What is 12 Bar Blues Music?
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Bar blues is a style of blues music that is commonly characterized by a repeating 12-bar chord progression. It is one of the most influential blues styles and has influenced many other genres of music.
What is 12 Bar Blues Music?
12 bar blues is a form of music based on the blues that originated in the United States. It is characterized by a pattern of 12 bars, or measures, that repeat over and over again. The 12 bar blues has been a major influence on the development of many other genres of music, including rock and roll, jazz, and country.
The Origins of 12 Bar Blues Music
The origins of 12 bar blues music can be traced back to the turn of the 20th century in the American South. The style developed from a combination of African and European musical traditions, and it quickly became a popular form of music for both black and white audiences.
One of the earliest examples of 12 bar blues music is “The Memphis Blues,” written by W.C. Handy in 1912. This song helped to popularize the style and make it more recognizable to listeners outside of the South. The popularity of “The Memphis Blues” led to a recording by The Original Dixieland Jass Band in 1917, which is widely considered to be the first jazz recording.
12 bar blues music continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1920s and 1930s, with seminal recordings by artists like Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. The style reached its height of popularity in the 1940s and 1950s with the advent of electric blues and rock n’ roll. Artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley helped to shape these genres and bring 12 bar blues music to new audiences around the world.
The Structure of 12 Bar Blues Music
The 12-bar blues is the most common blues chord progression. It is popular in blues and rock and roll. The 12-bar blues is a chord progression that uses the I, IV, and V chords of a key. In C major, those would be C, F, and G. The chord progression typically goes like this:
I (C) I (C) I (C) I (C)
IV (F) IV (F) I (C) I (C)
V (G) V (G) V (G) V (G)
I (C) IV (F) V (G) I(C).
The Instruments Used in 12 Bar Blues Music
The instruments used in 12 bar blues music are the guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. The guitar is usually played with a pick, and the bass is usually plucked with the fingers. The drums usually provide the rhythm for the music, and the vocals provide the melody.
The Influence of 12 Bar Blues Music
12 bar blues is a style of music that has been around since the early 1900s. It is one of the most influential genres in modern music, and has been a major influence on the development of rock and roll, jazz, and country music.
The name “12 bar blues” comes from the fact that it is based on a repeating chord progression that consists of 12 bars, or measures. This chord progression is usually played in a 4/4 time signature, with each measure containing four beats.
The 12 bar blues form is extremely versatile and can be used for both slow and fast songs. It is also relatively easy to play, which has made it a popular choice for many beginner musicians.
While the 12 bar blues form is often associated with sad or melancholy songs, this is not always the case. Many 12 bar blues songs are actually quite upbeat and positive in nature.
