The Blues: Understanding and Performing an American Art Form
- 4.8
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Approx. 11 hours to complete
Course Summary
This course explores the history and culture of the Blues, a genre of music that has influenced countless artists and musicians. Learn about the origins, instruments, and techniques of the Blues through interactive lessons and performances.Key Learning Points
- Gain an understanding of the cultural and historical significance of the Blues
- Learn about the instruments and techniques used in Blues music
- Explore the different styles and sub-genres of Blues music
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the cultural and historical significance of the Blues
- Identify the instruments and techniques used in Blues music
- Explore the different styles and sub-genres of Blues music
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic knowledge of music theory
- Access to an instrument to practice with
Course Difficulty Level
BeginnerCourse Format
- Online self-paced course
- Interactive lessons and performances
- Access to instructors for feedback and guidance
Similar Courses
- Jazz Appreciation
- The History of Rock Music
- Music Production
Related Education Paths
Notable People in This Field
- B.B. King
- Muddy Waters
- Robert Johnson
Related Books
Description
The blues is an American art form and the most important musical form in jazz. Although there are other formal paradigms of the blues, such as 8-bar or 16-bar, this course focuses on different incarnations of the 12-bar blues. There are considerable differences between Early Jazz blues, Swing blues, Bebop blues, Modal blues, and Post Bop blues. Each type has its unique harmonic syntax, melodic vocabulary and, associated with them, improvisational techniques. While other aspects of jazz performance practice have been constantly changing from one stylistic convention to another, the blues has never lost its identity and expressive power, and continues to exert a powerful influence on the harmonic and melodic syntax of jazz.
Outline
- Blues Progressions – Theory and Practice
- Course Introduction Video
- Lesson 1 Introduction
- Historical Overview (12:00)
- Generic Blues (6:25)
- Basic Blues Progression
- Minor Blues (6:49)
- AA’B Phrase Structures (5:54)
- Quiz - Lesson 1
- Blues Scales
- Lesson 2 Introduction (4:38)
- The Blues Scale (8:08)
- Jazz Notation and Jazz Rhythm (12:34)
- Blues Riffs (11:40)
- Call and Response (6:34)
- One-Scale Improvisation and “East Main Blues” (13:22)
- Quiz - Lesson 2
- Keyboard Realization
- Lesson 3 Introduction (3:45)
- Guide Tones (8:53)
- Invertible Counterpoint (4:20)
- Charleston Rhythm (10:04)
- Four-Part Chords (9:35)
- Five-Part Chords (9:43)
- Comping Texture (18:58)
- Quiz - Lesson 3
- “Bird” Blues and Other Blues Progressions
- Lesson 4 Introduction (2:42)
- “Now’s the Time” Progression - Analysis (5:45)
- Ear Training Strategies (9:11)
- “Billie’s Bounce” Progression - Analysis (4:49)
- Rhythmic Displacement (10:34)
- “Blues for Alice” Progression - Analysis (6:06)
- Practical Tips (13:01)
- Quiz - Lesson 4
- Improvisational Tools
- Lesson 5 Introduction (2:39)
- “Mr. PC” Progression – Analysis and Tritone Substitutions (10:49)
- Pentatonics and Pentatonic Voicings (13:44)
- “Mr. Day” Progression – Analysis (3:36)
- Pentatonic Voicings – Voice-Leading Principles (7:20)
- Pentatonic Voicings – Practical Exercises (6:09)
- “Isotope” Progression – Analysis (8:00)
- The Drop-Two Voicing Technique (12:48)
- Quiz - Lesson 5
- Improvising the Blues – Part 1
- Lesson 6 Introduction and “Half Past Nine” (4:55)
- Techniques of Motivic Improvisation (13:19)
- Demonstration of Motivic Improvisation (3:30)
- Play-Along Session – “Now is the Time” Progression (4:19)
- “Billie’s Dance” (3:12)
- Guide-Tone Improvisation (15:38)
- Demonstration of Guide-Tone Improvisation (3:49)
- Play-Along Session – “Billie’s Bounce” Progression (4:19)
- “Birdie Song” (3:46)
- Chordal Arpeggiation – 4-Part Chords (11:14)
- Demonstration of Arpeggiation of 4-part Chords (4:16)
- Chordal Arpeggiation – 5-Part Chords (5:54)
- Demonstration of Arpeggiation of 5-part Chords (4:30)
- Play-Along Session – “Blues for Alice” Progression (4:16)
- Quiz - Lesson 6
- Improvising the Blues – Part 2
- Introduction and Diatonic/Chromatic Modes (7:46)
- Modal Categories (10:06)
- Characteristic Triads and Practice Tips (13:13)
- Minor Blues - “Sea Blues” Improvisation (7:50)
- Play-Along Session - “Mr. PC” Progression (3:06)
- Pentatonics – Introduction (7:09)
- Sus7 Blues Improvisation with Pentatonics (7:36)
- Play-Along Session – “Sus Blues” Progression (2:52)
- Scalar Patterns – Introduction (7:41)
- Scalar Patterns - “Top Set” Improvisation (7:39)
- Play-Along Session – “Isotope” Progression (2:42)
- Conclusion (0:47)
- Quiz - Lesson 7
Summary of User Reviews
The Blues course on Coursera has received positive reviews from learners. Many users have praised the course for its engaging and informative content on the history and evolution of blues music, as well as the accessibility of the course for beginners.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
engaging and informative content on the history and evolution of blues musicPros from User Reviews
- Well-structured course content
- Engaging and experienced instructors
- Great for beginners and music enthusiasts alike
- Opportunities to interact with other learners
Cons from User Reviews
- Limited depth on specific artists and genres
- Some technical issues with video and audio quality
- Lack of interaction with course instructors
Dariusz TerefenkoTop Instructor
4.8 Raiting
The Blues: Understanding and Performing an American Art Form
- 4.8
-
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The blues is an American art form and the most important musical form in jazz. Each type has its unique harmonic syntax, melodic vocabulary and, associated with them, improvisational techniques....
Modern & Contemporary American Poetry (“ModPo”)
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ModPo is a fast-paced introduction to modern and contemporary U. S. poetry, with an emphasis on experimental verse, from Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman to the present....
