blue note

noun

: a variable microtonal lowering of the third, seventh, and occasionally fifth degrees of the major scale

Examples of blue note in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Aldean also makes subtle melodic changes, adding a blue note here or there that creates a little extra grit. Tom Roland, Billboard, 24 Apr. 2024 The voice singing those lyrics is raw and plaintive, dipping into blue notes. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2024 The individual phrases in that opening verse ended primarily with blue notes, providing just the right amount of angst and grit. Tom Roland, Billboard, 10 May 2023 While Jones is musical, her blue note always hits harder than any grace note. New York Times, 17 Sep. 2021 Crunch time has arrived for the Boston Bruins, who have been on the receiving end of enough hits from the St. Louis Blues to have blue note logos imprinted all over their aching bodies. Helene Elliott, latimes.com, 5 June 2019 Isbell played lead guitar throughout the song, bending buttery blues notes on that ’59 Les Paul. Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 11 Sep. 2019 Calvin Klein’s trousers picked up the blue notes, and mirrored Givenchy shades finished the ensemble. Edward Barsamian, Vogue, 26 July 2018 The living room and dining room are splashed with notes of crimson red, while the bedrooms are trimmed with icy blue notes. Kelsey Kloss, ELLE Decor, 27 May 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blue note.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from its frequent use in blues music

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blue note was in 1919

Dictionary Entries Near blue note

Cite this Entry

“Blue note.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blue%20note. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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