The blues is a genre of music that originated in the African American communities of the Deep South in the late 19th century. It is characterized by melancholy lyrics, simple chord progressions, and the use of microtonal pitches and blue notes. There are many different styles of blues that emerged over the decades, but they can broadly be grouped into three main types: Delta blues, Chicago blues, and jump blues. In this article, we will provide an overview of each of these three major forms of the blues, looking at their origins, musical characteristics, famous artists, and impact on popular music.
Delta Blues
Delta blues originated in the Mississippi Delta region of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century. It is an early, rural style of the blues that was highly influential yet recorded sparsely. Delta blues musicians often used slide guitar techniques and had an energetic, driving rhythmic style. The lyrics frequently dealt with hardship, heartbreak, and social struggles in the segregated South.
Some key characteristics of Delta blues music include:
– Prominent use of slide guitar, giving a glissando or voice-like melodic quality. Slide guitar was often played with a bottleneck or similar metal or glass tube on one finger.
– A gritty, percussive style of fingerpicking or strumming rhythm guitar.
– Heavy emphasis on the “groove” and rhythmic momentum in the interplay between guitar and vocals.
– Lyrics conveying struggles of African American life, poverty, injustice, relationships, and local folklore.
– Sparse instrumentation, often just featuring acoustic guitar, harmonica, and vocals.
| Early Delta Blues Artists | Example Songs |
| Robert Johnson | “Cross Road Blues” |
| Son House | “Death Letter” |
| Skip James | “Devil Got My Woman” |
| Blind Willie McTell | “Statesboro Blues” |
| Tommy Johnson | “Canned Heat Blues” |
Some of the most influential early Delta blues musicians include Robert Johnson, Son House, Skip James, Blind Willie McTell, and Tommy Johnson. Their songs and techniques laid the foundations for later blues and rock & roll artists. Robert Johnson in particular became a legendary figure due to his mysterious life, short career, and incredible guitar skills.
Chicago Blues
Chicago blues refers to the adaptation of Delta blues after the music migrated from the South to cities in the Northern United States like Chicago. It emerged in the 1930s – 1940s and featured amplified guitars, harmonica, drums, piano, and sometimes saxophone in ensemble bands. This gave Chicago blues a more energetic and driving sound different from the acoustic country blues.
Key characteristics of Chicago blues music are:
– Heavy use of electric guitar, amplified harmonicas, piano, drums and bass for a louder, punchier sound.
– Prominent rhythm section grooves emphasizing beats 2 and 4 in “shuffle” rhythms.
– Harmonica and saxophone frequently used as lead instruments alongside guitar.
– Lyrics broadened from earlier blues topics to wider themes from urban life.
– More standardized song forms using repeated verses and choruses.
– Artists often backed by full blues bands rather than performing solo.
| Classic Chicago Blues Artists | Example Songs |
| Muddy Waters | “Hoochie Coochie Man” |
| Howlin’ Wolf | “Smokestack Lightnin'” |
| Willie Dixon | “Wang Dang Doodle” |
| Buddy Guy | “First Time I Met The Blues” |
| Junior Wells | “Messin’ with the Kid” |
Prominent artists who shaped the Chicago blues sound include Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and many others. They took Delta blues to new heights of musicianship, intensity, and rhythmic drive. Chicago blues bands also served as the model for developing rock groups in the 1960s and 70s.
Jump Blues
Jump blues is an up-tempo blend of blues and swing music that emerged in the early 1940s and was a precursor to R&B. It features loud electric guitars, saxophones, shouting vocals, and a prominent beat driven by stand-up bass and drums. Jump blues was very popular for dancing and helped transition blues into an ensemble form from earlier acoustic solo formats.
Some defining traits of jump blues are:
– Upbeat “jump” rhythm with a swing feel. Fast tempo for dancing.
– Rhythm section grooves emphasizing the backbeat played on drum set and string bass.
– Saxophone frequently used as a solo instrument and countermelody.
– Shouted or enthusiastic vocals.
– Four or five-piece bands rather than solo performers.
– Lyrics about having fun, dancing, and similar upbeat themes.
| Notable Jump Blues Artists | Example Songs |
| Louis Jordan | “Saturday Night Fish Fry” |
| Joe Turner | “Shake, Rattle and Roll” |
| Roy Brown | “Good Rocking Tonight” |
Leading jump blues artists include Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, Roy Brown, and others. Their songs upped the energy level of blues and helped it gain more mainstream popularity with white audiences. Jump blues songs later became rock & roll staples when covered by the likes of Elvis Presley and Bill Haley.
Conclusion
Delta blues, Chicago blues, and jump blues represent the three foundational types of blues music that emerged through the early 20th century. Delta blues consisted of raw, emotionally intense, acoustic solo performances full of bluesy bends and slides. Chicago blues electrified the Delta sound with amplification, bands, piano, and harmonica to create a gritty, urban blues style. Jump blues merged blues shuffles with uptempo swing rhythms and big band instrumentation to encourage dancing. These forms provided the backbone for numerous blues subgenres and had an enormous influence on the development of jazz, R&B, rock & roll, and popular music as a whole. Their impact continues to be felt today in blues rock bands like the Rolling Stones as well as solo artists like John Mayer. If you want to understand modern music, looking back to the origins of blues music is indispensable.
