What is the origin of the blues?
Q: What is the origin of the blues?
A: The origin of the blues is not known for certain, but ethnomusicologist Gerhard Kubik traces many of its elements back to the African continent.
Q: When was an early mention of the blues made?
A: An early mention of the blues was made in 1901 by an archaeologist in Mississippi who described songs with lyrical themes and technical elements similar to those found in modern blues music.
Q: What are some common characteristics shared by most styles of African American music?
A: Common characteristics shared by most styles of African American music include a call-and-response style without accompaniment or harmony and a lack of formal musical structure.
Q: How did slaves bring their musical traditions to North America?
A: Slaves brought their musical traditions to North America through spirituals and work songs, which were sung to the rhythm of working. These songs typically included a vocal call and response, or where one lead drummer makes a beat and then others respond to it.
Q: How many beats are there in each bar in most blues songs?
A: Most blues songs have four beats per bar.
Q: What form do most blues songs use?
A: Most blues songs use the 12 bar blues form which uses three phrases, each four bars long.
Q:What scale is often used for playing Blues music ?
A:The blue scale is often used for playing Blues music .
