Delta Blues

Acoustic guitar and harmonica genre using 12-bar chord progressions born in the Mississippi Delta.

Core Principles & Analysis

• Built on the 12-bar I-IV-V progression and expressive 'blue' notes bent below standard pitch.
• Robert Johnson's 1936-37 recordings became cornerstones of the Delta style.
• Electrified in postwar Chicago by Muddy Waters, paving the way for rock and roll.

Specifications & Metrics

• ERA: 1890s – present