A first book of blues: 16 arrangements for the beginning pianist

Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; Editor's Note; The Blues Scale; Blues Rhythms; Swinging Eighths; Down Home Blues; Outta' Bed Blues; Crazy Blues; St. James Infirmary; Prison Bound; Weary Blues; St. Louis Blues; Yellow Dog Blues; Joe Turner Blues; Careless Love; Arkansas Blues; The Hesitating Blues; Beale Street Blues; Royal Garden Blues; Jelly Roll Blues; Memphis Blues.;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.