The Blues and Slavery By Abigail Boghurst 8H1

The Twelve Bar Blues The Twelve Bar Blues is a well known type of music which was started by the black American slaves. They played these songs to show their sadness and used a number of objects to build into the music. Because they were slaves, they were unable to use genuine instruments because they did not have the money to buy them. They used: -Shakers -drums -tambourines -jangling anklets -beef bones -scrapers -fiddles

Arpeggio Chords There are three types of arpeggio chords in the twelve bar blues. In order to play these chords you will need to know where ‘C’ is: -Find the two black notes and the first white note to the left of them is ‘C’. The ‘C’ chord: CEGA The ‘F’ chord: FACD Bar The ‘G’ chord GBDE This is only played once. CCCC FFCC GFCC

Melody Line There are four notes in the melody line. These are; G, Middle C, D, D#. The melody line starts and is played at the same time as the chords, and the Improvisation is played during the 8 rests at the end, before repeating. GGG Rest & Count 1 & 2 Middle C D Middle C These notes are played in quick succession D#D Middle C Rest & Count 1 - 8

Scale This is what makes every blues song unique! The notes set in this scale are used for the musical technique ‘improvisation’: CD#FF#GA#C Every song played was different. This is played during the 1-8 count during the melody line. Not all the notes have to be used and you can use each more than once.

Slavery Slavery was common in the 18 th -19 th century, although justly unfair. People were transported from Africa to America and forced into the slave trade. If the slaves were freed or bought their freedom, it was worse for many, because they were alone with no money or shelter, they could not look after themselves. At least when they were slaves they had the bear necessities.

Slavery The American slave trade was abolished in 1865, when the former slaves shared their blues music with everyone else. A few people who helped stop slavery were: -Olaudah Equiano -John Brown -Mary Ann Cary

How the twelve bar blues connect to slavery The twelve bar blues was composed by the African slaves. It allowed them to show their unhappiness and sadness. It was not originally twelve bars of music, that came from the city. The blues should remind people of the hardships other people went through, and they still managed to make this music. Their strength was amazing and this is a symbol showing that.