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THE MUSICARTA BLUES PIANO SERIESMoving Pair Riff Module SevenOther Moving Pair RiffsIf you have worked through the Moving Pair series as far as this, you know the basics of a sizeable amount of 12-bar music. By recombining the elements of the Moving Pair riff, perhaps in a different rhythm or on a slightly different chord sequence, you can create hundreds of new riffs. You will also 'hear what's going on' in 12-bar music and blues-derived music. This module gives you the chance to explore both these opportunities. Orientation[If you've read this before, skip forward to the start of the Module.] If you've 'just landed', please explore! If you like what you see, click up to the Moving Pair Riff Module One and get started on the series, or go to the Blues Piano Lessons series home page for an overview of Musicarta's other 12-bar and blues modules. If you're totally new to Musicarta, please browse the tabs on the navbar, left, to get a feel for what's on offer, or visit the Musicarta home page for a more methodical overview.
Note that MIDI computer music files are available for most of the Musicarta lessons. If you download MidiPiano, Musicarta's recommended 'virtual keyboard', you can watch the music examples playing on a keyboard and unfolding in a helpful, intuitive 'Piano Roll' display. You can also listen to MIDI files as basic audio in e.g. Windows Media Player – and both applications can slow performance down, to make following even easier.
Please take the time to download MidiPiano – it will prove a valuable addition to your learning resources. MIDI files are tiny, and there's no waiting for video to buffer. If you need help with zipped folders, there are full instructions on the Musicarta MidiPiano page (link, above left) as well.
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Make sure you remember these before going on.
The following sections have audio and MIDI performance clips of variations which combine the Moving Pair elements in different ways. Each has a paragraph beneath it with some hints to help you work them out at the keyboard.
Listen to the riffs carefully (over and over!) and try to play them by ear. This in itself is invaluable practice. It doesn't matter if you don't 'succeed' entirely as long as you get your fingers on the keyboard and try!
If you want to know exactly what's going on with the keys, watch the MIDI performance on MidiPiano, and try again to get the riff. Then click through to the relevant Module (in preparation) using the link at the end of the section to clear up any mysteries and tighten up your performance.
Top three right, bass left
This variation splits the four notes of the Module Five Moving Pair riff top three right and one left. The extra (top root) in the right hand keeps the riff sounding powerful, while the left hand drops an octave to make it more of a solo-style riff. The right hand needs re-fingering to make the 'kick' easier to play. The bass 'anticipates' in places, as you can hear.
Click through to the supplementary stand-alone module here.
Left Hand Boogie Patterns
A straight-eight boogie accompaniment in the bass is an obvious development of the Moving Pair material, and opens the way to two-handed solo boogie and blues playing.
Click through to the stand-alone supplementary 'Left Hand Boogie Patterns' module here.
Two-Handed Boogie Patterns
Once you can play left hand solo 12-bar accompaniments, you will want to start adding right hand material. The first step is to play a single (or octave) right hand note on the first beat of the bar without the left hand stopping or faltering. You can play an entire solo 12-bar chorus in G with just two right hand notes – G and A.
Click through to the first Musicarta Two-Handed Boogie module here. You need to have completed the Left Hand Boogie Patterns module (directly above), first.
Three-Plus-One Variation – 'Two Only'
Plenty of blues-based rock music uses just the bottom two of the 'moving pair' chords. The first chorus (12 bars) of the riff you hear here is built on these chord positions alone. The excitement is subtly built up by adding developments, chorus by chorus.
This and the following riffs play the bottom three of the four Module Five notes in the right hand while the left hand plays the root in the bass ('three plus one'). Make sure you can find the notes in all three positions before proceeding.
Here's a keyboard diagram of your starting positions (the bottom pair) in G, C and D.
Try to get the riff from the audio file - it's only a matter of playing the notes you know a different way, and you'll probably 'come up with something' anyway!
Click through to the standalone 'Three-plus-one Variation 'Two Only' module to clear up any grey areas and sharpen your performance.
Other Three-Plus-One Variations
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These two riffs are worked out in detail in the final Moving Pair series module. The right hand riffs are classic 'moving pair' material, shifted around on the beat, while the left hand uses 'run-ups' and rhythms from previous modules in different combinations.
See if you can 'get them by ear'.
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First Riff |
Second Riff |
Then click through to the 'Other Three-Plus-One Variations' standalone module to clear up any grey areas and sharpen your performance.
The series rounds off with a demo version of the 'Two Only' riff that shows just how versatile and omnipresent 'moving pair' material is. Follow the trail, and don't forget that the 'Playing in Other Keys' section in Left Hand Boogie Patterns module shows you how to use MidiPiano to transpose the series 12-bar riffs into other keys, hugely multiplying the usefulness of what you've achieved.
Make it a priority to learn and use this great facility!
MORE TO COME!
Further Two-handed Boogie modules are next in line for roll-out under the Musicarta Blues Piano umbrella, so keep up to date by bookmarking the Musicarta blog page and checking in regularly, or get the Musicarta RSS feed for no-hassle updates. (Not sure about RSS? Click here for a short explanation.)
Thanks for visiting MUSICARTA! Come again soon!
12-BAR/BLUES
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KEY CHORDS VOL.1
