What are the Blues? Pt. 2

Now I will discuss some of the musical aspects that make the blues sound the way that they do.

Most music has a structure called a chord progression, that is, chords within the key that follow a certain pattern. The most widely used is called a I-IV-V (1,4,5) progression. For example, in th key of 'C':

C-I (root or tonic)

D-II

E-III

F-IV

G-V

A-VI

B-VII

C-VIII/I (root one octave higher

by counting off, F and G are the IV an V respectively. In the I-IV-V progression, the chords are C, F, and G. G is the last chord played and finishes or resolves the sequence and the progression will start over or end on the root chord (C in this case).

There are many different Chords out there, but called the "7" is most commonly used on the V chord of a progression. It is within the key signature of the key, and gives an extra bit of urgency in resolving the progression. Blues often use sevenths for the I, IV, and V, giving the blues their characteristic, edgier sound. slapping sevenths in all three chords goes outside the key signature and gives a more meloncholy undertone. Without going into every key, the seventh for F is E flat, which is the minor 3rd for C, the note that makes the chord a minor chord, or a "sad" chord. Normally this is E natural and makes the chord sound "happy". In addition, solos usually use the minor pentatonic (5 note scales) on top of this progression to further give a darker sound.

What are the Blues? Pt. 1

So I'm going to take some time aside to write about blues and what makes it a distinct musical genre.

To begin with, it is a fusion of Western and African musical influences. A lot of classic blues have a "swing" or "shuffle" feel picked up from its Gospel roots. Many rhythms for blues songs came from something as simple as the rhythm of a horse trot on the road.

Many blues songs feature what is called a "call and respond". Musicians like B.B. King would burst forth with a soulful vocal melody for a couple beats and "respond" with a lick on his guitar. Others like Stevie Ray Vaughan might do a purely instrumental "call and respond" where he would "call out" by playing the rhythm chords, then he would spit out a guitar lick.

Blues are commonly thought to always be "sad". A lot of classic blues songs are about women and other frustrations facing the working man. Even the more uptempo songs have a darker undertone to them, making them musically and tonally complex. However some songs can be pretty upbeat and jazzy. Indeed funk has its roots in the blues as well as rock and roll.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Kenny Wayne Sheppard is Texas Blues player and one of many competing for Stevie Ray Vaughan's Throne.

While technically born in Louisiana as Kenny Wayne Brobst, Shepherd was first inspired by Stevie Ray Vaughan to pick up the guitar at a concert that his father was promoting. Growing up, he would play on his "cheap Yamaha wanna-be Stratocaster" and listen to Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Albert Lee, reverse engineering their licks. A soulful player and and singer Shepherd teamed up early on with Noah Hunt who provided lead vocals for many of Shepherd's songs. While comparisons to SRV are fairly easy to see, Shepherd has his own tone that has a little more bite to it in my opinion.

Shepherd has put a few tracks at the top of the charts. "Blue on Black" is probably his best known song but the list also includes "Somehow, Somewhere, Someway", and my favorite from "ledbetter Heights", "Deja Voodo".

Here are a couple Clips: 

"Deja Voodoo" go ahead and skip the introduction =P

and

"Blue on Black"

Joe Bonamassa

Joes Bonamassa grew up in Utica, New York as a fourth generation musician, his father a guitar player, and both his grandfater and great father being trumpet players. Unlike most blues players, Bonamassa was inspired more by British and Irish blues rockers than by the traditional delta blues forefathers. Influences that Bonamassa cited include "The Jeff Beck Group", Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Rory Gallagher. According the Bonamassa, “I think, the English interpretation of the blues just hit me a lot better, you know?" Personally, this resounds with me as I am much the same way. I was first and am primarily influenced by artists from the later generation of 20th century blues artists.

Bonamassa debuted in 2000 with A New Day Yesterday, a play off of the '69 Jethro Tull song of the same name. Bonamassa covers the title song in the album. Bonamassa staryed into pop rock on occasiion, but by and large has remained true to his blues roots. He has a very raw sound. His vocals really belt and his guitar playing matches it. He comes from the same vein as one of his musical fathers, Gary Moore. Bonamassa plays Strats, but mostly I have seen him play a Gibosn Les Paul, which lends itself to Bonamassa's heavy, meatier style of playing.


Here are two live videos

Blues Deluxe

If Heartaches Were Nickels

Gary Moore

The world lost a premier blues man on February 6, 2011 when Gary Moore passed while on vacation in Spain.


Moore was born in Ireland and played with the Irish Rock band Thin Lizzy on several occasions as well as B.B. King, Albert King and Skid Row. Cited influences of his playing style include The Beatles, Jimi Hendix, Albert King, and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers among others.


Gary Moore plays a Gibson Les Paul. The Humbuckers lend a thicker tone than say a Stratocaster. Combined with some hefty overdrive, Moore's tone tends to stand out amongst the crowd.


Moore has dabbled in various genre's during his solo career, sometimes to the confusion of his fans, but he has always remained rooted in the blues.


Still Got the Blues is by far Moore's most popular album followed by Bad for You Baby (by internet downloads), however my personal favorite is Back to the Blues. It has two of my top five Gary Moore songs (linked below) "Enough of the Blues" and "The Prophet". The former is a raucous, driving song, and a good sampler of similiar Moore fair. "The Prophet" is at the opposite end of the spectrum. All instrumental and dripping with emotion, it is a true work of art.


"Enough of the Blues"
"The Prophet"

Sonny Landreth

Sonny Landreth is a slide blues guitarist based in Louisiana. I recommend him because he a)sounds awesome b) has a unique technique/sound. Although he uses a slide, Sonny will also fully fret some strings with his free fingers lending a hybridized sound or the best of both worlds. Doing this fluidly modulates between chords/calls and responses. He also taps, slaps and picks the strings with his picking hand. He is without a doubt a blues guitarist, but some of his songs do seem to venture into country territory. Not a complaint, but an observation. Hearing Sonny speak naturally he is a bit of a bassist, but he sings in a sonorous head voice that blends well with his guitar.

One of his more popular and recent albums "From the Reach", is a collaborative effort with Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson and Vince Gill. As Sonny put it, it "something [he'd] always wanted to do". He mentions that they had all drawn from the same musical sources growing up, so they had a common ground to work off of, and it shows. Each guitar great throws in their flavor, yet the album does not lose any cohesiveness from track to track. I'd recommend this to any serious fan of the blues. 

Here are a couple sample videos:
Promise Land
and
Blue Tarp Blues