What are Blues Notes in Music?

If you’re a musician, you’ve probably heard of blue notes. But what are they, exactly? In this post, we’ll explore the history and meaning of blue notes in music.

What are Blues Notes?

Blues notes are the flattened 3rd, 5th, and 7th notes of the major scale. These notes are what give the blues its distinctive sound. In this lesson, we’ll go over the blues scale and show you how to use blues notes in your playing.

Blue notes are a type of embellishment

In music, blue notes (also bluesy notes) are typically played by wind instruments such as the saxophone and trumpet, or by the human voice. Blue notes are often played with a “bent” or “slurred” pitch. This is done by either lowering the note slightly below its regular pitch, or by closing off the windpipe to create a “wa-wa” sound. Blue notes can also be achieved on a piano by using the sustain pedal.

The term “blue note” comes from the fact that these embellished notes were first heard in blues music. The use of blue notes is one of the key elements that gives blues its distinctive sound.

While blue notes are most commonly associated with blues music, they can also be found in other genres such as jazz and rock.

They are often used to express sadness, longing, or grief

In music, blue notes (also called “worried notes”) are typically notes that are slightly lowered in pitch from the major scale. They are sometimes also used to express sadness, longing, or grief.

The use of blue notes is thought to have originated with African-American musicians in the early 1900s, who were influenced by the Negro spirituals sung by slaves. These spirituals often used “blue notes” to convey a sense of sadness or longing. Over time, the use of blue notes became more common in blues and jazz music.

Today, blue notes are commonly used in all types of music, from pop and rock to classical and jazz. They can be used to add emotion or depth to a piece of music.

How are Blues Notes Used in Music?

Blues notes are a type of chromaticism, which means they are outside of the key. The blues scale is made up of the root note, the flat third, the fourth, the flat fifth, the fifth, and the flat seventh. The flat third, flat fifth, and flat seventh are the blues notes. These notes give the music a certain flavor that can’t be achieved with other notes.

They are commonly used in blues and jazz music

Blues notes are most commonly used in blues and jazz music. They are created by playing a note that is a half step (or semi-tone) lower than the note that is being played. For example, if you are playing a C note, you would play a C# (C sharp) to create a blues note. These notes are not found in the major or minor scale, which is why they create such a unique sound.

The use of blues notes gives music a very “bluesy” sound. It is often used to add emotion to a piece of music, and can be used to make a sad sounding song sound even more emotional.

They can be used to add emotion to a song

Blues notes are often used in music to add emotion and depth. These notes are not necessarily played in the same order or at the same time, but they work together to create a certain feeling.

The most common blues notes are the third and seventh notes of a major scale. For example, if you are playing in the key of C, the blues notes would be E and B. These notes can be played in any order and at any time, but they will always create a bluesy sound.

Blues notes can also be added to other chords to create different sounds. For example, adding a blues note to amajor chord will create a minor sound. This is because the third note of a major scale is minor.

You can experiment with different combinations of blues notes to see what sounds you can create. There is no right or wrong way to use them, so have fun and see what you can come up with!

Examples of Songs that Use Blues Notes

Songs that use blues notes can have a melancholy feel to them, despite the often upbeat tempo. The use of blue notes creates a more soulful sound that is often associated with the blues genre. Some well-known songs that use blues notes include “The Thrill is Gone” by B.B. King and “Stormy Monday” by T-Bone Walker. Let’s take a listen to a few more examples.

“The Thrill is Gone” by B.B. King

“The Thrill is Gone” is a slow, twelve-bar blues composed by Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell in 1951. Hawkins’ recording of the song reached number six on Billboard’s R&B chart in early 1950. B.B. King’s version was a number fifteen pop hit in 1970.

In his autobiography, King said he was inspired to record the song after seeing a young man playing it on the street. The lyrics tell of a former lover who has left, taking “the thrill” (passion or sexual excitement) with him.

The song is based on a I-IV-V chord progression in the key of B♭, with King’s guitar soloing over each verse using minor pentatonic and blues scales. Many subsequent blues and rock musicians have recorded their own versions of the song, including Eric Clapton, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and John Mayer.

“Stormy Monday” by T-Bone Walker

One of the first and most famous songs to use blues notes was “Stormy Monday” by T-bone Walker. The song was first recorded in 1942 and quickly became a hit. It has been covered by many artists over the years, including B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and the Allman Brothers Band.

The use of blues notes in “Stormy Monday” gives the song a sad, mournful sound that perfectly suits the lyrics, which are about a man who is struggling to get over the loss of his love. The blues notes also add an element of tension and drama to the melody, which helps to build up the emotional intensity of the song.

“Love in Vain” by Robert Johnson

“Love in Vain” is a classic song by legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. The tune is based around a simple twelve-bar blues chord progression, but what sets it apart are the blue notes that Johnson weaves throughout the melody.

Blue notes are typically played on the third, fifth, and seventh notes of a major scale. In Johnson’s case, he often bends down to the flat third note (often called a “blue note”), giving his songs a distinctive sound.

If you’re interested in learning more about blue notes and how to use them in your own playing, check out this lesson from Guitarhabits.