Aspiring blues musicians can learn to play or sing in blues styles through lessons, websites, books, videos, and studying the works of top blues musicians. The guitar and piano are common choices for blues performers, and the pentatonic or blues scale and 12-bar chord progression are important features. Studying the music of artists from various blues genres, such as Robert Johnson, is suggested for anyone wanting to become a blues musician.
To become a blues musician, the aspiring artist must learn to play or sing in blues styles. The musician may already be a talented instrumentalist or vocalist. In other cases, someone without such knowledge might learn to play an instrument or sing in the blues style. A budding musician can take lessons from an instructor, find instructions on websites, use books and videos to learn to play the blues, and also study the works of top blues musicians.
Although the blues can be played on any instrument, the guitar and piano are common choices for blues performers. Using any instrument, someone aspiring to become a blues musician can learn a few simple chords. Once he knows a few chords, he can play songs and continue to hone his skills. Someone who already knows how to play an instrument will be able to advance more quickly.
Blues often uses what is known as the pentatonic or blues scale, which helps give blues music its distinctive sound. This scale primarily uses five notes, compared to the seven notes used in classical music. A pentatonic scale can be played in all major and minor keys.
Another important feature of blues music is the 12-bar chord progression. Describes the chords used in the song and the bars in which the chords are used. Chord progressions are often indicated using Roman numerals, such as I – IV – V. The I represents the root chord of the key, the IV represents the fourth chord, and the V represents the fifth chord. A common 12-bar progression is I – I – I – I – IV – IV – I – I – V – IV – I – V.
To authentically play the blues, someone who would like to become a blues musician will want to immerse themselves in the music of artists from various blues genres, such as Delta, Memphis, New Orleans, and Chicago styles. Among all blues songwriters, singers and guitarists, Robert Johnson, born in 1911 and died in 1938, was one of the most influential. Although he lived only a short time, his music influenced highly respected musicians and groups such as Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. Studying his recordings is suggested for anyone wanting to become a blues musician. Some other musicians whose work is worth studying include Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley, BB King, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy.
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