Blues

Bebop Blues in A

A bebop blues: the jazz blues with a ii-V into IV in bar 4, a ii-V into ii in bar 8, and a iii-VI-ii-V turnaround in the last two bars.

Tempo 120 BPM

Practice in all 12 keys

Bar 1: A7 I7
Bar 2: D7 IV7
Bar 3: A7 I7
Bar 4: Em7 v7 A7 I7
Bar 5: D7 IV7
Bar 6: D♯dim7 ♯iv°7
Bar 7: A7 I7
Bar 8: C♯m7 iii7 F♯7 VI7
Bar 9: Bm7 ii7
Bar 10: E7 V7
Bar 11: C♯m7 iii7 F♯7 VI7
Bar 12: Bm7 ii7 E7 V7

Rootless Shells Guide tones Rooted shells Rooted Drop 2

Four-note rootless voicings in their two forms, with the 3rd or the 7th on the bottom, played over the root.

Customize each chord

A7
D7
A7
Em7
A7
D7
D#dim7
A7
C#m7
F#7
Bm7
E7
C#m7
F#7
Bm7
E7

Meter: 4/4
Form: A-B-C
Bars: 12
Usual key: F

Charlie Parker’s generation filled the blues with ii-Vs: in F, Cm7 F7 in bar 4 is the ii-V of Bb, and Am7 D7 in bar 8 the ii-V of Gm. Pianists and bassists often play these changes even when the soloist plays a simpler blues. Practice it with bebop scales and enclosures that land on the 3rd of each new chord.

Reharmonize Analyze these changes

Tritone substitutes

A7 D7 A7 Em7 A7 D7 D#dim7 A7 C#m7 C7 Bm7 E7 C#m7 C7 Bm7 Bb7

Each dominant 7th that resolves down a fifth becomes the dominant a tritone away, which shares its 3rd and 7th, so the bass moves by half steps.

Bebop Blues in A

Reharmonize Analyze these changes

Tritone substitutes

Variations

Basic Blues

Blues with ii-V

Jazz Blues

Bird Blues