What is the blues?

what is blues music?

When it comes to modern music, we can't help but talk about Blues. It is a musical style created by black people living in the United States in the hardship of riff-raff. It originated in the delta of the Mississippi River at the beginning of the 2th century, and it worked as a labor chant for people in the early days. Later, it gradually influenced the development track of world pop music. Now you are familiar with words like ROCK'N ROLL and R'N B? The Blues scale used in these two kinds of music is something you can't learn in the school music class, but every day when you walk down the street, the sound coming from the video store has already made it deeply in your heart .......

In the 192s, Blues catered to some people with its unique lyrics, harmonious rhythm and melancholy melody, and gradually rose. Blues music contains many poetic languages, which are repeated repeatedly and then end with a decisive line. Melody is based on chords, with three chords of I, IV and V as the main chords, and 12 bars as a pattern. In the melody, the third, fifth and seventh notes on the main melody are lowered by a semitone, which makes people feel bittersweet and sentimental.

although the lead singer is the focus in Blues music, the improvisation of guitar-based instruments is also very wonderful. Musicians can go beyond the boundaries of chords and play at will. Besides the melancholy melody, it also includes the scraping sound of a knife and the use of a slider, as well as the humming sound of imitating the lead singer. Eric Clapton is a successful musician and songwriter in the process of popularizing Blues music. If you haven't heard of it, start feeling it now!

Today, Blues music has been included in the mainstream music, and many of its elements have been more applied to rock music and pop music. However, the traditional Blues music still has great strength. Musicians in this field include B.B.King, John Lee Hooker, Etta Baker, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy.

types of blues music

modern blues

Modern blues is a broad concept, which includes all modern blues artists. Although they have not met the legendary old-school blues artists, they have followed their steps. Modern blues uses both acoustic guitars and electric guitars, combining various elements from rock to pop to folk songs. Some blues purists or critics behind closed doors will say that modern blues are just simple imitators; But they actually combine creativity, talent and more modern senses on the basis of respecting past artists. Stevie Ray Vaugan has always been regarded as a unique blues revivalist before his death (he was killed in a helicopter crash in 199), followed by Robert Cray and Keb‘ Mo'.

Jump blues

In the swing era, big band jazz, blues, gospel music and "Boogie-Woogie piano" were all combined to become "Jump blues". Cab Calloway emphasizes melody when singing fresh and interesting songs. Slim Gaillard "speaks" and sings hilarious surreal songs (usually about food), while his band shouts in unison. Louis Jordan also mastered this high-energy jumping blues, while Louis Prima combined Louis Armstrong's vocal changes and trumpet skills. The West Coast version of Jumping Blues was greatly influenced by the relaxed jazz trio of Nat Cole, replacing the powerful energy with sophisticated music and lyrics. Charles Brown, a singer and pianist trained in formal classical music, is the best representative of the West Coast. Jumping blues influenced R&B; B) Rock and roll became the mainstream music of American parties, and later became the main element of the swing revival in the 199s.

Harmonica blues

It was initiated by Sonny Boy Williamson II, Lazy Lester and Jimmy Reed-then brought into the late 2th century by LittleWalter and Junior Wells-and the blues harmonica was the core. Little Walter developed the electronic version of this style in Chicago, while Slim Harpo played the neck harmonica in Louisiana. In the next few years, Paul Butterfield and Bob Dylan integrated the harmonica into folk songs, rock and blues.

electric blues

as long as it is plugged in, it is electronic. Although electronic blues is marked by the use of electric guitar, it is also marked by electric bass-pickup (a device used to amplify acoustic instruments) is installed in cello and acoustic guitar. From the post-war tragedian Little Walter to the electric guitarists Smokey Wilson and Eddie Kirkland, they are all spokesmen of the electronic blues tradition.

Delta Blues

Delta Blues are mostly played with an acoustic guitar, which is a prototype of the blues. Its representatives include legendary Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, the founder of Chicago blues, harmonica player Sonny Boy WilliansonII and the king of blues, John Lee Hooker. Delta Blue calls passionate lyrics and vocals, usually solo, but also some small groups, such as Willianson's various groups, which have also been recorded.

classic female blues

women began to contact the blues in 192. There are singers such as Maraney and Bessie Smith who have created many sharp and confident works. Later musicians, such as Billie Holiday, reduced their sharpness, but they also truly reflected their lives and relationships.

country blues

is a kind of blues that originated in the southern and midwest of the United States and was mostly played by the acoustic guitar. Country blues uses solos, duets and string ensembles from the early sliding guitar to fingering. Pioneers Skip James, Brownie McGhee, Lead Belly and Lightnin' Hopkins pioneered this style that no longer exists. The later electronic guitar made it smoothly transformed into electronic and modern country blues.

Van Deville

In the early days of variety shows, many theaters neglected black performances because of their preference for white ones (ironically, they often put on some burlesque to imitate the old-fashioned image of black people). Because of the exclusion of the mainstream, black artists formed their own circles and staged plays for black audiences in a few places in the United States. These variety shows usually include burlesque, magic, dancing, etc., but the most striking is the blues singing performance-a group of singers such as Maraney and Bessie Smith have appeared. Variety shows require performers to please the audience beyond singing, so they add drama and dance to make black variety shows attract the audience more deeply. Butterbeans and Susie, the best performers in variety shows, have long been famous for their special comedy performances and superb blues duets. Variety blues was at its peak in the 192s.

urban blues

the lyrics of urban blues fully reflect urban life. The word "urban blues" was originally used to distinguish it from rural blues, and gradually formed its own style in the 194s. Urban blues includes the latest tricks from Louis Jordan's jumping blues to jazz, including Percy Mayfield and Ray Charles' humming with the feeling of urbanization.

Texas blues

Texas blues was developed in the 192s, and it was largely out of country music, only to filter out nasal sounds. It has a loose rhythm, also known as "Texas drag", and it drags a little behind the beat. Lyrics, get rid of the theme of "trying to worry". Texas blues often uses traditional melodies, a guitar instead of a guitar ensemble. However, Texas blues became electronic after World War II, mainly influenced by Clarence "Gotha Month" Brown, who performed solo with electric guitar in the wind music section. Since then, T-Bone Walker and Stevie Ray Vanghan have continued to maintain the rhythm of procrastination and relaxed Texas tradition.

Swamp blues

It's named after the swamp in Louisiana. Swamp blues is played slowly with harmonica and guitar, and there has been a great Slim Harpo. By mixing the rhythm of New Orleans and blues, and adding echo and delayed electric guitar effect, swamp blues can be melodious like Lonesome Sundown and Lightnin' Slim, and lively like Lazy Lester's harmonica.

soul blues

a fusion of traditional blues and the fast melody of soul music in the 196s. Soul blues is an artist who covers both traditions. Based on standard blues bands-piano, guitar, bass, harmonica and percussion-and sometimes wind music with rhythm and blues tunes, soul blues musicians extend the traditional boundaries and maintain the foundation of soul music. Etta James, Bobby "Blues" Brand and Jonnie Taylor were all masters of soul blues.

piano blues

jazz, blues and improvisation in various periods, as long as they are blues played on the piano, that is piano blues. The piano blues range from Count Basie and Rossevelt Sykes to Ray Charles, Dr.John and even Thomas A. Dorsey, the founder of gospel music.

new york blues

The mature new york blues absorbed the essence of jumping blues, swing, Bebop and early rhythm blues. It broke out in the swing period in the 194s, when Lionel Hampton's big band used blues singers and strong rhythm. Big Joe Turner, who was just shouting, influenced rock music. Erskine Hawkins and Eddie “Cleanhead ”Vinson linked the popular blues with the highly respected swing jazz.

New Orleans blues

As the name implies, blues is by no means a smile for fun (English "blues" means sadness). But here-not alone-the New Orleans blues is slightly different. It has Caribbean rhythm (especially rumba) and some southern American music colors, and it is only useful at parties. This category can be relaxed and relaxed, and it can also be bold and unrestrained. There are outstanding artists such as Fats Domino and Professor Longhair, accompanied by horns and improvisation piano.

Memphis Blues

When W.C. Handy wrote "Memphis Blues", he had no idea of the far-reaching influence of this word. The first of the two major schools of Memphis blues was born in Beale Street in the 192s, and it was derived from many "jug bands" and variety shows. Memphis Jug Band's string style and Memphis Minnie's and Frank Stokes' rough and often funny style were popular. This early form of Memphis blues invented a method of playing: the lead guitar has a special "segment" in a song-this method has become the standard method so far. The latter Memphis blues is an electronic style that started in the early 195s, and it is a louder and more radical blues. Musicians used enlarged and distorted guitars and heavy drums, which had a more direct influence on most blues artists today.

Jazz blues

Jazz blues has a solid foundation of blues, but it also absorbs varied and faster jazz music. This kind of musicians usually mix the improvisation characteristics of jazz into the triad structure of classical blues music. Jazz blues include jazz-oriented works by pianist MoseAllison, solid blues by guitarist Lonnie Johnson, and passionate and colorful piano blues by Ray Charles.

folk blues

folk blues can be traced back to the original sound style of small bar music and small evening celebrations at the junction of the 19th and 2th centuries. It originated from the influence of the South from Texas to the Delta, and is regarded by many as the most original music in America. Although the early American blues were equally popular, it was the folk blues that really brought people into bars to dance. It was Lead Belly and Sony Terry and Brownie McGhee who later passed on the folk blues style, and the guitarist BenHarper in the 199s successfully reproduced this style without being recognized as a retro.

early American blues

this category includes the earliest recordings of blues. From W.C. Handy to Robert Johnson, the quality of this kind of records is usually not that good.