Hello Blues Class Students
In last night's class we covered the following:
1. How to play a Minor scale.
2. We compared Major and Minor scales while using one string playing up the neck. We also discussed how to converted them into Major and Minor pentatonics.
3. Right hand technique rhythm was addressed while demonstrating the difference between 8ths and swing 8ths.
What to practice the next two weeks:
1. Work with the file "guitartimingexercises" found in the guitar section under the Technique tab. This file is also found in the banjo and mandolin sections (if you downloaded them) and provides similar exercises for those instruments as well.
2. Review the Scale comparison found in the Theory - All Instruments section.
3. Print out your songs and become familiar with Minor Swing. There is a Tef version of this song's part One. You can likely also hear versions of this song on YouTube.
4. Learn the shuffle pattern found in the Guitar / Rhythm sections. The files is entitled Guitarmatchboxshuffle.tef. It is also renamed for banjo and guitar.
5. Listen to the files for Matchbox Blues and become familiar with the song
Now let's see who was paying attention. Here are some questions I want you to answer and discuss as a group below:
1. What do I mean about phrasing notes while playing blues rifts?
2. What is the difference in the first five notes between the Major and the Minor scales?
3. What distinguishes a major pentatonic and a minor pentatonic from its respective Major and Minor scales?
4. Explain what we mean by 12 Bar Blues and 8 Bar Blues?
5. Who wrote the original version of Matchbox Blues and how was it modified and by whom in later years (Tip .. review your history section)?
The next class is in two weeks (since the school is closed for President's Day next week.
Good Luck
FM