Jeff Gardner

Jeff Gardner's Blues Book

The blues came first ! Whether you are listening to and/or playing jazz, funk, rhythm'n blues, fusion, soul, or rock'n roll, the blues is the heart of the matter. To build a firm foundation for improvising in any of these styles you have to know the blues. These pieces are based on simple motifs, developed through one or two 12 - bar choruses. This technique of motivic development is essential to improvising and composing in any style of music. I have included a chart of basic blues scales to aid more advanced and/or adventurous pianists in improvising on these pieces. Of course, try to listen to as many records of the blues piano greats to inspire you and help get the feeling of this great music.