Blues Swing Piano Lesson #1B: How to play a Blues in C (video)
This follows up the last lesson, “Blues Piano Lesson #1A: 12 bar Blues In C (reading notes)” That post also has sheet music for the first clip in the video, which you can download.
There are a few variations thrown in as well that will all work in a C blues. It sounds the best if you use lots of different variations for variety rather than playing the song the same way through the entire time.
It should take you 10-15 minutes if you are a beginner to learn the patterns in the video really well. The chords shapes and patterns are all the same for C, F and G. They are all white notes.
REALLY focus on making the transition to each chord smooth and be able to switch between the variations with ease! If you can do that at a fairly steady fast pace, then you know you’re ready to move on.
Try to use your pinky, middle and thumbs only on this song to play the chords and the bassline.
Grateful thanks, Chris, enjoyed so much. Saw it a few times today.
Love it!
Which songs can we apply your country rock, bossanova, blues/swings to?
Very much appreciated.
Blessings,
Lorna
Hi Lorna!
Thanks for the kind words, I’ll answer your question in the next post in more detail.
But the short answer is:
All of music is interchangeable. Think of what I’m showing you as interchangeable parts, or pieces to build a song.
You could put a blues bassline on a classical song, or a song that should be bossa nova… You could even make twinkle twinkle little star bluesy! It all depends on what flavor you want to give the songs!
Hi Chris, thanks for all the info and lessons. I appreciate it very much…
I would like to know how can i learn up all my chords quickly? I’ll be having an exam whereby i have to play 3 songs, and also sight-read lead sheet..However, my sight reading skill is very poor..
WHat do you think is the best way to improve my sight reading?
Please let me know a way to do it.. I’ll greatly appreciate it…
Thank you.
The more practice, the faster you will learn.
But you have to practice the right things for reading the leadsheet:
Reading treble clef: use every good boy does fine and FACE.
Also playing chords in the left hand.
Do these separately at first for 30 minutes a day if you can.
For example, only read treble clef notes in your right hand from a Fake book.
Then only work on playing the chords in the left hand, on brand new songs in the fake book.
Reading rhythm always slowed me down, so I worked on only reading rhythms to really improve my reading. The same rhythms happen over and over again.
I’ll post to the blog with some tips!
Thanks Karyen!
Chris
*PS where are you from?