Blues Piano Demonstration

Series Summary

The instrumental and vocal style of music commonly known as 'the blues' is actually derived from a repetitive 12 bar pattern and the blue notes. It was born in the slave camps of the United States in the form of hymnals, gospel tunes and spirituals, and evolved into a highly influential genre that has inspired everything from jazz to rock 'n roll to hip hop. Blues guitar is one of the purest forms of the genre, since slaves were typically allowed to have guitars or homemade banjos. The beginnings of blues music are steeped in tradition and at their purest when combined with stringed instruments.

In this series of free instructional music videos you'll learn how to play the blues on the piano. Expert Paul Becker shares the techniques used by blues musicians through the ages, including the music theory behind 12 chord blues song structure, walking bass & rhythm lines, as well as 7th chords, rolling chords, spicy chords and alternative chords. You'll learn how to hit the important notes that will give your playing a unique sound, and tips for improvisational blues piano playing in slow style, fast style, and shuffle style. Watch these free blues piano lessons and tell your story through music.

Video Transcript

"Hi! My name is Paul Becker and I am going to talk to you today about playing blues on the piano. We are going to have some beginning stuff but mostly some stuff for intermediate advanced musicians who already know the chords and want to pick up this style of play. I am here to you today on behalf of Expert Village. First off I'll just play for you. "