repetition

There's an ongoing discussion at modernbluesharmonica.com about repetition in music. Check out the video at the top of the thread. Thanks to fellow student/teacher Marc G for sharing.

http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/5497215.htm

Last week's tip focused on how repetition is the key element in making your improvising and songwriting memorable. Here are a few examples of famous classic blues harmonica instrumentals... note that repetition plays the key role in making the head (the opening 12 Bars) memorable. This happens just as much with modern instrumentals, but you most likely already have these songs in your collection for convenience of review. continue reading...

Through this series I hope you've caught on that repetition, or by another name... organization, comes in many different forms in music. Take a listen to "Gary's Blues," your Tongue Block Study 3 study song. Listen for themes and we'll compare notes tomorrow.

In Little Walter's "Off the Wall" he plays a two-bar lick (A) that repeats to fill up the first line of the 12 Bar Blues. He then takes that lick and sequences it to the IV Chord to play a version of that lick, but now relative to the IV Chord (B). When the I Chord returns in Bar 7 he again repeats his main theme lick (A). In the last line, like the AAB Chorus Form, he changes his lick to bring the chorus to a close. This Chorus Form known as the A B/A C Chorus Form.

There are three ways to treat the B (lick found on the IV Chord, Bars 5 and 6)... continue reading...