Music Suggestions for a Blues Beginner
If you’re new to the blues, it can be tough to know where to start. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Check out our suggestions for the best blues music to get you started on your journey.
Basic History of the Blues
The blues is a genre of music that originated in the African-American communities in the southern United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The style is characterized by blue notes, call-and-response patterns, and an emphasis on improvisation. The blues has been a major influence on other genres of music, including jazz, rock & roll, and country.
The origins of the blues
The blues is a genre of music that originated in the African-American communities in the Deep South of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The genre developed from roots in African musical traditions, African-American work songs, spirituals, and folk music.
The term “blue notes” can refer to either the flattened third and seventh degrees of a major scale, or to the fifth and ninth degrees when they are chromatically altered by being lowered a half-step (a whole tone). The flattened third is also called a “blue note”. The flattened seventh is variously called a “blue note”, a “minor seventh”, or simply as a “minor”.
In jazz, blue notes are often played by blues scale guitarists with a slide or bottleneck guitar techniques. Early blues were commonly structured around a repetitive call-and-response pattern, sung by a lead vocalist and answered by an ensemble of instrumentalists. This form was then assimilated into other popular music styles, notably gospel, revivalist music, rhythm and blues, soul music, and rock and roll.
The blues today
The blues is an enduring musical genre that has its roots in African American culture. Although the genre has evolved over the years, it has maintained its essential character as a music of black America.
The blues today is a popular genre that draws on a variety of influences. While the original blues was based on African American spirituals, work songs, and folk music, later styles also incorporated elements of gospel, jazz, and rock and roll. As a result, the blues today includes a wide range of subgenres, from traditional acoustic styles to contemporary electric blues.
The Elements of the Blues
The 12-bar blues
The 12-bar blues progression is the best known and most commonly used in blues music. It usually consists of three chord changes and is played in 4/4 time with a shuffling rhythm (also known as swing). The first two bars are typically the same chord, the third and fourth bars move to the IV chord, and the fifth and sixth bars move back to the I chord. The seventh through ninth bars move to the V chord, returning to the I chord in bar 10.
There are many variations of this progression, but this is the most basic one. You can use this progression in any key, but it is most commonly played in E, A or G. Once you learn how to play a 12-bar blues progression, you can start adding your own embellishments and improvisations.
The blues scale
The blues scale is a minor pentatonic scale with an added flat 5th degree, known as the blue note. This note gives the scale its distinctive sound. When soloing over a 12 bar blues chord progression, the blues scale can be used to create interesting sounding licks and phrases.
The following notes are in the C blues scale: C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭ – G – A♭
To practice soloing with the blues scale, try improvising over a backing track or recorded jam session. As you become more comfortable with the sound of the scale, you can begin to experiment with adding in other notes from the chromatic scale. With practice, you’ll be able to create your own unique sound.
The blues chord progression
The blues chord progression is one of the most important progressions in all of music. It is the basis for countless songs in genres as diverse as rock, jazz, country, and R&B. If you are new to the blues, learning this progression is a great place to start.
The chord progression consists of three chords: the tonic (the first chord), the subdominant (the second chord), and the dominant (the third chord). The tonic is usually a major chord, while the subdominant and dominant are usually minor chords. The order of these chords can vary, but the most common progression is 1-4-5. In other words, the tonic is usually the first chord, the subdominant is usually the fourth chord, and the dominant is usually the fifth chord.
While this progression might seem simple, it can be tricky to play if you are not used to thinking in terms of numbers instead of letter names. For example, in the key of C, the 1-4-5 progression would be C-F-G. In other words, you would start on C, then move to F, then move to G. If you are not comfortable thinking in numbers yet, that’s okay – just think of it as starting on C, then moving to F (four letters up from C), then moving to G (five letters up from C).
Once you have mastered this basic blues progression, you can begin experimenting with different orders of chords or different types of chords altogether. For example, you could try a 1-6-5 progression or a 1-2-5 progression. You could also try using seventh chords or ninth chords instead of standard major and minor chords. The possibilities are endless – just make sure that whatever changes you make still sound like “the blues.”
Recommended Artists
There are a few artists I suggest for beginners who want to get into the blues. The first is B.B. King. He is a legendary blues artist who has influenced many other musicians. He has a unique style of playing and singing that is very bluesy. Another artist I recommend is Muddy Waters. He is another legend who is considered the “father of modern Chicago blues”. He has a very raw and down-to-earth style of music that is perfect for beginners.
B.B. King
As one of the three Kings of the blues, along with Albert King and Freddie King, B.B. King was responsible for bringing the blues to a wider audience, both through his recordings and his talented guitar playing. Hailing from Mississippi, he began playing guitar in his teens and soon developed his own style, which became known as “The Blues.”
King’s recordings spanned the years from 1951 to 2008, and he continued performing live well into his 80s. Some of his most famous songs include “The Thrill Is Gone,” “Rock Me Baby,” and “When Love Comes to Town.” If you’re just getting into the blues, B.B. King is a great place to start.
Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters was an American blues musician who is often cited as the “father of modern Chicago blues”. His style of playing has been described as “walkin’, talkin’, country-blues guitar”. Waters’ music influenced select members of the subsequent generation of blues musicians, including Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, and Muddy’s own son, Otis Spann. He was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him #17 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker is one of the most important figures in the history of blues music. Though his style was unique, it was highly influential on a number of other artists, both in the blues and in other genres. If you’re just getting into the blues, John Lee Hooker is a great place to start.
Recommended Songs
When it comes to the blues, there are a lot of great songs to choose from. It can be overwhelming trying to decide where to start. That’s why we’ve put together a list of recommended songs for a blues beginner. This list includes some of the most classic blues songs as well as some modern songs that still capture the essence of the blues.
“The Thrill is Gone” by B.B. King
This song is a classic blues ballad that was released in 1969. B.B. King is a legendary blues musician and this song is one of his most famous. It is a slow-paced song that tells the story of a relationship that has ended. The lyrics are simple, but the emotion in King’s voice is what makes this song so special.
“Hoochie Coochie Man” by Muddy Waters
“Hoochie Coochie Man” is a classic blues song written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1954. Thesong became one of Waters’ signature tunes and helped to secure his reputation as one of the leading bluesmen of his generation. It has been covered by a wide variety of artists, including Eric Clapton, the Grateful Dead, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
“Boom Boom” by John Lee Hooker
“Boom Boom” is a classic blues song recorded by John Lee Hooker in 1962. The song is an uptempo twelve-bar blues with a hook that is easy to sing along to. The lyrics tell the story of a man who is looking for a woman who can give him what he needs.
The song has been covered by many artists, including Eric Clapton, The Animals, and George Thorogood. “Boom Boom” is a great song for beginners to learn because it is simple and catchy.
