Chords in a minor blues
Hi David! on a different note (big pun intended *laughs*) than my previous post, you often refer to the approach of a player towards a minor blues in your interviews, but for my understanding, what would be the chords typically used in a mior blues (in terms of roman numerals)? I tried to figure it out myself, but didn't quite succeeded. Thanks!
Okay, so in a typical minor blues, we just turn tha same chords (i.e. I7-IV7-V7) to minor (i.e. i7-iv7-v7 or V7), basically flatting the third. That part I get.
But then, these chords were those of the 2nd position, aren't they? So how can a player play those chords in 3rd position? I thought 3rd position chords were those of the Dm key. Unless, once turned into minor they correspond to the chords of the Dm key? But that would mean that we call them i-iv-v for practical reason, while theoretically they would be different numerals. Can you try to clarify a little more? Thank you.
Hi, Stef. Maybe this can explain it. In its simplest form (or most common form), a minor blues chord progression is a i,iv, V7
In Dm, to take your example, the chord progression would be Dm (i), Am (iv), and B7 (V7)
Or to take a specific example (simplifying a bit), the Thrill is gone is in Bm. The chords are Bm, Em and F#7 (i,iv,V7). If I want to play this song, I use an A harmonica and play in 3rd position in the key of Bm.
Yes, you're correct in your top paragraph.
No, I was speaking of blues in general... which harmonica and position you choose to play it in is up to you. You can use the C Harmonica to play in Gm (2nd Po.), or F Harmonica (3rd Po.), or G Harmonica (1st), etc.
3rd Position can play in major or minor, just like 2nd Position and other positions, so you'll keep your roman numerals major if the song is stated to be in major and minor if the song is stated to be in minor.
Each position has a tendency to be either more major (1st Po. for example) or minor (4th Po. for example), but the notes we play will determine which actual mode we play in. Even though their nature may lean towards one of the other, in the end it's what we choose to play that makes it so.
Thank you SF and David, I think the light bulb went on. I kept on linking those minor chords to the major ones.
So whatever the key, a minor blues would typically include the i7, iv7 and either V7 or v7 of that given key. Then I select a harp/position combination that allows me to play over these chords, but obviously, some will match better or more easily or will offer more interesting note choices, which would explain why most players you interview tend to use 3rd position. Great!
You got it.
Hello Stef. In minor the roman numerals are lower case, so they would be i7 (G Bb D F), iv7 (C Eb G Bb) and v7 (D F A C). It's common for the V to be major in a minor blues, so keep this in mind... so you would see V7 (D F# A C). The 12 Bar Blues Progression remains the same, unless of course they state otherwise, and then it would be song-specific.