What Aspect of Harmony (Chords) Do the Blues Share with European Folk
Contents
The blues share a lot of harmonic aspects with European folk music, particularly in the way chords are used. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the ways in which the two genres share harmonic elements.
The Relationship between European Folk and the Blues
When most people think of the blues, they think of America. The blues is seen as an American genre of music. However, the blues actually has its roots in Europe. In this paper, I am going to explore the relationship between European folk music and the blues. I will discuss how the two genres are similar and how they differ.
The chord progressions of the blues are similar to those found in European folk music
The chord progressions of the blues are similar to those found in European folk music. The most common progression is I-IV-V, which is also known as the 12-bar blues. This progression has been used in countless songs, including “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, “Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones, and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana. I-IV-V is such a popular progression because it is so easy to remember and sing along to. It is also very versatile, as it can be used for slow, Blues songs or fast, Rock songs.
While the blues share some melodic elements with European folk music, the two genres are quite distinct from one another. For one, blues is generally more vocal-driven than folk music, with lyrics that often reflect on personal hardships and heartbreak. Additionally, blues progressions tend to be much simpler than those found in folk music, typically consisting of just three chords. Finally, the blues often make use of blue notes, which are notes that are played at a slightly lower pitch than their major or minor counterparts. These notes give the blues its characteristic mournful sound.
The blues share some rhythmic elements with European folk music, but the chord progressions are different. The major difference is that blues chords are mostly based on the minor pentatonic scale while most European folk music uses major and minor scales.
The Differences between European Folk and the Blues
The blues chord progression is unique to American music. It is a three-chord progression that uses the I, IV, and V chords. The blues progressions are usually played in minor keys. In contrast, most European folk songs are played in major keys.
The blues use different chord progressions than European folk music
The blues use a 12-bar chord progression, which is made up of three four-bar phrases. In each phrase, the first and fourth bars have the tonic (I) chord, the second bar has the subdominant (IV) chord, and the third bar has the dominant (V) chord. This 12-bar pattern is repeated throughout a blues song.
In contrast, most European folk music uses a 8-bar chord progression, which is made up of two four-bar phrases. The first phrase usually has the tonic (I) chord in the first and fourth bars, and the second phrase has the subdominant (IV) chord in the first and fourth bars.
The blues use different melodic elements than European folk music
One of the most important aspects that differentiate the blues from European folk music is the use of different melodic elements. Whereas European folk music commonly uses a minor third or a perfect fourth, the blues often uses a flattened third or a blues scale. This gives the blues its characteristic “blue” sound. Additionally, the blues often employs call and response patterns, which is something that is not typically found in European folk music.
The blues use different rhythmic elements than European folk music
The primary difference between the blues and European folk music is in the rhythm. The blues make use of a “swing” rhythm, which gives the music a degree of “syncopation” (accenting notes that are not on the beat). This is in contrast to European folk music, which is generally more evenly-paced with none of the “off-beat” accents that are characteristic of the blues. This difference in rhythm is what gives each type of music its distinctive sound.
