How To Count Slow Blues
In this lesson we learn how to count the slow blues. The blues can be counted in 4/4, but when playing slow blues piano the underlying pulse is typically felt in 12/8.
In this lesson, you’ll master counting in 12/8 and develop a solid understanding of this time feel when playing slow blues piano.
Changing The Feel: 4/4 vs 12/8
When playing in 4/4, each bar is split into 4 beats. The counting in 4/4 would be as follows:
- 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, etc…
When playing in 12/8 the four beats of the bar still exist but they are further subdivided into triplets which gives us 12 x 8th note triplets in each bar. This can be counted in the following ways:
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1-&-a 2-&-a 3-&-a 4-&-a, 1-&-a 2-&-a 3-&-a 4-&-a, etc…
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1-2-3 2-2-3 3-2-3 4-2-3, 1-2-3 2-2-3 3-2-3 4-2-3, etc…
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1-2-3 4-5-6 7-8-9 10-11-12, 1-2-3 4-5-6 7-8-9 10-11-12, etc…
The pattern can also be vocalised by saying the word “trip-e-let” for each beat of the bar and emphasising the 3 syllables in the word. All of these approaches can be used and so pick the counting approach that feels the most comfortable for you.
Isolating the 12/8 pulse
In the first exercise, our right hand plays the 3rd and 7th of the chord on each triplet subdivision and our left plays a shell voicing (root and 7) on beat 1 of each bar.
For the second exercise we focus on outlining the 12/8 pulse in our left hand. We create a simple left hand bass line pattern which we can play over all 3 chords in the 12 bar blues form.
In the next lesson of this course we introduce a simple right hand melody and fill technique that compliments the left hand bass line pattern covered in this tutorial.
Lesson Downloads
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Internalizing 12-8 Pulse, Drills & Patterns File Type: pdf
Related Lessons
In this lesson we will learn to feel a 12/8 pulse for a tune written in 4/4. This is useful when improvising in a slow blues style.
We create a slow 12 bar blues progression in the key of F and explore ways to ornament and reharmonise the basic 12 bar blues chord changes.
The 12/8 groove is associated with Fats Domino who was one of the most famous musicians to come out of New Orleans in the 20th century.
Practice Tips
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Remember to count aloud when starting with these exercises. With practice you will instinctively sense the 12/8 pulse without having to count out loud.
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Start by outlining the 12/8 pulse in your right hand using just the 3rd and 7th of each chord. Cycle around the blues form until you are comfortable with this drill.
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Next outline the 12/8 pulse in the left hand using the bass line pattern of root, 5th, 6th, and 7th. Ensure that you can play this over a single chord whilst keeping a steady pulse.
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Practice transitioning from the I to the IV chord using the bass line pattern and feeling the 12/8 pulse. Count out loud if needed to help you keep a steady pulse.
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Once you are comfortable with the transition from I to IV, also incorporate the final line of the 12 bar blues form. Repeat and cycle around the form as much as needed to keep a steady groove throughout the entire form.
