Solo ideas

Exploring Bluesy Tricks in the Key of C

So, once you've got both sections together, the beauty of this style of music is that you can:

• Show your individuality
• Have some fun
• Explore

Remember: There are no wrong notes. I was always told, "You're only half a note away from a right note." So just make some.

Make, you know, make some mistakes and take some risks. Who knows, you might just come up with a bit of magic!

One thing that I always say is: if you do something once and think it sounds a bit wrong, just do it twice. Then people think you meant it. That's the best thing about this style of music.

Let's Dive Into the Blues Scale

Okay, let's look at a few little bluesy tricks in the key of C.

The Blues Scale in C:

• C
• E flat
• F
• F sharp
• G
• B flat
• Back to C

Going back down:

• B flat
• G
• F sharp
• F
• E flat
• C

Anything around that is going to sound great when we're playing any blues or swing.

A Special Bluesy Trick

Also, going from the minor third to the major third, just catching it as a little grace note, is a really nice little bluesy trick.

You could do similar things like this:

Practice This:

• C to E flat to E
• Up to G
• Up to A
• Back to G

Try it:

• C, E flat, E, G, A, G
• Then up to B flat for a nice little touch.

The Dominant Seventh

The dominant seventh is always going to sound bluesy.

In the key of C, while we think it's just all the white notes, remember:

• E flats and
• B flats are going to sound great in C as well.

Putting It All Together

Let's try a nice little line:

Play this:

• Ba doo bada ba
• C, E flat, E, G, A, up to B flat.

Again, I always like to sing it. You've probably noticed I love singing it along in my head. Feel free to experiment with any of those notes.

Improvise with the Notes

What I'll do is play the A section and just improvise. I'll show you a few little tricks just around those notes.

Using only these notes:

• C, D, E flat, E, G, A, B flat

Let's see what happens!

Here's a nice little trick: E flat, D, and C and G at the same time.

Try this at speed!

So once again, I'll just naturally play. I'm not thinking about what I'm playing; I'll just improvise, using the notes mentioned. I noticed I was adding an F in there.

Whoops! I didn't tell you I was going to use an F, but I did, naturally.

Experiment with Melodies

Always nice as well to use thirds. You can make up your own little melodies.

Try doing little rolls on the third:

• G to B flat

Practice This:

• G and B flat with a C in your thumb.
• Chord of C: G, B flat
• C, F, and A
• Back down: C, G and B flat

Experiment with your own rhythms on that. Remember:

• Any of those notes with any rhythms are going to sound bluesy.

It's going to sound great, and it could sound something like this:

Don't forget, we like E flats to E's, and we like B flats!