Who came up with the blues?

Blues music is unique in that it blends the structure of classical harmony with the expressive, raw tonality of altered melodic scales. Unlike traditional major or minor scales—where the harmony is built directly from the notes of the scale—the blues melody often includes variable third, sixth, and seventh degrees that bend between major and minor. These flexible tones, especially the flattened third clashing against a major third in the chord, give blues its signature emotional color.

While many scales and modes follow logical construction based on classical theory, the blues often appears to break those rules—and does so beautifully. In fact, trying to fit blues into a traditional theoretical framework can be challenging. That’s part of what makes it so powerful and expressive. I’ve even heard that the blues may have begun when someone sang a pitch slightly flat—an imperfection that became the heart of a new genre.

This tension between the blues scale and major key harmony creates a sound that is instantly recognizable. Despite how unconventional it may seem in theory, it feels completely natural to the ear. One effective way to demonstrate this is to compare a standard major scale with a blues scale, played over the same chord progression. Nearly anyone can hear the difference right away.

For pianists, this can be practiced by playing the C major scale and the C blues scale in the right hand, while keeping a C7, F7, and G7 progression in the left hand. The blues maintains its roots in classical harmony, particularly the I–IV–V framework, but transforms it through altered tones and expressive inflection.

Blues also forms the foundation for many modern music styles, especially rock, which merges blues-inspired melodic freedom with both classical and contemporary harmonies. It’s a genre that respects tradition while redefining it—a musical conversation between structure and soul.

Do you have your own theories about the origins of the blues or how you’ve experienced it as a musician? Let us know in the comments!

By Henry Bahrou – Guitarist, Music Theorist, Music Academy Director