Composing a blues song.You are going to compose a song in the style of a traditional twelve bar blues. Your song can be in any style but it must: & Use the notes of the blues scale or minor pentatonic scale for the tune.& Use the melodic structure of a traditional 12 bar blues for the tune.& The 12-bar blues chord progression for the accompaniment.

What do you need to know?The Notes of the Blues Scale. A scale is an order of notes and most scales have 8 notes (an octave) but some have 5 notes and are called PENTATONIC The blues scale is essentially a variation of a minor pentatonic scale. Look at this G minor pentatonic scale and then compare it to the blues scale in the same key. G minor pentatonic scale:

Although there are six notes written the first (1) and last pitch (8) are the same notes, just an octave apart.

Blues scale in G

Explain the difference between the two scales in a sentence.

You have learnt the twelve bar blues pattern in C so you need to apply the above patterns to the key of C. You could use the C minor pentatonic scale for your tune but for it to sound bluer you may prefer to use the blues scale in C. Write the notes for the C minor pentatonic scale in the box below. 1 3 4 5 7 8 Write the notes for the blues scale in C in the box below 1 3 4 5 5 7 8

What makes a good tune? Tick which of the following statements you think apply best to a good tune. The notes move mostly by step and small skips (conjunct) The notes move mostly by large skip/ leap (disjunct) The notes are mostly repeated The pitch of the melody starts high and gets lower (descending) The pitch of the melody starts low and gets higher (ascending) The pitch of the melody is balanced between ascending and descending pitches The length of the notes (rhythms) is a balance between long and short notes All the notes should be short in length All the notes should be long in length The tune should be performed to a steady beat The tune should be performed to a changing beat Beat is not important Write one more thing that you think would make a tune sound good.

What is the structure of a traditional 12 bar blues melody Listen to the Thinking Blues performed by Bessie Smith (your teacher will play it or you can find it on YouTube). Here are the lyrics from the first verse:

Which of the following best describes the melodic structure of the song? The first and second lines are different from each other, but the third line is the same as the first line. (ABA) The first and the second lines are different from each other, but the second and third lines are the same as each other. (ABB) The first and second lines are the same as each other, but the third line is different from the other two. (AAB) The first and second lines are the same as each other and the third and fourth lines are the same as each other (AABB)

Did you ever sit thinking with a thousand things on your mind? Did you ever sit thinking with a thousand things on your mind? Thinking about someone who has treated you so nice and kind.

The chord progression You studied the twelve bar blues progression during the first half of this term. Answer the question below about the 12 bar blues chord progression. What are the notes in a triad chord of C major? What are the notes in a triad chord of F major? What are the notes in a triad chord of G major? Put the chord in the correct order for the 12 bar blues chord progression. Bar 1 Bar 2 Bar 3 Bar 4 Bar 5 Bar 6 Bar 7 Bar 8 Bar 9 Bar 10 Bar 11 Bar 12 Key: C = C major F = F major G = G major

Now you are ready to write your song. You can use the space provided below to write your song or , if you prefer, you can use manuscript paper or www.noteflight.com to write it as a musical lead sheet e.g.

Step 1: Write your lyrics You know what the melodic structure is for the tune because you worked it out by listening to THINKING BLUES. Each line needs to last for 4 bars/ 16 beats (but you can have a longer gap at the end if you want, like in Thinking Blues). 1. Set a metronome going to a tempo of your own choice and try speaking words rhythmically in time with the beat. You need to write three verses so need 6 different lines in total. 2. When you have two different lines per verse that you like, write them down on the space provided. 3. Record your words; you can use your phones for this, so that you remember the rhythm or you can write the rhythm on manuscript if you prefer.

Step 2: Write your melody 1. Using either the C minor pentatonic scale or the blues scales in C, add one pitch to each syllable of your words. Think about what makes a good tune. Remember that the tune is the same1 in each of the three verses. 2. Learn to sing or play the melody using the rhythm of your words (practice with a metronome to stay in time), and record your performance using your phones or iPads. Once again you can write it on manuscript paper or www.noteflight.com if you prefer. Step 3: Add an accompaniment Your accompaniment is going to be as 12-bar blues pattern in C. You can perform it in any style you want to as long as it fits with your tune, and you could use: & A comping chords rhythm (batman, Charleston) & Block chords (four beats each) & A walking bass & A walking bass and chords (in either of the above styles)

Or you could make up a different way of performing the pattern as long as the chords are in the correct order. Step 3: Preparing for your performance You will need to present a performance of a 12 bar blues inspired song that has three verses. & You could sing (not speak) the words while your partner plays the accompaniment & You could play the accompaniment while your partner sings the words & You could play the melody on the keyboard while your partner plays the accompaniment & You could play the accompaniment on the keyboard while you partner plays the melody & You could play the accompaniment while YOU sing (individual composition) & You could play the melody with the right hand and the accompaniment with the left hand (individual composition) & If you are working in a group, you could have more that one person singing and possibly add guitars and drums. 1 You may need to add or remove the some notes if there are more or less syllables.

WRITE YOUR SONG USING THIS PAGE Bar 1 Bar 2 Bar 3 Bar 4 Melody Verse 1 Verse 2 Verse 3 Accomp. Bar 5 Bar 6 Bar 7 Bar 8 Melody Verse 1 Verse 2 Verse 3 Accomp. Bar 9 Bar 10 Bar 11 Bar 12 Melody Verse 1 Verse 2 Verse 3 Accomp.

Progress Check Tick the statements as you progress through the task. When you have been assessed you will have to complete the d.i.r.t. task, individually, as a home learning task. Knowledge I understand and can work out the notes for a minor pentatonic scale and a blues scale in the key of C and I am confident that I could apply my knowledge to other keys. I know what the melodic structure of a traditional 12 bar blues is. I know what makes a good tune. I know what notes are in the triad chords of C major, F major and G major and I am confident that I could apply my knowledge to other chords. Skills I have written three verses of lyrics in the structure AAB for my song. I have added a pitch to each syllable of my lyrics using either the minor pentatonic scale or blues scale. I have learnt to perform my tune fluently and in time with a steady beat. I have refined (improved) my tune to make it as good as it can get. I have worked out an accompaniment for my tune and it fits well with the tune. I can play and/or sing my part(s) fluently and in time with a steady beat in the performance.

What have you learnt (knowledge) by doing this piece of work?

Describe two ways in which your musical skills have improved by doing this task?

What one musical skill do you think you need to develop most urgently? Describe what steps you could take to improve this skill.

What help do you need from your teacher to develop this skill.

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