The Blues Remain: A Sheet Music Analysis
Contents
In his new book The Blues Remain, author and musicologist Ted Gioia takes a deep dive into the history and evolution of the blues through sheet music. By analyzing over 200 songs, Gioia provides a comprehensive and fascinating look at how the blues have changed and influenced popular music over the last century.
The History of the Blues
The blues is a style of music that originated in the African-American communities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.It is a style of music that is characterized by its use of the blue note, call-and-response patterns, and 12-bar blues chord progressions.
The Origins of the Blues
The blues is a style of music that originated in the African-American communities of the southern United States around the end of the 19th century. It is a form of music that is characterized by its use of blue notes, rhythm and blues, and gospel influences. The blues has been a major influence on other genres of music, such as jazz, rock and roll, and country music.
The origin of the blues is not well-documented, but there are some theories that suggest that the style of music developed from work songs, spirituals, and Afro-American folk songs. There is also evidence to suggest that the blues may have roots in West African music. The term “blues” was first used to describe this style of music in the late 19th century. The earliest known recordings of the blues were made in the 1920s.
The blues remained popular throughout the 20th century, and it continues to be a major force in music today. The blues has been cited as an important influence by many musicians, including Muddy Waters, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
The Spread of the Blues
The Mississippi Delta was not the only place the blues was spreading to. In fact, the first recorded instance of the blues happened in New York City in 1917. W.C. Handy was a musician who was walking through a park and heard a man playing a guitar and singing. The singer was singing in a style that Handy had never heard before. The interesting thing about this instance is that the man who Handy heard singing was not from the Mississippi Delta region. He was from Kentucky. This goes to show that the blues was not just limited to one region of the country; it was beginning to spread to other areas as well.
The Structure of the Blues
The blues is a genre of music that is often misunderstood. Many people think that the blues is simply sad music, but it is so much more than that. The blues is a form of music that originated in the African-American community in the early 1900s. It is a musical expression of the struggles and hardships that black Americans faced during that time.
The Form of the Blues
The form of the blues is usually twelve bars long and has a characteristic harmonic scheme. The first section, or “A part”, is typically eight bars long and consists of the tonic chord, or “I” chord, being played for four bars, followed by a chord progression based on the fourth, fifth and sixth scale degrees, or “IV”, “V” and “VI” chords, being played for two bars each. This chord progression is then repeated in the second section, or “B part”.
The third section, or “C part”, is typically four bars long and consists of a return to the tonic chord. The fourth section, or “D part”, is also typically four bars long and consists of a repeat of the B part.
The final section, or “tag”, is two to four bars long and consists of a return to the tonic chord.
The Chords of the Blues
The blues is almost always based on a 12-bar chord progression. The root of the chord (the note that the chord is named after) usually moves up or down by one fret every two bars, while the other notes in the chord remain static. For example, in a typical 12-bar blues in the key of C, you might have something like this:
C – C – C – C
F – F – C – C
G – F – C – C
The first four bars (often called the “A section”) are based on the I chord (C), then the next four bars (the “B section”) are based on the IV chord (F), and then you resolve back to the I chord in bars 9-12. This basic progression can be embellished with additional chords in different places, but it’s always fundamentally based on that 12-bar structure.
The Lyrics of the Blues
The Blues remain a central part of American music, with influence seeping into almost every genre. The lyrics of the Blues often reflect the hard times experienced by the people who created this music. Many of the lyrics are sad and depressing, but there is also a feeling of hope and resilience.
The Themes of the Blues
The lyrics of the blues often deal with the hard realities of life, including difficult topics like poverty, violence, and heartbreak. Despite the often bleak subject matter, the blues can also be funny, upbeat, and even erotic. The best blues songs are those that combine all of these elements to create a complex and rich portrait of life.
The Language of the Blues
The lyrics of the blues are often about the hardships of life, love, and loss. But the genre is also known for its use of slang and unique phrases. Here are some common blues terms and their meanings:
-Ain’t: This term is used to express disbelief or denial. For example, “I ain’t never seen nothing like that before.”
-Baby: A term of endearment, often used to refer to a romantic partner.
-Bad luck: This phrase is used to describe hard times or misfortune.
-Beat up: To be exhausted or wore out.
– Cakewalk: An easy task or situation.
The Influence of the Blues
The blues is a musical genre that has its roots in the African-American experience. The blues began as a way for African-Americans to express their feelings of sadness, anger, and frustration. The blues has evolved over the years, but its influence can still be heard in many different genres of music today.
The Impact of the Blues
While the blues may have originated in the U.S., the genre has had a profound influence on music around the world. The blues have been a major influence on jazz, rock and roll, and even country music. Many of the most popular musicians in these genres have been heavily influenced by the blues.
In jazz, artists like Miles Davis and John Coltrane took the blues to new heights, fusing it with other genres to create something entirely new.In rock and roll, artists like Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley brought the sound of the blues to a mainstream audience. And in country music, artists like Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers popularized the genre with their own unique style.
The impact of the blues can still be felt today, even though the genre has evolved over time. The influence of the blues can be heard in modern day musicians like John Mayer, Jack White and Gary Clark Jr. So whether you’re a fan of jazz, rock, country or anything in between, chances are you’ve been influenced by the blues in some way.
The Legacy of the Blues
The legacy of the blues can be seen in many different ways. The music has been an influence on other genres such as jazz, rock and roll, and country. It has also been an important part of the African American experience.
The blues began in the late 1800s in the United States. African American musicians developed a new style of music that combined elements of African and European music. The blues was originally performed by singers with guitars or other stringed instruments. It was often sad and melancholic, but it could also be upbeat and celebratory.
As the blues evolved, it became more popular with white audiences. White musicians began to play the blues, and it became a staple of popular music. In the 1960s, British bands such as the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin helped to popularize the blues in Europe and beyond.
Today, the blues is enjoyed by people all over the world. It remains an important part of American culture and continues to influence other genres of music.
