Blues classics for the absolute beginner

PhMarne · February 2021

Hey there!
I'd like to learn and sing the blues... What classic blues songs would you recommend to an absolute beginner?
Thnaks, folks!

Wigs · February 2021

Have you found any yet? I'm no help, never tried the blues myself.

PhMarne · February 2021

@Wigs : my question was either too hard or too irrelevant to be answered, and I wonder if I shouldn't try another way...
I'll try to identify 1 to 3 songs per key for each classic blues progression and work from there on, starting with the 12-bar blues in A Major.
Thanks for your support, anyway!

skv123159 · February 2021

@PhMarne I think here either mostly into rock singing or pop singers
I also not into blues but I think you look to some artist like
B b king
Etta James - I rather go blind, at last
Sorry Im not much into this genre I don't even know what blues means but I hope it helps
Happy singing

PhMarne · February 2021

Thanks a lot, @skv123159 !

skv123159 · February 2021

👍😁
By the way what is blues?

PhMarne · February 2021

@skv123159 Blues is what gave birth to rock

cjfox · March 2021

Crossroads (A) and Walking Blues (G) by Robert Johnson, most rock guys will know the Cream version of Crossroads. Thrill is gone (Bm) and Everyday I have the Blues BB King Version (Bb), Baby What You Want Me To Do Jimmy Reed.(E) Sweet Home Chicago, Blues Bros. (C) Keys can be changed to suit your voice. These should get you through a local jam/open mike.

sjonrokz4u · March 2021

I’ll play the blues for you I think it’s by Albert lee originally but check out the Daniel Castro version

PhMarne · March 2021

Many thanks, @cjfox & @sjonrokz4u !

cjfox · March 2021

I take it there's not a lot of blues singers on this forum. KTVA has improved my singing in the blues genre incredibly. I am very grateful for this.

codeowl · March 2021

@PhMarne,

Not sure if you are playing the guitar as well, but as far as a nice easy rhythm to play, and a melody that doesn't have a huge amount of range in it, how about Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Blue on Black?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEqX5CWh7tY

Here is a live version with just guitars and vocal that is pretty cool:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy--ezuI8hc

Or what about Garry More - Walking By Myself. I if you want to sing and play, (and lets face it who can play like Garry, he was totally amazing!!!), just focus on the rhythm and vocal and focus on doing it clean, (no vocal distortion), and lightly, to belt it you will need really good support and breath control otherwise it will wear your voice out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfN81mAJ0Lc

Regards,

Scotty

cowolter · June 2021

Not classic but John Mayer's a pretty good place to start, though it's more bluesy rock.
Try a few songs from the Continuum record, like Waiting on the World To Change, Gravity and Slow Dancing In A Burning Place. Where his solo goes, just play around with some improvs.

Blues classics for the absolute beginner

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