Blues Evolved from AfricanAmerican work songs and spirituals

Blues § Evolved from African-American work songs and spirituals § Based on "folk holler" (slaves would holler to the empty fields) & spirituals § Lyrics often speak of the agony of desertion, betrayal and unrequited love (love not returned) § One form – "levee camp blues" or labor songs. Sung during hard, strenuous work § § § http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=fjv 0 MYIFYsg http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=CAAu. Qks. Dr. VU&feature=related http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=c 1 O 2 X 890 tig&feature=related

Blues § African vocals with white man's guitar added § Pattern (12 -bar blues) § Bars 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 § Chords – I IV I § Watch video “Guitar Lesson Blues – 12 Bar Blues” § http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=dt. FTa. Ftz. Cw 8&featur e=plcp (Play until 5: 40) § Roman numerals tell you which chord to play. § If you start on A, that would be the I chord. The IV chord would be D and the V chord would be E.

Blues § Later, a chord was added in the 10 th bar, which is now the standard § § Bars 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Chords – I IV I V IV I This is pattern used by “Hound Dog” Watch video “Guitar Lessons – Hound Dog by Elvis Presley” § http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Ac. Brp. Tz 8 O 7 M&feature=relmfu

Blues § Combination of African melody & rhythm with Western harmony and meter § Form of the 12 -bar blues can change. This is basic framework to start with. Musician would improvise with this structure in mind.