blue note: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Specialised / Technical
Quick answer
What does “blue note” mean?
In jazz and blues music, a note played or sung at a slightly lower pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In jazz and blues music, a note played or sung at a slightly lower pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes.
A note, typically the third, fifth, or seventh degree of the scale, that is 'bent' or flattened to create a characteristically melancholic, pensive, or emotionally charged sound, essential to the expressiveness of blues and jazz.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is identical in musical contexts across both dialects.
Connotations
Identical connotations of soulfulness, melancholy, and African-American musical tradition.
Frequency
Equally frequent in musical discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “blue note” in a Sentence
The saxophonist played [a blue note].She sang [with blue notes].His solo was full of [characteristic blue notes].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blue note” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The guitarist can really blue-note that phrase beautifully.
- He blues-noted the melody for emotional depth.
American English
- She blues-noted the passage to give it that authentic feel.
- The singer blues-noted her way through the bridge.
adverb
British English
- He played the phrase very blue-note.
- She sang it quite blue-note.
American English
- He phrased it blue-note throughout.
- The sax came in blue-note on that chord.
adjective
British English
- The trumpet solo had a wonderfully blue-note quality.
- It's that blue-note sound that defines the genre.
American English
- His blue-note phrasing is exceptional.
- They captured the classic blue-note aesthetic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in musicology, ethnomusicology, and cultural studies papers to analyse jazz and blues harmony and expression.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of conversations about music.
Technical
Core term in music theory, performance, and criticism for blues, jazz, rock, and related genres.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blue note”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blue note”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blue note”
- Pronouncing it as if 'blue' and 'note' are separate unrelated words without the compound stress (it's 'BLUE-note').
- Using it to describe any sad-sounding piece of music, rather than the specific microtonal pitch technique.
- Capitalising it as a proper noun ('Blue Note').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a performed pitch, often somewhere between two adjacent piano keys (e.g., between a minor and major third). It is achieved through vocal bending, guitar string bending, or embouchure/slide technique on wind/brass instruments.
Imperfectly. Composers often indicate them with arrows, grace notes (e.g., a minor third sliding to a major third), or annotations like 'bend' or 'blue note'. The exact pitch is typically left to the performer's interpretation.
No. While originating in and essential to blues, they are a foundational element of jazz, gospel, soul, R&B, rock and roll, and many related popular music genres.
The most characteristic are the 'blue third' (somewhere between minor and major), the 'blue fifth' (slightly flattened), and the 'blue seventh' (a flattened seventh degree).
In jazz and blues music, a note played or sung at a slightly lower pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes.
Blue note is usually specialised / technical in register.
Blue note: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbluː ˈnəʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblu ˈnoʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To strike a blue note (figurative): to introduce a note of sadness or melancholy into a conversation or situation.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the colour blue representing sadness, and a musical note that sounds 'sad' because it's slightly lower than expected.
Conceptual Metaphor
SADNESS IS A LOWERED PITCH / EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION IS DEVIATION FROM THE STANDARD
Practice
Quiz
Which of these best describes the function of a 'blue note'?