16 bar blues
David, how do you apply the chorus forms to the I chord in a 16 bar blues? Would you treat it the same way as a four bar I chord and just repeat the idea or develop an extended four-bar lick and repeat that?
Timely question - got hit with a call for 16 bar blues at the jam yesterday. Sorry if this is a bit anal - but is this correct?
4 bars - I chord
4 bars - I chord
2 bars IV chord, 2 bars I chord
1 bar V chord, 1 bar IV chord, 2 bars 1 chord (with variation for transition/turnaround)
He also threw in a II chord somewhere (my mind went numb after a while) by indicating with hand signals.
And while I'm at it - 8 bar blues sequence?? -
I / V / IV / IV /
I / IV / I / V /
I'm really starting to understand the expression "keep it jam safe" ;-)
You are correct on the 16-bar. There is no standard 8 bar... though "Key to the Highway" comes very close to it.... note the progression below...
I / V / IV / IV /
I / V / I / V /
Thanks David - I just wish I could have you "on tap" when I'm at the jam ;-) The extent and value of the information on this site continues to boggle me. The improvisation series is wickedly good and very useful.
Glad you're finding the material useful.
You're correct, you commonly repeat the first four bars you play... sometimes with variation.