(Welling. Kent)
07919 356980
Lesson Guide - A Dollar a Day Blues
Any questions - just ask
John’s notes:
Practice each phrase before going on to the next. Then join them up.
The Blues originated from the African slaves transported to America and other countries to work in the cotton and
sugar plantations as well as hard labour working on laying railroad tracks, and mining for Tin and Gold. These men
and women would sit around their camp fires at the end of a hard gruelling days work and
sing songs of home and missing loved one’s. The songs were usually based on a simple
rhythmic 1-4-5 chord structure built around dominant seven chords. Often mixing minor
and major scale notes to suit the ‘feel’ or intended emotion. One person would start
singing or playing a melody line, others would join in tapping their food bowls and wooden
stools whilst others would sing or hum in response to the melody line. Much like the
gospel singers of today. All spontaneous, nothing formal, and full of emotion!
This Blues tune is in the key of A Major. You will notice there are some notes in the
melody ‘outside’ the A Major scale, this is common with Blues and is part of it’s character.
After all, Blues is the grandparent of Jazz, hip pop, rock, rhythm and blues, country, and
so many more genres! Try to create a slow steady rhythmic pulse throughout the tune.
The guitar ‘slap’ or ‘thump’ technique is common in Blues music, and is used in many
styles such as Latin, flamenco, folk etc, and recently in many great guitar solo’s. Originaly
this could have been acomplished by the slapping of knees, hands or using any handy
item producing a percussive effect.
Members who know a few ‘pentatonic’ blues phrases will have no problem coming up with some creative melodic
arrangements of their own. Just stick to the A Major key and all will be good.
Suitable for electric and acoustic guitar players….Enjoy!
TAB & ‘one to one’ tuition
available to members
John’s notes:
Practice each phrase before going on to the next. Then
join them up.
The Blues originated from the African slaves
transported to
America and
other countries to
work in the
cotton and sugar
plantations as
well as hard
labour working
on laying railroad
tracks, and
mining for Tin and Gold. These men and women would
sit around their camp fires at the end of a hard
gruelling days work and sing songs of home and
missing loved one’s. The songs were usually based on
a simple rhythmic 1-4-5 chord structure built around
dominant seven chords. Often mixing minor and major
scale notes to suit the ‘feel’ or
intended emotion. One person
would start singing or playing a
melody line, others would join
in tapping their food bowls and
wooden stools whilst others
would sing or hum in response
to the melody line. Much like
the gospel singers of today. All
spontaneous, nothing formal,
and full of emotion!
This Blues tune is in the key of
A Major. You will notice there
are some notes in the melody
‘outside’ the A Major scale, this is common with Blues
and is part of it’s character. After all, Blues is the
grandparent of Jazz, hip pop, rock, rhythm and blues,
country, and so many more genres! Try to create a
slow steady rhythmic pulse throughout the tune. The
guitar ‘slap’ or ‘thump’ technique is common in Blues
music, and is used in many styles such as Latin,
flamenco, folk etc, and recently in many great guitar
solo’s. Originaly this could have been acomplished by
the slapping of knees, hands or using any handy item
producing a percussive effect.
Members who know a few ‘pentatonic’ blues phrases
will have no problem coming up with some creative
melodic arrangements of their own. Just stick to the A
Major key and all will be good.
Suitable for electric and acoustic guitar
players….Enjoy!
(Welling. Kent)
07919 356980
Any questions - just ask
Lesson Guide - A Dollar a Day
(A working Mans Blues)
Lesson Guide
‘A Dollar a Day Blues’
TAB & ‘one to one’ tuition available
to members: