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Query: Blues pianists

05 Feb 26 - 08:22 AM (#4235412)
Subject: Blues pianists
From: GUEST

Do blues pianists vary the way they play a particular song?

So might the sheet music for a famous blues song be slightly different from the versions played by different pianists?

And might an individual blues pianist play a song differently on different occasions, just for the fun of it?


05 Feb 26 - 11:50 AM (#4235426)
Subject: RE: Query: Blues pianists
From: meself

Oh, yes, definitely, on all counts. Sheet music might be a transcription of one particular recording or performance, or an edited and selected mix of a number - or, more frequently, a simplified outline of the melody and highlights aimed at the middling pianist.

Having said that, there is no doubt the odd Blues pianist who settles on a specific arrangement and sticks with it note for note, but that would be the exception. Blues is essentially improvisation within a simple but (usually) rigid chord structure.


05 Feb 26 - 12:49 PM (#4235432)
Subject: RE: Query: Blues pianists
From: GUEST

Brilliant answer. Thank you!