LESSON SIX

The Eighth Note

This is an eighth note. It lasts for half a count. There are eight eighth notes in one bar of * time. When eighth notes are joined together the tails are replaced by one beam.

How to Count Eighth Notes

When you begin playing songs containing eighth notes, take them slowly at first until you gain control of all the notes. Once you are comfortable with the whole tune, gradually increase the tempo until you can play along with the recording. Since there are more notes now, you may need to breathe every two bars at first.

You do not have to wait for a breath mark to breathe. Most sheet music does not contain breath marks so it is up to you to decide the best place to breathe. Notice the use of ties which occur on the last eighth note of each group in the following example. Remember to count to yourself as you play.

12 Bar Blues

12 Bar Blues is a pattern of chords which repeats every 12 bars. There are hundreds of well known songs based on this chord progression, i.e., they contain basically the same chords in the same order.

12 Bar Blues is one of the most common progressions in Blues, Jazz and Rock. Every trumpet player will be regularly asked to play a 12 Bar Blues. In fact it is very likely to be the first progression used at any jam session. Here are some examples.

Remember to keep counting where rests occur in the music.

The Note A

The note A is written in the second space of the staff.

As you can see from the diagram, the note A uses exactly the same fingering as the note E. This is another example of harmonics. Once again you will have to use more pressure with your lips to make sure you sound the note A instead of E.

Here is a new 12 Bar Blues which makes use of the note A.

The Note B

The note B is written on the middle line of the staff.

Notes written below the middle line of a staff usually have their stems going up. The stem for the note B can go up or down, as shown in the following examples.