A turnaround is a short musical phrase (or lick) that you hear in the last two measures of a blues progression, and with blues progressions making a big part of the modern music repertoire you will come across them often. Turnarounds are designed to turn the previous twelve bars around to resolve into the first bar of the next sequence so to make it sound like the progression wants to keep going, rather than end.

Many turnarounds feature one static line played against a moving line, they often start on beat two of measure eleven, and the energy comes from the tension and release aspect of the music. If you listen closely to your favourite performers you will hear that they weave these types of musical lines into rhythm and lead parts effortlessly, and of course you need to be able to do this as well.......You can download the full lesson (pdf file - for your own personal use) from here.

You can also hear the music examples here.

I hope you enjoy the lesson.
Kevin.

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