Not so much a lesson as a discussion about famous “pop” songs that you may not know are actually “blues” songs…
There are a large number of songs I would consider “pop” songs, that still use the 12 bar blues or the 8 bar blues form…
You probably know of some others but I’ll cover a few in this video, let me know others you can think of in the comments!
17 replies to "Pop Blues Songs"
8-bar blues for Bring It On Home To Me by Sam Cooke, 12-bar blues for Woolly-Bully from Sam The Sham, Lucille by Little Richard, Little Deuce Coupe by Brian Wilson, just to name a few
Youngblood (in its various versions) has always been a favorite. Leon Russell absolutely killed it at the Concert For Bangladesh.
Chuck Berry… Bam!
“Kiss”, from Prince.
One of my first learned, Kansas City!
Little Sister by Elvis Presley
“The Blues had a baby and they called it Rock & Roll.” Muddy Waters
Folsom Prison Blues. I think early versions were more ‘Bluesy’ with a 7th on I IV & V, but the Radio version, not so much.
Griff – have enjoyed your videos for years and how you have helped me used the blues playing ‘tools’ I have practiced for years into great sounding solos…here’s a stretch on your blues pop song video…try playing blues riffs over an up tempo Willow Weep For Me…I think you’ll be surprised at how tin pan alley covered the blues in the 1930’s from the jazz perspective…
I’m having trouble viewing this and other videos. It tells me to sign in to prove I’m not a robot but if I sign in the video goes away. Is there an easy solution to that ? Thanks
Here’s another: “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman.
add in a ton of the hair rock I listened too, and the music from one of the best music movies ever………Eddie and The Cruisers one and two
Big Mama Thornton wrote Hound Dog….how could it NOT be a Blues?
Good Golly Miss Molly!…..the first Queen of rock’n’roll did it right
Thank you for all the great lessons and insights Griff
You mention how these songs follow the blues form. My question is: are these songs also using dominant 7th chords as well? I know you mentioned the one that was a G7 blues but are some of the others using major and minor chords in the 12 bar form?
Very interesting and informative. I might never have spotted the fact that some songs “double up” on the format. Thanks Griff.
Maybe a little obvious but fun never the less…
Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’
You shook me al night long, especially the guitar solo .