80 likes | 301 Views
Blues Instrumentation. Of the early blues styles. Blues Instrumentation- Late 1800’s. In 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 1900’s.
E N D
Blues Instrumentation Of the early blues styles
Blues Instrumentation- Late 1800’s • In 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 1900’s • When 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- Form • As 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- Later Instruments • When 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.
References • Steve Leggett, “Freddie Spruell”. Allmusic.com • Wikipedia, “Blues” and “Delta Blues” • The “Popular Music” journal • “Negro Folk Music USA”, Harold Courlander