Blues Gospel Teaching Guide

8/12/2019 Blues Gospel Teaching Guide

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Blues…Blues…BluesA study guide by MATT JENSON www.mattjenson.com

The blues is about human suffering and hope and should be played with intensity,

in the spirit of such suffering and hope!

“ Blues is roots music, always radical: the root or essence of other musics. Many music genres have

blues, including jazz, rock and R&B. Blues is pure food for fusion and many musics ground themselvesin feelings through their bluesy elements. And yet blues is still fresh – untouched. That is because blues

is a singularity rather than itself a fusion with something else. It is indivisible-recursive, the root of theblues is the human experience and psyche itself. We owe a great debt to African Americans for

delivering this great treasure to the world in the form we have it now, but blues is not a matter of coloror form. It’s root is the human experience itself – for all times and in all cultures. Blues is a sincere gift

of the African American tradition to the world.” - Michael Erlewhine, AMG Guide

What may appear to be an obsolete and less sophisticated/interesting style to some musicians, is anendless realm of creative improvisation to many others. The quintessential component of the blues isstory telling steeped in emotion. The story is told with passion as the performer emotes. If the emotion is

diminished the story becomes mundane, thus the challenge of the blues is to maintain its integrity andenergy while you convey your story. The limited framework of the blues forces the improviser right to

the heart of playing with feeling and soul. Blues does not demand virtuosity or deep harmonicknowledge, its essence is feeling. It can serve as a grounding element in more sophisticated

improvisational genres, allowing the “story” to be coherent to the listener. It can also be an excellentstudy for the student improviser on their way to more harmonically sophisticated styles. The phrasing of

the “story” becomes the basis of logical well-shaped phrasing in all styles.

Some Characteristics of the BLUES1. Repetitive rhythmic backgrounds – endless variations of the shuffle, straight eights, 12/8, rhumba, swing, funk, swamp, etc.

2. Blues calls, field hollers, phrases – major and minor pentatonics, blues scale, mixolydian, dorian, etc.3. Usually one key center – mixolydian environment, or dorian for minor blues. Occasional V chord

scale, occasional implied or actual secondary dominants4. Limited harmonic vocabulary – some blues have only one chord, but most have 3 (I IV, V), and some

times add sub V and secondary dominant chords. 5. Intense stylistic integrity – purpose and expression in playing repetitive background parts (comping),

deep interaction with other instruments and vocals, maintained high energy level.



Scales used in the Blues ** fingerings shown for the key of C only. Fingerings for different keys are shown at the end of this study guide.

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+)&%-.) '*).) %$) 02$) &20021,7 -.)>@

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'*(. +%.(& +,-). .*-DD,) D(H-$) I+),28J (1 '*) ,)D' *%1>@ K%'&* '*) D(1H)$(1HEE

Left Hand Comping Patterns

…one more, next page…



Some Blues Licks

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Blues Turn Around Figures

(…played in the last bar or last two bars of the 12 bar blues form.)

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I,%.'J 0)%.-$) 2D '*) D2$0@

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#$2D)..2$ a21H*%($/ Q:)..R



Call and Response Phrasing

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Q;)2$H(% 21 X7 X(1>@R

Other Common Blues Progressions



Blues Scale FingeringsP'S. &$('(&%, '*%' 72- &%1 $)%,,7 _P# '*) +,-). .&%,). 8),,@ :2$ '*(./ 72- H2''% *%M) H22> D(1H)$(1H@ b)$)

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'*).) %$) ,(.')> (1 21) 2&'%M) 21,7/ 0%6) .-$) 72- 5$%&'(&) %' ,)%.' G 2&'%M). ?aK?Z\@

created by Matt Jenson www.matjenson.com



The “Gospel” Scale

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? P+/12# <Q &( < *(,1#2 -.2J :(-$ 9#,(2)&+($>

? N.:#$3# '.9/($+B#: +$ RS&',>

created by Matt Jenson

www.matjenson.com



The Roots of the Blues

Griots

West African Music

Work Songs

Field Hollers

6 Recommended RecordingsVarious Artists, Blues Masters, Vol 10: Blues Roots (Rhino)

Various Artists, Afro-American Spirituals, Worksongs and Ballads: Blues Roots (Library of Congress)

White Appalachian,

Folk & Country Music

Gospel

1920’s

Jazz and Ragtime

W.C Handy Songsters

Jug Bands

Early Delta

Blues PractitionersMamie Smith

Records “Crazy Blues”

1920 - 1st Blues Record

Recorded & Produced

Big Bill Broonzy, Tampa Red, Jazz Gillum

Sonny Boy Williamson 1, Arthur “Big Boy” Crudu

Kansas Joe McCoy, Memphis Minnie

Bukka White, Washboard SamBlues Record Co’sChess Records, Sun Records,

Cobra Records, Vee-Jay Records,

Modern Records

Post War Chicago Blues

Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter,

Sonny Boy Williamson, Willie Dixon,

Jr. Wells, Elmore James, Walter Horton

Jug Bands

Furry Lewis, Frank Stokes, Gus Cannon,Robert Wilkins, Memphis Willie Borum,

Noah Lewis, Will Shade, Joe McCoy,

Memphis Minnie, Jack Kelly, Walter Horton

The Queens Bessie Smith & Ma Rainey

Charlie Patton

1st great star of the Delta Blues

Memphis: Late 40’s early 50’s

Joe Hill Louis, B.B. King, Rufus Thomas, Walter Horton,Hot Shot Love, Jimmy De Berry, Howlin’ Wolf,

Bobby Blue Bland, Junior Parker, Pat Hare, Johnny Ace,

Willie Johnson, Sammy Lewis, Little Milton

Sun Rockabill

Memphis R&B 1954-196

Stax Records, Elvis Presley, Carl Perk

Jerry Lee Lewis, Albert Ki

Memphis Soul ScenBooker T & the MGs, Willie Mitch

Bill Black Com

‘50s Blues Producers

Leonard & Phil Chess, Sam Phillips

Willie Dixon, Bihari Brothers

Lester Melrose

Producer & Talent Scout

Minstrel, Medicine &

Vaudville presentations

Lester Melrose & Early Chicago Blues

Sun House, Willie Brown, Tommy Johnson,

Tommy McClennan, Ishmon Bracey, Robert Johnson,

Skip James, Bukka White, Missippi John Hurt

Johnny Shines, Muddy Waters, Robert Nighthawk, John Lee Hooker,

Howlin’ Wolf, Elmore James, Mississippi Fred McDowell

14 Recommended RecordingsMagic Sam, West Side Soul (Delmark)

Muddy Waters, The Best of Muddy Waters (MCA-Chess)

Otis Rush, 1956-1958 (Paula)

Little Walter, The Best of Little Walter (MCA-Chess)

Paul Butterfield, Paul Butterfield Blues Band (Elektra)

Jimmy Reed, Speak the Lyrics To Me Mama Reed (Vee-Jay)

Howlin’ Wolf, Howlin Wolf / Moanin’ in the Moonlight (MCA-Chess)

Various Artists, Chacago/The Blues/Today! Vol 1-3 (Vanguard)

Elmore James, The Best of Elmore James-The Early Years (Ace)

10 Recommended RecordingsVarious Artists, Blues Masters Vol 8: Mississippi Delta (Rhino)

Robert Johnson, The Complete Early Recordings (CPS)

Various Artists, Roost of Robert Johnson (Yazoo)

Charley Patton, Founder of the Delta Blues (Yazoo)

Tommy Johnson, Complete Recorded Works (Document)

Bukka White, The Complete Bukka White (Columbia)

Delta Blues

Ida Cox, Sippie Wallace, Victoria Spivey, Lucille Bogan,

Alberta HunterEthel Waters, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday

Bonnie Raitt, Tracey Nelson, Janis Joplin

10 Recommended RecordingsBessie Smith, The Collection (CBS)

Ma Rainey, Ma Rainey (Milsetone)

Slippie Wallace, 1923-29 (Alligator)

Victoria Spivey, 1926-31 (Document)

Lucille Bogan, 1023-35 (Story of Blues)

Various Artists, Negro Work Songs and Calls (Library of Congre

Various Artists, The Sounds of the South (Atlantic)

Eddie “One String” Jones, One String Blues (Gazell)

Ali Farka Toure, The Source (Hannibal)

Muddy Waters, The Complete Plantaion Recordings

Son House, Delta Blues: The Original Library of Congress Sessions from Field Recordings 1941-42

Mississippi Fred McDowell, Mississippi Delta Blues

Memphis BluesW. C. Handy wrote “Memphis Blues” in 1912

Classic Women Blues Singers

Hound Dog Taylor, Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers (Alligator)

Various Artists, Blues Masters, Volume 2: Postwar Chacaga (Rhino)

Mamie Smith, In Chronological Order, Vol. 1 (Docum

Alberta Hunter, Young Alberta Hunter (Vintage Jazz

Ethel Waters, Jazzin’ Babies’ Blues, 1921-27 (Biograp

Barious Artists, Women’s Railroad Blues: Sorry But I

Take You (Rosetta)

Various Artists, Blues Masters Vol. II: Classic Blues

Women (Rhino)



Lousiana BluesNew Orleans Jazz Scene 1900 to late 1940s

Country

Robert Pete Williams

Snooks Eaglin

Zydeco

Clifton Chenier, BooZoo Chavis

14 Recommended RecordingsVarious Artists, Bloodstains on the Wall: Country Blues From Specialty (Specialty)

Robert Pete Williams, Those Prison Blues (Arhoolie)

Guitar Slim, Sufferin’ Mind (Specialty)

Professor Longhair, Fess: Professor Longahair Anthology (Rhino)Slim Harpo, Hip Shakin’: The Excello Collection (Rhino)

Snooks Eaglin, The Complete Imperial Recordings (Capitol)

Lightnin’ Slim, Rooser Blues (Excello)

Lazy Lester, I hear You Knockin’ (Excello)

Lonseome Sundown, I’m a Jojo Man (Excello)

Excello Swamp Blues

Lightnin’ Slim, Slim Harpo, Lazy Lester, Silas Hogan,

Jimmy Anderson, Lonesome Sundown, Katie Webster

New Orleans Guit. & Piano

Guitar Slim, Smiley Lewis, Professor Longhair,

James Booker, Earl King

West Coast Blues T-Bone Walker moves to California, popularized jazz style that becomes the West Coast Sound.

Pee Wee Crayton, Charles Brown,

Lowell Fulson, Amos Milburn,

Johnny Guitar Watson,

Jimmy McCracklin

Roy Milton, Percy Mayfield,

Nat “King” Cole, Johnny Otis,

Ray Charles, Roy Brown,

Big Jay McNeely, Joe Houston, Jimmy Liggins

Suggie Otis, William Clarke,

Johnny Heartsman, Canned Heat,

Rod Plazza, Joe Louis Walker,

Ted Hawkins

15 Recommended Recordings T-Bone Walker, The Complete Capitol/Black & White Recordings (Capitol)

T-Bone Walker, The Complete Imperial Recordings (EMI)

Pee Wee Walker, Rocking Down on Central Avenue (Ace)

Amos Milburn, Down the Road Apiece: The Best of Amos Milburn (EMI)

Floyd Dixon, Marshall Texas Is My Home (Specialty)

Roy Milton, Roy Milton and His Solid Senders (Specialty)

Percy Mayfield, Poet of the Blues (Specialty)

Silas Hogan, Trouble (Excello)

Katie Webster, Katie Webster (Paula)

Clifton Chenier, Zydeco Dynamite: The Clifton Chenier Anthology (Rhino)

Various Artists, Alligaror Stomp Vol 1-2 (Rhino)

Various Artists, Crescent City Soul: The Sound of New Orleans 1947-1974 (EM

Charles Brown, Driftin’ Blues: The Best of Charles Brown (EMI)

Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Three Hours Past Midnight (Flair)

Lowell Fulson, San Francisco Blues (Black Lion)

Johnny Otis, The Johnny Otis Show (Savoy)

Jimmy McCracklin, Everybody Rock: Let’s Do I t! The Best of Jimmy McCracklin (Domino

Johnny Heartsman, The Touch (Alligarot)

Ted Hawkins, Happy Hour (Rounder)

Texas Electric Blues T-Bone Walker - first Texas Bluesman to play amplified “Stormy Monday”.

Blind Lemon Jefferson - first Texas Blues guitarist. Lightnin’ Hopkins plays both electric and acoustic guitar.

Pee Wee Crayton, Amos Milburn,Gatemouth Brown, Clarence Garlow

Johnny Copeland, Albert Collins,Freddie King, Hop WIlson

Johnny Winter, Jimmie VaughnStevie Ray Vaughn, Billy Gibbons

10 Recommended RecordingsVarious Artists, Blues Masters Series, Vol 3: Texas Blues (Rhino)

Various Artists, Texas Music, Vol 1: Postwar Blues Combos (Rhino)

Piano Blues Stylists by Region

16 Recommended RecordingsCow Cow Davenport, Alambma Strut (Magpie)

Roosevelt Sykes, Roosavelt Sykes (1924-41) (Story of Blues)

Leroy Carr, Naptown Blues (Yazoo)

Albert Ammons, King of Boogie-Woogie (1939-49) (Blues Classics)

Meade Lux Lewis, Complete Blue Note Recordings (Mosaic)

Jimmy Yancey, Vol1 (1939-40) (Document)

Big Maceo, King of Chicago Blues Piano, Vol 1&2 (Arhoolie)

Amos Milburn, Down the Road Apiece: The Best of Amos Milburn (EMI)

Floyd Dixon, Marshall Texas is My Home (Specialty)

St. Louis

Lee Green, Roosevelt Sykes,

Peetie Wheatstraw, Henry Townsend,

Walter Roland, Walter Davis

Chicago

Willie Mabon, Otis Spann, Detroit Jr.

Henry Gray, Eddie Boyd, Art Hodes

Texas

Alex Moore, Dr. Hepcat,

Rob Cooper, Dave Alexander, Sammy Price

Indianapolis - Leroy Carr

Kansas City

Jay McShann, Count Basie, Pete Johnson

New Orleans

Cousin Joe, Archibald, Smiley Lewis,

Jack Dupree, Prof. Longhair, Fats Domino

Memphis & the Delt

Little Brother Montgomery, Sunnyland Slim

Booker T. Laury, Memphis Slim, Jab Jone

Piano Red, Mose Vinso

California

Charles Brown, Amos Milburn, Percy Mayfie

Other Major Player

Speckled Red, Ray Charle

T-Bone Walker, The Complete Black & White Recordings (Capitol)

Bobby “Blue” Bland, I Pitty the Fool (MCA)

Cecil Gant, Rock the Boogie (Krazy Kat)

Memphis Slim, Rockin’ the Blues (Charly)

Sunnyland Slim, Sunnyland Slim (Fliright)

Otis Spann, Otis Spann is the Blues (Candid)

Camille Howard, Vol 1: Rock Me Daddy (Specialty)

Professor Longhair, Fess: Professor Longhair Anthology (Rhino)

James Booker, New Orleans Pianno Wizard: Live! (Rounder)

Blues Gospel Teaching Guide

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Transcript of Blues Gospel Teaching Guide