Programme 3: Jazz

Practical Activity

12 Bar Blues Improvisation

Ask the main body of the class to perform the 12 bar blues progression by scat singing a riff for each chord in the sequence. Over this, choose one person to improvise melodies on a keyboard or other tuned instruments using a blues scale. To aid the improviser:

• encourage him/her to think of a basic rhythm or a riff they can add to or change slightly
• limit the number of notes they can use in the blues scale

Turning Blue

Ask students to experiment with melodies by changing the notes of a traditional diatonic tune into a blues tune. For example, they should try flattening the 7th, 5th and 3rd of the scale, or adding these notes as passing notes.