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C Jam Blues, in Db

February 4th, 2010 No comments

The title of this fun piece by Duke Ellington is C Jam Blues,
but the key they play the song in is Db.
So, I refer to this song as Db Jam Blues and use "D flat" as its lyrics.
This is to help you get a feel for playing the tune.
Say the words as you play the notes.
There are three basic chords: Db6 Gb6 Ab7.
In the attached chart you'll learn how to play an arpeggio of each chord
that creates a walking bass line,
a stream of quarter notes that flow throughout the song to give you
a swinging beat, synchronized with the drummers ride cymbal.
The form of the tune is called 12 Bar Blues.
This is a valuable form to learn because many songs are based on it.