A First Book of Blues: For The Beginning Pianist

by David Dutkanicz

Overview

With these easy-to-play renditions, beginning pianists of all ages can enjoy one of America's most celebrated art forms. Sixteen popular blues melodies include traditional songs such as "St. James Infirmary" and "Careless Love" as well as several numbers by blues giants Jelly Roll Morton and W. C. Handy, including "St. Louis Blues," "Joe Turner Blues," and "The Hesitating Blues."
Students, teachers, and other pianists will find these arrangements much simpler and more melodic than other versions. The selections include suggestions for fingering and are arranged in order of increasing difficulty. Introductory material by editor David Dutkanicz offers helpful explanations of the melodic and rhythmic theory behind the blues.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780486481296
Publisher:	Dover Publications
Publication date:	03/17/2011
Series:	Dover Classical Piano Music For Beginners
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	4 - 18 Years

About the Author

Former Dover editor David Dutkanicz holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, New York University, and Columbia University. He is the editor of several books in this series.

Table of Contents

Editor's Note
The Blues Scale
Blues Rhythm
Down Home Blues, Tom Delaney (1889–1963)
Outta’ Bed Blues, Traditional
Crazy Blues, Perry Bradford (1883–1970)
St. James Infirmary, Traditional
Prison Bound,Traditional
Weary Blues, Artie Mathews (1888–1958)
St. Louis Blues, W. C. Handy (1873–1958)
Yellow Dog Blues, W. C. Handy (1873–1958)
Joe Turner Blues, W. C. Handy (1873–1958)
Careless Love, Traditional
Arkansas Blues, Anton Lada (c.1890–1944) & Spencer Williams (1889–1965)
The Hesitating Blues, W. C. Handy (1873–1958)
Beale Street Blues, W. C. Handy (1873–1958)
Royal Garden Blues, Spencer Williams (1889–1965) & Clarence Williams (1898–1965)
Jelly Roll Blues, Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton (1885–1941)
Memphis Blues, W. C. Handy (1873–1958)