how to develop your voice and singing skills

1. Anybodyinterestedinmodernmusicsoonerorlaterasksthe question,“Where diditbegin?”Well,if
youleave bluesguitarmusicout,youwill nothave muchof an answer.So letuslookat where the blues
came from,where itwentandwhoit meton the way.We will alsotake a lookat the “bluesguitar
sound”and howit hasits unique effectonourfeelings.
to learnvoice development
The bluesas a musical phenomenonbeganaround1911 whenW.C.Handypublishedpopularsongs,
notably“MemphisBlues”and“StLouisBlues”,whichaffectedthe heartsandsoulsof the blackpeople.
By the nineteentwentiesthe general populationwere beginningtohearthisnew musicthroughits
influenceon jazz.EarlybluessingerslikeBessieSmithandBillie Holidaysangwithjazzbandswhile
othersplayedwith“jugbands”accompaniedbyfiddle,kazooandwashboard.
to learnvoice development
Of course to people like W.C.Handy whowere broughtupsinginginchurch,the pianowas the natural
instrumental accompanimenttotheirsongs.Butthe guitar isportable andalwayswaspopularso ithad
to have a place in bluesandjazz.Bluesguitarplayerslike twelve stringguitaristLeadbellyandfuture
electricguitarplayerB.B.Kingwere makingsure the guitarwouldbe anintegral partof the blues.Other
bluesguitaristsmade theirlivinginsmokysaloonsplayingslideguitarusingabottle neckorthe blade of
a knife tofretthe notes.
to learnvoice development
Afterthe SecondWorldWar youngartists like ElvisPresleyandBill Haleywere wrappingthe bluesina
newpackage called“rock’n’roll”andthe playersof the electricbluesguitarlike B.B.Kingwere heralding
the arrival of the leadguitar,soonto be a greatattractionfor both musiciansandaudiences.
Throughoutthe evolutionof the bluesthe guitarhadalways takenitsturnforsolosinjazz bandsbut
nowit competedwiththe singerforthe attentionof the audience.
to learnvoice development
Bluesguitarcan be playedinany keythattakes your fancyand comesinthree basicforms:eightbars,
for example “HeartbreakHotel”,sixteenbarslike “SaintJamesInfirmary”andtwelvebarslike “St.Louis
Blues”.Forsome reasonthe twelve barbluesformiswaymore singer-friendlyandpopularwith
audiencesthanthe othertwo,andit isthe basisof manygreat songsoutside the bluesidiom.
to learnvoice development
If you go pokingaroundthe internetyouwill findthatthe bluesscalesare justyourgardenvarietymajor
and minorscalesexceptthatthe third,fifthandseventhnotesare playedflat.However,youmaybe
astonishedtolearnthatbluesplayersmanagedforcenturieswithoutknowingaboutEuropeanmusical
theory.Theylearnttosingand playfrom theirfamiliesandfriendsjustasmanyof the youngwhite blues
playersof the nineteensixtieslearntfromimitatingthe artiststheyheardonrecords.
to learnvoice development
Andthisis where the bluestakesanotherdirection.Afteryearsof imitatingtheiridolssomethingodd
happenedtothe white bluesguitarplayersinBritainandthe USA.They developedtheirownauthentic,
original styles.The olderbluesplayersevenbeganusingthe new arrangementsof classicsongsand

2. adoptingsome of the unbluesymusical innovationsintroducedbyyoungwhite guitaristslikeEric
Clapton.Sothe beat goeson.A foreignculture influencesAmericanpopularmusic andinturn getsfresh
inputfroma newgenerationof guitarplayersfromall overthe world.
to learnvoice development