Blues You Can Use
A practical test for mastering essential jazz blues forms, variations, keys, heads, and changes.
Originally published on RealBookSoftware.com
Blues You Can Use
The difference between the standard Jazz repertoire and the inclusion of songs from Broadway musicals and Hollywood films is the blues.
The Musicals/Film repertoire is mostly devoid of songs using the blues form (only one comes to mind of the top of my head - Summertime and even that isn't the standard 12 bar form) whereas the Jazz repertoire is completely swamped with blues.
The blues is an absolutely critical component of the jazz genre. You can't call yourself a jazz player without having become a master of the blues along the way.
Not only are we talking about the standard 12 bar blues form consisting of the I-IV and V chords but also about the huge number of variations that the blues has been subjected to in the Jazz idiom.
Common Jazz Blues Variations
- The form is stretched out to create a 16 or 24 bar blues form.
- The tune is a blues but has a bridge or intro.
- The time signature is in triple meter, such as 3/4 or 6/8.
- Blues in a minor key.
- The use of ii-V-I progressions within the songs.
- Non-standard alternate changes like those from Blues for Alice, sometimes referred to as “Bird’s Blues”.
- There is a non-blues head structure but the solo section is the blues.
- There are plenty of non-blues 12 bar forms, such as Blue In Green.
The Big List Connection
I've compiled a rather extensive list of jazz blues compositions that have been recorded but in no way is it comprehensive since there are literally thousands upon thousands of blues songs on recordings.
Click here to visit the Big List of Jazz Blues Tunes.
While there are many, many, many blues songs to choose from I picked 25 “Blues You Can Use” songs that exemplify the standard blues form and some of the variations that you'll find in common use in the jazz idiom.
The Acid Test
So here's the acid test-
Of the 25 common jazz blues tunes I've listed, how many of them do you...
know the Key? can SING the head from memory? can PLAY the head on your instrument(s)? know/play the changes?
If the answer is anything less than 25 then you have your assignment!
Get to work and step yourself in the blues!
Here are the 25 songs for testing your jazz blues knowledge.
They are listed in alphabetical order by song title.
They indicate the composer, key, notes.
You'll also find a link to where you can find them in the Real Book software and plugins.
These will not only give you the lead sheet but the recordings as well.
25 Blues You Can Use
These are the 25 core jazz blues tunes from the old page.
| SONG | ARTIST | KEY, NOTES | WHERE | PLUGIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Blues | Davis, Miles | G, 6/8 | Volume 1 | |
| Au Privave | Parker, Charlie | F | Volume 1 | Charlie Parker |
| Bag's Groove | Jackson, Milt | F | Volume 2 | |
| Bessie's Blues | Coltrane, John | Eb | Volume 1 | |
| Billie's Bounce | Parker, Charlie | F | Volume 2 | |
| Blue Monk | Monk, Thelonious | Bb | Volume 1 | |
| Blue Seven | Rollins, Sonny | Bb | Volume 2 | |
| Blue Train | Coltrane, John | Cm | Volume 1 | |
| Blues for Alice | Parker, Charlie | F, alternate changes known as “Bird Blues” | Volume 1 | |
| Blues In The Closet | Pettiford, Oscar | Ab | Volume 2 | |
| Bluesette | Thielemans, Toots | Bb, 24 bar 3/4 blues “Bird” blues (variation) | Volume 1 | |
| C-Jam Blues | Ellington, Duke | C, only two melody notes | Volume 2 | |
| Footprints | Shorter, Wayne | Cm, 3/4, 24 bars | Volume 1 | |
| Freddie Freeloader | Davis, Miles | Bb, variation on the final chord | Volume 1 | |
| Mr. P.C | Coltrane, John | Gm | Volume 1 | |
| Now's The Time | Parker, Charlie | F | Volume 3 | Charlie Parker |
| Sandu | Brown, Clifford | Eb | Volume 2 | |
| Solar | Davis, Miles | Cm | Volume 1 | |
| St. Louis Blues | Dixieland | G | Volume 2 | |
| Stolen Moments | Nelson, Oliver | Cm, 16 Bar Form with solos over regular 12 bar minor blues | Volume 1 | |
| Straight No Chaser | Monk, Thelonious | F | Volume 1 | |
| Tenor Madness | Rollins, Sonny | Bb | Volume 2 | |
| Watermelon Man | Hancock, Herbie | F/C, 16 Bar Blues | Volume 1 | |
| West Coast Blues | Montgomery, Wes | Bb, 6/4 blues | Volume 1 | |
| Work Song | Adderley, Cannonball | Fm, 16 bars | Volume 2 |
Next Step: The Big List
If there are gaps in any of the criteria that was listed above then you'll want to dive in and get up to speed on each of these well known examples of jazz blues and its variations.
If you have already mastered these then you'll want to swing over to the big list of 400 (and growing) blues songs that you should learn or at least give a listen!
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