Definition
The minor blues is the 12-bar blues form built on minor chords for the I and IV and with a iiø–V7–i (or bVI7–V7–i) cadence at the end. It is the "nocturnal" blues, widely used in modal jazz, soul jazz, and noir soundtracks.
The basic form (C minor)
| Bar | Chord | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Cm7 | im7 |
| 5–6 | Fm7 | ivm7 |
| 7–8 | Cm7 | im7 |
| 9 | Abmaj7 or Ab7 | bVImaj7 / bVI7 |
| 10 | G7alt | V7 |
| 11 | Cm7 | im7 |
| 12 | Dø7 G7 | iiø7 V7 |
Variants of bars 9–10:
- Dø7 – G7alt (classic iiø–V).
- Ab7 – G7: Ab7 is the tritone substitute of D7, and falls by half step to G7: very effective.
- Abmaj7 – G7: softer, cinematic color.
Internal variants
- Bar 4: Gø7 – C7alt (ii–V toward Fm7), to tonicize the iv.
- Bar 8: Dø7 – G7 (anticipation of the cadence) or Ab7.
- Tonic: Cm6 or Cm(maj7) in place of Cm7 for a more jazz color (melodic minor scale).
- Turnaround: | Cm7 Eb7 | Abmaj7 G7 | (i – bIII7 – bVI – V).
Reference tunes
- Mr. P.C. (John Coltrane, 1959, album Giant Steps): minor blues in C minor, fast, dedicated to the bassist Paul Chambers.
- Equinox (Coltrane, C# minor): slow and modal.
- Birk's Works (Dizzy Gillespie, F minor).
- Footprints (Wayne Shorter, 1966): 24-bar minor blues in 6/4 in C minor, with an original turnaround in which the dominants descend by half step before returning to Cm.
- The Thrill Is Gone (B.B. King, 1969 version): electric minor blues in B minor, with the bVI – V in the second half.
Scales
- Dorian on the im7 (C D Eb F G A Bb): modal color, the major 6 (A) brings light.
- Aeolian (with Ab) for a darker sound, consistent with the bVI.
- Minor blues scale (C Eb F F# G Bb) over the whole form.
- On the V7: harmonic minor from the V (G Ab B C D Eb F) or altered.
Difference from the major blues
| Major blues | Minor blues | |
|---|---|---|
| I | dominant (C7) | minor (Cm7) |
| IV | dominant (F7) | minor (Fm7) |
| Bar 9 | V7 or ii | bVI or iiø |
| Blue notes | b3 and b7 over major chords: friction | b3 and b7 are chord tones: no friction |
Exercise for the producer
- 12-bar loop at 95 BPM, light swing (56%), electric bass with long notes.
- Rhodes with voicings Cm9 (Eb G Bb D), Fm9 (Ab C Eb G), Ab7#11, G7alt (F B Eb Ab).
- Write a sax riff on the minor pentatonic that repeats identically on bars 1, 5, and 9: the chord change "rereads" the same phrase.
Related topics
The jazz blues, Bird blues, harmony in minor keys, tritone substitution, chord-scale theory.