So I'd like to talk to you today about the blues progression. And in a typical blues progression, you use seventh chords. So we're going to talk about building the seventh chord, then go into the blues progression. The seventh chord starts with the major triad. [SOUND] We remember the major triad, one, three, five. Then we're going to add a seventh to it, [SOUND] and we're going to flat the seventh. So now we have a one, a three, a five and a flat seven. That is what we call a dominant seventh chord. [MUSIC] One, three, five, flat seventh. [MUSIC] You'd have the one, the root, the third, the fifth, and the flat seven. Dominant seventh chord. On your screen there, you see it says C7. [MUSIC] Now, if I were to play a dominant seventh chord, based upon the F as my root, I would use the notes F, A, C, E flat. [MUSIC] That would be an F dominant seven. F7, F dominant seven. [MUSIC] So you have C dominant seven, [MUSIC] And an F dominant seven. [MUSIC] The next chord to the blues is a G seven, so that would be a G dominant seven. G, B, D, F. That's the flat seven, the F-natural. [MUSIC] And one cool thing to, to think about whenever you want to play a flat seven, all you do is, have to do is remember that it's a whole step below the root. So you have root, three, five and root again, and then you just come down a whole step and you have your flat seven. [MUSIC] Flat seven, dominant seventh chord. So we have one chord, [SOUND] the four chord, and the five chord, dominant seven. All these chords, these three chords, go into playing a blues. Those are the only chords you need to play a blues. You see I have a blues written there. There is a one chord for four bars, [SOUND] then the four chord [SOUND] for two bars, back to the one chord of the two bars. [MUSIC] Then the five chord, four chord, one chord. [MUSIC] Now I am going to have the students sing the roots. That's the tonic, the one. Every time I change the chord. So we'll sing a C for the first four bars, and they going to attack the pitch every four bars. So they'll go [SOUND] then they go to the four chord and do the F [SOUND]. Back ot the one chord, do do, then the five chord [MUSIC] 4 chord [MUSIC] 1 chord [MUSIC] Okay ready guys? One, two, one, two, three, four. [MUSIC] Four chord. [MUSIC] Back to one chord. [MUSIC] Five chord. [MUSIC] Four chord. [MUSIC] One chord. [MUSIC] Good, good job. We're going to do the same thing and this time I'm going to play a little improvising using the minor pentatonic scale while I'm playing the chords and they are singing, okay? And you'll hear how that minor pentatonic scale is being used to improvise or to create a melody over the blues. So, let's try it guys, one, two, a one two three four. [MUSIC]. Cool, see how that minor pentatonic scale is used when I play the blues? And a really cool way to write a blues riff tune with the minor pentatonic scale, is simply writing a simple melody for the first two bars. Melody, or lyrics and a melody for the first two bars. [MUSIC] And then you'll rest for the next two bars. You get to bar five, you repeat the same two bar melody that you did for the first two bars, and then you'll rest for the next two bars. So five and six, you're repeating the same melody that you wrote for bars one and two, rest bars three and four. The same melody you're going to write in five and six that you wrote in bars one and two, then you'll rest in measures number seven and eight. Then measure nine, you're going to maybe vary the lyrics that you sing on the melody that you write a little bit and rest in measures 11 and 12. It may sound a little complex, but we're going to put it in context for you, so it makes even more sense. Now I didn't tell them I was going to do this, but each of these students right now is going to write a blues. They're going to improvise on the spot. They're going to improvise about whatever they want to sing about. It can be about their roommate. It can be about their favorite color. It can be about the weather. And they're doing, they're going to use the structure that I just mentioned. They're going to sing lyrics for the first two bars, then they're going to rest for two bars. They're going to repeat those same lyrics for two bars, then rest for two bars. Then they'll vary the lyrics for two bars and then rest for two bars. So I'll give you an example, okay. And I think I'll put it in another key so that, you know, we can sing in that key. C is kind of hard sometimes to sing blues in [SOUND] so well put it back down in F. [MUSIC] So we can start out with some simple as [MUSIC] My name is George, and I like to play. Rest for two bars, repeat. [MUSIC] If given the chance, here's where we vary it. I'd play all day. Piano is the thing that I like to do the best. I'll repeat that. Piano, is the thing I like to do the best. My name is George, and I like to play. I know I don't sing so well, but that's okay. I know I don't sing so well, but that's okay. I'm going to do it any old way. Okay? [MUSIC] Now, I'm going to go through and I'm going to have each student just make up a blues on the spot using that minor pentatonic scale and the structure that I just mentioned. Now, the main thing about this, and this is the most important thing, you've got to have fun. This is mandatory. because if you're having fun you won't be nervous. Did you hear that guys? This is going to be a lot of fun. Okay, we're going to start with Courtney and go right around. Courtney, Grace, Jenee, and the, the lovely Julianna Davis. [LAUGH] And then George. Are we ready, guys? [LAUGH] Sure, you are! [MUSIC] First up, we have Courtney! Here we go. [MUSIC] So that is the blues progression, guys. In its most simplistic form you use the one chord, the four chord, and the five chord. Just like what's on the screen there, one chord, the four chord, and the five chord. The one chord for the first four bars, when you get to bar five you go to the four chord, bar seven back to the one chord, bar nine, there's some sort of cadence chord, and it's normally the five chord. Then the four chord, bar 11 goes back to the one chord. You'll notice that I added a few extra chords here and there, and, and you are, you're able to do that, but just know that all you need to play is those three chords, and they're all dominant chords. How's a dominant chord constructed again? One, three, five, flat seven. C, one, E, three, G, five, B flat, flat seven, C dominant seven chord. That is a dominant seventh chord. Then you have the four seven, F7, five seven, G7, back to the one seven, C7, the blues.
