What is the Blues Music?

The blues is a genre of music that originated in the African-American communities of the United States. It is characterized by its use of the blue note, and its focus on the expression of emotions.

The Birth of the Blues

The Blues is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of the American South in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The music typically consists of musical compositions based on the 12-bar blues chord progression, as well as the blues scale.

The Origins of the Blues

The origins of the blues are shrouded in mystery, but there is evidence that the music has its roots in the African-American experience. The earliest blues were song-like melodies that were passed down orally from generation to generation. These songs were often about love, heartbreak, and poverty, and they incorporated elements of both European and African musical traditions.

The first Blues recordings were made in the 1920s, and the genre quickly gained popularity. Over the next few decades, the Blues evolved into a variety of different styles, including country Blues, electric Blues, and Chicago Blues. The Blues continues to be a popular and influential genre of music today.

The Spread of the Blues

The modern blues were first codified in the early 1920s by Texas-born singer and songwriter Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter (1888–1949). But it was the Memphis-based musician W. C. Handy (1873–1958), considered the “Father of the Blues,” who helped to popularize and disseminate the music with his songs “St. Louis Blues” (1914) and “Beale Street Blues” (1916). In the years that followed, a new form of folk blues featuring one guitar and one voice became increasingly popular among rural blacks in the South. With its simple, direct melody and words—often about love, work, or poverty—this music had great appeal for both black and white audiences.

The Elements of the Blues

The Blues is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities in the Deep South of the United States at the end of the 19th century. It is characterized by its use of the blue notes, and by its distinctive chord progressions.

The 12-Bar Blues

The most commonly used chord progression in blues and rock music is the 12-bar blues. The form is usually three lines (or verses), each consisting of 12 bars (or measures). The first and third lines repeat, while the second line changes. This 12-bar form is so common that it’s often just called “the blues.”

There are a few different ways to play a 12-bar blues, but the most common way is to use three chords: the tonic (the “home” chord, which gives the songs its name), the subdominant (usually a IV chord), and the dominant (usually a V chord). In a major key, these chords would be I, IV, and V; in a minor key, they would be i, iv, and V.

The tonic chord usually lasts for four bars, while the other two chords each last for two bars. This gives the form its distinctive “question-and-answer” feel: The tonic chord is like the question, and the other two chords are like the answer. For example, in a 12-bar blues in C major, the tonic chord would be C; the subdominant would be F; and the dominant would be G.

The basic structure of a 12-bar blues progression looks like this:

I I I I
IV IV I I
V IV I I
I I I I
IV IV I I
V V V V
I VI II V

The Call-and-Response

The defining characteristic of the blues is the “call-and-response” pattern. This form originated in the African American community in the Deep South of the United States and was later adopted by musicians throughout the world.

The call-and-response pattern is simple: one person sings or plays a phrase, and then another person responds with another phrase. This back-and-forth can happen between two people, or one person can sing/play a phrase and then a group responds together. This interactivity is what gives the blues its unique feeling of communication and connection.

The call-and-response pattern was likely born out of the tradition of African American work songs, which were used to help coordinate groups of workers while they were working. The leader would sing a phrase, and then the workers would respond with their own phrase. This format allowed everyone to feel like they were a part of the work, and it helped to keep everyone on task.

Over time, this call-and-response pattern made its way into other aspects of African American life, such as church services and social gatherings. It became a way for people to connect with each other through music. And eventually, it made its way into Blues music.

The call-and-response format is central to the Blues because it captures the feeling of conversation and connection that is so central to the genre. When you listen to Blues music, you should feel like you are part of a conversation between the musicians and the singer. You should feel like you are part of something bigger than yourself.

The Blue Notes

The blues scale is a six-note scale derived from the minor pentatonic scale and added with a ♭5, or “blue note.” The blues notes are what give the blues its characteristic “soul” sound.

In tonal music, the blues scale is built on the minor pentatonic scale plus one “blue note.” The term “blue note” can refer to either the lowered third degree (♭3) or the lowered seventh degree (♭7) of the major scale. In jazz and blues, ♭5 is also sometimes considered a blue note.

The most common blues scale consists of the following intervals:
1 – ♭3 – 4 – ♭5 – 5 – 7
This particular blues scale is known as the minor blues scale. It can be played in all twelve keys.

The Styles of the Blues

The blues music is said to have started around the late 1800s in the southern United States. It is a type of music that is based on the African American experience. The blues is a mix of different African and European music styles.

The Delta Blues

The Delta blues is a style of blues music that originated in the Mississippi Delta, a region of the United States that stretches from Memphis, Tennessee, to Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Delta blues is characterized by a unique mix of African and European influences, which can be heard in the use of slide guitar and the church-influenced call-and-response singing. The Delta blues was a major influence on the development of other styles of blues and popular music, including rock and roll.

The Chicago Blues

The electric guitar and harmonica define the Chicago blues sound. The first recordings of Chicago blues were made in the 1920s, and by the 1930s, electric guitars and amplifiers were common instrumentation for Chicago blues bands. Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Willie Dixon were masterminds at creating songs that reflected the struggles of everyday life yet were somehow also uplifting. Boogie-woogie piano is also commonly associated with early Chicago blues.

Chicago blues is often played in a band setting, featuring drums, bass, guitar and sometimes horns. The electric guitar usually takes center stage, with the drummer providing a steady backbeat and the bass keeping things moving along. Rhythm and lead guitar parts are often interwoven, creating a dense wall of sound.

The Electric Blues

The Electric Blues is a style of blues music that is characterized by the use of electric guitars, amps, and drums. This style of blues is often associated with the bands and artists who developed it in the 1950s, including Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Willie Dixon. The Electric Blues has its roots in theChicago Blues, a style of blues that was developed in the city of Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s.

The Influences of the Blues

The blues is a genre of music that originated in the African-American communities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The blues has been a major influence on other genres of music, such as jazz, rock and roll, and hip hop.

The Blues on Jazz

The blues has been a major influence on jazz since its inception. Bessie Smith, known as the Empress of the Blues, was one of the first jazz singers to reach a wide audience. Her style influenced many later singers, including Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Aretha Franklin. The blues also had an impact on the development of jazz instrumentation. The use of blue notes (notes played at a slightly lower pitch than usual), improvisation, call-and-response patterns, and swing rhythms are all elements that can be traced back to the blues.

The Blues on Rock and Roll

The blues has been a big influence on the development of rock and roll. In the early days of rock and roll, many of the songs were based on or borrows from existing blues songs. The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Cream were among the bands that took existing blues songs and gave them a new twist that appealed to a wider audience. As time went on, more and more rock bands began to incorporate elements of blues into their music. This trend continues today, as many rock musicians still cite the blues as an important influence on their music.