Where Did The Blues Originate

The question "where did the Blues originate" is not an easy one to answer. Ask ten different blues fans, and you are likely to get ten different answers. The real answer all depends on how far back you want to trace things. Some people think Blues came from the American Delta region while others trace the origins of the Blues to Africa. The one thing that is for sure is that the Blues is one of the oldest styles of music around and has close ties to another genre, folk. Here are some facts about Blues music that will help you come to your own conclusion to that question, where did the Blues originate.

One thing that is generally accepted about the Blues is the very first Blues songs were chants and call and response songs that were often sung by African American slaves in the southern US. At the end of the 19th century, it became popular to add these songs, passed down through oral tradition, to music. As the 20th century dawned and recorded music started to enter the picture, the Blues gained traction as a music genre. In fact, some of the earliest recordings we have are of Blues songs. These facts about the origins of the Blues are not disputed – here are a few more facts to help you understand the history of the genre a little more:

Why is the music called “the Blues”? Naturally it has a lot to do with the subject matter. The Blues is short for “blue devils” – a term that was frequently used at the turn of the 20th century to describe sadness or depression. The term also comes from the notes frequently used in the music – the so-called “blue notes.” Blue notes, also called worried notes, are played at a pitch lower than that of the major scale. Blue notes can be created with an instrument or sung, but they are always used to give a song a haunting, melancholic tone. Various blues sub genres use the blue notes differently and use different alterations – this is one of the main ways to distinguish between blues sub genres.

There is a very specific structure in Blues music. Typically, a 12 bar progression is present, and 12 bar blues is the most common style of the music. Usually, three chords are played over the 12 bar progression.

Originally, most of the lyrics in Blues songs involved singing one line four times. In more recent times, it has become more typical for lyrical lines to be in sets of twos – a statement and then a conclusion or follow up to that statement. In terms of content, the lyrics are generally about lost love, cheating in relationships, loneliness and financial woes.

The Blues as listeners know it today may have started out as a southern phenomenon, but there are regional variations in the style. Some of the most popular regional variations of the Blues are:

• Piedmont Blues
• Louisiana Blues
• Swamp Blues
• St. Louis Blues
• New Orleans Blues
• West Coast Blues
• Country Blues

Outside of the US, the UK in particular has a rich tradition of Blues music. British Blues music gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s as rock groups melded it with their sounds. Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton are two examples of British Blues artists from that era.

Since Blues has such a long and storied history and encompasses so many styles, it’s easy to miss out on tons of great music in the genre. Are you a Blues fan? Which artists do you think everyone should know? Share your favorite Blues musicians or songs by leaving us a comment.

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