{"id":8459,"date":"2022-07-22T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=8459"},"modified":"2023-01-16T10:46:18","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T18:46:18","slug":"boogie-woogie-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/boogie-woogie-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Boogie Woogie 101"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you ready to boogie? In this lesson, get ready to rock the boogie-woogie with Kevin Castro<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you begin, be sure to download the lesson resources. Pianote Members can also play along to a backing track. If you\u2019re not a Member yet, no worries! You can access the backing tracks for seven days with a free trial<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
DOWNLOAD LESSON RESOURCES<\/a><\/center>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Get to know the 12 bar blues<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 12 bar blues forms the foundation of this boogie woogie lesson. So make sure you practice this part well and get it down pat. The more you master the foundations, the more fun you\u2019ll have with the fancy stuff. Better yet, memorize the chord changes in the 12 bar blues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are our 12 bars:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

| G | G | G | G |
| C | C | G | G |
| D | C | G | G |<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Master the left hand walking bass line<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next, practice the left hand walking bass line. These are built on the G6, C6, and D6 chords. All that means is adding a sixth to each chord. You can think of it as playing a regular triad with the next note added. Here\u2019s the suggested fingering:<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\ud83d\udcdc\ud83c\udfb9 HISTORY BITE!<\/i><\/b> What\u2019s boogie-woogie? It\u2019s an upbeat, piano-centered genre closely related to the blues, and it was popular in the early twentieth century among working-class, amateur Black musicians in the U.S. Common traits include the walking bass line and an emphasis on rhythm. Learn more about boogie-woogie here<\/a>.<\/span>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Learn the right hand boogie-woogie roll<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The right hand part of the boogie-woogie rocks between the main chord and notes just above it. Try this fingering. Pay attention to C7\u2014there\u2019s a flat.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Inject a little swing by stalling on those first two notes! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of repeating this pattern all the way to the end, Kevin plays the last few chords solid and syncopated. Broken down, the counting looks like this. But if counting makes things too complicated, just get a feel for the music and use your intuition.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

BONUS! The B-Flat Slide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wanna sound extra groovy? Slip a B-Flat slide into your right hand G chords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n