Can white men play the blues?

Answer 1

anyone can play the blues.
not all of them can play it well.

Answer 2

Great question, you know that already by the response. Of course we can. To say we can't would be as bad as saying that black people can't play classical or rock, I know from experience that they can. Most of popular rock derives from the the blues and i would say it sounds good to me (within reason, that's another debate).
As a guitarist i would argue with the chap above who mentions the 1-4-5 chord progression as encapsulating the blues. That of course is important, plus the unique licks and turnarounds. It misses the point. The blues is a feeling for what your playing, without worrying about hitting every note spot-on. That's why over produced records will never capture that old school blues sound. I could go on. Go see some live blues by black and white people, they have respect for eachother and don't hark back to the past, they just do what they love, with feeling.

Answer 3

Of course, white men and women can play blues. So can anyone who's even been deeply moved by what the singer's saying, or the instrumentalist's are playing.
(Doug) Dub McLoed, Bob Margolin, Rod Piazza, Smokin' Joe Kubek, Joe Bonamassa. Albert Cummings, Johnny Winter, and Kim Wilson all seem to be doing quite well.......but so are traditional regional players like Kenny Neal, Lazy Lester, Long John Hunter, and Robert Cray......there's room for all, despite some groups have to be more innovative in the way to reach their fans.
We, in the USA, don't show enough appreciation for the homegrown artists that we encouraged 20-30 yrs. ago, and we're fickle enough to change our favorites in an album or two, if they don't meet expectations.
Rest assured that whites can play the blues, and so can everyone who's ever felt the sting of love going bad.

Answer 4

Why can't they? As far as I know, there is no prohibition and penalty whatsoever against white men playing blues.
Can white women play the blues? Same answer, more or less.
The "blues" feeling (if it's a feeling) can be felt by people of all colors, whether man or woman. I listened many times to Bonnie Raitt sing the blues; my hair still stands everytime I do so.

Now your turn to answer my questions:
Can black men play Mozart?
Can black women play Chopin?
Can black men and women sing in "Carmen"?

Answer 5

Can white men play a three-chord progression that starts on the first of the scale, goes to the fourth of the scale, and then goes to the fifth of the scale, and has a lot of variations on that? Yes they can. How do I know? I do - I'm a blues rock guitarist, and I'm a bit on the white side.

Btw: Walter Trout and Joe Bonamassa are the guys I aspire to be good enough to jam onstage with. Joe signed one of my guitars (thanks Joe!). You should also check out 1.FM Blues internet radio if you like blues rock - Walter, Joe, and lots of other great musicians are on there - I listen to it almost all the time and jam along!

Answer 6

Yes, there are some very good white blues men and women. If you really love the blues you love them all.

Answer 7

Most definitely. Eric Clapton is at his best playing the blues and Joe Bonamasse - don't know if I've spelt that right, from Bloodline, stunning. Think he was 15 when the album was recorded

Answer 8

John Mayall's Bluesbreakers album with Eric Clapton answers your question. Listen to Mayall's voice on that... and his harmonica.

Then pick up the white album by the Beatles and listen to Yer Blues. It's John Lennon singing the blues, no two ways about it.

Answer 9

Yes. There are very talented whie blues artists: Eric Clapton, Dr John, Jonny Lang, Bonnie Raitt, John Hammond Jr. and others.

Answer 10

Have a listen to the recording by Dick Justice - "Cocain" - 1929

A good 25% of Jimmy Rodger's material was blues back int he early 30's

Hank Williams Sr, Elvis Presely, Johnny Winter.

Even Eric Clapton and he's a limey!

Yeah, if you live the blues, you can sing the blues.

Answer 11

I've been playing blues music for 40 years. I am white. I have been told by some that I sound black. I must admit, I took it as a compliment. Really though, it shouldn't matter. Phrasing of musical notes knows no color.