Back to the full dot-point answer
SingaporeMusicQuick questions
World and Popular Music
Quick questions on Blues and jazz basics explained: N(A)-Level Music
6short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are the 12-bar blues?Show answer
The 12-bar blues is a repeating chord pattern twelve bars long, built from just three chords: I, IV and V (the tonic, subdominant and dominant). A common layout, one chord per bar, is:
What are blue notes?Show answer
A blue note is a note that is slightly lowered (flattened) for expressive effect, typically the lowered third, fifth or seventh of the scale. Blue notes give the blues its soulful, slightly clashing colour, often bent or slid into on a guitar or a voice. They are a key part of the blues sound.
What is swing rhythm?Show answer
Swing is the rhythmic feel of most jazz: pairs of eighth notes are played unevenly, long-short rather than even, giving a relaxed, loping, bouncing momentum. Swing is felt rather than written exactly, and it is one of the quickest ways to recognise jazz by ear.
What is q1?Show answer
Write the standard 12-bar blues chord pattern using Roman numerals. [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain what a blue note is and the effect it gives. [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Describe swing rhythm and explain why it is not the same as tempo. [3 marks]
Have a question we have not covered?
This dot-point answer is short enough that we have not extracted many short questions yet. Read the full dot-point answer or ask Mo, our study assistant, in the chat for follow ups.