Blues Instrumentation

Blues InstrumentationOf the early blues stylesBlues Instrumentation- Late 1800sIn the original blues, there was no accompaniment as it was sung in the form of work- songs and chants, as slaves of the white people.

Blues Instrumentation- Early 1900sWhen the blues more common among the slaves, they began to use some makeshift instruments from everyday items.This is when the jug band came into play, using washboards, spoons, stovepipes and homemade guitars. Sometimes banjos were even made by fastening a discarded guitar neck to a metal pie plate.

Blues Instrumentation- FormAs the guitar began to be associated with the blues (along with the harmonica, or blues harp), the twelve- bar blues form began to be used.This is the simple chord structure of I, IV, and V. (In the key of C, chords C, F and G)The blues also heavily features the harmonic seventh chord.Blues Instrumentation- Slide Playing

Blues Instrumentation- FormChords played over 12- bar bluesChords for blues in CII or IVII7CC or FCC7IVIVII7FFCC7VV or IVII or VGG or FCC or GBlues Instrumentation- Later InstrumentsWhen the electric guitar began to be used widely, blues began to develop a lot more, and the better- known artists, such as Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker were among the first to utilize it. Lead guitar then became a huge part of the blues scene, allowing for solos to be performed over a backing band. The blues scale or pentatonic scales are generally used in the blues. ReferencesSteve Leggett, Freddie Spruell. Allmusic.comWikipedia, Blues and Delta BluesThe Popular Music journalNegro Folk Music USA, Harold Courlander