The Best Sheet Music for Blues Music Lovers
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Looking for the best sheet music for blues music lovers? Check out our top picks, including classic songs and modern hits.
What is Blues Music?
Blues music is a style of music that originated in the African-American communities in the Southern United States around the end of the 19th century. The style is characterized by its use of blue notes, rhythm and blues chord progressions, and a call-and-response pattern.
The earliest form of blues music was known as field hollers, which were songs sung by workers in the fields. These songs were usually about their work or about relationships. The first recorded blues song was “Crazy Blues” by Mamie Smith, which was released in 1920.
In the 1930s and 1940s, the style of blues music changed with the advent of electric guitars and amplified sound. This new style, known as Chicago blues, featured soloists who played extended improvised solos. The most famous Chicago blues artist was Muddy Waters.
Other important styles of blues music include Memphis blues, Louisiana blues, and Kansas City blues.
The Best Sheet Music for Blues Music Lovers
“The House of the Rising Sun” by Blind Lemon Jefferson
The House of the Rising Sun is a traditional folk song, sometimes called blues ballad, that tells of a life gone wrong in New Orleans. The song has been recorded by many artists over the years, but it was Blind Lemon Jefferson’s version that made it a hit in the blues world. Jefferson’s version is a fast-paced and upbeat take on the traditional blues song, and it remains one of the most popular versions of the song to this day.
“St. Louis Blues” by W.C. Handy
“St. Louis Blues” was written and published in 1914 by W.C. Handy. The song quickly became a hit among both black and white audiences, alike. Vector notation was used extensively in “St. Louis Blues”, which helped to make the sheet music more accessible to a wider range of people. The popularity of “St. Louis Blues” has only grown over the years, with covers being recorded by some of the most famous blues artists in history, including B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker.
“Sweet Home Chicago” by Robert Johnson
“Sweet Home Chicago” is a classic blues song written by Robert Johnson. This particular version is played on a 12-bar blues progression in the key of E. The song features Johnson’s signature slide guitar playing, as well as his signature vocals.
How to Play Blues Music
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, playing the blues is a great way to improve your skills on the guitar. The blues is a genre of music that is enjoyed by many people all over the world. If you’re looking for some good sheet music to play, here are some of the best blues songs for guitarists.
Find a blues jam session
Blus music is all about improvisation and feel, so the best way to learn how to play it is by joining in with other musicians at a jam session. Here, you’ll be able to learn the basics of blues chord progressions, try out different guitar licks and riffs, and get a feel for the genre’s signature 12-bar format.
Don’t worry if you don’t know how to read music – most blues jams are based around familiar chord progressions that you’ll quickly learn by ear. And if you’re new to the guitar, start by learning some easy open chords before graduating to more complex shapes.
Learn the 12-bar blues progression
The 12-bar blues is perhaps the most important harmonic progression in all of Western music. It has been used by countless blues, rock, jazz, and country artists, and it forms the basis for much of popular music today. The progression is built around the I, IV, and V chords of a major or minor key (the tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords). In most cases, the I chord is major, the IV chord is minor, and the V chord is dominant (a major triad with a flat seventh). Here’s a typical 12-bar blues progression in the key of C:
I I I I
IV IV I I
V V I I
I I I I
IV IV I I
V V V V
I I
Listen to blues music for inspiration
The best way to get inspired to write your own blues music is to listen to as much of it as possible. There are countless hours of recordings available, dating back to the 1920s. You can find them in record stores, online, and even in libraries. If you want to hear the roots of blues music, start with the early recordings by artists such as Charley Patton, Son House, and Robert Johnson. Then work your way up to more modern artists like Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and John Lee Hooker.
