This is like an earlier thread, (Good Songs For a Beginner To Learn) only this time, I'm looking to be more genre-specific, i.e., good blues tunes to learn. I'm looking for blues standards, songs you would be expected to know should you want to sit in with the band on open-mike nite at the local blues club. Songs like Stormy Monday, The Thrill is Gone, Rock me Baby, etc. etc., You know, the songs you should know in order to hang with the guys (and gals, for that matter, wouldn't want to discriminate, you know) without looking too much like a noob.

Here are some we play a lot at the open mics I go to.

-Bright Lights, Big City by Jimmy Reed
-Mustang Sally by Wilson Pickett (not purist blues, but close enough)
-Hey Joe (again, not exactly blues but close)
-Sweet Home Chicago (Eric Clapton does a good version)
-Freddie King Instrumentals (like Hide Away)
-Pride and Joy and Texas Flood by SRV

Basically learn a bunch of shuffles in E, learn the turnarounds and some little licks you can play to spice it up. Also learn some rhythm parts for slow blues (Stormy Monday as played by the Allman Brothers is great for that).

I don't know if this is just a Houston thing or if this is everywhere, but we also play a whole lot of funk at blues jams. Learn some funk songs and it's not hard to follow along. Believe it or not learning Couldn't Stand the Weather by SRV helped me a lot because I can play that rhythm part in various forms and various keys in nearly every funky song we play.

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Okay, I've been hosting blues jams for quite awhile and there are a ton of them, but rather than type each one, just look over the list in this link :

http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/page ... esong.html

This is just a very small portion of many good blues tunes!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

See That My Grave Is Kept Clean - Blind Lemon Jefferson

Never heard this tune but I sure do like the title!

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I Can't Explain

Here are two classics of the Layla album that are must know blues jams.
Key to the Highway
Nobody Knows you when Your Down and Out.

Mannish Boy

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!