What are the standard songs every blues guitarist should know

brian crackout

just wondering, if anybody here was to start a blues cover band , what songs would ye include in your setlist - in other words what are the 'standards' that you would expect a good blues cover band to do? im in the process of learning guitar and I'd like to focus on what is regarded as the creme of the blues among enthusuasts for when it comes around to forming a band...

please include the artiste as well as the song title...

thanx

quintron

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_standard

http://www.12bar.de/rhythm.php

http://www.activemusician.com/store/product.asp?sku=HL.00695177&nav=p-sug-ag&c=

After Midnight / Eric Clapton
Better Off with the Blues / Junior Wells
Born Under a Bad Sign / Albert King
Cadillac Assembly Line / Albert King
Can't Get Next to You / Al Green
Crossfire / Stevie Ray Vaughan
Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight / Clapton
I Just Want to Make Love to You / Dixon
I Need Your Love So Bad / Cassidy
My Man Called Me / Big Mama Thornton
Party on the Farm / Dalton Reed<br>
Pretzel Logic / Steely Dan >
Pride and Joy / Stevie Ray Vaughan
Red House / Jimi Hendrix
Stormy Monday / Elmore James
The Thrill Is Gone / B. B. King
Tore Down / Eric Clapton
Whipping Post / Allman Brothers
You’re Losin' Me / B.B. King

Savman

in other words, everyone.

just learn your I, IV, V in each key - its not a secret that's the formula for 99.9999% of all blues

noh showband

Heard it Through The Grape Vine (Marvin Gaye)
Stand By Me (Ben E King)
Oh Darling (Beatles)
Layla (Clapton)
Wonderful Tonight (if you play weddings)
Cry Me A River (Julie London, NOT J.T., possibly Joe Cocker)
Summertime, of course, though I'm not sure it hasn't become quite a blues cliche since Joplin, check out some of the other versions for lead break options)

On Broadway (isn't that the George Benson song I'm thinking about?) It's more jazz, but goes down a treat when the guitar and voice match up.

Goodbye Pork-Pie Hat - check both the John McLoughlin and the Jeff Beck versions before you go tracking down the originals.

Man of the World (Peter Green)
Supernatural (Peter Green)
Black Magic Woman (Carlos Santana)

Try Floyd's Money, if you're feeling adventurous.

I'm sure I've left out my favourites.

Rubberbandits

I think the true secret to being a good blues guitarist is to concentrate on your right hand rather than your left. Listen to the old guys like Robert Johnson, Son House, Charley Patton and Bukka White. Then you will know what im talking about.

noh showband

I'm not sure I agree 100% with favouring the right hand (assuming a right-handed player). So much of the soul of the note is produced with the fretting hand, the subtleties of bend, tremolo, vibrato and sustain which show the player's emotional connection with the tune (S)he's playing. Indeed, in classical and folk playing the right hand has to operate practically without conscious effort while the left strives for the colour and tone of the chord or arpeggiation.

Where I consciously contradict myself is when phrasing, attack and harmonic effects demand the offices of a skilled plucking/strumming hand, or where choice is made about using or not using a pick, for another example, in a given phrase.

Sean7

I have to agree with the idea of the strumming hand being key. Blues allows you to be rough, to hit the odd wrong note, it's not perfect, it doesn't want to be that's why I love it. But you have to have rhythm for blues a good right hand (or left for some) puts the passion into the music.

Q-57

Pride and Joy Stevie Ray Vaughan
Layla Eric Clapton

Sofaspud

I saw a blues band a few weeks ago, they opened with the theme from The Blues Brothers, which was a good tone-setter.

Pretty much anything by Cream or Jimi should get a good response.

democrates

John Lee Hooker - if you find it too repetitive you could make up a mix.
I must dig out that misissippi delta blues vinyl...

Edit: and if you get a good bassist and female singer, early Nina Simone: "Backlash Blues", "Gin House Blues"

shatners basoon

Kenny Burrell's midnight blue has some of the best blues guitar playing i've ever heard, i definately recommend you pick it up.

pjbarnes16

Hoochie Coochie Man - Muddy Waters
Spoonful - Howlin' Wolf
TB Sheets - Van Morrison

Miguel_Sanchez

Killing Floor. Definitely.