Artists
This American singer and guitarist is known as the "King of the Blues" and helped popularize the Chicago blues sound.
Who is Muddy Waters?
This stringed instrument is central to most blues music and is often played with both picking and strumming.
What is the guitar?
The blues originated in this country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
What is the United States?
Compared to classical music, blues songs often feature more of this kind of personal expression about feelings.
What is emotional expression (or personal feelings)?
This female blues singer was famous for her powerful voice and the song "St. Louis Blues."
Who is Bessie Smith?
A small instrument often used in blues, played by mouth and sometimes called a "harp."
What is the harmonica?
The region in the southern United States, especially along the Mississippi River, that is famous as an early birthplace of the blues.
What is the Mississippi Delta?
Rock music borrowed heavily from the blues; name one musical element rock commonly took from blues (rhythm, guitar solos, or call-and-response).
What is guitar solos (or rhythm patterns / call-and-response)?
This guitarist and singer composed "The Thrill Is Gone" and influenced many rock musicians.
Who is B.B. King?
This instrument provides the low-end foundation and often keeps the beat in a blues band; it can be acoustic or electric.
What is the electric or double bass?
Blues music often grew out of songs sung by workers and sharecroppers; one type of work song or spiritual that influenced the blues is called a _____.
What is a work song or spiritual?
Jazz and blues share improvisation, but jazz often uses more of this: complex ______ (fill in: harmonies or chord changes).
What is harmonies (or chord changes)?
Known for his energetic guitar playing and stage presence, this Chicago blues guitarist recorded songs like "Hide Away."
Who is Buddy Guy?
A set of instruments played by one person using sticks, brushes, or hands to provide rhythm for the band.
What is the drumset?
During the Great Migration, many blues musicians moved to northern cities, helping create this urban blues style named after a major Illinois city.
What is Chicago blues?
Soul music blended elements of gospel and blues; one difference is that gospel focuses more on this type of subject matter compared to blues (religious or spiritual themes vs. personal life).
What are religious or spiritual themes (compared to personal life themes in blues)?
This Delta blues legend was known for both acoustic guitar and slide technique and influenced many later blues and rock artists.
Who is Robert Johnson?
This device is used with electric guitars to change the sound (add sustain, distortion, or other effects) and became important in modern blues and rock.
What is a guitar effects pedal?
This early 12-bar musical pattern is common in blues songs and helps form the basic structure for many blues tunes.
What is the 12-bar blues (or 12-bar form)?
Compare a typical blues band to a typical bluegrass band: name the instrument commonly found in bluegrass but not usually in classic blues.
What is the banjo?