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200 Part IV: Sounding Like the Masters: Blues Styles through the Ages TEAM LinG
Johnson has come to be one of the few Delta blues players to be known for
his influential songwriting (Willie Dixon, the bass player and performer is
another) and for contributing to the blues repertoire with such standards as
“Sweet Home Chicago” and “Crossroads.” Besides composing two well-known
hits with “Kind Hearted Woman Blues” and “Terraplane Blues,” many of
Johnson’s songs were historically significant.
Table 11-1 shows a list of just some of Robert Johnson’s songs. Each song is
accompanied by a note on the song’s significance and the tuning he used to
play that song. You also see the key that the song is in and what fret to place
your capo (if you’re using one). Note: The term concert key refers to the
actual pitch of the tuning. For example if Johnson were in the key of A, but
tuned down a half step, the concert key would be A%.
Table 11-1
The Songs of Robert Johnson
Song Significance Tuning Key Capo fret
“Terraplane An early popular Open A (E, A, A 2nd
Blues” song, played E, A, C#, E,
with a slide and low to high),
combines shuffle down 1 ⁄2 step
with a 16th-note feel
“Kind Hearted Johnson’s only Standard, A 2nd
Woman” known 12-bar solo down 1 ⁄2 step
“Sweet Home Covered by many Standard, E 2nd
Chicago” blues, college, and down 1 ⁄2 step
cover bands, including
Magic Sam and the
Blues Brothers
“I Believe I’ll Dust A slide anthem, Aadd9 (E, B, E, A, E —
My Broom” covered by guitarist C, E, low to high)
Elmore James down 1 ⁄2 step
“Come on in My Plays the melody in Open A (E, A, A 2nd
Kitchen” unison with his vocals; E, A, C#, E),
a style copied by jazz down 1 ⁄2 step
players and George
Benson
“Cross Road An anthem to the myth Open A (E, A, E, A, A 2nd
Blues“ that Johnson sold his C#, E, low to high)
(Crossroads) soul to the devil