Boogie-woogie (music)

Boogie-woogie is a style of blues piano playing that became very popular in the 1940s and was extended from piano, to three pianos at once, guitar, big band, and country and western music.

Related Topics:
Blues - Piano - 1940s - Guitar - Big band - Country and western music

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It is characterized by a regular bass figure, an ostinato and the most familiar example of shifts of level, in the left hand which elaborates on each chord and trills and decorations from the right hand. It is not strictly a solo piano style, but is also used to accompany singers and as a solo part in bands and small combos. It is sometimes called eight to the bar, as much of it is written in common (4/4) time using eighth notes (quavers). Typical boogie woogie basslines:

Related Topics:
Bass figure - Ostinato - Shifts of level - Eighth note - Quaver

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