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Lesson 9: Improvisation 4 - Blues Scale

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There are three scores as a set for lesson 9.

Scores includes: 1. Blues scale 2. Blue Monk as a sample of blues. 3. Improvisation with blues scale.
Eash set costs you US$3.50.
Or you can buy the whole set of scores that are quoted in this video series for only US$27.50.

Scores may be diturbing if you are just to tease around with lessons though, they are quite helpful if you really are wishing to acquire the essence of Jazz Piano. Besides it is measley $27.50, right? Click whichever the button so that you can watch video with scores on your side.

Scores for Lesson 9

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Lesson 9: Improvisation with Blues Scale

<Confirmation>
Have you tried to play Score 8? Have you tried to create your own improvisation using minor scale integrated? If you feel like it, you would send it to me attached to email (tokyoblue@infoseek.jp)

<How you integrate Black keys to your improvisation. Step 3 Integrating Blues Scale>
To list thngs that makes a certain music as the blues are;

It has a blues scale.
In melody, blues is distinguished by the use of the flattened third, fifth and seventh of the associated major scale.
In C major, you make E to Eb, G to Gb and B to Bb. Then the scale shall be;
Ｃ-Eb-F-Gb-G-Bb-C
You have to swallow that the blues scale consists of only 6 notes.
This is understandable because of its origin. They are the cry of soul and expression of raw feeling of human being. There was no way to define which of the scale you are crying, right? So the scale is nothing but the after thought

You'll find what the blues is, if you watch a video of BB King available at YouTube. I have attached the addresses below for your reference.
Audiences react to his song not the melody. It is interesting.
Its theme is consist of 12 bars.
It has characteristic chord progression.
(You can check the simple and easy explanation at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues)

If you refer an attached score 9a, that is the blues scale, and score 9b, that is the one of the legendary blues that Thelonious Monk had played at numeous occasion.
You'll note that the tune has 12 bars and following the modern blues scale.

Now we are to integrate those blue notes into TTLS. What a coincident, you may think. Yes, TTLS has 12 bars and that equals to the number of bars common to blues. Well, coincidence ends there.

The development of bass notes doesn't match each other. Blues has the BASS note progression according to its chord progression of;
C - C(or F) - C - C(or C7) || F - F - C - C(or C7) || G - F - C - C

On the other hand, TTLS has the chord progression of;
C - F/C - F/C - G/C || G - G - G - G || C - F/C - F/C - G/C

Characteristics of blues chord progression appears at the transition from 4th to 5th bar

TTLS does like this: G/C-G
And 9th to 10th bars: G -F-C-C : with blue chord, it starts resolve at 9th bar. On the other hand, with TTLS, usual chord progression still sounds like to progress further at 9th: C - F/C/ - F/C

Anyway, there's no way to replace original chord G to blues chord of F and C. If I do that, it is not the improvisation of original melody but will be a mere blues. The problem is that if you were playing with bass player, both of you have to agree with the change of chord progression beforehand. Then it is not the improvistaion but the arrangment.

I scatter the blue notes in mid 4 bars so that the blue notes don't ruin the flow of original melody line.

In other words, I have improvised these 4 bars with blues scale. I believe it fits nicely to the original melody of TTLS. I left the first and last 4 bars as original melody. So you can see if the improvisation of mid 4 bars are well integrated to the original melody.

OK, That's about all for lesson 9. We have talked about blues scale and if you play score 9c, you are playing TTLS wiht blues scale integrated into your improvisation.
And I have included two resources that you can learn from. They are available at You tube.

<References>

For more details on blues scale, I'd recommend this video useful. This guys knows what he is doing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqLXxfqXZlw
Listen to BB King to get the essential feeling of blues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWLAAzOBoBI
This video caption says: BB King calls this one of his best performances. I've never been a fun of him though, I see the point. He is so powerful. And you'll notice there that audiences react to his song not the melody, right? That's the root of Blues.
For the piano play, my favorite is Wynton Kelly. The greatest play is "Kelly blue". Unfortunately, I can't find this song at You tube. But you can buy it at around $5.00 at Amazon. It's worth more than five dollars for sure.

There are only 3 more lessons left. Go back what you've done so far. If you have question, send me the email. I'll try my best.

<Assignment>
Try to compose of a melody line of 2 bars and 4 bars using blues scale. And integrate it into the original TTLS melody one by one. The more you try it, the more you'll understand what the blues scale is. Then you'll be able to grab the essense of jazz.
As always, the better to your ear, the better the improvisation you played.

<Additional Note>
As the guide line, I have attached Score 9c. The melody line of first 4 bars and last 4 bars are left riginal so that you can judge if the improvisation fits to the original melody line.

Note: If you assign "b" or "#" to a certain note, that is effective to all notes at same position in the bar. Check the note "A" in the second bar. It is designated to be "b"(read as "FLAT". You use black key here) at the first "A". Then the second note of "A" should be read as having "b" attached. You play two "Ab"(read as "A flat") in a row in this bar. Same thing is said to "E" of next bar. You read as you see two "Eb" continue.