12 Bar blues intro

12 Bar blues intro

By Cecilia Ng

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History of Blues

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Although the blues evolved in the southern states of the USA from the late 19th century, it has lots of musical influences from Africa.

Early types of African American music included spirituals (religious songs using vocal harmony) and work songs.

Enslaved people would sing work songs while working the plantations and religious spirituals in church. Combined with the African rhythms, these musical styles were the foundation of blues.

​Where did it originate?

Blues origin

​Work Songs

Work songs were sung rhythmically in time with the task being done. They used call and response in which phrases from a lead singer were followed by the other singers.

The early style of blues was known as country blues and was usually a solo singer accompanied on guitar or piano sometimes with added harmonica or drums.

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Early Blues

Traditional songs were handed down by word of mouth and old lyrics were often adapted and turned into new ones.

The guitar and harmonica were used to accompany vocals in the Delta blues as they were easy to carry around.

The style is very rhythmic, has strong vocals and simple but powerful lyrics and slide guitar featured prominently in the music.

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Multiple Select

Which instruments were used in the early blues?

• Piano

• Guitar

• Harmonica

• Organ

Multiple Choice

Which type of songs were sung in the plantations by the enslaved people?

• Madrigal

• Spirituals

• Ballads

• Chants

Early Blues

​Characteristics of early blues music

Blues music is characterised by sad melodies and even today the expression 'having the blues' means you are feeling gloomy. Early blues music was very slow and emotional using simple harmonies with a vocalist accompanied by a guitar.

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​Characteristics of early blues

• have four beats in a bar

• are built on the 12-bar blues form

• use three four-bar phrases

Example of lyrics:​

I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees

I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees

Asked the Lord above "Have mercy, now save poor Bob, if you please"

Subject | Subject

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Open Ended

Create your own 12 bar blues lyrics:

Continue with your own 3rd line of lyrics:

I went to school, and it was not a good day

I went to school, and oh it was not my day

Multiple Choice

What is the structure of 12 bar blues based on your knowledge of the lyrics structure?

• ABC

• ABB

• AB

• AAB

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Multiple Select

What are the instruments accompanying the vocalist?

• Banjo

• Guitar

• Drumkit

• Piano

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Open Ended

Compare the version by Elvis to Big Mama Thornton's rendition of the same song. What is the difference?

Poll

I have some insight to the blues genre after the slides and quiz lesson.

• Strongly agree

• Agree

• Disagree

• Neutral