The Blues How are these images linked to the Blues?

1. The BluesHow are these images linked to the Blues?

2. The Blues Guitar , Piano and Harmonica are all common Blues instruments Slavery is linked to the Blues – the music came from the suffering of African American people

3. Where did the Blues come from? When slavery ended in America around 1865, Blues music began to develop from the songs and lives of African Americans who still lived in poverty and inequality. Blues music developed from the slave songs and work songs that were sung all over the ‘deep south’ of America. The ‘deep south’ states are Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia.

4. Q: How is it possible for blues musicians from all over the world to get together, and play a song together, without any prior rehearsal? • A: By learning a common song structure – the 12 bar Blues.

5. 12 Bar Blues Chord Pattern

6. Chords • C E G = C chord • F A C = F chord • G B D = G chord

7. ‘Walking’ Blues Bassline

8. The Blues Scale

9. Common Blues Lyrics Being poor Sadness Loneliness The devil is playing tricks Blues Losing someone or something… Misery Feelin’ Bad Bad luck Life is unfair Hard work

10. Features of The Blues • 12 Bar chord structure • Walking Bass line • Swinging rhythm – 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and… • Improvisation using the Blues Scale • Melancholy lyrics