Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about the 12-bar blues, the stylistic and musical features of blues music and the role of the instruments in a blues ensemble. They develop an extended improvisation and build a stylistic blues performance.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to perform a boogie-woogie pattern on the piano.

Key Notes

• The boogie-woogie is an upbeat and energetic style of blues music that encourages people to dance.
• The piano is the key instrument in boogie-woogie.
• It is also a blues piano accompaniment pattern, which is said to sound like a train.
• This is due to the repetition, constant movement and tremolos that mimic train sounds. It is often staccato.
• Learning to play the boogie-woogie pattern with the 12-bar blues chords.

Vocabulary To Learn

• boogie-woogie: an upbeat style of blues music and the name of the piano accompaniment pattern used in boogie-woogie
• tremolo: alternating between two notes rapidly; sounds like a trembling effect
• staccato: when the notes are played in a short, detached way

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Any note of the boogie-woogie pattern can rise and fall.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Blues music and the 12-bar blues Study Guide
• Building an improvisation Study Guide
• Creating an idiomatic blues performance Study Guide
• The blues scale Study Guide
• The role of the instruments and the bass pattern Study Guide