Typically, when people think of “rock music”, they would think of loud, hard hitting drums with fast, intricate guitar solos, and screaming vocals. People don’t usually think of slow, smooth, bluesy guitar playing when they think of rock music, but what most people don’t realize is that without the blues, musicians such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and even AC/DC would not exist. Blues music has had a dramatic influence the way rock music has, and is currently played, heard, and thought of in today's scope of music.
For instance, when listening to rock music nowadays, and certainly early rock music, many aspects of that music is derived from blues. One of the most well known and highly used chord progressions …show more content…
The twelve bar blues is an incredibly versatile chord progression as it can be easily switched into any key with not very much difficulty. Due to its incredible versatility, it’s no secret that plenty of artists took hold of its many possibilities. Because of its use by a vast majority of musicians, it is also one of the most recognizable chord progressions. Songs such as “I feel good” by James Brown, “Day Tripper” by the Beatles, “Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin, and even “Wipeout” by the Safaris all use the twelve bar blues progression. Even the original theme from Batman by Neal Hefti uses the twelve bar blues progression. As stated by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones in his documentary “Under the Influence” (2015), “If you don’t know the blues… there’s no point in picking up the guitar and playing rock and roll or any other form of popular music.” Many musicians, especially rock musicians in the sixties and seventies, used this chord progression in their songs because of its versatility and it's easily recognizable sound. One musician who utilized the tools of the blues to the fullest was Jimi Hendrix. The best way to describe the music of Jimi Hendrix is like listening to the blues on fire. The feedback from the hundred watt marshall stacks, the enormous string bends, and the guitar smashing and burning aside, he played with the blues in his soul, and in his fingers. Jimi’s guitar playing was loud and in your face, but all at the same time bluesy and musical, due to his experience playing jazz and his influence of jazz and blues players from the thirties, forties, and
For instance, when listening to rock music nowadays, and certainly early rock music, many aspects of that music is derived from blues. One of the most well known and highly used chord progressions …show more content…
The twelve bar blues is an incredibly versatile chord progression as it can be easily switched into any key with not very much difficulty. Due to its incredible versatility, it’s no secret that plenty of artists took hold of its many possibilities. Because of its use by a vast majority of musicians, it is also one of the most recognizable chord progressions. Songs such as “I feel good” by James Brown, “Day Tripper” by the Beatles, “Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin, and even “Wipeout” by the Safaris all use the twelve bar blues progression. Even the original theme from Batman by Neal Hefti uses the twelve bar blues progression. As stated by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones in his documentary “Under the Influence” (2015), “If you don’t know the blues… there’s no point in picking up the guitar and playing rock and roll or any other form of popular music.” Many musicians, especially rock musicians in the sixties and seventies, used this chord progression in their songs because of its versatility and it's easily recognizable sound. One musician who utilized the tools of the blues to the fullest was Jimi Hendrix. The best way to describe the music of Jimi Hendrix is like listening to the blues on fire. The feedback from the hundred watt marshall stacks, the enormous string bends, and the guitar smashing and burning aside, he played with the blues in his soul, and in his fingers. Jimi’s guitar playing was loud and in your face, but all at the same time bluesy and musical, due to his experience playing jazz and his influence of jazz and blues players from the thirties, forties, and