Piano For All Book2
Piano For All Book2
Piano For All Book2
As you work your way through the next few books play
these Blues Rhythms in each practice session and then
by book 8 you will be ready to add in the tricky Right
Hand blues licks and patterns.
Enjoy.
2-2
RHYTHM # 1
2-3
BASIC TRIAD BLUES
The most basic blues tune is a combination of three chords played over 12 bars.
C C C C F F
C C G F C C (or G)
To get you started well use a really basic left hand rhythm that uses the three
notes of the basic chord. (Just HOLD a C chord in the Right Hand)
C C E G C E G
C C
5 3 1 3
C E G E C E G E
Now TRANSPOSE the pattern to the chords of F and G and try the next tune.
F
F A C F A C
G
G B D G B D
2-4
BASIC TRIAD BLUES
C C C
5 3 1 3
C E G E C E G E C E G E
C F F
C E G E F A C A F A C A
C C G
C E G E C E G E G B D B
F C C
F A C A C E G E C
2-5
RHYTHM # 2
STRAIGHT EIGHT
BOOGIE
2-6
STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE RHYTHM part 1
(Jerry Lee Lewis)
Play these notes in the LEFT HAND separately from C up to Bb back down to E
(Use the correct fingering - notice you swivel on your thumb up to the Bb back to the G)
C
Bb
C E G A
FINGERS 5 3 2 1 2
Remember - play C, then E, then G, then A, then Bb, then A again, down to G, and E - REPEAT
Now play a RIGHT HAND C chord (at middle C) IN BETWEEN each of the left hand notes
C CHORD
C E G A Bb A G E
The above way is the easiest way to play this rhythm but the Jerry Lee Lewis way
is to play 2 RIGHT hand chords for each left hand note. (8 HALF BEATS per bar)
C CHORDS
C E G A Bb A G E
2-7
STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE part 2
Now that you can play the sequence using the chord of C, try transposing it all to
the chords of F and G.
Notice that all three patterns are almost IDENTICAL but the G pattern ends on a
white note instead of a black note
C Bb
C E G A
FINGERS 5 3 2 1 2 C CHORD
F Eb
F A C D
FINGERS 5 3 2 1 2 F CHORD
G
F
G B D E
FINGERS 5 3 2 1 2 G CHORD
Now try the Jerry Lee Lewis style blues tune on the next page.
2-8
STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE part 3
12 BAR JERRY LEE STYLE BOOGIE
Notice in bars 9 and 10 you only play half the sequence for each chord
C (C) C
G A Bb A G G A
C E E C E
(C) F (F)
Bb A G A C D Eb D C
E F A
C (C) G
E G A Bb A G G B D E
C E
F C C (or G to repeat)
F A C D E G A Bb A G
C E
2-9
STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE part 4
HOW TO WORK OUT A 12 BAR BLUES IN ANY KEY
C F G
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
If we use this formula we can figure out the three basic Blues chords of ANY key.
Here is the standard Blues progressions for the easier keys.
12 Bar Blues in C
C C C C F F
C C G F C C or G
12 Bar Blues in G
G G G G C C
G G D C G G or D
12 Bar Blues in F
F F F F Bb Bb
F F C Bb F F or C
12 Bar Blues in A
A A A A D D
A A E D A A or E
12 Bar Blues in C
D D D D G G
D D A G D D or A
2-10
STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE
PRACTICE SONGS
Try the following songs using the STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE. Remember there are
two ways to play it - with the Right Hand chord inbetween each Left Hand note or using
a Right Hand chord on every beat. It makes a big difference to the song!
2-11
RHYTHM # 3
BLUEBERRY HILL
2-12
BLUEBERRY HILL RHYTHM
This is a rhythm known as 12/8 TIME or TRIPLE FEEL
TRIPLE FEEL means that the basic rhythm comes in GROUPS of three notes.
In 12/8 TIME there are FOUR of these GROUPS (of 3 beats) per bar.
So the RIGHT hand will be playing 12 ‘beats’ per bar. Try it now with a C CHORD.
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
C E G
5 3 1
C x x x x x x x x x
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
C E G E G C E G E G
Now TRANSPOSE this rhythmic pattern to the chords of F and G (below mid C)
and you’ll have the 3 main chords for BLUEBERRY HILL
2-13
RHYTHM # 4
2-14
12/8 BOOGIE SHUFFLE RHYTHM
Remember how you counted 12 beats in each bar in BLUEBERRY HILL?
TAP
• • • • • • • •
COUNT 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Now find these ‘2-note’ chord shapes with your LEFT hand.
C5
FINGERS 5 2
C6
FINGERS 5 1
(C)
C5 C5 C6 C6 C5 C5 C6 C6
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
2-15
12/8 BOOGIE SHUFFLE part 2
NOW TRANSPOSE the chord shapes to F and G and then play the 12 bar blues
on the next page
C5
FINGERS 5 2
C6
FINGERS 5 1
F5
FINGERS 5 2
F6
FINGERS 5 1
G5
FINGERS 5 2
G6
FINGERS 5 1
2-16
12/8 BOOGIE SHUFFLE 12 BAR BLUES
Notice that the RIGHT hand plays and HOLDS the relevant C, F or G chord on
the first beat of each bar
C C C
C5 C6 etc
C7 F F7
F5 F6 etc
C C7 G
G5 G6 etc
F C C (or G to turnaround)
F5 F6 etc
C5 C6 etc
2-17
SONGS FOR 12/8 BOOGIE SHUFFLE PRACTICE
THE WANDERER
2-18
RHYTHM # 5
BLUES BROTHERS
2-19
BLUES BROTHERS RHYTHM
This is a fun rhythm which reminds me of the Blues Brothers theme but is also
used in the chorus of ‘I’m A Believer’ by The Monkees. See if you can also work
out the theme tune for The Odd Couple and Sesame Street. Have fun!
G note G Chord
1
Twice
1 3 5
2
Twice
1 3 5
3
Twice
1 3 5
2
Twice
1 3 5
Repeat
1 2 3 2
Bring the BASS note (Left hand) in slightly before the RIGHT hand chord
2-20
You can now try
Book 3