Jim's Circle of Blues - #1 - Blues Shuffle in A

Jim · #1 July 15th, 2006

Many of you have probably heard of the Circle of Fifths - something used in music theory to diagram out the 12 Major keys, with their relative minors, and number of sharps and flats. The Circle of Fifths tells you how many sharps or flats are in a given key. Here's a link if you're interested : Circle of Fifths

But I digress! What I want is to do Blues leads in all 12 keys - because it's good practice to be able to play Blues in any key, and also because I personally find that different keys evoke different emotions in me - I find keys like E and A to be very bright and cheery (and thus for me, I have more trouble with Blues in these keys) whereas keys like Bb, Eb, G, Ab, etc to me are darker and lend themselves more naturally to a Blues feeling - and I find I play leads in keys like Bb and G easier than I do in A or E. Some people think this key feeling thing is hogwash, others agree with me -- all I can do is tell you how it affects me!

I'm going to call this my "Circle of Blues".

So, to get started, here is a Blues lead in the first key alphabetically (not first on the circle) - A (one of the ones I find least "Blusey" interestingly). I hope to be able to eventually post Blues lead in all 12 keys over the coming weeks and months -- but first I have to find or make backings in all 12 keys!! They're not as easy to come by in F# or B or C#....

And because of this I won't be following the strict order of the Circle of Fifths - I'll do the keys as I have the backings available. If any one else want to join in, please do!!

So, here is the start to my "Circle of Blues" !!! A Blues shuffle in A :

Jim

allthumbs · #2 July 15th, 2006

Cool idea Jim. You will certainly know your chords after going through all that.

Hilch · #3 July 15th, 2006

That is awesome Jim

I love the Blues , and this was the most refreshing blues number I have heard in a long time .

Circle of 5ths do I need to know that mate ? I hate therory in any form ...

Just give me the guitar and show me is my idea of learning the guitar ( lol )

Anyway Jim like I said , I loved your " Circle of Blues " ..

Now believe my friend you are very talented and for someone like myself to be able to comment on your work thrills me no end ..

Trev...

Jim · #4 July 15th, 2006

Thanks Marty and Trev!

Yeah Marty - I will know chords out the wazoo!

Trev - thanks so much my friend! No, you don't have to know about the Circle of 5th or theory like that in order to play guitar. It's good to know as much about music as you can, IMO, but if it's not fun for you, then do the fun stuff! There SOOO much else to learn that circles of anything (and crop circles) can wait.

I'm really glad you liked this Blues - I felt good playing it! You are most kind!

Jim

scotty_b · #5 July 15th, 2006

Great job Jim
Well done!!!!

Jim · #6 July 16th, 2006

Thanks Scotty!!!

Jim

tomg123 · #7 July 16th, 2006

Very nice, if I want to play just pick any key and find a backtrack in that key even if the keys been done?

Jim · #8 July 16th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomg123

Very nice, if I want to play just pick any key and find a backtrack in that key even if the keys been done?

Yup! I'm going to try to get through all the keys here myself, so the easiest thing would be to do one in the same key I have already done, since that will keep things a little more organized. If you have trouble findng a backing track in the key I've done, let me know and I can post the one I've used here. 'A' should be a very easy key to find Backing tracks in and you can also look in the Backing Track sub-forum of this and there are lots of backing tracks there in lots of keys.

Thanks!
Jim

737blues · #9 July 16th, 2006

Jolly little blues that one Jim. Nice .

Rockerbob · #10 July 16th, 2006

I don't know anything about the circle of 5ths, but it sounds like you're having fun! Keep up the good work!

Jim · #11 July 16th, 2006

Thanks 737Blues!

Jolly and Blues - what a juxtaposition of feelings!

But "shuffle" kind of changes the equation.

Jim

Jim · #12 July 16th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockerbob

I don't know anything about the circle of 5ths, but it sounds like you're having fun! Keep up the good work!

Thanks Keith!

No need to know about the circle of 5th -- the fun is the important part!!

Jim

joe_strummer · #13 July 16th, 2006

Sounds a great idea, well played Jim, real nice tone and mix

Jim · #14 July 16th, 2006

Thank you Joe!

Jim

tomg123 · #15 July 16th, 2006

Hey jim, here's something I did some months backs its in Aminor ( at least some of the notes anyway) with some wah wah effect. I tried to do an A shuffle several times but I just couldn't get it right, I must be getting rusty on the solo backtrack thing. This one I may have gotten the track from here can't remember, but it not perfect. BTW I did that mic boost and it works, thanks loads