The Blues The very early blues progressions were like this sample from Mississippi John Hurt playing "Frankie". Here is an excerpt from that tune at (264KB). I have also created a Flash 6 file for "Frankie" that plays the song and graphically shows the changes as they happen. To view this file, you will need to get the latest Flash reader software. Right-Click (PC) or Control Click (Mac) on the image when it comes up, and select "play" to start the sound. Select "Rewind" then "Play" to hear the song again. Select "Loop" to play the song repeatedly. I I I I
In "Frankie" the chords are just major chords, but with the flatted notes in the scale, you could play seventh chords where the major chords are indicated. The tune "Corinna, Corinna" that we looked at earlier, has exactly the same chord changes. The next excerpt takes the form a little further -- "Truckin' Little Woman" by Big Bill Broonzy. An excerpt of the tune is at (340KB): I have also created a Flash 6 file for "Truckin' Little Woman" that plays the song and graphically shows the changes as they happen. To view this file, you will need to get the latest Flash reader software. Right-Click (PC) or Control Click (Mac) on the image when it comes up, and select "play" to start the sound. Select "Rewind" then "Play" to hear the song again. Select "Loop" to play the song repeatedly. Bill modifies measure ten to take a IV chord instead of the V. This is a classic blues change, that will reoccur often. He also adds a quick change to the V7 chord in measure 12. The first half of the measure is still a I chord. We indicate a chord change in mid-measure by enclosing it with parentheses like so: V V I (I V7) The grid, now modified, looks like this:
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