Improv on the 12 Bar Blues

We will be playing a Blues in the key of Bb concert. This means that each instrument needs to transpose the chords so they are correct for your instrument. CONCERT !TC" !N#TR$%ENT#& flute' trombone' piano' bass' guitar Bb !N#TR$%ENT# (transpose up one whole step)& trumpet' tenor sa* Eb !N#TR$%ENT# (transpose up a ma+or ,th)& altosa*' bari sa* PREREQUISITE: MAJOR SCA ES Concert itch instruments- know these ma+or scales& Bb' Eb and . Bb instruments- know these ma+or scales& C' . and / Eb instruments- know these ma+or scales& /' C and 0 RE1223 4NOW T"E#E #C12E# . . . .RO% %E%OR3 . . . $ 1N0 0OWN . . . .1#T5 "ere is the most basic chord progression for the Bb Blues& B! Blues "or Con#ert P$t#h $nstruments:

B!% & & & B!% & & & B!% & & & B!% & & & E!% & & & E!% & & & B!% & & & '% & & & '% & & & B!% & & & B!% & & & B!% & & &

B! Blues transpose( "or Bb Instruments: C% & & & C% & & & C% & & & C% & & &

'% & & & '% & & & C% & & & C% & & & )% & & & )% & & & C% & & & C% & & &

B! Blues transpose( "or Eb Instruments: )% & & & )% & & & )% & & & )% & & & C% & & & C% & & & )% & & & )% & & & *% & & & *% & & & )% & & & )% & & & (This is one simple 6ersion of a chord progression for which there are many 6ariations)

lay the %p7 of Bb Blues found on %r. Champion8s page on the school website and play along. ! suggest going step by step' slowly adding notes so that you are comfortable with hearing and feeling the changes before trying to play too much. R"3T"% !# 4!N/5 12W13# #W!N/ 0ON8T O9ER 213 '$rst +ou need to learn the #hor( tones o" ea#h #hor( +ou ,$ll pla+ over: 1- )et #om"orta!le pla+$n. onl+ the ROOT o" ea#h Chor(/ (ie. Bb on the Bb: chord' Eb on the Eb: chord' etc.) 0ON8T skip this step5 lay with different rhythms' but become familiar with when the chords change. 0ON8T #4! T"!#5 2- Pla+ ROOT an( Ma0or T1IR* o" ea#h #hor(
(the 7rd note in the ma+or scale starting on each Root)

B! 2 * E! 2 ) '2A

)2B C2E * 2 '3 3O$ NEE0 TO 2E1RN T"E#E C"OR0# BOT" $ AND 0OWN5 4- A(( the 5th o" ea#h #hor( to the ROOT an( 4r(/ (this is called a ma+or TR!10) B! 2 * 2 ' E! 2 ) 2 B! '2A2C )2B2* C2E2) * 2 '3 6 A 0ON8T E9EN T"!N4 1BO$T #4! !N/ T"!#5

7- A** the lo,ere( %th note to the tr$a(/ This is called a :th chord
(also called a 0ominant :th chord- a %1;OR TR!10 <=>7>?@ plus the flatted :th note of the ma+or scale. Take the :th note of that ma+or scale and drop it a half step.)

B! 2 * 2 ' 2 A! E! 2 ) 2 B! 2 *! ' 2 A 2 C 2 E! )2B2*2' C 2 E 2 ) 2 B!

* 2 '3 6 A 2 C )OO* JOB8 9o, $t:s t$me to a(( some non6#hor( tones to +our solo Without non>chord tones' your solo will sound like an e*ercise. 3ou are telling a story with your horn' so you need some interesting details. 1- lay the ROOT to the 2n( an( !a#; to the ROOT for each chord (a whole step abo6e the root <like the second note of a ma+or scale@) B! 2 C 2 B! E! 2 ' 2 E! ' 2 ) 2' ) 2 A2) C2 * 2C * 2E 2* 2- lay 4r( 2 7th 2 4r( abo6e the root of each chord * 2 E! 2 * ) 2 A! 2 ) A 2 B! 2 A B2C2B E 2 E! 2 E

'3 6 ) 2 '3 4- lay the ' AT 4r( to the MAJOR 4r( for each chord <B!- *! 2 * <E!- )! 2 ) <'- A! 2 A <)- B! 2 B <C- E! 2 E <*- ' 2 '3 T"!# !# 1 9ER3 !% ORT1NT !NTER912 !N 213!N/ B2$E# /ET CO%.ORT1B2E W!T" !T !T8# 3O$R .R!EN0 7- Now try ' AT 4 2 MAJOR 4 2 ROOT for each chord 9ER3 COO2