Blues music has a defined structure and has some characteristics that are well defined.
It is within these defining limitations that the artist can demonstrate their creativity.
The twelve-bar blues structure, expressive vocals, call and response patterns, the use of the blues scale, and strong rhythmic patterns are some of the characteristics of blues music.
There are other characteristics, but these are present in many blues songs.
The 12-bar Blues Structure is a Characteristic of Blues Music.
The twelve-bar blues structure is a characteristic of blues music.
There are 12 notes in a Major musical scale.
For simplicity’s sake, I will demonstrate the C major scale.
The notes in the C major scale are C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and back to C.
The most common 12-bar blues structure would be 4 measures of C, 2 of F, 2 of C, 1 of G, 1 of F, and 2 of C.
This 12-bar sequence will continue to repeat.
The chords are identified by their place in the scale.
C is the 1 chord, F is the 4 chord, and G is the 5 chord.
So, when playing the blyes in any scale, using this pattern, you would have 4 bars of the 1 chord, 2 of the 4 Chord, usually designated as IV, 2 of the 1 chord, 1 of the 5 chord, usualy designatee as V, 1 of IV and 2 of 1.
These chords are usually played as dominant 7th chords.
Blues can be played in any key. The keys I use most often are E, A, and G.
Expressive Vocals are a Characteristic of Blues Music.
Blues vocals are often characterized by their emotional depth and expressive delivery.
Singers often convey feelings of sadness, longing, or despair through their vocal performances.
When Muddy Waters wanted to convey emotion, he would often sing just a little bit flat with that part of his vocals.
Call and Response Patterns are Characteristics of Blues Music.
The call and response patterns are characteristics that show up in many blues songs.
A line of the lyrics is sung and then repeated almost exactly as the first and then there is a line of response.
This is said to have originated in the fields while the African American slaves worked and were used to relieve the boredom of the repetitive work they were required to do.
The use of the Blues Scale is a Characteristic of Blues Music.
The minor Blues Scale has some notes added to the Minor Pentatonic Scale.
The minor Pentatonic Scale used 5 notes from the Minor Scale.
The C minor Pentatonic Scale would be C, Eb, F, G, and Bb.
For the C minor Blues scale the notes would be C, Eb, F, Gb, G, and B. The G flat is added and the Bb becomes B.
These provide the bluesy sound that we love about the blues.
There are also Major Blues Scales.
There is a scale for each note on the guitar.
A quick search with any search engine will provide you with any Blues Scale you would like to see.
A Strong Rhythmic Foundation is a Characteristic of Blues Music.
Blues music typically has a strong rhythmic foundation with an emphasis on a steady beat that encourages listeners to feel the groove.
Conclusion:
These characteristics collectively define the essence of blues music and contribute to its enduring appeal and cultural significance.
Blues remains a versatile and influential genre that has had a profound impact on the development of many other styles of music, including rock and jazz.