{"id":14306,"date":"2016-09-27T00:00:52","date_gmt":"2016-09-27T08:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hearandplay.com\/main\/?p=14306"},"modified":"2024-10-07T17:08:04","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T01:08:04","slug":"chromatic-harmony-of-the-blues-scale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hearplaymain.wpenginepowered.com\/chromatic-harmony-of-the-blues-scale\/","title":{"rendered":"An Introduction To The Chromatic Harmony Of The Blues Scale"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re interested in learning about the chromatic harmony of the blues scale, then this lesson is for you!.<\/p>\n

While listening to blues music, one thing you can’t deny is that bluesy <\/em>feeling that hits you either from its dramatic melody or its chromatic harmony. Although the harmony of the blues is chromatic, it sounds good in other styles, especially gospel and jazz.<\/p>\n

You’ll be learning about the chromatic harmony of the blues, but before we proceed, let’s talk about blues music.<\/p>\n

A Short Note On Blues Music<\/h2>\n

The cultural origin of blues music<\/em> is from Afro-Americans who lived in the southern part of the United States of America.<\/p>\n

Although nobody can tell you when blues music started precisely, it was used in the 19th century as a medium of expression. The slow and dramatic nature of the blues made it effective in the expression of melancholy<\/em>.<\/p>\n

One of the distinct features of blues music is its 12-bar form, which has several variations and extended forms like the 16-bar blues, 24 bar blues etc.<\/p>\n

Blues music can be vocal, instrumental or both, featuring instruments like the banjo, guitar, piano, etc., and has influenced a variety of other popular music styles especially gospel and jazz.<\/p>\n

Suggested Reading:<\/strong> Jazz Blues Form, Bass-Lines, Licks, And Crossover Licks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Before we proceed into the chromatic harmony of the blues, let’s expound on the blue note and scales.<\/p>\n

The Blue Notes<\/h3>\n

Blues music in it’s cradle age was practiced by musicians of African descent, who incorporated notes from the African scale system. These notes sound slightly out-of-tune compared with the notes (aka – “pitches”) on instruments like the piano and guitar and were called blue notes because of the feelings they convey.<\/p>\n

Although blue notes cannot be played with European instruments, there are notes on the piano that are closer to its pitch. Notes like:<\/p>\n