What Does one Play over Blues Chords?

Subject: RE: What Does one Play over Blues Chords?
From: M.Ted
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 02:43 PM

It probably is less useful to think about what scales are being played, and more useful to think about what blue notes are being added, and where-- simply because you don't play a lot of those extra blue notes in a scalar fashion--they tend to be used as punctuation, to emphasize the rhythm--as has come up before, the names of modes/scales are used just because you need to call things something if you are discussing them. Jazz players do play the scales as scales, and, to add to the confusion, they play blues too--

Subject: RE: What Does one Play over Blues Chords?
From: GUEST,Dr Bloozer. Phd
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 02:58 PM

think more about the value of non-rational emotive performance
& communication

rather than

theoretical and logical structure and formula..


m'be sum folks just aint learnt right to play th' blues

Subject: RE: What Does one Play over Blues Chords?
From: Mooh
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 08:31 PM

Well, there are a couple of benefits to actually knowing SOME theory around blues.
(1) Knowing where not to put your fingers, especially when you get lost.
(2) When you can't quickly enough hear the next minimum interval (full or half tone) you at least can find a "safe" note to go home to.
(3) Quick key changes are smoother and easier to get to.
(4) Just knowing theory doesn't mean you can't play by feel, but it does mean you can feel your way around more, maybe even better.
(5) Instant jams with new people, sitting in with a live band on unfamiliar material is a lot easier when there's some theory.
(6) Distractions like foxes on the dance floor, drunks falling over your gear, airborne beer bottles, are easier to play through when you don't have to think about every note. Saves you from collapse, and lets you get back on track faster.

Tons of blues players know all the theory without all the technical names. Names and definitions are only for communication anyway.

Your milage may vary.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What Does one Play over Blues Chords?
From: M.Ted
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 08:59 PM

It probably is less useful to think about what scales are being played, and more useful to think about what blue notes are being added, and where-- simply because you don't play a lot of those blue notes in a scalar fashion--they tend to be used as punctuation, to emphasize the rhythm--as has come up before, the names of modes/scales are used just because you need to call things something if you are discussing them. Jazz players *do* play the scales as scales, and, to add to the confusion, they play blues too--

Subject: RE: What Does one Play over Blues Chords?
From: Peter T.
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 10:10 PM

Thanks again to the helpful ones. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: What Does one Play over Blues Chords?
From: Mooh
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 08:15 AM

M.Ted...Didn't mean to repeat your point about communication. Sorry about that.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What Does one Play over Blues Chords?
From: M.Ted
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 11:33 AM

A true point speaks afresh whensoever it be given voice. And my mind doth marvel at each devise contrived by those, of false advise, who know not what that do, and want not to know it, too.

Subject: RE: What Does one Play over Blues Chords?
From: Mooh
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 11:50 AM

LOL...

My mind hath been as big as one of yours,
My heart as great, my reason happily more,
To bandy word for word and frown for frown,
But now I see our lances are but straws,
Our strength as weak...

Or something like that. Always liked that lances/straws line.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What Does one Play over Blues Chords?
From: GUEST,learned somethin' new today
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 12:00 PM

errrrr.. does that go....

E
My mind hath been as big as one of yours,
A                                    E
My heart as great, my reason happily more,
   B7             A7                E
To bandy word for word and frown for frown,
B7                A7             E
But now I see our lances are but straws,
    B7
Our strength as weak...

man.. I never knew them English Shakespear dudes
invented the blues all them years ago !!!???????

Subject: RE: What Does one Play over Blues Chords?
From: Mooh
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 12:48 PM

A little older actually, and further east...wasn't it the psalmists?

Sing to the Lord a new song
Sing to the Lord all the whole earth
Declare his glory among the nations
And his wonder among all peoples

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What Does one Play over Blues Chords?
From: M.Ted
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 03:01 PM

At last, though long, our jarring notes agree... God give you good night!

Subject: RE: What Does one Play over Blues Chords?
From: Mooh
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 05:37 PM

Good night, good night, parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say good night till it be morrow. Shakespeare, not Mooh.

Peace, Mooh.