Good blues riffs/progressions

[JeffC]

Just wondering if there are some standard or usual blues progressions that I can give a go. I am really getting into blues and would like to give it a go. Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks

[DocBop]

8-bar, 12-bar, 16-bar, Fast Change, Stormy Monday or T-Bone turnaround as its called sometimes are all names you'll hear on the bandstand. Sometimes you won't get that much someone will call Blues in A. The drummers count will tell you the Fast, Slow, or Shuffle and its all your ear after that to catch the changes. So get a bunch of Blues records and you will hear all these progressions. Main thing is learn to hear the changes so you can follow change even if you never heard the tune before. Then check out a tune like Freddie King's Same Old Blues, it has real nice gospel changes.

Blues is a great teacher just get some CD's, put them on and play along. Your ear will develop fast catching the changes.

[Deathblade Eric]

You could do worse than pick up a copy of "BluesbReakers" & "A Hard Road" by John Mayall - Eric Clapton & Peter Green in full flight. Also go for the Best of/Collection type of compilation of any of the greats: Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, T-Bone Walker, Elmore James, Muddy Waters etc etc & just listen & absorb - good things will happen.

Pete.

[JeffC]

Went to the HMV mega store up the street and picked up a 2 disc set called "Blues Gold". It is a compilation of blues form the greats and is also remastered. I'm on the first disc now and loving it! I only wish I had my bass with me at work. :'(

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by JeffC

Went to the HMV mega store up the street and picked up a 2 disc set called "Blues Gold". It is a compilation of blues form the greats and is also remastered. I'm on the first disc now and loving it! I only wish I had my bass with me at work. :'(

Most Blues is a combo of the I, IV, and V chords you probably been playing since the beggining. While at work in your moments between tasks try to listen and figure out the progressions.

To help the I chord sound like Home. The IV sounds like you going away from Home. V chord sounds like you heading back home. Think about that when you listen and you will be surprise how many of those tunes you can play first time when you get back to your bass.

[El Bajo]

I went through a Blues phase and keep coming back to it becaue once you got it you can pretty much jam to any Blues track.
Get Ed Friedlands Blues bass. Probably the best Blues instructional book ever.

[JeffC]

Originally Posted by DocBop

Most Blues is a combo of the I, IV, and V chords you probably been playing since the beggining. While at work in your moments between tasks try to listen and figure out the progressions.

To help the I chord sound like Home. The IV sounds like you going away from Home. V chord sounds like you heading back home. Think about that when you listen and you will be surprise how many of those tunes you can play first time when you get back to your bass.

I'm not quite sure what you mean regarding the I, IV, and V chords, I remember something about them but I'm pretty new at this whole thing and I may have somewhat forgotten it.

I have been really picking apart the music and attempting to figure out what the notes they are playing are, but as I am still pretty green it is difficult. Its a good workout for music brain in any case.

Thanks.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by JeffC

I'm not quite sure what you mean regarding the I, IV, and V chords, I remember something about them but I'm pretty new at this whole thing and I may have somewhat forgotten it.

I have been really picking apart the music and attempting to figure out what the notes they are playing are, but as I am still pretty green it is difficult. Its a good workout for music brain in any case.

Thanks.

The I (key), IV, V is how people talk about chords in a progression. Even players who don't study theory will learn how to talk about progression in numbers, it is the language used, makes it easy to tranpose into other keys, and easy way to learn songs. It relates songs the scale the key the song is in. I would say the first to do to learn a song is learn the chord progression. Start by learning the roots of the chords. Play the song in just roots and get the feel for the chord changing. Once you know the chord progression then move on to transcribing the bass line. In Blues that is usually simplier since the bass line ususally the same on the I and IV chords and sometimes even the V chord. A lot of Blues has a simple riff that you will hear move with the chord changes.

If all this is still jibberish to you I would say get a basic book on theory like the Dummies book for Bass has the fundamental theory stuff everyone needs to know. Also a book on Blues bass should have more detailed explaination in what I am quickly trying to explain.

[JeffC]

First of all, thanks for all the great tips this far, I really appreciate the help!

I'm starting to understand the concepts but I figured having a solid reference is a good idea so I went out and bought the dummies book at lunch. I gave it a quick look through while in the store and it had some really interesting sections and charts, including things from repair to bassists. I'm happy that I got it, can't wait to crack it open on the train ride home tonight.

Thanks Again!
Jeff

[chasfr]

Originally Posted by El Bajo

Get Ed Friedlands Blues bass. Probably the best Blues instructional book ever.

+1 on Friedland's Blues Bass--it'll give you all the info you're looking for.

Have fun!

chas

[dlb1001]

Friedland's book is great...not only just basic blues progressions but he included turnarounds, endings, etc., which helps when you're jamming with other people. I actually need to go through my copy again since the last jam session, someone called out an eight bar blues song, which threw me a curve.

[lopxtc]

Originally Posted by DocBop

The I (key), IV, V is how people talk about chords in a progression.

DocBop ... Im a big blues fan myself and working on learning to play, can you tell me if I am understanding what you said correctly (Im trying to learn theory as well)

Lets say someone says we are playing in key of C and the chord
progression is I - IV - V. Broken down as;

Three measures in I ( C )
two measures in IV ( F )
two measures in I ( C )
three measure in V ( G )
two measure in I ( C )

So would this mean that in the first three measures I want to play
notes in the C major scale (whichever mode), the next two measures
would be notes in the key of F major, then two measures of C major
notes again, three measure's of G major notes, and finally two measure of
C major notes.

Aaron

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by lopxtc

DocBop ... Im a big blues fan myself and working on learning to play, can you tell me if I am understanding what you said correctly (Im trying to learn theory as well)

Lets say someone says we are playing in key of C and the chord
progression is I - IV - V. Broken down as;

Three measures in I ( C )
two measures in IV ( F )
two measures in I ( C )
three measure in V ( G )
two measure in I ( C )

So would this mean that in the first three measures I want to play
notes in the C major scale (whichever mode), the next two measures
would be notes in the key of F major, then two measures of C major
notes again, three measure's of G major notes, and finally two measure of
C major notes.

Aaron

You have the chords right for key of C the I is C, the IV is F, and the V is G7. Now the progression look like your trying to lay out 12 bar Blues.

4 bars of I
2 bars of IV
2 bars of I
1 bar of V
1 bar of IV
1 bar of I
1 bar of V

But there are 8 bar Blues, Fast Change Blues, 16 bar Blues and that weird Dylan tune a year of so ago that was 15 bar Blues. So there are variations and even on the chords themselves like like Stormy Monday turnarounds, and Gospel Blues like Same Old Blue by Freddie King. So get your ear together on 12-bar Blues so if things are different you can hear it and follow along. Real Blues is pretty spontaneous music which is part of the fun.

Now for Blue analyzing it can be hard if using traditional theory because Blues tends to make all chords dominant 7ths, but not always. If you use tradional theory you have V7 of x all over the place. So for sake of simplisity lets skip to the end result and say you treat all chords like non-functioning dominants. So you have a few choices for scales. Mixolydian for each chords I7, IV7, and V7. I would use Lydian b7 on all the chords so the Avoid note is handled for you. Then the Blues scale for each chord. C Blues scale, F Blues scale, G Blues scale. Now for pentonic I would say start with Major Pentatonic on the I chord, Minor Pentatonic on the IV and V chord.

Then you could look at all as combo borrow notes from the other scales. So on the Major pentatonic on the I7 chord add a b3rd especially as a passing tone going to the major 3rd. Again add the b5th going to the 5th. That is borrow from the Blues scale and adding to the Major Pentatonic with some cool passing tones. You'll hear Jazz players like Ron Carter doing that all the time.

I could go on and others will their ideas to add to this.

The one thing to watch out for I hear bass players especially Rock player trying to play Blues is LISTEN to the chords. They tend to think Blues is always 7th chords and they will be throwing b7ths into their basslines and it sounds wrong. A lot of times the guitar or piano is playing a plain major chord or major scale riff. If they are drop the b7th and play the 6th. If in doubt play the 6th it works either way.


I hope that is understandable. I was trying to keep it simple.