One of the best ways I’ve found to get kids really motivated to play piano is by working on a 12 bar blues. There is heaps you can do with this simple framework, and it works for students of all levels – whether they are beginners or have been playing for years.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with a 12 bar blues, it’s a musical structure used predominantly in jazz/boogie that follows the chord structure shown below, where the roman numerals refer to chords in whatever key we are playing. Eg for blues in C, the I chord = C major, IV = F major, V = G major. The slash sign means play that chord four times in each bar (if you want!).
Here’s a clip of a guy improvising to a 12 bar blues structure:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZfXkuOhhLg]
As long as kids have an understanding of the C, F and G major triads, they can start playing the blues.
I teach these triads within a student’s first three lessons (as long as their hand can cope) and we build on them each lesson thereafter, perhaps by playing simple duets (eg. Heart and Soul), introducing sus chords, or playing pop songs that use very simple triads (eg. Let it Be by the Beatles comes to mind) and, of course, the blues.
Kids love playing jazz/blues because there is no music to read (ie. no stress), they can make stuff up as they go along (within a framework), there really aren’t any wrong notes and let’s face it, it sounds pretty cool.
It’s a good idea to introduce the blues concepts gradually, so here are things I get students to do within this 12-bar structure:
I normally play along with the students on a second keyboard and always use a rhythm backing as it sounds so much better while they are learning.
Here’s a YouTube teaching video to explain all the above:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTaH24aqz6I]
I hope it’s something you can use with your students too!
Quick update: a great way to create an easy backing track for students to play-along to is with the iReal b app for ipad and iphone.
If you want to quickly get started teaching the blues, I’ve got a package of files to help:
To access these great freebies, just click below:
Leave your thoughts below.
Teaching 12 Bar Blues to inspire beginners (esp... says:
[…] Want a quick-win in your next lesson? One of the best ways I’ve found to get kids really motivated to play piano is by working on a 12 bar blues. There is heaps you can do with this simple framework, and it works for students of all levels – whether they are beginners or have been … […]
Bradley Sowash says:
I know a lot of improv teachers find the blues a great starter and I respect that. However, you might be interested that I don’t teach blues until my students are well into improvisation. It has to do with how blues has its own rules like dominant I and IV chords and strange scales. I like them to understand the rules and then show them how blues breaks them. It seems to me that introducing the blues too early mixes up student on the theory end. Weird thing for a lifelong jazz/blues player to say, I know.
Marilyn says:
I’m going to start this up next week. This was VERY helpful!
Tim Topham says:
Great news Marilyn! Good luck. Let me know how it goes 🙂
H105: Fundamentals of Music says:
[…] can start by checking out some of these links: –> 12 bar blues for boys and girls (this describes the simplest, most straight-forward 12-bar blues progression you can play) […]
Can Tetris help your sight-reading? | Tim Topham says:
[…] to guess the movement of the LH before it even happens! Learning standard progressions like the 12-bar-blues is also really […]
Tim Topham Improvising | Tim Topham says:
[…] Teaching 12 Bar Blues to inspire beginners (especially boys!) […]
12-Year-Old Blues Player | 88 Creative Keys | Tim Topham says:
[…] Teaching 12 Bar Blues to inspire beginners (especially boys!) […]
Another great backing track app for iPad: iReal B « Tim Topham says:
[…] started using this for my 12-bar-blues teaching as a backing track in lessons and, if the student has an iPad at home, they can download the chord […]
Amelia says:
Tim, a great step by step, easy to grasp explanation.
Do you have an mp3 of the backing track which you use or direct me to where I can find one?
Thank you very much
timtopham says:
Hi Amelia
I just use a jazz rhythm on the keyboard in my studio. If you don’t have a second keyboard there are some backing track app options – just google for it. I’ll see if I can find some and post about it soon!
Have fun.
Tim Topham says:
As a follow-up, there’s a great app for Android, iPhone and iPad called iReal Pro that provides backing tracks for any chord progression. If you want something that kids can play along to, definitely check this out!
Strategies for teaching improvisation to beginners « Tim Topham says:
[…] IV, V) in some way. Perhaps students learn about the 12-bar blues progression (see my previous post “Teaching 12 Bar Blues to inspire beginners (especially boys!)”) which uses only the primary triads, or maybe they study them as part of their theory […]
chrissabrown says:
Great informative video – thanks Tim! My boy students in particular will really like trying this so thanks again!