Chapter 3 – American Blues Traditions

Songsters – poor traveling black folk musicians in the late 1800’s – early 1900’s

Many black musicians in the South were day laborers; only a few played music full-time

Some of the musicians were blind; music was the only way they could make a living

In their travels searching for work, musicians encountered a variety of audiences and had to maintain a diverse repertoire

Sang songs that told stories about legendary heroes and villains, notable events and deeds

The words to the verses would change, but the words to the refrain would remain the same, reinforcing the central idea and theme of the song

I I I I

IV IV I I

V IV I I

12-Bar Blues

Although we currently align the form to twelve bars, early blues songsters held chords longer or shorter when it felt right with the mood of the song

12-Bar Blues

12-Bar Blues

12-Bar Blues

Mississippi DeltaArea of flatland that stretches from Memphis,

Tennessee to Vicksburg, MississippiA number of blues styles developed in the

South, but none were more pervasive than that of the Mississippi Delta

Early Blues

Charlie Patton – around 1881, near Jackson Mississippi

Learned guitar at the age of 14, performed music around the delta for 30 years

Made his first recording when he was around 40 years old

His vocal quality was rough, growling and intense

Mississippi Delta Blues

He often deliberately slurred his words, a practice that became an identifying trait of the Delta blues style

He also tended to let his voice blend into his guitar playing, sometimes not finishing the lyrics and letting the guitar finish it instead

Patton's guitar accompaniment was simple, but it created a danceable rhythm

Patton taught and inspired a number of blues singers, most notably Robert Johnson

Mississippi Delta Blues

Robert Johnson – 1911 MississippiTook to the road to make a living as a

musician to avoid sharecroppingHe was a small and handsome man; like many

blues musicians he had a way with womenHe spent the rest of his short life chasing

after women and running away from their men

Mississippi Delta Blues

Characteristics of Mississippi Delta blues musicians

slurred vocalsvocals blended into guitar partsstronger sense of rhythm

Mississippi Delta Blues

Other Regional Blues Styles

Texas - 1893Style was close to field hollerHigher pitched singingLacked steady rhythm

Blind Lemon Jefferson

Atlanta - 1898More pronunciation in vocalsLighter vocal toneMore delicate guitar playing

Blind Willie McTell