Hey I love that, now try to add some melody to that. Keep it simple at first. Then you ok want to add a second verse of lyrics that keep the story of the first set of lyrics going. This time change up the melody not only slightly. Let me know how it goes!
Thank you so much for sharing this. I've been playing guitar and messing around with blues for 30 years and this is the best lesson on making it understandable that I have seen. Quick question? Do blues lyrics always come in on the first beat of the change? I've never paid close attention, but a friend just pointed it out and it sounds like what you're doing, but wondering if there are exceptions? I mostly listen to old Delta and country blues so don't know if they were a little more loose? Thanks so much.
Hey Matthew, thank you for watching the video and taking the time to comment! Your question is a good one. In order to answer it, I must bring to your attention the improvisational nature of music stemming from the entire African diaspora. You’ll notice that rhythm is always front and center. It’s full of changing rhythms abd polyrhythms. I think that is what makes blues hard for some who tend to focus only on the melodic aspects which are in their most basic form rather simple. So to answer your question, no the lyrics do not always come on the first beat. I hope that makes sense. In fact here’s a wonderful challenge exercise : Take a blues lyric you know well and start on the and of 4 before the first measure and see how that makes you shift your rhythm. You could also do the same thing on the and of beat one of measure one. Play around with starting in different places will yield some surprising results. Go play with that and let me know how it goes! Musically, Monique Oh, one more thing pay close attention to how different the music feels when you start on the beat Vs on the up beat!🎵🎶
@@MoniqueBThomas Thank you so much. That is incredibly helpful. I'm a white guy in love with the earliest blues styles and early American music. I play finger style acoustic. I typically play very loose, but sometimes play with a friend who is really into Chicago style blues. I sing when we play together, but he insists that the vocals have to come in right on the change while the lead guy hits the root note of the chord. I was hoping and praying that it really doesn't always need to be that way. My heroes are guys like Lightnin' Hopkins. Blind Willie Johnson's Dark Was the Night Cold Was the Ground is one of the most powerful pieces of music ever created and none of it seems to be that rigid in form which is good for me since I'm not great at keeping time and counting bars. I typically play alone so I just play by feel so there is nobody to follow my changes but me and it work out just fine. I can play a strict and steady twelve bar blues if I have to, but it seems to lose a lot feeling. It's so amazing that something so beautiful came out of the horrific tragedy of slavery and systemic racism. The blues is an incredible gift to the world created by a people group that had the strength and courage to persevere through incredible suffering. Thank you so much for these lessons helping folks understand the fundamentals of what blues is. You're amazing.
@matthewshipp3949 you’re very welcome. I think that two things are important. Time is everything and must be practiced. You’ll have to practice alone for some time because having your internal time is key to great musicianship. The second thing is music is a team sport. You have to play with other musicians. That is how you grow. But they won’t want to play with you if your time isn’t stable. Is it possible that that is why your friend asked you to sing on beat 1, because it’s stabilizing and easy to find. It is however a bit square if that is all you do. The notion of swing comes from accentuating the upbeats, not the down beats. Trust me, having great rhythm will not make you lose your soul! Good luck!
Yep, I counted it out and I naturally come in on the and of the first beat. I keep a steady bass going with my thumb on the lower stings and my index finger comes up on the and. That's when my vocals typically come ome in. I'll have to experiment with coming in right on the 1 or early on the 4. Thanks for the awesome tips. There is always so much more to explore. Also I've heard those early blues guitar players that played their whole lives alone with their guitar were impossible to play with because they changed when they felt like it which made it impossible to collaborate with. So for sure that stuff is crucial for playing with others. Fortunately, I mostly play alone and my wife doesn't seem to care when I change or where I start my vocals 🙂
Hi there. I’m not sure I understand the nature of your question. I will however say that anytime you you make a sound with you vocal cords, you are using air. Using the correct amounts of air can only be determined in a voice lesson. I hope that helps.
❓Have you written any blues lyrics yet? Share them below!
I have not but let's try
I find it's time to write me a song
I say I say it's time to write me a song
Sing with so much joy everybody sings along..
@@sisterjjd - Cannot write a song today, cannot write a song X2, My baby gone and left me, yeah, she done me wrong.
Hey I love that, now try to add some melody to that. Keep it simple at first. Then you ok want to add a second verse of lyrics that keep the story of the first set of lyrics going. This time change up the melody not only slightly. Let me know how it goes!
Amen 🙏
Hey you’re welcome!
Found it!
Great!
Just bought Ireal pro ☺️
Oh that is a game changer, especially if you can't accompany yourself on piano or guitar. It's also great for finding the right keys to sing in!
@@MoniqueBThomas i know, i remember your lessons on line, but will need your help to use it. See u on thursday !
So good, Monique! So easy to understand and very educational.
Thank you Kru Jay. I hope you are well🤗. More is coming!
Thank you so much for sharing this. I've been playing guitar and messing around with blues for 30 years and this is the best lesson on making it understandable that I have seen.
Quick question? Do blues lyrics always come in on the first beat of the change?
I've never paid close attention, but a friend just pointed it out and it sounds like what you're doing, but wondering if there are exceptions?
I mostly listen to old Delta and country blues so don't know if they were a little more loose?
Thanks so much.
Hey Matthew, thank you for watching the video and taking the time to comment!
Your question is a good one. In order to answer it, I must bring to your attention the improvisational nature of music stemming from the entire African diaspora. You’ll notice that rhythm is always front and center. It’s full of changing rhythms abd polyrhythms.
I think that is what makes blues hard for some who tend to focus only on the melodic aspects which are in their most basic form rather simple. So to answer your question, no the lyrics do not always come on the first beat.
I hope that makes sense.
In fact here’s a wonderful challenge exercise :
Take a blues lyric you know well and start on the and of 4 before the first measure and see how that makes you shift your rhythm. You could also do the same thing on the and of beat one of measure one. Play around with starting in different places will yield some surprising results. Go play with that and let me know how it goes! Musically,
Monique
Oh, one more thing pay close attention to how different the music feels when you start on the beat Vs on the up beat!🎵🎶
@@MoniqueBThomas Thank you so much. That is incredibly helpful. I'm a white guy in love with the earliest blues styles and early American music. I play finger style acoustic. I typically play very loose, but sometimes play with a friend who is really into Chicago style blues. I sing when we play together, but he insists that the vocals have to come in right on the change while the lead guy hits the root note of the chord. I was hoping and praying that it really doesn't always need to be that way.
My heroes are guys like Lightnin' Hopkins. Blind Willie Johnson's Dark Was the Night Cold Was the Ground is one of the most powerful pieces of music ever created and none of it seems to be that rigid in form which is good for me since I'm not great at keeping time and counting bars. I typically play alone so I just play by feel so there is nobody to follow my changes but me and it work out just fine. I can play a strict and steady twelve bar blues if I have to, but it seems to lose a lot feeling.
It's so amazing that something so beautiful came out of the horrific tragedy of slavery and systemic racism. The blues is an incredible gift to the world created by a people group that had the strength and courage to persevere through incredible suffering. Thank you so much for these lessons helping folks understand the fundamentals of what blues is. You're amazing.
@matthewshipp3949 you’re very welcome. I think that two things are important. Time is everything and must be practiced. You’ll have to practice alone for some time because having your internal time is key to great musicianship. The second thing is music is a team sport. You have to play with other musicians. That is how you grow. But they won’t want to play with you if your time isn’t stable. Is it possible that that is why your friend asked you to sing on beat 1, because it’s stabilizing and easy to find. It is however a bit square if that is all you do. The notion of swing comes from accentuating the upbeats, not the down beats. Trust me, having great rhythm will not make you lose your soul! Good luck!
Yep, I counted it out and I naturally come in on the and of the first beat. I keep a steady bass going with my thumb on the lower stings and my index finger comes up on the and. That's when my vocals typically come ome in. I'll have to experiment with coming in right on the 1 or early on the 4. Thanks for the awesome tips. There is always so much more to explore. Also I've heard those early blues guitar players that played their whole lives alone with their guitar were impossible to play with because they changed when they felt like it which made it impossible to collaborate with. So for sure that stuff is crucial for playing with others. Fortunately, I mostly play alone and my wife doesn't seem to care when I change or where I start my vocals 🙂
hi i have a song youtube call peace and joy i wont to know if i am useing air flow
Hi there. I’m not sure I understand the nature of your question. I will however say that anytime you you make a sound with you vocal cords, you are using air. Using the correct amounts of air can only be determined in a voice lesson. I hope that helps.