1. Blues  Evolved from African-American work songs and spirituals  Based on "folk holler" (slaves would holler to the empty fields) & spirituals  Lyrics often speak of the agony of desertion, betrayal and unrequited love (love not returned)  One form – "levee camp blues" or labor songs. Sung during hard, strenuous work  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjv0MYIFYsg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjv0MYIFYsg  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAAuQksDrVU&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAAuQksDrVU&feature=related  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1O2X890tig&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1O2X890tig&feature=related

2. Blues  African vocals with white man's guitar added  Pattern (12-bar blues)  Bars - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12  Chords – I IV I V I  Watch video “Guitar Lesson Blues – 12 Bar Blues”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtFTaFtzCw8&featur e=plcp (Play until 5:40) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtFTaFtzCw8&featur e=plcp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtFTaFtzCw8&featur e=plcp  Roman numerals tell you which chord to play.  If you start on A, that would be the I chord. The IV chord would be D and the V chord would be E.

3. Blues  Later, a chord was added in the 9 th bar, which is now the standard  Bars - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12  Chords – I IV I V IV I  This is pattern used by “Hound Dog”  Watch video “Guitar Lessons – Hound Dog by Elvis Presley”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcBrpTz8O7M&feature=relmfu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcBrpTz8O7M&feature=relmfu

4. Blues  Combination of African melody & rhythm with Western harmony and meter  Form of the 12-bar blues can change. This is basic framework to start with. Musician would improvise with this structure in mind.