Going from Rock/Pop to the Blues

[Ron Plichta]

My rock/pop band just disbanded and I'm thinking about a change in direction. I'm 51 and so I'm too "old" for the modern rock bands and I don't really care to play classic rock anymore (kinda been there, done that). I'm thinking about a switch to blues, but my problem is I really have no background in the genre and don't know where to start.

My instructor showed me a couple of blues tunes that are a bit to the "jazzier" end of the spectrum. I'm intrigued by that since it would pose more of a challenge for me. My problem is I don't that many artists in that style and need a little bit of direction. Suggestions?

[5StringBlues]

Howling Wolf
Muddy Waters
BB King
Albert King
Freddie King
Otis Rush
Albert Collins
Buddy Guy
T-Bone Walker for jazzy

That's a good start.

[TripleDouble]

There are a lot of gig opportunities for a solid blues bassist. I'd say start off checking out Tommy Shannon, Willie Dixon, Roscoe Beck, and all the bizillions of awesome blues guitarist and look into their rhythm sections. Then check out different types of styles of blues - delta blues, Chicago blues, Texas blues, rockabilly, funk, and jazz blues. I'm pretty sure this is a "blues players" club on here too. Have fun!

[Jeff Huber]

Clapton, Stevie Ray, Johnny Winter, The Allman Brothers are acts you may already be familiar with that are primarily blues oriented. My all time favorite blues bass recording is of Ronnie Wood playing bass on Jeff Beck's Truth and Beck-ola. Wood improvises the way a good jazz bassist does, and that's my favorite kind of blues bass playing.

Jeff

[Bassquest]

A quick google search for 'beginner bass blues' gives plenty options.

[lunarpollen]

Why not just play another type of music that you really enjoy and are familiar with? And you're never too old to play anything if you enjoy the music!

[Ron Plichta]

Originally Posted by lunarpollen

Why not just play another type of music that you really enjoy and are familiar with? And you're never too old to play anything if you enjoy the music!

Because I'm getting feelings of "been there, done that". I want to expand my horizons.

[Jeff Huber]

For what it's worth, Ron, I'm pretty fond of playing bass blues. Like I said earlier, you can do a lot with bass lines in the genre by way of improvising, and even if you're working with an aggressive guitarist or horn, there's normally plenty of room for you to stretch your musical legs. I more or less play the blues the same way I play jazz--not all that radical a concept when you consider that maybe half or more of the standard jazz songbook consists of 12 bar blues tunes.

[avvie]

Originally Posted by Ron Plichta

Because I'm getting feelings of "been there, done that". I want to expand my horizons.

You will be amazed at how quickly you feel that way about blues.

DISCLAIMER: I have played in several blues bands, one of which earned a blues preservation society award.

IME: the blues is only three songs played indifferent keys and with different lyrics. In the blues genre, you can put five people who have never met each other on a stage in front of an audience and they'll sound like they've been touring together for years. They even know how to end the songs without the least bit of rehearsal. That should tell you how challenging it is.

[Jeff Huber]

If you're the kind of musician who can play a song a different way every time you play it, you'll love the blues.

[Ron Plichta]

Originally Posted by Jeff Huber

If you're the kind of musician who can play a song a different way every time you play it, you'll love the blues.

Hell, I do that with the stuff I play now, but not always intentionally.

[C.Linton]

Originally Posted by avvie

You will be amazed at how quickly you feel that way about blues.

DISCLAIMER: I have played in several blues bands, one of which earned a blues preservation society award.

IME: the blues is only three songs played indifferent keys and with different lyrics. In the blues genre, you can put five people who have never met each other on a stage in front of an audience and they'll sound like they've been touring together for years. They even know how to end the songs without the least bit of rehearsal. That should tell you how challenging it is.

Challenging, shmallenging, who cares? I like playing the blues because it's fun.

[scootron]

Originally Posted by avvie

You will be amazed at how quickly you feel that way about blues.

DISCLAIMER: I have played in several blues bands, one of which earned a blues preservation society award.

IME: the blues is only three songs played indifferent keys and with different lyrics. In the blues genre, you can put five people who have never met each other on a stage in front of an audience and they'll sound like they've been touring together for years. They even know how to end the songs without the least bit of rehearsal. That should tell you how challenging it is.

There are a lot of bands which embody the problem you point out here, but there are even more artists who don't fall within your criticism. If you want to spend all your time playing 12 bar blues in I-IV-V, that's fine, but there is so much more. Listen to Freddie King during the Shelter period, especially the tracks that Leon Russell wrote or co-wrote. Listen to Taj Mahal. B.B. loved to throw out there every so often an 8-bar blues with a bridge.

Blues is a great genre because people can, in fact, get together and start playing together immediately. But it can also be complex and innovative. One blues tune I've enjoyed playing recently is "It's Too Late", the Chuck Willis song covered by Derek and the Dominos.

I've also seen some blues bands that were horribly boring, where everything sounded the same...the changes, the turnarounds, the self-indulgent solos. You wonder if they are actually listening to each other.

Good luck finding some good guys to play with.

[Ron Plichta]

Originally Posted by scootron

There are a lot of bands which embody the problem you point out here, but there are even more artists who don't fall within your criticism. If you want to spend all your time playing 12 bar blues in I-IV-V, that's fine, but there is so much more. Listen to Freddie King during the Shelter period, especially the tracks that Leon Russell wrote or co-wrote. Listen to Taj Mahal. B.B. loved to throw out there every so often an 8-bar blues with a bridge.

Blues is a great genre because people can, in fact, get together and start playing together immediately. But it can also be complex and innovative. One blues tune I've enjoyed playing recently is "It's Too Late", the Chuck Willis song covered by Derek and the Dominos.

I've also seen some blues bands that were horribly boring, where everything sounded the same...the changes, the turnarounds, the self-indulgent solos. You wonder if they are actually listening to each other.

Good luck finding some good guys to play with.

Thanks. You explain exactly what I'm looking for- different variations of blues instead of a constant I-IV-V wankfest.

[nortonrider]

12 bar = wankfest
.....and you haven't even played it yet, huh!

What "jazzier" blues tunes did your teacher show you?

[Jeff Huber]

As to bass blues playing, I've seen bassists who do nothing but play root-fifths all night and look cool in their Blues Brothers Ray Bans and Fedoras, and I've seen guys who might have been playing with Miles Davis's second great quintet.

Blues, in my humble opinion, are what you make of them.

[5StringBlues]

Blues artists who go beyond the 1-4-5:


Gatemouth Brown

Bobby "Blue" Bland BOBBY "BLUE" BLAND-TWO STEPS - YouTube

Junior Parker

Buddy Ace

All these artists seminal work were recorded on the Duke/Peacock label.Any collection of Duke/Peacock recordings should be a good place to start.