Frenchman Street Blues Tutorial
In this lesson we explore the tune "Frenchman Street Blues" and create a solo piano arrangement.
The song contains the elements of a simple blues arranged into a sophisticated harmonic package which contains all of the flavours and melancholy to create an authentic New Orleans Blues sound.
Form & Harmony
The tune follows an AABA form. Each section is 8 bars long which is a common format for New Orleans style blues.
We arrange the tune in the key of F and we explore a range of passing chords, substitutions, and reharmonisations to enhance the basic 8 bar blues form.
Lesson Downloads
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Frenchman Street Blues Arrangement File Type: pdf
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Frenchman St Blues Harmonic Analysis File Type: pdf
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Frenchman St Blues – Audio File File Type: mp3
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Frenchman St Blues – Midi File File Type: midi
Practice Tips
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Study the suspended bass notes which can be used to add a suspense and tension to a basic blues progression.
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Pay attention to Jon's use of slurs and grace notes and how these devices can be used to add character to the melody.
- This arrangement features lots of major blues scale melodic ideas. Study these examples and transcribe into other common blues keys such as C, G, and Bb.