What is interesting about blues music?
Blues is a unique genre of music, packed with feelings and constantly enjoyed by a lot of people. It is rhythmic and sometimes described as expressive because most of its singers sing songs and notes that mean something to them, almost always about love that was lost.
How did blues music get its name?
The name of this great American music probably originated with the 17th-century English expression “the blue devils,” for the intense visual hallucinations that can accompany severe alcohol withdrawal. Shortened over time to “the blues,” it came to mean a state of agitation or depression.
Blues songs are lyrical rather than narrative; blues singers are expressing feelings rather than telling stories. The emotion expressed is generally one of sadness or melancholy, often due to problems of love but also oppression and hard times.
Why is it important to learn blues music?
The blues influence continued to stay and still shines in modern country music today. Country has in turn also interwoven with blues music as well. The blues also gave birth to Rock and roll. Early rock n roll became huge because of artists like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard.
What are the features of the blues?
The elements of music in the blues
- it was common to include bent notes – usually the flattened third, fifth or seventh note of the scale.
- the performer often improvises over a chord progression.
- melismas are heard in many blues vocal melodies.
Are there any interesting facts about the Blues?
The Blues is full of larger-than-life characters and these thumbnail facts are meant to give a flavour of the person behind the name. They sometimes expose the quirky side to a personality or an interest outside their musical career, and they will often miss out the most interesting, important and well known facts about an artist.
What are the different types of blues music?
Some of the many styles include Delta and Memphis blues, and “electric” forms such as Chicago blues and blues rock. Blues songs often feature sad themes with simple tunes, typically based around three chords. During the 20th century, the blues became a huge influence upon the development of pop music.
What’s the best way to think about blues music?
That’s a good way to think about blues music – it’s personal but not private. When most people think about blues music, songs are what come to mind. In typical pieces, the singer would tell a sad story through a series of verses. Each verse usually had three lines or phrases: The first line would be a lament or complaint.
Where did the blues music come from in the south?
Blues developed in the southern United States after the American Civil War (1861–65). It was influenced by work songs and field hollers, minstrel show music, ragtime, church music, and the folk and popular music of the white population. Blues derived from and was largely played by Southern black men,…