Improv on the 12 Bar Blues

We will be playing a Blues in the key of Bb concert.

This means that each instrument needs to transpose
the chords so they are correct for your instrument.
CONCERT !TC" !N#TR$%ENT#& flute'
trombone' piano' bass' guitar
Bb !N#TR$%ENT# (transpose up one whole step)&
trumpet' tenor sa*
Eb !N#TR$%ENT# (transpose up a ma+or ,
th
)&
altosa*' bari sa*
PREREQUISITE: MAJOR SCAES
Concert itch instruments- know these ma+or scales&
Bb' Eb and .
Bb instruments- know these ma+or scales& C' . and /
Eb instruments- know these ma+or scales& /' C and 0
RE1223 4NOW T"E#E #C12E# . . . .RO%
%E%OR3 . . .
$ 1N0 0OWN . . . .1#T5
"ere is the most basic chord progression for the Bb
Blues&
B! Blues "or Con#ert P$t#h $nstruments:
B!% & & & B!% & & & B!% & & & B!% & & &
E!% & & & E!% & & & B!% & & & B!% & & &
'% & & & '% & & & B!% & & & B!% & & &
B! Blues transpose( "or Bb Instruments:
C% & & & C% & & & C% & & & C% & & &
'% & & & '% & & & C% & & & C% & & &
)% & & & )% & & & C% & & & C% & & &
B! Blues transpose( "or Eb Instruments:
)% & & & )% & & & )% & & & )% & & &
C% & & & C% & & & )% & & & )% & & &
*% & & & *% & & & )% & & & )% & & &
(This is one simple 6ersion of a chord progression for
which there are many 6ariations)
lay the %p7 of Bb Blues found on %r. Champion8s
page on the school website and play along. ! suggest
going step by step' slowly adding notes so that you
are comfortable with hearing and feeling the changes
before trying to play too much.
R"3T"% !# 4!N/5
12W13# #W!N/
0ON8T O9ER213
'$rst +ou need to learn the #hor( tones o" ea#h
#hor( +ou ,$ll pla+ over:
1- )et #om"orta!le pla+$n. onl+ the ROOT o"
ea#h Chor(/
(ie. Bb on the Bb: chord' Eb on the Eb: chord'
etc.)
0ON8T skip this step5 lay with different rhythms'
but become familiar with when the chords change.
0ON8T #4! T"!#5
2- Pla+ ROOT an( Ma0or T1IR* o" ea#h #hor(
(the 7
rd
note in the ma+or scale starting on each Root)
B! 2 *
E! 2 )
' 2 A
) 2 B
C 2 E
* 2 '3
3O$ NEE0 TO 2E1RN T"E#E C"OR0# BOT"
$ AND 0OWN5
4- A(( the 5
th
o" ea#h #hor( to the ROOT an( 4
r(
/
(this is called a ma+or TR!10)
B! 2 * 2 '
E! 2 ) 2 B!
' 2 A 2 C
) 2 B 2 *
C 2 E 2 )
* 2 '3 6 A
0ON8T E9EN T"!N4 1BO$T #4!!N/ T"!#5
7- A** the lo,ere( %
th
note to the tr$a(/
This is called a :
th
chord
(also called a 0ominant :
th
chord- a %1;OR TR!10 <=>7>?@ plus
the flatted :
th
note of the ma+or scale. Take the :
th
note of that
ma+or scale and drop it a half step.)
B! 2 * 2 ' 2 A!
E! 2 ) 2 B! 2 *!
' 2 A 2 C 2 E!
) 2 B 2 * 2 '
C 2 E 2 ) 2 B!
* 2 '3 6 A 2 C
)OO* JOB8
9o, $t:s t$me to a(( some non6#hor( tones to +our
solo
Without non>chord tones' your solo will sound like
an e*ercise. 3ou are telling a story with your horn' so
you need some interesting details.
1- lay the ROOT to the 2
n(
an( !a#; to the
ROOT for each chord (a whole step abo6e the root
<like the second note of a ma+or scale@)
B! 2 C 2 B!
E! 2 ' 2 E!
' 2 ) 2 '
) 2 A 2 )
C 2 * 2 C
* 2 E 2 *
2- lay 4
r(
2 7
th
2 4
r(
abo6e the root of each chord
* 2 E! 2 *
) 2 A! 2 )
A 2 B! 2 A
B 2 C 2 B
E 2 E! 2 E
'3 6 ) 2 '3
4- lay the 'AT 4
r(
to the MAJOR 4
r(
for each
chord
<B!- *! 2 *
<E!- )! 2 )
<'- A! 2 A
<)- B! 2 B
<C- E! 2 E
<*- ' 2 '3
T"!# !# 1 9ER3 !%ORT1NT !NTER912 !N
213!N/ B2$E#
/ET CO%.ORT1B2E W!T" !T
!T8# 3O$R .R!EN0
7- Now try 'AT 4 2 MAJOR 4 2 ROOT for each
chord
9ER3 COO2