What are the blues standards?

Larry F · January 8th, 2007, 04:02 PM

I'm gearing up for hitting a local blues jam. What are some blues standards that are popular at these things?

stevieboy · January 8th, 2007, 04:55 PM

I'm sure you know the basic !-IV-V progression which will get you through 95% of the songs.

Everyone will want to play Stormy Monday with the turnaround that he Allman Brothers used in their version, it's a good idea to know that. Songs with signature recurring instrument riffs that might come up are Messin' with Kid and Just a Little Bit. SRV songs can be popular, many are standard progressions, a common one that has a different layout is Cold Shot.

Also, a lot of vocalists like to do Hootchie Cootchie Man.

Robert H. · January 8th, 2007, 05:56 PM

A minor Blues jam for 45 minutes. Can't miss with that.

Bones · January 8th, 2007, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert H.

A minor Blues jam for 45 minutes. Can't miss with that.

I think if you want to set yourself apart, or at the very least give the house band a break, stay away from those "standard songs", go for lesser known songs. I could live the rest of my life a happy man without ever hearing "Messing with the Kid" again.

Disastercaster · January 8th, 2007, 06:27 PM

Learn something like Killing Floor or Spoonful by Howlin' Wolf. Those Hubert Sumlin licks rock. Smokestack Lightning's another good one.

From the Waters stable you should definitely know Mannish Boy.

Walkin' Blues and Dust My Broom are essentials from Robert Johnson.

Hideaway by Freddie King is a great one.

Boom, Boom by John Lee Hooker.. I could go on really.

durango jon-boy · January 8th, 2007, 07:28 PM

The standards are:

Trains
Dead Girlfriends
Running away to Mexico
Hangmen
Crossroads
Being a fugitive
and the minor pentatonic scales

Tremo · January 8th, 2007, 07:30 PM

Yeah, basically make sure you're solid on Blues 101 stuff. Know how to play the shuffles and grinders. It's mostly 1-4-5 stuff, with variations on the turnarounds. Know the difference between standard 12 bar and a quick-4 progression. Also, for God's sake, know Hideaway. I've been to jams where guys had never heard Hideaway and didn't know what a quick 4 meant, jeez.....

There will be guys there who know their stuff, hope you get to play with them. There will also be clueless n00bs, playing with them is sometimes a challenge in patience. Expect SRV ad-nauseum. Also expect wankers whose idea of a blues solo is to sound like EVH. Hey, goes with the territory at a jam. Expect to hear a couple guys with great tone, also expect to hear a couple guys who drive you out of the room.

LOL!

mudshark · January 8th, 2007, 07:46 PM

'Bout all you gotta do is look at the songs on "The Best of Willie Dixon" and you've pretty well got'em!

Telenator · January 8th, 2007, 08:14 PM

Try something really original and let the solo spot pass. Good blues rhythm is highly under rated and under-practiced!

GoldieLocks · January 8th, 2007, 08:32 PM

I wish those we're blues standards here. Here's a list of what I put up with. Although sometimes these songs are actually fun.

1) Thrill is gone - BB King
2) Pride & Joy (followed by Pride & Joy/followed by Pri..next white boy please
3) Crossroads - Clapton
4) Key to the Highway - Clapton
5) Move it on over - Thoroughgood
6) I'm Tore Down - Clapton
7) Mustang Sally (happens every time) "yawn."

I have yet to play a John Lee Hooker song at a blues jam...someday!

aznxtasy341 · January 8th, 2007, 09:29 PM

stormy monday-t bone walker
born under a bad sign- albert king
boogie chillin(maybe?)- john lee hooker
cantalope island- herbie hancock
blue train- john coltrane
hobo flats
annnd if you have a keys player-
the sermon- jimmy smith

this is a blues jazz thing, but all of the jazz i listed is blues with maybe a II-V-I turn around

although some of these are a little hardcore, but ive had enough of clapton crossroads and pride and joy

Tremo · January 8th, 2007, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldieLocks

I wish those we're blues standards here. Here's a list of what I put up with. Although sometimes these songs are actually fun.

1) Thrill is gone - BB King
2) Pride & Joy (followed by Pride & Joy/followed by Pri..next white boy please
3) Crossroads - Clapton
4) Key to the Highway - Clapton
5) Move it on over - Thoroughgood
6) I'm Tore Down - Clapton
7) Mustang Sally (happens every time) "yawn."

I have yet to play a John Lee Hooker song at a blues jam...someday!

Dood, those are not Clapton songs, he just covered them. Key to the Highway was by Big Bill Broonzy. I think Tore Down is by Freddy King, and Crossroads is by Robert Johnson. Please get it straight, Clapton didn't invent blues.

I'm to the point where I just about refuse to play Pride and Joy any more. It's been played, overplayed, run into the ground and ad nauseum way too much. An invatition for some SR Vaughannabe to wank off, I'll pass.

EasilyAmused · January 9th, 2007, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Dood, those are not Clapton songs, he just covered them. Key to the Highway was by Big Bill Broonzy. I think Tore Down is by Freddy King, and Crossroads is by Robert Johnson. Please get it straight, Clapton didn't invent blues.

While that is true, I think, though, that a large majority of people at jams (at least in my experience) seem to know the clapton versions of these songs and try to play them that way - which I'm guessing was more the intent of that post.

Cream played crossroad blues quite a bit differently from Robert Johnson, and I've honestly never heard anyone try to play it like Robert Johnson at a jam. The Cream/Clapton version, however, I've heard a million times. I think Freddy King's version(s) of tore town are much cooler than Clapton's, but everyone plays that one like Clapton too etc...

While Clapton certainly didn't invent the blues, he is, for a lot of people who grew up listening to rock & roll - a pretty significant figure and something of a crossover point from which a lot of people start to discover the blues. Whether we like it or not, for a lot of people (especially those with only a surface interest in the blues), Clapton (likewise SRV) is the blues.

Larry F · January 9th, 2007, 02:12 AM

I also like Freddy King's Tore Down and can't imagine blues players favoring Clapton's, which is fine, but is a retread. More to my point, do players at blues jams stick to close to the source or does their knowledge come from commercial artists like Clapton? Again, I'm asking about blues jam players of the sort that I imagine to be more deeply connected to blues. Or are these types of players a distinct minority?

Big Mike Simpson · January 9th, 2007, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry F

I'm gearing up for hitting a local blues jam. What are some blues standards that are popular at these things?

Go to the jam for a few weeks... take notes... see what players in your area at that jam are playing.

Be able to play a shuffle or chords (7th or 9ths) over a 12 bar blues in any key that is called, and be able to find your way around a minor pentatonic scale in any key.

Learn some Elmore, Muddy, Wolf, John Lee, T-Bone and BB licks... not note for note... go for the style.
Start closer to the beginning of the journey, not at the end of the journey.
Do not learn SRV stuff...

Rests are part of music... leave some space so the notes you play have meaning.

Have fun!

Tremo · January 9th, 2007, 02:48 AM

Yeah, Freddy's version is definitely better than Clapper's. And for Key to the Highway, the first thing that comes to mind is Little Walter, certainly NOT Clapper.

I guess it's back to the notion of Blues 101. I am surprised at the number of guys at jams who don't have the basics down, try to play like rock and rollers, and whose knowledge of blues is limited to SRV, Clapton, SRV, Gary Moore, SRV, Walter Trout, SRV, Allman Bros, SRV, Joe Bonamassa, SRV, Blues Traveler (gag), and SRV. When you mention Freddy King, Magic Sam, Little Walter, Slim Harpo, Albert Collins, etc.... all you get is a blank stare, they've never heard of them. This is why I've basically stopped going to jams. I just don't want to play rock and roll and the overplayed commercial crap, and with drummers who can't play a shuffle if their lives depended on it. The only jams worth a damn are the ones I've been to in the Bay Area that are sort of pro jams, where the guys there know what they're doing, and are run like a tight ship, no nonsense, wanking, or volume contests permitted.

Telewringer · January 9th, 2007, 03:01 AM

Anything by Albert King. That is the blues ! Who got their mojo
from Albert ? Jimi, Stevie, and the list goes on......

Larry F · January 9th, 2007, 03:04 AM

I've played a million gigs and teach theory and composition. So, the technical stuff isn't a big issue for me. I'm more interested in hearing about what people are playing these days. And this thread has been great about including attitudes about the scene. That's very important for someone like me, who has been away this kind of music for a very long time.

Califiddler · January 9th, 2007, 10:14 AM

Tremo -

Does a "quick-4 progression" refer to a 12-bar blues where the chord progression goes to the IV chord for the second measure, then back to the I chord for measures 3 and 4, instead of staying on the I chord for the first 4 measures? Like in "Sweet Home Chicago", etc.?

I have never heard that term before, but I don't play a lot of blues. Is that a standard term? It's certainly easy enough to hear that chord change.

Larry F · January 9th, 2007, 11:10 AM

Califiddler,

I haven't heard the term, either. I'd wager that it's a 4-bar pickup that goes V-IV-I-V. Are you a sporting man?

Big Mike Simpson · January 9th, 2007, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry F

Califiddler,

I haven't heard the term, either. I'd wager that it's a 4-bar pickup that goes V-IV-I-V. Are you a sporting man?

"The so-called "quick 4", going to the IV chord in the second bar, became common"

It is another way of saying "Hey, this is a shuffle in E with a quick change".

Larry F · January 9th, 2007, 12:09 PM

Ah, the quick IV. I was thinking a quick 4 bars. Duh.

Jelly · January 9th, 2007, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Whether we like it or not, for a lot of people (especially those with only a surface interest in the blues), Clapton (likewise SRV) is the blues.

Wow, that is really sad, but I'm afraid you're right

Tremo · January 9th, 2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Califiddler

Tremo -

Does a "quick-4 progression" refer to a 12-bar blues where the chord progression goes to the IV chord for the second measure, then back to the I chord for measures 3 and 4, instead of staying on the I chord for the first 4 measures? Like in "Sweet Home Chicago", etc.?

I have never heard that term before, but I don't play a lot of blues. Is that a standard term? It's certainly easy enough to hear that chord change.

Eggzaktly. AKA "quick change".

I was once at a jam, and the bass player would ONLY play quick 4 progressions. He refused to play standard 12 bar. I asked him what the problem was, and he said "I play what I feel". Well,,,,uhhh,,, that's cool and all, but it also eliminates him (and any band he's playing with) from playing an awful lot of songs that are not quick 4. Oh well.

Tremo · January 9th, 2007, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jelly

Wow, that is really sad, but I'm afraid you're right

I agree. I think this happens from guys coming over to blues from rock and roll. They migrate over by first going into blues-rock, then looking into more straight blues. BUT... they still want to hear it played by their speedy guitar gods. I think that may explain the popularity of noodlers like Moore and Trout. Also Bonamassa.

Jelly · January 9th, 2007, 05:51 PM

I keep getting frustrated because my man R.L. Burnside don't get no respect. That dude could make you hang on two notes practically all night long. Now there was a real blues man who was with us until about a year ago, but you don't hear anybody trying to copy his licks.

January 8th, 2007, 04:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Larry F Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Iowa City, IA Age: 56 Posts: 2,667	What are the blues standards? I'm gearing up for hitting a local blues jam. What are some blues standards that are popular at these things? __________________ larry

January 8th, 2007, 04:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
stevieboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: the valley Age: 57 Posts: 2,515 6 Photos	I'm sure you know the basic !-IV-V progression which will get you through 95% of the songs. Everyone will want to play Stormy Monday with the turnaround that he Allman Brothers used in their version, it's a good idea to know that. Songs with signature recurring instrument riffs that might come up are Messin' with Kid and Just a Little Bit. SRV songs can be popular, many are standard progressions, a common one that has a different layout is Cold Shot. Also, a lot of vocalists like to do Hootchie Cootchie Man. __________________ "One of the best bands ever. These guys were such perfectionist"--Youtube user comment

January 8th, 2007, 06:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Disastercaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland Age: 20 Posts: 781	Learn something like Killing Floor or Spoonful by Howlin' Wolf. Those Hubert Sumlin licks rock. Smokestack Lightning's another good one. From the Waters stable you should definitely know Mannish Boy. Walkin' Blues and Dust My Broom are essentials from Robert Johnson. Hideaway by Freddie King is a great one. Boom, Boom by John Lee Hooker.. I could go on really. __________________ Mighty Atomics, Garage Rock N Roll!!!

January 8th, 2007, 07:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
mudshark Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Groover's Paradise Age: 57 Posts: 926	'Bout all you gotta do is look at the songs on "The Best of Willie Dixon" and you've pretty well got'em! __________________ mudshark Klaatu barada nikto

January 8th, 2007, 08:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
Telenator Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 4,947	Try something really original and let the solo spot pass. Good blues rhythm is highly under rated and under-practiced! __________________ Dogs have the right idea!

January 8th, 2007, 05:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Robert H. Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Age: 55 Posts: 843 7 Photos	A minor Blues jam for 45 minutes. Can't miss with that.

January 8th, 2007, 07:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
durango jon-boy Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Greatest state of Arizona Posts: 624	The standards are: Trains Dead Girlfriends Running away to Mexico Hangmen Crossroads Being a fugitive and the minor pentatonic scales

January 8th, 2007, 07:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tremo Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,803	Yeah, basically make sure you're solid on Blues 101 stuff. Know how to play the shuffles and grinders. It's mostly 1-4-5 stuff, with variations on the turnarounds. Know the difference between standard 12 bar and a quick-4 progression. Also, for God's sake, know Hideaway. I've been to jams where guys had never heard Hideaway and didn't know what a quick 4 meant, jeez..... There will be guys there who know their stuff, hope you get to play with them. There will also be clueless n00bs, playing with them is sometimes a challenge in patience. Expect SRV ad-nauseum. Also expect wankers whose idea of a blues solo is to sound like EVH. Hey, goes with the territory at a jam. Expect to hear a couple guys with great tone, also expect to hear a couple guys who drive you out of the room. LOL!

January 8th, 2007, 08:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
GoldieLocks Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abbotsford B.C. Posts: 837	Blues standards. I wish those we're blues standards here. Here's a list of what I put up with. Although sometimes these songs are actually fun. 1) Thrill is gone - BB King 2) Pride & Joy (followed by Pride & Joy/followed by Pri..next white boy please 3) Crossroads - Clapton 4) Key to the Highway - Clapton 5) Move it on over - Thoroughgood 6) I'm Tore Down - Clapton 7) Mustang Sally (happens every time) "yawn." I have yet to play a John Lee Hooker song at a blues jam...someday! __________________ "How little I know inspires me tremendously! I'm a huge fan of other people's playing." Bonnie Raitt

January 8th, 2007, 09:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
aznxtasy341 Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 485	stormy monday-t bone walker born under a bad sign- albert king boogie chillin(maybe?)- john lee hooker cantalope island- herbie hancock blue train- john coltrane hobo flats annnd if you have a keys player- the sermon- jimmy smith this is a blues jazz thing, but all of the jazz i listed is blues with maybe a II-V-I turn around although some of these are a little hardcore, but ive had enough of clapton crossroads and pride and joy

January 9th, 2007, 02:12 AM	#14 (permalink)
Larry F Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Iowa City, IA Age: 56 Posts: 2,667	I also like Freddy King's Tore Down and can't imagine blues players favoring Clapton's, which is fine, but is a retread. More to my point, do players at blues jams stick to close to the source or does their knowledge come from commercial artists like Clapton? Again, I'm asking about blues jam players of the sort that I imagine to be more deeply connected to blues. Or are these types of players a distinct minority? __________________ larry

January 9th, 2007, 02:48 AM	#16 (permalink)
Tremo Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,803	Yeah, Freddy's version is definitely better than Clapper's. And for Key to the Highway, the first thing that comes to mind is Little Walter, certainly NOT Clapper. I guess it's back to the notion of Blues 101. I am surprised at the number of guys at jams who don't have the basics down, try to play like rock and rollers, and whose knowledge of blues is limited to SRV, Clapton, SRV, Gary Moore, SRV, Walter Trout, SRV, Allman Bros, SRV, Joe Bonamassa, SRV, Blues Traveler (gag), and SRV. When you mention Freddy King, Magic Sam, Little Walter, Slim Harpo, Albert Collins, etc.... all you get is a blank stare, they've never heard of them. This is why I've basically stopped going to jams. I just don't want to play rock and roll and the overplayed commercial crap, and with drummers who can't play a shuffle if their lives depended on it. The only jams worth a damn are the ones I've been to in the Bay Area that are sort of pro jams, where the guys there know what they're doing, and are run like a tight ship, no nonsense, wanking, or volume contests permitted.

January 9th, 2007, 03:01 AM	#17 (permalink)
Telewringer Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lincoln NZ Posts: 122	Anything by Albert King. That is the blues ! Who got their mojo from Albert ? Jimi, Stevie, and the list goes on......

January 9th, 2007, 03:04 AM	#18 (permalink)
Larry F Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Iowa City, IA Age: 56 Posts: 2,667	I've played a million gigs and teach theory and composition. So, the technical stuff isn't a big issue for me. I'm more interested in hearing about what people are playing these days. And this thread has been great about including attitudes about the scene. That's very important for someone like me, who has been away this kind of music for a very long time. __________________ larry

January 9th, 2007, 10:14 AM	#19 (permalink)
Califiddler Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: California Posts: 992	Tremo - Does a "quick-4 progression" refer to a 12-bar blues where the chord progression goes to the IV chord for the second measure, then back to the I chord for measures 3 and 4, instead of staying on the I chord for the first 4 measures? Like in "Sweet Home Chicago", etc.? I have never heard that term before, but I don't play a lot of blues. Is that a standard term? It's certainly easy enough to hear that chord change. __________________ "In the fiddler's house, all are dancers."

January 9th, 2007, 11:10 AM	#20 (permalink)
Larry F Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Iowa City, IA Age: 56 Posts: 2,667	Califiddler, I haven't heard the term, either. I'd wager that it's a 4-bar pickup that goes V-IV-I-V. Are you a sporting man? __________________ larry

January 9th, 2007, 12:09 PM	#22 (permalink)
Larry F Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Iowa City, IA Age: 56 Posts: 2,667	Ah, the quick IV. I was thinking a quick 4 bars. Duh. __________________ larry

January 9th, 2007, 05:51 PM	#26 (permalink)
Jelly Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 1,423 10 Photos	I keep getting frustrated because my man R.L. Burnside don't get no respect. That dude could make you hang on two notes practically all night long. Now there was a real blues man who was with us until about a year ago, but you don't hear anybody trying to copy his licks. __________________ "I got on a bus and I went to Fresno because I thought Merle Haggard lived there."