Just wondering, I made this composition for GCSE Music not too long ago, and it's meant to be in the style of Blues. I've based it on the blues scale, but not sure if it can be classified as Blues or if it's just jazz. It roughly fits 12 bars in each section, but then it changes chords in each section. It goes something like Intro A B A C Ending, and the intro is the same as the ending for part A! Additionally, part A and B are syncopated, but part C is written 6/8 just filled with semiquavers on both hands. Is there any specifications on what defines as blues or not, or does it just have to be based on the blues scale?

Also wondering about notation of blues. Currently, it's written in 6/8, showing on the right hand quaver, semi-quaver, quaver, semi-quaver, etc. Is this how you write it, or do you presume they shall slur the notes and write it in 4/4 with just quavers?

Wobby

[quote=Wobby,Jun 4 2005, 12:43 PM]
Is there any specifications on what defines as blues or not, or does it just have to be based on the blues scale?

Hi Wobby

No, there is now definitive form or structure for the blues; having said that, there are thousands of blues tunes in existence and most of these are a 12-bar blues. There are also 24-bar blues, which are stretched versions of a 12 with each chord lasting for 2 bars. Another popular form is a 16 bar blues, like Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock. Harmonically, a blues uses predominantly 3 chords: I, IV and V (C, F and G in the key of C). Blues always start on chord I, move to the Sub-dominant (chord IV), return briefly to chord I before going to V the nt before returning at the end of each 'chorus' to chord I, sometimes with a 'turnaround' some extra chords which elaborate the end of each progression and extend the harmonic tension.

[quote=Wobby,Jun 4 2005, 12:43 PM]
Also wondering about notation of blues. Currently, it's written in 6/8, showing on the right hand quaver, semi-quaver, quaver, semi-quaver, etc. Is this how you write it, or do you presume they shall slur the notes and write it in 4/4 with just quavers?

It is standard practice in jazz circles to notate as 4/4 with the swing feel implied through the use of the word 'Swing' and 'crotchet = crotchet + quaver tripletted' (no easy way to explain this in words lol) - I'm sure you have encountered something similar before. Most swung jazz is written in 4/4, but there are exceptions - Miles Davis' "Kind Of Blue" is written in 6/8, and is traditionally notated thus in written versions.

Hope this helps

Andy