Blue Notes [HL:406509]

Description: This piece is a blues in ABA form with brief introduction and coda. The melody is built on a short melodic phrase: a riff. The bass part is a separate but related melodic phrase which becomes the important melody in the B section.

Purpose: Introduction to the elements of the jazz styles of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Horace Silver: 1. Jazz inflection and phrasing 2. Varying riffs through simple variation and rhythmic displacement 3. Harmonic structure drawn from commonly used jazz harmonic patterns.

Suggestions for Instruction: In m. 1-8, learn hands alone with special attention to double and grace notes. After learning one hand at a time it can be played with a teacher as a duet. In m. 12, RH double notes need special attention, lifting the fifth finger on upper repeated notes while playing lower voices smoothly. In m. 13-20, learn to play the LH melody legato with RH chords detached. In m. 28-29 give special attention to rhythm and chord positions.

Other Information

After Blue Notes is memorized, it will work well with rhythmic accompaniment or as a basis for improvisation.

Key: F Major