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234 Part IV: Sounding Like the Masters: Blues Styles through the Ages The Blues Had a Baby, and They Called
It Rock ’n’ Roll
When rock ’n’ roll began in the mid 1950s, it was essentially a blend of
rhythm-and-blues and jazz chord changes with country rhythms. Later, pop
entered the genre via catchy tunes and more sophisticated lyrics. But the
blues had only a negligible influence in a world of sweet and boppy melodies
of the day, until one very stylish, duck-walking performer burst onto the
scene — Chuck Berry. And following Berry was a whole movement of first
British and later American artists who brought the blues to the world’s
screaming teens. The sections that follow trace that progression and show
how the blues was instrumental in shaping this new sound.
Chuck Berry, blues rock’s first superstar
Chuck Berry is both rock’s first guitar star and a subtle champion of the blues.
Berry played in a raw, aggressive straight-eighth style, but used many of the
repeated-note motifs of blues players, especially in his syncopated bends.
Berry’s classic hits from the late 1950s, such as “Johnny B. Goode,” “Roll Over
Beethoven,” and “Back in the USA,” were powered by a new spin on the I-IV-V
blues progression (covered in Chapter 6) to which Berry added a straightahead
drum beat. It became such a standard that even 15 to 20 years later, bigticket
rock bands would close their shows with a Berry-styled jam. You can
hear a classic example of Berry’s lead style in Figure 13-1.
Beyond just strumming a simple I-IV-V progression, try these variations that
make the 12-bar pattern more interesting:
1. Start on the I (tonic) chord.
2. Strum a steady G5 chord (G on the sixth string, and D on the fifth
string), and use your pinky finger to alternate an E note (on the fifth
string) with the D.
This motion creates a boogie sound, popularized by blues guitarist Jimmy
Reed (covered in Chapter 6) and R&B pianists of the pre-rock ’n’ roll era.
3. Duplicate this pattern on the IV chord and the V chord.
4. Take it one step further by adding an F note on the G chord. (So while
you’re strumming the G bass note, play in succession the D, E, and F
notes with your ring and pinky fingers.)
This variation is classic boogie used by Chuck Berry and other early
rock ’n’ roll guitarists.
TEAM LinG