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Originally Posted by speedrabbit  I'm starting to play a bit of blues as an escape from the "horrors" of my wedding band. I'm basically looking for suggestions for songs to learn. Ideally I'd like a list of blues standards for want of a better expression.
Many thanks
Speedrabbit. |
With Blues you mainly want to focus on the common types more than songs because on the bandstand you never know what will get called. Many time it is just Fast Change in A and off you go. So work on 8, 12, and 16 bar Blues forms. Learn a what they mean by a Fast change Blues. Stormy Monday is a classic and you will hear people talk about becaue it isn't your I, IV, V it and a more uptown turnaround. Blues is goot to train your ear for hearing changes for you never know when something like the 15-bar Blues that Bob Dylan did recently will show up.
The most important thing about Blues especially as the bass player is keeping your eyes and ears open. Blues is very spontanious music and whoever is singing or soloing it's their stage. Lots of dynamic changes, cuts, and changing the tune during the tune. So it keeps you on your toes.
Most important if playing with real Blues cats keep it simple. Blues bass is all about laying down a powerful groove. Lock into the drummer, listen to the guitar players rhythm part. Blues ain't about playing lots of notes its about feel. Most under estimate Blues and think its real simple, or get bored and over play. It's has its way to be played right especailly if you play with real Blues players.
I'd there are some good Blues collection CD's. Get some of those and start playing listening and playing along. Get some of the legends like Albert and Freddie King, SRV, Buddy Guy. The old Chess Record guys like Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin Wolf. I grew up listening to Paul Butterfield and James Cotton. Lots of great bass playing from Willie Dixon, Duck Dunn, Jerry Jemmot. Then some of the new Blues like Keb Mo, Robert Cray, Walter Wolfman Washington. A lot of modern Blues is more R&B than Blues.
I suggest get a few tunes down, then just start throwing CD's on and playing along. That will force you to listen and pickup on the tune fast, and keep ears open. Then find some Blues jams and start sitting in.
Learning to play good Blues will make all your other playing sound better.
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