How To Count Slow Blues
In this lesson we learn how to count the slow blues. The blues can be counted in 4/4, but when playing slow blues piano the underlying pulse is typically felt in 12/8.
In this lesson, you’ll master counting in 12/8 and develop a solid understanding of this time feel when playing slow blues piano.
Changing The Feel: 4/4 vs 12/8
When playing in 4/4, each bar is split into 4 beats. The counting in 4/4 would be as follows:
- 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, etc…
When playing in 12/8 the four beats of the bar still exist but they are further subdivided into triplets which gives us 12 x 8th note triplets in each bar:
The pattern can also be vocalised by saying the word “trip-e-let” for each beat of the bar and emphasising the 3 syllables in the word. All of these approaches can be used and so pick the counting approach that feels the most comfortable for you.
Isolating The 12/8 Pulse
In the first exercise, our right hand plays the 3rd and 7th of the chord on each triplet subdivision and our left plays a shell voicing (root and 7) on beat 1 of each bar.
This exercise should be practiced daily so that you become comfortable feeling the 12 subdivisions in each bar. This exercise follows the harmony of the slow blues and we can cycle around the progression always visualising where we are in the 12 bar form.
12/8 Bass Line For Slow Blues Piano
For the second exercise we focus on outlining the 12/8 pulse in our left hand. We create a simple left hand bass line pattern which we can play over all 3 chords in the 12 bar blues form.
In the next lesson of this course we introduce a simple right hand melody and fill technique that compliments the left hand bass line pattern covered in this tutorial.
Lesson Downloads
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Slow Blues Counting & Bass Lines File Type: pdf
Related Lessons
In this lesson we will learn to feel a 12/8 pulse for a tune written in 4/4. This is useful when improvising in a slow blues style.
We create a slow 12 bar blues progression in the key of F and explore ways to ornament and reharmonise the basic 12 bar blues chord changes.
The 12/8 groove is associated with Fats Domino who was one of the most famous musicians to come out of New Orleans in the 20th century.
Practice Tips
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Remember to count aloud when starting with these exercises. With practice you will instinctively sense the 12/8 pulse without having to count out loud.
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Start by outlining the 12/8 pulse in your right hand using just the 3rd and 7th of each chord. Cycle around the blues form until you are comfortable with this drill.
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Next outline the 12/8 pulse in the left hand using the bass line pattern of root, 5th, 6th, and 7th. Ensure that you can play this over a single chord whilst keeping a steady pulse.
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Practice transitioning from the I to the IV chord using the bass line pattern and feeling the 12/8 pulse. Count out loud if needed to help you keep a steady pulse.
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Once you are comfortable with the transition from I to IV, also incorporate the final line of the 12 bar blues form. Repeat and cycle around the form as much as needed to keep a steady groove throughout the entire form.
