{"id":27215,"date":"2024-07-01T11:21:22","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T10:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk\/?p=27215"},"modified":"2024-07-01T20:47:58","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T19:47:58","slug":"feeling-blue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk\/feeling-blue\/","title":{"rendered":"Feeling Blue(s)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many often use the piano, or any instrument for that matter, as a way to deal with sadness.<\/p>\n

Feeling Blue is an idiom used to describe the experience of sadness or melancholy. There are endless possible reasons as to why one might feel this way\u2026<\/p>\n

Do you know that this feeling sparked a whole new music genre?<\/p>\n

That genre is none other than the Blues.<\/p>\n

Blues is a popular genre that can be played on various instruments. The piano is the perfect instrument for playing this music style. Whether it is part of a band or solo.<\/p>\n

Let us dive into the history of the blues.<\/p>\n

\"Black<\/a><\/p>\n

History and Origin<\/h2>\n

This genre is deeply rooted in social and political history. According to Open University, The Blues emerged from the oppressed, economically disadvantaged African-American communities in rural southern states of America. These people would gather together to listen to music and dance to express emotion. The music provided freedom, if only for a moment.<\/p>\n

This is when a new genre was born. Born from the heart and soul of African-American communities during the 20th century. The name Blues is given to this genre because it describes states of depression and sadness. It also was used to tell stories of love, hardship and the quest for freedom and equal rights. It was used as a powerful form of expression, voicing personal and collective struggles while sparking other genres to life, having influenced musical styles like jazz, R&B, rock and so on.<\/p>\n

The blues embodies a rich tapestry of emotional depth, virtuosity, musical brilliance and cultural significance. It continues to evolve and develop, leaving influence wherever it goes.<\/p>\n

Characteristics, Elements and Structure<\/h2>\n

Just like the idiom, feeling blue, the Blues is known for its \u2018sad\u2019 sound. It has a distinct melancholic and sombre tone. Here are a few characteristics which make up the genre and more.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

Blues Scale<\/h2>\n

Probably the most distinct characteristic is that the blues scale is a six-note scale that includes a flattened third, fifth, and seventh. It is often formed by adding an out-of-key \u2018blue note\u2019 to an existing scale. The blues scale is also known as the pentatonic scale plus one note.<\/p>\n

The degrees are as follows:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n