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Blues Rules (not a joke thread...)

The irony of this is that I have lived "the blues". I have literally lived through times when I lost my job, my woman done left me (actuallyshe had an affair with my drummer), ain't got no money, AND my car won't start. During those times I stayed up drinking all night and woke up about the crack of mid afternoon. I never woke up "this morning" with the blues. I woke up this AFTERNOON with the blues.... and a hangover. :D

I think anytime you wake up with the blues is this morning. If it's not this morning, it's probably 'round midnight. You can fuss and fight till daylight, or you can lie awake in the wee, wee hours thinking 'bout your baby. Those are blues times. Ain't no blues happening in the afternoon.

Also, #@&$ the 2.
 
I want to give the singer the benefit of the doubt, that indeed there are certain blues "turnarounds" and standard phrases that guitarists use, to signal to the rest of the band that they are done soloing.
You raise a good point. Maybe the singer didn't understand the way the guitarist was signalling the end of the solo (or maybe the guitarist wasn't signalling anything) and the singer just doesn't have a clear way of saying this.
 
The singer in my band is nearly deaf, he comes in when he wants. We have to find a way back to where he is eventually no matter how he jumps in. This makes it a lot of fun.

The quick four works, even if half the band decides not to, but if it is a Little Walter tune, and you 5 4 instead of 2 5, you’ll likely get the stink eye from me ;)
 
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Wow. Threads like this remind me why I am terrified of playing with other people. I enjoy the blues, enjoy playing it. But I have absolutely no idea what Beat 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or whatever means, nor do I know what 10 or 11 or 12 bars means.

And I would be petrified to ask.
(and this is not a joke post, either)


This fellow does a nice job of explaining what a 12-bar Blues song/jam is in its most basic form.

An Introduction To The 12 Bar Blues | Happy Bluesman

If I can understand this, ANYONE can "get it".

Playing with other people can be some of the greatest fun to be had. So read a little, practice more and one day you might want to give it a try.

I wish you the best!
 
Wow. Threads like this remind me why I am terrified of playing with other people. I enjoy the blues, enjoy playing it. But I have absolutely no idea what Beat 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or whatever means, nor do I know what 10 or 11 or 12 bars means.

And I would be petrified to ask.
(and this is not a joke post, either)
Don't be afraid to ask. Most decent musicians are happy to share what they know. If you don't want to ask in person, over in the General Instruction forum would be a great place to start.