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
Over the course of the book, Perry builds her case for how Black people have always functioned as blue notes—often seen as out of place or deviant but also known to wrest mellifluousness from cacophony and escape the binds that have been violently placed upon them.
—
Omari Weekes, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2025
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
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Omari Weekes, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Blue note.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blue%20note. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
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