- published: 10 Jul 2016
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In jazz and blues, a blue note (also "worried" note) is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch than standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies among performers and genres.
Blue notes are usually said to be the lowered third, lowered fifth, and lowered seventh scale degrees. The lowered fifth is also known as the raised fourth. Though the blues scale has "an inherent minor tonality, it is commonly 'forced' over major-key chord changes, resulting in a distinctively dissonant conflict of tonalities". A similar conflict occurs between the notes of the minor scale and the minor blues scale, as heard in songs such as "Why Don't You Do Right?", "Happy" and "Sweet About Me".
In the case of the lowered third over the root (or the lowered seventh over the dominant), the resulting chord is a neutral mixed third chord.
Blue notes are used in many blues songs, in jazz, and in conventional popular songs with a "blue" feeling, such as Harold Arlen's "Stormy Weather." Country blues feature wide variations from the diatonic pitches with emotive blue-notes. Blue notes are also prevalent in English folk music. Bent or "blue notes", called in Ireland "long notes", play a vital part in Irish music.
I drink more than I should do.
It brings me back to you.
Sometimes I walk by your home
just to see if you're alone
refrain:
Blindfolded the music carries on
you're the blue note in my every song.
My guitar reminds me of where I belong
you sing with me then suddenly you're gone
I heard you are happy
so they keep telling me.
Sometimes I wait by the phone,
you never call. You're not alone
refrain
It hurts to see you with him
I'd give my heart to be back again
to wake up in your room.
It's too late, too soon