Do I have the right to play the Blues?

[blue]

Some very interesting, and surprising points in here.

[David Eastwood]

“In short, if you love the blues, play ‘em”.

[Gordon Currie]

You have the right to play any music style you want.

Beware of anyone who tries to restrict your artistic journey. They don't have YOUR best interests in mind, only THEIRS.

[Zexxor]

Originally Posted by blue

Some very interesting, and surprising points in here.

When I (a mostly white 3/16s Choctaw male) started playing guitar in 1965 I very quickly began gravitating towards the blues.
When I finally got into a classroom and found my instructor quite knowledgeable I asked him to teach me what he could about the blues. He told me that the best thing to do was to learn scales and listen to the blues and then go from there.
So that is what I did.
Now I play my own version of the blues
And I don't worry, nor care about what anyone thinks about my "right" to do so.
I have never had ANYONE come up to me and tell me that I should not be playing the blues, mainly, probably, because my version is so different from "real" blues.
But like that man there said, the blues are UNIVERSAL, they are for anyone and that means interpretation is also going to be vast.
I adopt them and I don't bother about what someone else thinks is right or wrong.
Personally, I think the blues are the core of all modern music that is appealing the ear. My take.

If we don't play them, who will? I've certainly suffered enough to do so.

[blue]

As the OP what I found interesting was the thoughts I've never had. Yes, we've all thought about Caucasians singing the blues as a potentially sensitive area.

But hearing an African American talking about "Do I have the right to sing "Penitentiary Blues" if I've never gone to prison" brings new light to the discussion in my mind. The fact that nobody would blink an eye at any song he chooses to play, but he still edits sections that rub him the wrong way. I've always changed things but because of what I thought others would think, not for my own peace of mind.

I just found it very very interesting and thought provoking.

[Zexxor]

Originally Posted by blue

As the OP what I found interesting was the thoughts I've never had. Yes, we've all thought about Caucasians singing the blues as a potentially sensitive area.

But hearing an African American talking about "Do I have the right to sing "Penitentiary Blues" if I've never gone to prison" brings new light to the discussion in my mind. The fact that nobody would blink an eye at any song he chooses to play, but he still edits sections that rub him the wrong way. I've always changed things but because of what I thought others would think, not for my own peace of mind.

I just found it very very interesting and thought provoking.

There is a positive side to that.
The blues touch deep, really deep.
And that kind of deep ownership can get feisty.

[Denny B]

No matter who you are, or where you came from, you have the right to:

1) Play the Blues

2) Shake your Moneymaker

3) Get down with your Bad Self, anytime you like...

[David Eastwood]

Originally Posted by Denny B

No matter who you are, or where you came from, you have the right to:

1) Play the Blues

2) Shake your Moneymaker

3) Get down with your Bad Self, anytime you like...

Not to mention, Wake Up in the Morning.

[davidbeinct]

Originally Posted by David Eastwood

Not to mention, Wake Up in the Morning.

What do I do next though, feel around for my shoes or dust my broom?

[godfreydaniel]

I read about a third of this book (it’s a pretty big book!) Some interesting stuff:

[nitram]

Do you have to be Czech or eastern European to play polkas? Maybe by sensibility but who says? Or Austrian to play waltzes: if you feel it - play it.

[dnf777]

Originally Posted by Denny B

No matter who you are, or where you came from, you have the right to:

1) Play the Blues

2) Shake your Moneymaker

3) Get down with your Bad Self, anytime you like...

And 4) Play that funky music!


I grew up a loyal Steelers fan in Houston, during the 80s. I believe that qualifies one to sing the blues...

[David Eastwood]

And, of course, this classic comes to mind:

[leew3]

I recall Big Daddy Kinsey asking the rhetorical question "can a white man sing the blues?" as he took the stage after Little Charlie and the Nightcats opened up for he and his band the Kinsey Report and BLUES in Chicago. His answer was "Yes!" An interesting thread thus far. For myself I've landed on the issue being playing with respect for the music and the history behind it.