November 2009 \ Premier Clinic \ Blues \ Call and Response: Phrasing Ideas for Creating Memorable Solos

Call and Response: Phrasing Ideas for Creating Memorable Solos

Tom Kolb

How to pull of the conversational call-and-response technique popular in blues soloing


Premier Guitar November 2009


from Amazing Phrases
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One of the most popular tactics used in blues soloing is call-and-response phrasing. Quite literally a conversational device, the call and response can be used to great effect in drawing in listeners as they anticipate how your musical conversation will play itself out.

Similar to the traditional blues lyrics format, call-and-response phrasing usually comes in groups of three consecutive phrases: introductory phrase, an exact or close repeat of the introductory phrase, and a resolving phrase.

This solo uses call-and-response techniques to navigate two choruses of a 12-bar blues in A. In the first chorus each call/response/conclusion spans four measures, making a total of three sets of call-and-response phrases. The second chorus, however, takes a different approach by extending the phrasing, resulting in one long call/response/conclusion section.

Listen to the audio example


     

Related Articles

Video Lesson: Blues Intros and Outros
Video Lesson: Blues Licks, Vol. 4


Comments

(5 comments) display by
UsernameComment
Nopporn Saiyasuk
on 08/22/2010
very useful, thanks :)
Daniel Dominguez
on 12/05/2009
Es muy hermoso ese lick . Sencillo y lleno de música ala vez
Hoss
on 11/12/2009
I enjoyed this,thank you.
Genaro Gonzalez
on 11/09/2009
excelent lick, i really apreciate it!!
bobby b
on 11/06/2009
thanks



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