: Tips on writing 12 bar or 16 bar melodies I need to write 12 bar or 16 bar melodies for my Grade 8 Music Theory exam. I know how to write melodies, which didn't require any modulation. I am new to the concept of using modulation

I think with the 12 bar theme they want to see whether you have understood the concept of the blues. You know the chord progression scheme:

BLUES

I-I-IV-I

IV-IV-I-I

V-IV-I-I or (V)

Bars 1-4:

I - I so the first motif is repeated or varied (I-I)

IV then a fourth transposed up (or in minor)

I repetition of the motif in the tonic

Bars 5-8:

IV - IV transposition (or variation) of the motif bars 1-2 a fourth up

I - I may be identical with bars 1-2

Bars 9-12

V - IV this is like a short "bridge" (can contain elements of the motif but not necessarily

I - V motif of bar 1 and preparing the loop by the dominant: e.g. bass solo, guitar lick, drum fillin

The 16 period can have many different chord patterns:

e.g.

I-IV-V-I (semi final)

I-IV-V-I (final)

IV-I-V-I

IV-I-V-I

as you can see 1-4 and 9-12 are repeated

there are many schemes you should know:

Look up the forms:

A-A-B-A

PERIODE, PHRASE

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