How to create a “BluesABilly” Genre recording

This is not a tutorial on how to record music. But rather, this is, a narrative of what “BluesABilly” is and how to make “BluesABilly” music then record it.

There are several things that make up a song.

• Key
  

• Beat
  

• Meter
  

• Chord Progression
  

• Melody
  

• Lyrics
  

• Hook
  

• Mood
  

• Style
  

• Audience
  
  

BluesABilly, the Genre

“BluesABilly”, the genre, encompasses most of these components of a song in specific ways. For instnace, Chord Progressions, are variations of the standard 12 bar three chord blues progressions. Lets get into the specifics of “BluesABilly” and how it is constructed with song components.

1. Key:
   
   The most used key of “BluesABilly” is “E”. This is because it is the most robust key on the standard tuned guitar. The open “E”chord is arguably the highest volume chord on the guitar with “G” and then “C” coming in at a close second and third.
   
   Whenever a “BluesABilly” song is created, significant attention is given, in evaluation, to the “Elvis effect”. This is the swooning lower registers of the voice becoming a strong attraction in a “BluesABilly” song and perhaps even the “Hook” of the song. The key “E” provides the lowest root vocal note when constrained to matching notes played on the guitar at the same octave. Other keys provide lower tones via inverted chord harmonic notes and can be very effective in creating the “Elvis effect”. It should be noted that the “Elvis effect” is not copying “Elvis” but rather using one of the many techniques used by the King in his vocals and this technique is part of the genre “BluesABilly”.
   
   

2. Beat:
   
   The beat used in a “BluesABilly” song is generally one of four basic categories; blues, rock, country and funk. The beat must be a highly significant ingredient in the song. It needs to be out front and driving, even for slow songs, e.g. slow blues. This places a high “Must Dance” index to the song.
   
   

3. Meter:
   
   This is one place where “BluesABilly” is unwavering. The meter needs to be in the range of the heartbeat of the audience. Generally 60 to 90 beats per minute. This supports the driving beat and the “Must Dance” index.
   
   

4. Chord Progression:
   
   For the sake of example I will use the key of “E” to describe a “BluesABilly” chord progression. The base of the example will be a 12 bar blues chord progression. In most beats used in “BluesABilly” the beat is 4/4 time. A quarter note represents one beat and there are 4 beats per measure (known as bar).
   
   The standard 12 bar blues chord progression consists of 4 bars of the “E” chord, then 2 bars of the “A” chord, then 2 bars of the “E” chord, then 1 bar of the “B” chord, then 1 bar of the “A” chord, then 1 bar of the “E” chord, then what is known as a “Turn Around” which is 1 bar of “B” then start all over again.
   
   A chord name for each bar in succession for a 12 bar blues chord progression in the key of “E” would look like this;
   
   

   When played with other musicians this basic 12 bar blues has numeric names for the chords which correspond to their location in the key. If you were to play every chord in the E key they would be as follows;
   1:E   2:F#   3:G#   4:A   5:B   6:C#   7:D#   8:E
   
   Conventional music theory would have you play some of the chords as minor chords. If you want to know more about this you should look it up on the www.
   
   In “BluesABilly” we very seldom follow the “minor” notation of music theory, but rather generally play major chords in the place of the music theory placement of minor chords. This provides the musical emotions “Happy”, “Power”, “Love”, “Enthusiastic” and many more all leaning in a “Positive” mindset.
   
   You may have noticed that I preceded each chord with a number that represented its location in the list of chords in the key “E”. This is its designation in the key of “E”. So as noted above the 12 bar blues progression consists of the 1, the 4, and the 5 chords, also known as the 1, 4, 5 chord progression. But many 1, 4, 5 chord progressions may not be exactly the 12 bar blues noted above. But these cousins of the 12 bar blues are generally lumped into this designation. With some practice and experience you will be able to recognize these variations in real time.
   
   “BluesABilly” uses several techniques to enhance what is known in the industry as the basic 3 chord, 1, 4, 5 chord progressions. In the following examples all musical snipits are in the key of "E".
   
   

• Replace the first “Turn Around” bar of the “B” chord with the “C(major)” chord then the second bar is still the “B” chord. It sounds like this:

  
  

• Replace the first “Turn Around” bar of the “B” chord with the “F#(major)” chord then the second bar is still the “B” chord. It sounds like this:

  
  

• Incidentally Place a “G(major)” chord in a place where the root chord would be normally played. It sounds like this:

  
  

• Use “Melodic Phrasing” rather than chord progressions for main music parts but maintaining the basic blues chord underlying structure of the song. It sounds like this:

  
  

5. Melody:
   
   In “BluesABilly” instrumental leads should “Follow” the melody which means that the audience would think about the melody words while listening to the instrumental lead.
   
   

6. Lyrics:
   
   “BluesABilly” lyrics of “original authored” music should adhere to the “Blues” standard of repeating the first line of a chorus, and/or, perhaps, the verse. Representations of covers should be re-arranged to accomplish this if possible.
   
   

7. Hook:
   
   In “BluesABilly” hooks are essential. If representing a existing song the “hook” should be used liberally in the re-arranged presentation and generally more than it was used in the original piece.
   
   “BluesABilly” is all about “Hooks” and any arrangement should be created to sell the “Hook” over and over again.
   
   

8. Mood:
   
   “BluesABilly” is all about selling a “Mood”. Promoting emotions of “Happiness”, “Sadness”, “Euphoria”, “Love” (but not “Hate or Anger”), and generally positive feelings with the one exception of “Sadness” because we all have to get that out of our being to be happy.
   
   

9. Style:
   
   “BluesABilly” can have different “Styles”. For instance, a “Funk” beat can promote a style but still adhere to the other concepts of “BluesABilly”.
   
   

10. Audience:
    
    “BluesABilly” was created for one thing, to “Move” audiences. See them sway in their seats to the music. See them get up and dance to the music. See them smile and clap to the music. It is all about impacting an audience whether it is only one person or thousands.