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Basic Improvisation

The Blues Scale
Applicable for any instrument and many styles
(jazz, r&b, soul, rock, pop)

Playing the blues is common to many styles of music, and it is one of the easiest for a student to grasp quickly. You only need to play 6 different notes in the whole song (the "blues scale") and the results are instantly gratifying.

 
First of all, here is a blues scale in Bb for all instruments. Practice this scale until you can play it well. As you can see, it's EASY. You only need 6 notes to start to play the blues. So as my former boss Ray Charles used to say, PLAY THE BLUES, BABY!
 
Next you will play a blues tune. The tune is built on the scale you just learned, and even though you will hear the chord changing, you only need to play these same notes you just learned. You can play them in any order, with any length of notes. It's one time in your life where you can do what YOU want to do. Just have fun and PLAY DA BLOOOOOOS. The important part is to express yourself and (need I repeat this) HAVE FUN! That's what music is all about.

 

You will find standard midi files created with Band in a Box on the right. You can either download these or you can play them here without downloading. Either way they will play from your soundcard
Play the blues with a standard midi file by clicking here. Either download to your computer or just open the file from here

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 Play the blues with a standard midi file by clicking here. Either download to your computer or just open the file from here

Back to Top of Page

 Play the blues with a standard midi file by clicking here. Either download to your computer or just open the file from here
Play the blues with a standard midi file by clicking here. Either download to your computer or just open the file from here
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