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wynton Kelly, & Cannonball Adderley – Freddie Freeloader

11. Horace Silver  - Senor Blues

12. John Coltrane – Chasin’ the Trane