{"id":1925,"date":"2020-09-22T08:10:30","date_gmt":"2020-09-22T15:10:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=1925"},"modified":"2023-04-05T09:43:58","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T16:43:58","slug":"ray-charles-blues-piano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/ray-charles-blues-piano\/","title":{"rendered":"Play 12 Bar Blues Piano Like Ray Charles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Despite it being \u201cthe blues,\u201d blues piano can be very fun to play! This lesson introduces you to three simple ingredients for a killer blues song: a riff, a chord progression, and a rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning how to play the blues on the piano will build your hand coordination<\/a> and a good sense of rhythm. You\u2019ll also learn a little about blues theory here today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Riff<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s dive right in by starting with a simple, left-hand riff to introduce the song. The notes you will be playing are F-F#-A-B-D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll end the riff with a D major triad (D-F#-A). You\u2019ll play this triad on beat one at the same time as the last riff note (D).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means the riff starts slightly later on an offbeat and the D major triad lands on beat one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this sounds confusing, it makes a lot more sense when you hear it! Feel free to rewind the video a few times and play or sing along to get comfortable with the riff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chord Progression<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019re familiar with the riff, let\u2019s move on to the chord progression! This 1-4-5 progression is what gives the 12 bar blues<\/a> its unique, bluesy feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chords we\u2019ll be playing are: D, G, D, A, D<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(There\u2019s a little jump between the D and A major chords, so remember to look ahead and get ready for the next chord!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll play triads of these chords and play each note separately on the downbeat. This will create a running chord progression and bluesy bass line in your left hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D major chord: D-F#-A-F#
G major chord: G-B-D-B
D major chord: D-F#-A-F#
A major chord: A-C#-E-C#
D major chord: D-F#-A-F#
<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rhythm<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that we have an opening riff and a funky bass line, let\u2019s add in some right hand!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The right-hand triads are the same chords as the left hand, and you\u2019ll play the right-hand triads on the offbeat<\/i> between the left-hand notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you count \u201cone and two and three and four and,\u201d your right-hand triads will sync with the \u201cand.\u201d Play each chord for eight beats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, this makes more sense when you hear it. You can replay the video a few times to get familiar with how it sounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put It All Together<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>