1. Blues Instrumentation
Of the early blues styles

2. Blues Instrumentation- Late 1800’s
In the original blues, there was no accompaniment as it was sung in the form of work- songs and chants, as slaves of the white people.

3. Blues Instrumentation- Early 1900’s
When the blues more common among the slaves, they began to use some makeshift instruments from everyday items.
This is when the jug band came into play, using washboards, spoons, stovepipes and homemade guitars. Sometimes banjos were even made by fastening a discarded guitar neck to a metal pie plate.

4. Blues Instrumentation- Form
As the guitar began to be associated with the blues (along with the harmonica, or “blues harp”), the twelve- bar blues form began to be used.
This is the simple chord structure of I, IV, and V. (In the key of C, chords C, F and G)
The blues also heavily features the harmonic seventh chord.

5. Blues Instrumentation- Slide Playing

6. Blues Instrumentation- Form
Chords played over 12- bar blues
Chords for blues in C I
I or IV I7 C
C or F C7 IV F V
V or IV
I or V G
G or F
C or G

7. Blues Instrumentation- Later Instruments
When the electric guitar began to be used widely, blues began to develop a lot more, and the better- known artists, such as Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker were among the first to utilize it.
Lead guitar then became a huge part of the blues scene, allowing for solos to be performed over a backing band. The blues scale or pentatonic scales are generally used in the blues.

8. References Steve Leggett, “Freddie Spruell”. Allmusic.com
Wikipedia, “Blues” and “Delta Blues”
The “Popular Music” journal
“Negro Folk Music USA”, Harold Courlander