Class Recordings:
Year 8: HM HO HN HK HAPachelbel's Canon
Backing Tracks:
- Click track to keep you in time (100bpm) - click here to play.
- Ground Bass - click here to play.
- Melody 1 - click here to play.
- Melody 1 with Ground Bass- click here to play.
- Melody 2 - click here to play.
- Melody 2 with Ground Bass and Melody 1 - click here to play.
- Melody 3 - click here to play.
- Melody 3 with Ground Bass, Melody 1 and 2 - click here to play.
Blues
Listen to the 12 Bar Blues Backing Track used in the first lesson.12 Bar Blues Chord Progression
Extended Reading and Listening for the Blues
If you're interested in learning more about the Blues, use the following websites contain come really useful and interesting information.
Background Information:
- Carnegie Hall's history of African American Music. Includes an interactive timeline with historical information and listening examples.
- Wikipedia article on the history of the Blues.
- The Gullah Net has interactive information about the evolution of the Blues and how it influenced other styles.
- List of blues genres on Wikipedia (there are quite a few!)
- An excellent Blues timeline.
Blues Musicians:
- 30 key Blues musicians, with pictures.
- A user generated list of the 'best' Blues musicians - you can add your own vote!
Blues Songs Lists and Listening Examples:
- Visit your favourite music streaming service and search for Blues playlists that have been curated by others. There's a great one on YouTube.
- The Wikipedia list of Blues standards.
- Listen to clips from an American Radio Station (PBS) on the Blues.
Blues Instruments:
- A list of instruments commonly played by Blues musicians.
12 Bar Blues and the Blues Scale:
- Wikipedia article on how the 12 bar Blues is constructed.
- Wikipedia article about the Blues scale.
How-To-Play Resources:
- YouTube 12 Bar Blues lessons (mostly guitar lessons - this is a good one for guitarists).
- A fantastic video lesson series of 30 Must-Have Blues Piano Licks which includes videos, sheet music, MIDI files and backing tracks at different speeds.
Blues Dictionary:
- Having trouble working out the meaning of those blues lyrics? This blues glossary might help. Includes the meaning of some slang terms and describes locations named in songs.
- There's another vocab list here.
Blues Games:
- Play a little Desktop Blues. You can click on the coloured squares to “improvise” guitar licks and vocals. There is also an option to display the guitar tab for the guitar licks.
- An online resource to help write your own Blues lyrics.
- As a final bonus for you: Ever wondered what your Blues name is? Use this Blues name generator to find out. In case you’re wondering, mine is 'Fat Legs Brown'.
