Lesson 22 of 32PianoBeginner

Starting out with Blues improvisation

1:53

Use the 12-bar blues in F as a springboard for your first improvising, starting with simple triads over the I, IV and V chords.

Part of the courseRockschool Piano Grade 332 lessons (2h 17m)

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32 lessons (2h 17m) · 1 free

- 01. Welcome to the online course
  1:46
- 02. Meet Marina Haywood-Lieberman
  4:32
- 03. Meet Andrew Johnson
  2:28
- 04. Meet Paddy Milner
  1:31
- 05. Meet Ross Stanley
  3:30
- 06. Meet James Beckwith
  1:42
- 01. Unfaithful, Rihanna (Performance)
  Free lesson
  1:40
- 02. Unfaithful, Rihanna (Performance by Jono)
  1:35
- 03. Skyfall, Adele (Performance)
  4:54
- 04. The Dock Of The Bay, Otis Redding (Performance)
  2:19
- 05. Overrated, Bob Graceful & Kung Fu Drummer (Performance)
  2:06
- 06. Reggae Island, Noam Lederman (Performance)
  1:59
- 07. Maiden Voyage, Joe Bennett (Performance)
  2:05
- 01. Unfaithful, Rihanna (Lesson)
  7:19
- 02. Unfaithful, Rihanna (Lesson by Jono)
  8:00
- 03. Skyfall, Adele (Lesson)
  8:49
- 04. The Dock Of The Bay, Otis Redding (Lesson)
  13:50
- 05. Overrated, Bob Graceful & Kung Fu Drummer (Lesson)
  10:10
- 06. Reggae Island, Noam Lederman (Lesson)
  12:38
- 07. Maiden Voyage, Joe Bennett (Lesson)
  5:33
- 01. Improvisation - what is it?
  3:21
- 02. Starting out with Blues improvisation
  You are here
  1:53
- 03. The 12 bar Blues form
  1:06
- 04. Using the Blues scale
  2:20
- 05. Adding accompaniment
  1:14
- 01. Intro to scales, arpeggios and voicings - why they're useful
  2:49
- 02. Scales - Grade 3
  7:30
- 03. Arpeggios / broken chords - Grade 3
  3:44
- 04. Chord voicings - Grade 3
  3:57
- 01. Sight reading with the "KAT TRAP" method
  9:04
- 01. Course outro
  0:49
- 02. About Rockschool & exams
  0:55

Lesson transcript

Introduction to Blues Improvisation

A great way to learn how to be a good improviser is to start by using the blues. The blues is an amazing chord sequence found in thousands of songs across various genres, including pop music, jazz, rock, and, of course, the blues itself.

The Format of the Blues

Chord Sequence

The blues follows a 12-bar chord sequence consisting of:

Chord 1: F
Chord 4: Bb
Chord 5: C

Initially, we will focus on these three chords. As you gain more skill, we can start to incorporate more interesting chords. For now, we'll use triads, which may not sound that bluesy but will help you understand the harmony you're aiming for.

Progression Overview

Here's how the form of the blues is structured around these three chords:

Start with F for four bars
Move to the fourth chord (Bb)
Return to F
Go to the fifth chord (C)
Move back to the fourth (Bb) and return to Chord 1 (F)

This sequence may not sound particularly "bluesy" or serve as a great improvisation template at first. However, as soon as you get these chord shapes under your fingers, you'll find that you can start to improvise with your right hand and develop interesting melodies over this form.

Using the Blues Scale

To enhance your improvisation, we will use the blues scale. This scale will provide you with the tools necessary to create engaging musical phrases, allowing you to truly embody the spirit of the blues while you play.

Part of the courseRockschool Piano Grade 332 lessons (2h 17m)

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