Blues Riff

[DMBand520]

I always hear people playing that standard blues riff and making up songs to it. Does anyone know what the chords are to it?

[ITakeTwoSteps]

I always hear people playing that standard blues riff and making up songs to it. Does anyone know what the chords are to it?

it depends what key you want to play in. there are no chords to it really, more like numbers. first you choose a key, then you apply the rules to it. ( i suck at teaching this stuff, sorry)

here's what i'm talking about.


I=tonic or the basic chord/note of the key you are playing.
IV=subdominant
V7=dominant 7th

If we apply the chord group to some key signatures, you will have the following chords:

click this:

Key:
http://www.torvund.net/guitar/gif/GL-1-1.gif

E-major: I=E, IV=A, V7=B7 (B7=H7 as notated in some European countries)

A-major: I=A, IV=D, V7=E7

D-major: I=D, IV=G, V7=A7

G-major: I=G, IV=C, V7=D7

C-major: I=C, IV=F, V7=G7



so basically, if you want play in e, you would look at that picture that i posted and replace the roman numerals with the neccesary chords.

hope that helps. :)

[Pipsqueak]

GREAT job by ITakeTwoSteps to kick off this thread...

I think most of the time you will hear people playing 8-bar Blues or 12-bar blues.

Just remember....as stated above, the V chord is a DOMINANT 7th chord, NOT a MAJOR 7th chord when you play the blues.

quick reminder...

the I and IV chords are standard triads....
triads are built by the Root, 3rd and 5th notes of the key

a dominant 7th chord is built by the Root, 3rd, 5th, and FLAT 7th notes of the key

(notice how the dominant 7th chord is built OFF the triad)

so do you think you could BUILD a B7 chord, if you didn't know how to play one?

(you should! :p )

[ITakeTwoSteps]

ha, i dont want to take credit for all of it, i got some from a website :P

[saxman1083]

ok well the most simple 12 bar blues would go like this

| I7 | IV7 | I7 | I7|
| IV7 | IV7 | I7 | I7|
| V7 | IV7 | I7 | V7|

another model thats a little hipper is

| I7 | IV7 | I7 | I7|
| IV7 | IV7 | I7 | vi7+9 |
| ii | V7 | I7 vi7+9 | ii7 V7+9|

the last two bars in that have two chords per bar that hold equal length and act as a turnaround. it sounds amazing if the soloist can correctly interpret a turnaround.

there are so many different variations on the blues but that is a good way to start

[saxman1083]

an add on----

2 5 1 is the most common chord sequence in any jazz form....from blues to calypso. it is used to end phrases and also in the middle of phrases. it can be seen in the second example above at the end. it is a good idea to practice moving around on ii V7 I progressions in all keys. it will be the most useful thing you do as a jazz guitar, bass, or piano player.

[darbini]

*warning: don't smoke before trying to read this thread.*

[acmorgan]

man, it's like you guys are talking in a foreign language in here...are there any websites that ya'll know of that could teach me shit from the beginning? i can play the guitar, just don't know anything about actual music

[Pipsqueak]

man, it's like you guys are talking in a foreign language in here...are there any websites that ya'll know of that could teach me shit from the beginning? i can play the guitar, just don't know anything about actual music

at least you have a good attitude about it, and are willing to learn some....dare I say....THEORY :eek:

I hate to break it, but there are ONLY 12 notes in music......and learning theory is NOT difficult.

I'm going to hop on the soapbox for a minute....
It's just amazing, because in another thread (the "I'm ready to quit guitar because I suck" thread...or something like that) I got SLAMMED by others on this forum telling me that people don't talk in this language, and you don't need to know theory......blah, blah, blah....

I firmly believe that if you ever want to amount to anything on the guitar, you have to learn theory.

ok, I'm done.

acmorgan:
I don't have all of my guitar website links here with me at work......but I will post enough to keep you busy for months (free lessons) when I get home.

I also have some Microsoft Word files saved with some basic theory lessons if you want them.

[acmorgan]

at least you have a good attitude about it, and are willing to learn some....dare I say....THEORY :eek:

I hate to break it, but there are ONLY 12 notes in music......and learning theory is NOT difficult.

I'm going to hop on the soapbox for a minute....
It's just amazing, because in another thread (the "I'm ready to quit guitar because I suck" thread...or something like that) I got SLAMMED by others on this forum telling me that people don't talk in this language, and you don't need to know theory......blah, blah, blah....

I firmly believe that if you ever want to amount to anything on the guitar, you have to learn theory.

ok, I'm done.

acmorgan:
I don't have all of my guitar website links here with me at work......but I will post enough to keep you busy for months (free lessons) when I get home.

I also have some Microsoft Word files saved with some basic theory lessons if you want them.

I PM'ed you

EDIT: and about you getting slammed in the other thread, it's kind of ironic that they wonder why they suck at the guitar yet aren't willing to learn new things...haha

[ZaqDiesel]

by the way, a standard 12 bar blues starts off with four measures of the I chord. a 12 bar blues with a "quick change" is replacing the second measure with the IV chord and then playing two more measures of the I chord.

[saxman1083]

lol yeah....learning theory isnt hard at all....until you try your best to analyze a nice little bach 4 part harmony. that shit is enough to make me wanna jump off a bridge.

[Dancing Ants]

http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~desmith/guitar/scales/

[tractor]

sweet link@!

[saxman1083]

why does he say you shouldnt learn all the scales?? i think u should.