Can blues be written in a 16 bar pattern?

A 16-bar blues progression is composed of four (typically) four-bar phrases, usually two iterations of tonic, followed by subdominant and dominant. The final phrase may or may not end with a turnaround. Of the two, 12-bar blues is more common.

How many types of bar blues are there?

There are three main forms in blues – 12 bar blues (which is what most people are familiar with), 8 bar blues and 16 bar blues (less common). There are also variations such as minor key blues and the more elaborate jazz blues which we’ll touch on later.

How many bars a blues must have to be a blues?

The most common musical form of blues is the 12-bar blues. The term “12-bar” refers to the number of measures, or musical bars, used to express the theme of a typical blues song.

Is there an 8 bar blues?

Eight bar blues progressions have more variations than the more rigidly defined twelve bar format. The move to the IV chord usually happens at bar 3 (as opposed to 5 in twelve bar); however, “the I chord moving to the V chord right away, in the second measure, is a characteristic of the eight-bar blues.”

Is there a 16 bar blues?

The sixteen-bar blues can be a variation on the standard twelve-bar blues or on the less common eight-bar blues. Sixteen-bar blues is also used commonly in ragtime music.

Which is the most popular instrument to play the blues?

The most popular instruments used in blues are:

• brass instruments – often heard playing with mutes.
• saxophone.
• acoustic and electric guitar.
• Dixieland drum kit.
• double bass – a walking bass line is a common harmonic device in which the bass will play notes of the chord and notes leading to the next chord.

Why is the 12-bar blues so popular?

It’s because it is based on the most fundamental chords in music: The Tonic and the Fifth. There’s a whole musical school of thought around this (Schenkerian – no, not Michael!). Together with the use of the IV chord the most basic musical ideas (tension, anticipation, release) are explored in the most basic way.

What is the most common chord progression of the blues?

1. Blues Progression (I, IV, V) The I, IV, V chord progression is one of the simplest and most common chord progressions across all musical genres. When it comes to the guitar, it’s known as the “blues progression” because blues music makes heavy use of it.

What instrument is commonly used in blues?

More often than not, blues bands feature the following instruments: guitar (usually electric), drums, double bass (pizzicato), piano, saxophone and brass instruments (often with mutes). This ensemble usually accompanies a leading vocalist, but they also have the opportunity for instrumental solos.

Is the 16 bar blues the same as the 12 bar blues?

16 bar blues progressions are similar to the 12 bar blues, however the one chord is held for 8 bars instead of 4 at the beginning of the progression. Many blues songs have verses that follow the 16 bar form and then switch to a 12 bar form for the chorus or solo sections. An 8 bar blues typically…

What’s the most common substitution in 8 bar blues?

An 8 bar blues typically follows this pattern: Think of the song “Key to the Highway” to hear this progression. A common alteration for this progression is substituting a VI chord (A in the key of C) for the IV chord in the third bar of the progression.

How many bars are in an 8 bar blues song?

Many blues songs have verses that follow the 16 bar form and then switch to a 12 bar form for the chorus or solo sections. An 8 bar blues typically follows this pattern:

What’s the difference between the first 4 bars of the Blues?

To counter this, a lot of blues musicians make one simple change. Instead of playing the I chord for 4 bars, they go up to the IV chord for the second bar, before returning to the I chord. It’s a very simple change. But it is one that helps to break up the first 4 bars of music and make them more interesting for the listener.