Ever wonder what it is about music that makes it sound, “bluesy?”

Obviously some music is a 12 bar blues form, so it’s technically, “a blues,” but there is a LOT of music that sounds blues-y even though it’s not technically, “a blues.”

So in this video, we’ll look at what “bluesy” really means.


    23 replies to "What Makes Blues…. Blues?"

    • Johnny Boy 67

      Thank you Griff!
      I read every email and practice when I can and I have to say thanks, I suck a little less each time because of you! Johnny

    • Alan Sirkin

      Could you explain this using TAB’s so it is easier to see. That would be helpful

    • Douglas Kooienga

      What about the flatted 5th? I believe that’s “up for grabs” in that scale as well.

    • DaveyJoe

      Very cool explanation Griff. Thanks.

    • Barry

      Griff

      Many thanks for the lesson.
      Barry

    • Bob Kizik

      Thanks Griff. Appreciate the explanation. I’m slowly learning music theory and this was a helpful video.

      Love the guitar too! Appreciate you mixing up the guitars in your lessons to give us a feel for the different sounds that are possible

    • Don Hall

      Nicely done, that explains the blues “sound”, but when I ask myself “Is this song a blues tune?”, I’m looking at it differently. As a radio guy, I want to know if a tune would fit on my blues show, and I’m kind of a purist. So things like the chord progression matters (12 and 8-bar forms are good, most others not so much but where do I draw the line?) and your discussion doesn’t address that. If it’s all about the flatted 3rd then I could play a record of a mariachi band jamming Cielito Lindo with the trumpet playing the minor pentatonic scale for a solo and it would fit with Muddy Waters and Robben Ford. Maybe it comes down to the notes of the melody.

      • ELIZABETH mARASCO

        I have a similar problem. I run a blues jam and people play out of genre claiming that “it I IV V its a blues” For example Saltyy Dog. I had to gong someone who started playing Send me dead flowers: by the Stones

    • Chris Ames

      Hey Griff great lesson. Like the way you teach! You make it easy to understand, not real complicated. Appreciate it 🎸🎼

    • RustedOut

      Great presentation.. makes feel sad as I cannot duplicate your sound. I am still learning.. even at my advanced age. I hope to be an “accomplished” player before I die.

    • MIKAEL LINDBLOM

      I ishall leran the Bluesy Blues in my soul and HEART of my bonus in my body

    • Michael Chappell

      Hey Griff, Great lesson and it sounds like to had a bit of a cold so thank you for the effort to share this tip with us. Get well and have a rest that works too.

      Thanks
      Michael-Sydney-Australia Jan 28,2020

    • Jim (UK)

      Hi Griff, love the lesson.
      I know the blues is all about minors and seventh chords but knowing how to use them is a different matter. Not being well up on theory I do struggle a bit and that’s where your lessons are priceless.
      I do need to learn music theory and understand how chords are made up.
      Cheers

    • Gordon

      I love this kind of thing, it really helps embed theory ideas into my head.
      One ask. Can you play the scales and notes a little more slowly when first introducing the ideas, saying what the note names are and their position in the scale. e.g. this is A C it’s the third note, Sometimes you go a little too fast for my 60 year old ears 🙂 (I know… I’m pretty young compared to some around these parts! 🙂

    • lawrence

      That my guitar guru was very good theory to understand, many thanks. Lawrence

    • Tim Moran

      So this is a lesson in why playing the minor pentatonic over a major chord sounds bluesy? Or am I misinterpreting that?

      • Ricardo

        Clash of the THIRDS. b3 against 3. Not complicated.

    • Jim P.

      Thanks Griff. Keep the theory coming.

    • Don Craig

      Still not understanding the theory, but that was a really cool piece you played. I’ll listen to it all again.

    • Stan Unverzagt

      Hi Griff, I’m an intermediate guitar player and I’d like to purchase a looper for personal use but don’t have any idea what to look for. Can you give me some guidance? Thanks. Stan

      • Chris Bell

        Hi Stan. Check out Boss RC-3 loop station. Got some great features.

    • Loj

      What???

    • Willie

      Never look at it that way , makes a lot of sense !

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