Genre Definition
What is Blues music?
Blues is a music genre that originated 1890s--present. Mississippi Delta, USA, late 1800s.
Origin of Blues
Mississippi Delta, USA, late 1800s. Rooted in African American work songs, field hollers, and spirituals. Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and Howlin Wolf shaped the electric Chicago blues style by the 1940s-50s. The form was the direct progenitor of rock and roll, soul, and R&B.
Era: 1890s--present
Defining sound of Blues
12-bar chord progression (I-IV-V) is the structural skeleton of most blues. Expressive guitar techniques -- string bending, vibrato, slide. Call-and-response vocal phrasing. Blue notes (flattened 3rd, 5th, 7th). BPM ranges from slow 50 to uptempo shuffle at 160.
Essential Blues albums
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Pioneers of Blues
- Robert Johnson
- Muddy Waters
- Howlin Wolf
- B.B. King
- Son House
Key Blues artists
Related genres
Frequently asked questions about Blues
- When did Blues start?
- Blues originated 1890s--present. Mississippi Delta, USA, late 1800s.
- Who invented Blues?
- Blues was pioneered by Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, B.B. King, Son House. Mississippi Delta, USA, late 1800s. Rooted in African American work songs, field hollers, and spirituals. Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and Howlin Wolf shaped the electric Chicago blues style by the 1940s-50s. The form was the direct progenitor of rock and roll, soul, and R&B.
- Is Blues still popular?
- Blues continues to be listened to and has influenced countless artists since its origins. Key contemporary artists in the genre include Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Etta James.
- What does Blues sound like?
- 12-bar chord progression (I-IV-V) is the structural skeleton of most blues. Expressive guitar techniques -- string bending, vibrato, slide. Call-and-response vocal phrasing. Blue notes (flattened 3rd, 5th, 7th). BPM ranges from slow 50 to uptempo shuffle at 160.
- What is the difference between Blues and jazz?
- Blues and jazz are related genres that share some characteristics but differ in origin, instrumentation, and production approach. See the jazz definition page for a full comparison.
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