Slow Blues in C - Lesson

Introduction

We're going to stay in C for this lesson and play another slow blues, this time with a 128 feel. That means that we're dividing each beat into three:

• 1, 2, 3,
• 4, 5, 6,
• 7, 8, 9,
• 10, 11, 12.

Alternatively, you could count it as:

• 1 Anna,
• 2 Anna,
• 3 Anna,
• 4 Anna.

Time Signature

12/8 and 4/4 are basically similar. They've got four beats to the bar, but we're dividing those beats into three.

Example Groove

An example of a 128 groove would be the triplet thing that we've done many times. All that was kind of 12/8 , 12 of those in a barrel.

Structure

This starts with a four-bar intro. The four-bar intro in this case is exactly the same chords as the last four bars.

Chord Progression

• Starts on the V chord: G7
• Then to F7, ending on the G7.

G7 Stretch Voicing

I'm going to play a stretch voicing on this G7 chord, which is a new shape:

• The right hand is stretching from F to G (that's a ninth).
• It doesn't matter if you clip the bottom note or even the top note because they are just F and G as well.

So even if you've got a small hand, you can play these stretch voicings. In the middle, we're going to have the third with the index finger and maybe the sharp five as well, which makes it G7 augmented.

Harmonizing

We'll be doing the same run-up before that as in the last lesson, but we're going to harmonize it in the right hand now like this:

• C, C7 with E bass.
• F, F# diminished to C with G bass.

Classic Blues Turnaround

This forms a classic blues turnaround, which you can also use as an ending.

Right Hand Triplets

The triplets in the right hand are pretty clear there, aren't they? You could play it more simply.

Accompaniment Pattern

Once we've got the four-bar intro out of the way, we'll be going into an accompaniment pattern using this ninth shape.

• Looked at that before; it's a third inversion C7 chord with the root moved up to the ninth, staying with the same note on top for F9.
• There will be a surprise coming up after in bar nine as a surprise.