Explore Music History: The Story of the Blues

Rising from the brutal post-Civil-War American South, the classic folk blues style was born of hard-working, hard-fighting laborers who wanted nothing more than to express themselves after a blistering day working the earth. Thanks to the innovations of guitar makers like C.F. Martin and Orville Gibson, the steel-string guitar became widely available. This louder, more expressive acoustic guitar made it possible to entertain large groups of people -- and it was the perfect instrument to spread the blues, already being shaped by a combination of sung hymns and heavy rhythms.

Steel-string acoustics and arch-top guitars would go on to be played by the foremost developers of the country blues style: Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Son House, Blind Willie Johnson, and Big Bill Broonzy. The invention of the 12-string guitar took the sound of the blues to another level, inspiring players like Lead Belly and Lonnie Johnson to create their signature dense, chiming textures. Innovative approaches to playing, like using a thumbpick or a metal or glass "slide," would help create sounds and styles that would elevate the blues from party music to a true art form.

It's hard to imagine now, but when the first electric guitars arrived on the scene in the 1930s, their sound and volume was truly shocking. This bold new instrument's electrifying tone and modern looks ensured that every note made a lasting impression.

Musicians never forgot their first experiences with the electric guitar, and some of these musicians -- like Willie Johnson, Muddy Waters, T-Bone Walker, Chuck Berry, Hubert Sumlin, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, and Buddy Guy -- would become immortal legends. The guitars and amps that they played through would also become legendary, with names like Fender, Gretsch, and Gibson becoming household names.

Equally influential was the connection between the harmonica and the electric amplifier by way of a microphone. Cranking up a little amp and adding some tremolo allowed players to turn their harmonicas into a roaring freight train, tapping into the natural grit and soul of the harmonica -- a technique that would go on to inspire electric guitarists of future generations!