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guitaryouns · Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

Hello guitarists !
This is my first post on this forum but i read it regularly. I don't master english so i hope i ll be understandable. I have the luck to have a 2 months holiday and i'd like to build a blues repertoire and deepen my weak knwoledge of this music. I can play a blues, at least i have the basics but i don't know the "greatest hits" to go and play in a jam.
What are the most 10-15 common tunes played in a blues jam ?

Thank you,
Happy playing !
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My version of Metheny "In her Family" :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHSuZ2xvNd0

guitaryouns · Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

Hey ! No one to help me ! Confused

I just think about two tunes that i recognized in jam :

- The thrill is gone (BB King)
- I'll play the blues for you (Albert King)

Could you make the list grow a bit please, i'd like to learn the most common blues songs to jam. Plus i found that :
http://how-to-play-blues-guitar.com/blues-guitar/top-5-greatest-blues-jam-songs/
Tell me what you think, i don't know if they are commonly played in blues jam.
_________________
My version of Metheny "In her Family" :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHSuZ2xvNd0

Viper · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 566 Location: Bristol, UK

The fact is that there is one one song that is played in a blues jam and although the key may be different it goes like this.

||: E7 ///| E7 ///| E7 ///| E7 ///| A7///|A7///| E7 ///| E7 ///|B7 ///| A7///|E7 ///|B7///: Neutral

||

Repeat ad nauseam.....using a pentatonic scale for 'improvisation'.

Now I am trouble with the blues police

Generic Sobriquet · Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 804

Yeah, I was going to say, if you're lucky, and if it's any fun/good/interesting it won't involve any of the "most 10-15 common tunes played in a blues jam."

You don't specify what sort of blues you'll be playing, either, although, granted, I'm afraid I have an idear. Something of what Viper suggested. Neutral

I also sense this may be another instance of "I want to play such-and-such kind of music, but I don't actually listen to much of it yet." I'll never understand that. Build yourself a record collection, get to know the music yourself, then worry about playing it later.
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guitaryouns · Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

Hi, thanks to answer
I said that I have the basics, i can play a major blues different ways with inversions, substitutions, arpeggios, minor and major pentatonic. I don't play minor blues that much. I jam regularly with a buddy on bass, and i listen to a LOT of music in various style. I try to not play meaningless pentatonic scale ad nauseam for 'improvisation' Confused

because i try to have my ears opened when i play and when when i listen. I listen a lot of jazz and i love players who are very blues influenced but i'm not able to improvise like them, so i'd like to go into more simple blues, which is played where i go in jam.
I asked the most common tunes because there are many singers where I go and i'd like to be able to accompany them in various ways (ways that i'd like to learn by transcribing different interpretations of these tunes - for example learning to use inversions and substitutions in a more tasteful manner, etc...). I hope you understand my approach, it's difficult for me to be clear in english.
_________________
My version of Metheny "In her Family" :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHSuZ2xvNd0

MangoTango · Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 307 Location: UK

Hi Guitaryouns

Sorry that you didn't get a reply sooner - I normally access this site from my PC at work and your posts have come in while I'm away from my desk!!

However, after 15 long years in various blues bands, here's the benefit of my experience on what tends to come up in jams in my neck of the woods (London & South-East UK):-

Hoochie Coochie Man (Muddy Waters)
Help Me (Sonny Boy Williamson)
Crossroads (Robert Johnson/Cream)
Stormy Monday Blues (T-Bone Walker)
Five Long Years (Eddie Boyd/Buddy Guy)
Sweet Home Chicago (various, but popular because of the Blues Brothers film)
Dust My Broom (Robert Johnson/Elmore James)
Sky Is Crying (Albert King/SRV)
Hideaway (Freddie King/Eric Clapton)
Dimples (John Lee Hooker)

Now, that lot should get you started - and that's straight blues, before you start to get near the sort of stuff that you would normally see on this site!! Have fun with them.
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“It's like an act of murder; you play with intent to commit something" - Duke Ellington

Viper · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 566 Location: Bristol, UK

guitaryouns your English seems pretty good to me and I think Mango has answered your question in a more respectful fashion than me. In fact reading the list brought back some happy memories.

Seriously I think the art of blues is primarily to accompany singers and extended solos beome very tedious, so I am slightly apprehensive of a blues jam.

Mind you, jazz jam sessions can be a bit of an uphill struggle as well.

Needless to say the blues provides a vital source of energy for jazz.

guitaryouns · Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

Hi MangoTango, thanks a lot, i have enough material for a long time listening and learning !
Viper, no problem, i posted on this forum because i know it is friendly Wink

Happy playing !
_________________
My version of Metheny "In her Family" :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHSuZ2xvNd0

planetguy · Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 284

i'd also add that robert cray would be a good source for ideas about playing minor key blues.

Phone Booth, Too Many Cooks, Strong Pursuader, etc....plus he always has great phrasing and tone.

you might also pick up a few greatest hits cds from Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, BB and Albert King because MANY of those tunes have rightly become "blues standards".
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just groove baby!

MangoTango · Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 307 Location: UK

aiq · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 40 Location: Federal plantation

as in all genre it's the caliber of the players.... Rolling Eyes

recently heard Clapton/Winwood. lots of great tunes from the careers of both.

what brought the house down? 20,000 standing O?

Clapton did "Tough Luck Blues" and killed it...

i'd rather hear that than the 2.000th dead version of "all the things" at a pickup jam.

just sayin...
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alt. this!

Generic Sobriquet · Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 804

aiq · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 40 Location: Federal plantation

ah, the purist/elitist defender of "the real" rides into town.

WWCD?

Parker, that is...

oh yeah, he would enjoy music.

meanwhile, i hope you enjoy your museum.
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alt. this!

ed norton · Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 763

Learn the forms associated with the tunes ,then You can never go wrong. Listening to blues radio and playing along is a great teacher. We have an excellent host here in Philadelphia, saturday nights 7 to midnight, http://www.xpn.org/

MangoTango · Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 307 Location: UK