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Free course

Discovering music: the blues

Free statement of participation on completion
Discovering music: the blues

This free course, Discovering music: the blues, will introduce you to a musical tradition with roots in the nineteenth century but which is still relevant to making music today. You will learn about how the lyrics of blues songs reflect the social environment in which they were created, and about the musical techniques that underpin the structures of blues songs. You do not need to play an instrument, to sing or have any prior musical knowledge to be able to complete this course.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

  • describe the historical context of the blues
  • explain the nature of typical blues lyrics
  • recognise a blues scale
  • understand the concept of primary chords
  • understand the 12-bar blues structure.

First Published: 22/03/2019

Updated: 03/04/2020

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