This pattern allows us to easily locate all of the notes on the keyboard based on where they lie in relation to the groups of black keys. For example the note "D" is the white key between the group of two black keys. Every white key between the group of two black keys is the note "D", just in different octaves. For this blues we'll be dealing almost exclusively with the black keys.

Now lets talk about tempo and rhythm for a moment. Count out seconds using the "ONE one-thousand, TWO one-thousand, THREE one-thousand..." technique and as you do it tap your foot, snap your fingers, clap your hands or something at the same time as the "ONE, TWO, THREE, etc." You are now clapping, tapping, snapping a tempo of approximately sixty "beats per minute", or BPM. If you were to tap twice for every number you count you would be tapping at a tempo of about 120 BPM. For this blues exercise you'll probably want a tempo somewhere in between 60 and 120 BPM. The exact tempo isn't important, just try to find somewhere that feels comfortable and most importantly, try to keep it steady and not speed up or slow down.

Next, start tapping at your preferred tempo and instead of counting "one-thousands" just count "ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR" and then repeat it over and over again. You are now counting in 4/4 time. What this means is that there are four beats in every measure, with a measure being defined as a larger organizational structure consisting of, in this case, four beats. We'll skip over the meaning of the other "4" in "4/4" since it has to do with the way the music is written and we're not writing anything down yet.

Now, still tapping, count your "ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR" with an "and" in between each number, keeping the numbers and the "ands" equally spaced, i.e. "ONE and TWO and THREE and FOUR and..." You are now counting a duplet rhythm, meaning you have two rhythmic events for every beat.

Our last rhythmic concept before returning to the keyboard will be the triplet. Just as a duplet has two evenly spaced events per beat, a triplet has three evenly spaced events per beat. Try this: while tapping your tempo, say the word triplet on each beat emphasizing the consonant sounds: "Tri-Pl-Let". You can use any three syllable word or phrase you like. Try making up a few of your own. "But-Ter-Nut", "Ice-Cream-Man" etc.

The triplet rhythm is extremely important in jazz and blues because so much of the swinging and loping feels are derived from it. Eventually you should be able to keep a running triplet going in your head as you are playing.