Grace Notes
The use of grace notes is another rhythm value that has appeared throughout this book and is used frequently in Blues. This lesson will highlight where a grace note may appear. Grace notes are an important expressive technique in Blues playing though they have no real time value of their own.
Incorporating a grace note into a lick or phrase of notes will add expression to the note they are leading to. Many different techniques may be used to create grace notes, as demonstrated in the following examples.
Here the grace notes are created by the use of hammer-ons.
Slides can be used to create grace notes.
Here bends are used.
Release bends also can create grace notes.
Here is a lick to show how grace notes are used in a musicale context. Notice how the 8th notes here are played as a swing.
Go back through the licks and solos that appeared earlier in the book and find other examples of grace notes. As you will find, they are very common in Blues playing.
