Steam Train Blues – Blues Boogie Woogie – Intermediate (Grade 3)

Description

All aboard for the Steam Train Blues! This bluesy boogie woogie style piece in D major will suit intermediate pianists at about the Grade 3 (ABRSM) standard.

A left hand ostinato (repeated figure) accompaniment rolls gently along providing the classic blues piano chords... but with a twist!

'Straight' quavers feature in both hands provide a lilting 'steam train' effect. Together with the play-along backing track, see if you can hear the old fashioned and hypnotic 'clickety-clack' that's so characteristic of train travel today, as well as in the past.

Steam Train Blues has a repeated 'head' melody section followed by a written improvisation/variation ('cattle on the line!'). You'll also encounter chromatic 'blues notes' (flattened 3rd, 5th and 7th notes of the scale) throughout the piece, and there are plenty of opportunities to practice syncopated rhythms, especially at the end of the opening theme.

The play-along backing track to Steam Train Blues comes with the sheet music. Want to practice Steam Train Blues slowly? Try the slow tempo practice backing track!