Standardized as 12 bars, based on the tonic, dominant, and subdominant chords the "blue notes" are the flatted third and seventh notes. A statement is made in the first four bars, repeated (sometimes with slight variation) in the next four, and answered or commented on in the last four. Blues lyrics focus on the human question and are often concerned with common problems surrounding love, sex, poverty, and death. The tempo varies and the mood can range from total despair to cynicism and satire.
Basing his songs on traditional blues, W. C. Handy greatly increased the popularity of the idiom. Important vocal blues stylists include Blind Lemon Jefferson, Leadbelly, Lightnin' Sam Hopkins, Robert Johnson, Gertrude (Ma) Rainey, Bertha (Chippie) Hill, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, and Muddy Waters.
Sourced from The Columbia Electronic Encyclopaedia © 2005 Columbia University
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