If I had to learn to play the blues again, I'd start here

Reader,

When I first learned blues, I spent all my time on scales, licks, and right-hand vocabulary. It took me way too long to realize the groove lives in the left hand.

When it's locked in, you feel it. When it's not, something always seems off.

Today we're working on creating a rock solid 2-feel bass line as a foundation on the blues.

This Friday: We'll walk through C Jam Blues together on Zoom, playing a 2-feel step-by-step, as a group. Come join us to practice together, meet some new jazz friends, and learn some tips to really nail your 2-feel.

You are already RSVP'd for Friday workshops.

See you Friday, Jan 16th, at 1:00 Eastern.

Play This Over the Blues

I put together a worksheet to practice this. Here's how to use it:

1. Set your metronome to 65 bpm. We’re playing at 130, but we only want 2 clicks per measure.
2. Practice the walking bassline written in the worksheet. Make sure the metronome is clicking on 2 and 4, not 1 and 3. Think of it like the drummer’s foot on the hi-hat. Lock in solidly.
3. Add a simple C7 voicing in your right hand. Do some basic comping while keeping that left hand glued to the metronome.
4. Expand to the full 12-bar form. Work through the bass line and chord options I wrote out. Use them as inspiration to explore similar movements over the rest of the form.
5. Add the C Jam Blues melody. Focus on the coordination between hands. Left hand should be smooth and connected with no space between notes. Right hand follows the articulation I wrote.

Want some inspiration? Check out Oscar Peterson's 2-feel on C Jam Blues at 0:24.

Happy practicing!

Josh