Collectible Guitar MayJun16 | 页面 52

FRETBOARD
LESS TRAVELED
COMPING MINOR BLUES Rich Severson


Blues in a minor key is a music forum that both
blues/rock and jazz players enjoy. In this article

C‹

I’m going to show the difference in how those
two groups approach this song form. For our
example we are using blues in C Minor. Let’s make
some comparisons between the two versions.
Right off the bat the rock version has half as
many chords as the jazz, and uses full voicings
for strumming the groove with the other players.
The jazz version uses 4 note chords, is more

with a pick.
Let’s talk about the chords in the jazz version,
which are all initially based on the rock version.

F‹

minor. This is reaffirming the tonal center of
C minor, setting up Measure 3. Measure 4, the

b
&b b ? ? ? ?

as G7b9, as the bass would probably play a
G here. Measure 8, the Am7b5 is a common

b
&b b ? ? ? ?
9

9, the Ab7 appears in both versions; the Ab13
is used as a direct substitution. Measure 10,
G7#5#9 another direct substitution; this one

8
G7

C‹
8fr

8fr

? ? ? ?

? ? ? ?

10

8fr

11

12

? ? ? ? ..

C Minor Blues, Jazz Version
Dm7b5

Cm9

G&7
5fr

b
& b b .. ? ? ? ?

2

b
&b b ? ? ? ?
5

A¨13

4fr

b
&b b ? ? ? ?
9

? ? ? ?
Am7b5
5fr

? ? ? ?
7 C‹7

G&7(#9)

? ? ? ?

Copyright © 2016 by Guitar College, Inc.

this is called a turnaround. The l,Vl, ll V chord
progression is the most common turnaround.
I hope this whets your appetite for more jazz
sounds. I have many video lessons on this
subject. Till next time.
www.GuitarCollege.com

May  June 2016

4fr

? ? ? ?
11

CollectibleGuitar.com

? ? ? ?
8 Dm7b5

A‹7(b5)
8fr

3fr

10

C7(#9)

4

4fr

? ? ? ?
6

? ? ? ?
C‹11

Ddim7
4fr

6fr

Gm7b5

3
Dm7b5

F‹9

Cm9
3fr

? ? ? ?

1

for the G7. Measures 11 & 12, in jazz terms

52

? ? ? ?

7
G7

9fr

diatonic substitution for the Cmin. Just like an
Amin might be used for a Cmaj chord. Measure

4

? ? ? ?

6

A¨7

Measure 5, the tonality of Fm9. Measure 6, again
up in Measure 7. The Ddim is the same chord

C‹

3

? ? ? ?

5

Gm7b5 to C7#9 is ll V of F minor, setting up
points our ears to the C minor tonality coming

2

8fr

Cmin chord. This is called a direct substitution,
Measure 2, we have ll-V of the home key of C

3fr

b 4
& b b 4 .. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Measure 1, a minor 9th is substituted for the
adding richer chord tones to the basic chord.

C‹

3fr

for the harmonic content than the rhythmic feel,
and might be played with the fingers instead of

C Minor Blues, Rock Version

12

G&7
5fr

3fr

? ? ? ? ..