Blues changes & good examples

[rainbownorth]

Hey guys,

I realise this has probably been asked again and again but I need some answers...

I started jamming with a couple dudes who mostly play rock/metal, which is ok, cept they wanna play covers mostly. Im ok with that if theyre cool covers, but mostly theyre songs I could care less about. Anywho, our guitarist gets into blues in a huge way.

Well, I havent got into it thus far, but I would love to. I love what Ive heard of certain artists, and Id love to:
a) get into some good electric blues, some stuff with good groove and great interplay between musicians, and
b) learn some blues scales and changes to jam with this dude, cuz im more interested in originals, and way more interested in laying some groove down anyhow.

So firstly, who are some good bands to listen to, for enjoyment, and for a good idea of what i should be playing and how to play it? Ive heard and enjoyed so far a little cream and led zep, janis joplin, buddy guy, thats pretty much it.

Secondly, are there any standard progressions i should definitely know or tips somewhere on these forums that will give me a good headstart? This is an area I've definitely ignored so far in my musical history, and Id like to bring myself up to speed.

Also, if this question has been answered before, feel free to point in the direction of the answer. Thanks

[erock0138]

Anything by Tommy Shannon, is pretty good. He played with Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Johnny Winter. My favorite blues bassist by far. Also, Some good Rory Gallagher tunes are always fun as well. Oh yeah, and I learned quite easily by just playing Tommy Shannon's Lines, and also Guss Thornton, who also worked with SRV and Albert King, that man can groove. Hendrix's version of Born under a bad sign, is an awesome jam song.

[phatbass]

Grab some Canned Heat compilations which you'll find in the cut-out bins - usually these are with one of the older lineups with Larry Taylor.

[rainbownorth]

Ooh I've heard good things about SRV and im sure I've heard of canned heat before too. Thanks guys

[Floyd Eye]

Do you know any scales?

Start here.


Pentatonic scale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[rainbownorth]

I know a fair bit of scales....not entirely sure what a blues or pentatonic looks over the whole neck though...

[MalcolmAmos]

I would dare say there are at least a kizillion charts on the Internet of those two patterns.

Google will find them.

[rainbownorth]

Cool I'll look into it, thanks! What about rhythms and changes? Where can I find chord changes etc?

[cire113]

^^^ mostly by listening to songs...

most blues is a variation of 12 bar blues....

Most of the cool stuff is in the rhythmic department...


Listen to some ray charles hes got a cool blues progression that goes to the flat 5b chord before the turn around sounds great..

check out some t- bone walker, howlin wolf, muddy waters, bb king, elmore jones, willie dixon, albert king... should keep u busy

[Skitch it!]

I've alway's liked the changes and feels in this one by the Allman Brothers, nice changes.

YouTube - ‪Allman Brothers / Stormy Monday‬‏

[butchblack]

Rhythmically you'll want to learn a march (quarter notes in time) a flat tire (think EC's Tore Down), a swing and a Boogie Woogie.

Standard progression is a I, IV, V. Common variations are a quick IV (I,IV,I,I instead of I,I,I,I) II, V turn around (walking from the II to the V then back to the II on measures 9 and 10) You'll get a lot of mileage from them.

[Rockmusician]

Foghat, SRV, Allman Brothers, Cream, Derek and the Dominos would be good bands to listen to.

[emor]

I can't get enough of this:

YouTube - ‪Freddie King - Big Legged Woman‬‏

[Doctor Dirt]

Simple traditional line like "Tore Down" is a must to know but I would suggest going to the man who taught Clapton how to play it that being Freddie King. For older styled patterns the master is Willie Dixon on just about any Chicago (Chess records) recordings from the mid 40's throughout the 60s.
For picking up groove styles and techniques I'd suggest ;
Willie Weeks and Duck Dunn would give you a great start. These folks actually have the correct approach to playing bass lines as opposed to some others who note sellections are more rock guitar oriented. Use the net to search out "Areas" of the Blues (recordings) like Missisippi, Kansas City, Texas, Chicago to identify playing styles and the players used on the recordings from these area studios.
I would concentrate on the 50 thru the 70s to be able to learn true patterns and grooves especial dealing with major to minor tunes. The current younger folks playing haven't reached that level of "choices" yet. All pretty good players as far as hearing what came before them but not quite listeners yet to catch and identify the phrases and notes that distinguish the greats from the past.
I would suggest some R&B and swing into your learning lessons you'll see once you get by the three chord blues thats theres alot of standard progressions to learn that were developed in the 30s up to the early 60s. Best of luck and there is alot more involved then most people think when playing the blues other than capturing the feel. Note and chord selection is huge, if the choices are wrong then its just another rock n roller thinking he can play blues and its usually real bad music. Doc

[Hawkbone]

There was a thread on progressions and changes not long ago, but I can't find it just now.

Check out Big Sugar - blues based rock with reggae influenced bass and insane guitar. The live stuff in particular can be inspiring.

Terrible sound but some of the magic still comes across YouTube - ‪Big Sugar - Let It Ride - LIVE - Mardi Gras - St. John's,NL Oct.29/2010.MOV‬‏

earlier stuff (pre-Jamaican bassist) YouTube - ‪Big Sugar - Sleep In Late‬‏

YouTube - ‪Big Sugar - I Want You Now‬‏


Mad Season - the late John Baker Saunders lays down some great blues bass in this short lived project with Mike McCready, Layne Staley and Barrett Martin

Mad Season - Live At The Moore (Full)

Rick Lambe Band - Hindsight hindsight by rick lambe band



Agree with Tommy Shannon, some great bass there. (Double Trouble's 'Ground Hog Day' was actually written by the Big Sugar frontman, Gordie Johnson)

Jack Bruce and Robin Trower - Seven Moons DVD


Most any early Zep, as already mentioned.

[rainbownorth]

Wow.....well I got a lotta homework!! And a lotta new tunes to hear too. Keep posting if you got more recommendations, and Ill keep posting my thanks and findings as they develop.

Thanks a bunch guys, this helps a lot.

[Deathblade Eric]

Check out this thread from a while ago. Good discussion on Blues Terminology with examples.

Pete.

[Hawkbone]

Originally Posted by Deathblade Eric

Check out this thread from a while ago. Good discussion on Blues Terminology with examples.

Pete.

That's the one I was trying to find - thanks!

[rainbownorth]

Oooh that looks good! I'll have a look when I got the chance later tonight.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Deathblade Eric

Check out this thread from a while ago. Good discussion on Blues Terminology with examples.

Pete.

Here are a few more threads/links I've found on the Blues:
5. STYLES
~Blues

Becoming a blues bass player

Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary-Blues progressions explained w/ audio samples
A web page will be displayed with an alphabetic index at the bottom. Click on "B" then click on " Blues" and then click on "more about the blues".
There also a "Blues Scale" you can follow up on.

Basic lessons/free backing tracks
Getting into the blues
Slow blues
1 "Must know" blues tunes
2

1 Blues jam terms/progressions
2
3

Ice Cream Changes
Backdoor Progression
ii-V-I
more blues

1 First jam
2
3

Gig coming up

Blues bass player's club

Influential musicians (mostly) pre-1959
History and styles
20 important blues recordings & more

"Blues Bass" by TB member Jon Liebman
Ed Friedland's Essential Styles and Techniques
Blues books
"Complete Rhythm Guitar Guide for Blues Bands"
"101 Blues Bass Patterns by Larry McCabe