Music A-Level
Blue notes
What Blue notes means in Music A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Blue notes
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Reference: AQA
The flattened third, fifth and seventh of a scale, to which pitch-bending is frequently applied to heighten emotional tension and emphasise ambiguous tonality.
Specific pitches played at a slightly lower pitch than the standard major scale, most commonly the flattened third, flattened fifth and flattened seventh.
Pitches sung or played slightly lower than those of the standard major scale, typically the third, fifth, or seventh degrees.
Topics that use Blue notes
- Area of study 2: Pop music - Musical elements (AQA A-Level)
- Area of study 5: Jazz - Musical elements (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
Using Blue notes in the exam
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