Open blues jam players.....

[Stumbo]

I looked around TB and there are a few posts that touch on terms like "quick IV" and such.

I was hoping that some experienced players could chime and let their fellow TB brothers know about blues jam terms that they've heard/used over the years and explain what they are.

Things that a new player would expect to hear and learn over time in your neck of the woods.

If possible, give some examples of the chord/rhythm changes and songs that we can listen to.

Maybe this can become a sticky if we get enough posts.

[seanm]

The stock blues progression is: 1 1 1 1 4 4 1 1 5 4 1 1

Quick IV goes to the four right away, so: 1 4 1 1 4 4 1 1 5 4 1 1

I used numbers rather than the normal roman numerals since the roman numerals are hard to read in this font.

[nickonbass]

Yep - what seanm said.

I wrote out the structure on the pages below and you can listen to the 2 tracks so you can hear the difference.

http://www.bluesbackingtrack.com/e-blues.html

http://www.bluesbackingtrack.com/e-b...ck-change.html

You'll know what it sounds like as soon as you hear it.

Cheers, Nick.

[emor]

Great idea!
May I expand the idea from just terminology to a blues jam primer?

Commonly used scales:

Major pentatonic: R 2 3 5 6
Minor pentatonic: R b3 4 5 b7
Blues: R b3 4 b5 5 b7
Mixolydian: R 2 3 4 5 6 b7
Dorian: R 2 b3 4 5 6 b7


Some common rhythms:



T-Bone Walker or Stormy Monday changes.

Learn some basic funk lines.

Be able to play some straight-eight rock and roll (Johnny B. Goode type).


Some other non-blues songs that are frequently called (around here, anyway):

Superstition
Standing on Shaky Ground
Mustang Sally
Stand By Me
Midnight Hour

[emor]

[TL5]

Since no one has mentioned this yet, even though it could be so obvious:

Another term you must know is "from the five" or "take it from the five." This phrase is often added to the structure so the band leader would say, "It's a quick four shuffle in A, take it from the five."

From the five means that you start the blues progression at the 5 4 1 1, usually as an introduction to the song. It then goes to the top of the progression as normal.

[lmfreeman9]

I believe the Cross Cut Saw rhythm is a samba.

[Crunktacular]

Originally Posted by lmfreeman9

I believe the Cross Cut Saw rhythm is a samba.

It is actually a rhumba.

[mightypog]

Originally Posted by emor

Some other non-blues songs that are frequently called (around here, anyway):

Superstition
Standing on Shaky Ground
Mustang Sally
Stand By Me
Midnight Hour

These are used here a lot, too.
I recommend learning two SRV songs, (Tommy Shannon is awesome to study if you're just getting in to blues) Sky is Crying and Pride and Joy. Learn those and you've got a fast 12-bar shuffe and a slow blues figured out.

Then learn Crosscut Saw for a rhumba (Check out the Corey Stevens version, very easy to figure out). Then Green Onions, becuase that groove comes up sometimes.

Some good standards to know that have specific grooves are Messin' With the Kid (Junior Wells) One way Out, (Allman Bros.) and dang there's more but I can't think of them!

Also, know what a box-shuffle is. It looks like 1, 8, minor 7, 5. I wish I knew how you guys above put those cool staffs up there! For a box shuffle, listen to Chain Smokin' by Smokin' Joe Kubek. (Then listen to everything else this AWESOME blues band does :P!!)

For my money, blues jams can build your skill faster than just about anything! Because they are motivating!

[emor]

Originally Posted by mightypog

Also, know what a box-shuffle is. It looks like 1, 8, minor 7, 5.

= Tore Down

How could I forget Pride and Joy? It comes up as often as Mustang Sally.

Cissy Strut is another non-blues tune that is fairly common.

Every female vocalist inevitably calls Chain of Fools.

Might want to have My Girl in your arsenal.
You, the bass player, are going to be the only thing that keeps that from being a train wreck (and even then, there's no guarantee).

Here's a couple of good collections to get someone started:

Freddie King

Albert King

[TomB]

If you're talking box shuffles, let's not forget "uptown", from the 5 to the 8, and "downtown", from the 8 to the 5.

[Stumbo]

All great info....keep them comin'

[mightypog]

Tore down, Duh, of course! I was racking my brain, trying to think of a good box shuffle this morning, knowing full well I play a zillion of 'em, and had to go through my iTunes to come up with one! (Am I the only one who can't think of song titles without singing the tune in my head all the way through to the chorus, even if I wrote the song?)
I also recommend knowing Little Wing, btw. And Hootchie Koothcie Man. The Crossroads groove is also good to know, and fun as hell.
And if someone hollers "12 off the top" that means start on the one and play all the way through the 12 bar for an intro.

[Andrew Jones]

Flat Tire Groove.

March.


Aj

[emor]

Originally Posted by Andrew Jones

Flat Tire Groove.

aka Lumpty Lump

[emor]

I've heard "Ice Cream Changes" used to describe both I vi IV V7 progressions, and I vi ii V7 turnarounds. Don't know which is correct.

[Kimpini]

quick question:

Does the "flat tire" groove stay on the root note and goes, quarter note-eighth notes?

Tell me if my question makes no sense, and I will try to rephrase it.

[Andrew Jones]

Just like a march it's a description of a groove.A swing 8th note shuffle groove. It's characteristic is that the middle eighth before the main beats are lilted/accented in a funny way that sounds like a car with one flat tire driving. It's really defined by the drums but everyone honors that groove.Bass usually plays the major pentatonic 1.3.5.6 line in quarters.


ker-flump ker-flump ker-flump


See "T-bone shuffle"



Aj

[butchblack]

Originally Posted by Kimpini

quick question:

Does the "flat tire" groove stay on the root note and goes, quarter note-eighth notes?

Tell me if my question makes no sense, and I will try to rephrase it.

See Emor's post #4 the 12/8 shuffle is a flat tire rhythm and it can be with or without a quick IV. The box shuffles mentioned later are common notes for it.

[Joe Gress]

I only have one thing to add.


Don't ever be afraid to go and jam. It's a bunch of fun.