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- Blind Blake Guitar Songs
Learn Classic Blind Blake Blues Songs on Acoustic Guitar
Blind Blake was a pioneer of ragtime-influenced blues guitar, leaving behind a catalog of fast, intricate fingerstyle songs that still influence players today.
If you're eager to explore the roots of acoustic blues, this collection of 6 lessons captures the signature style and charm of Blind Blake’s recordings in a rhythm format.
From the upbeat groove of “Diddy Wah Diddy” to the gritty emotion of “Bad Feeling Blues,” each song offers a glimpse into the pre-war blues tradition — simplified and arranged for today’s acoustic player.
Blind Blake Discography:
🎸 Overview Video - “Watch This Preview of My Best Blind Blake Guitar Songs”
Blind Blake’s discography is expansive and profoundly influential in the blues genre. His albums include collections like “Blind Blake, Vol. 1” (1926 -1927), “Blind Blake, Vol. 2” (1927), “Ragtime Guitar's Foremost Fingerpicker”, and retrospective albums like "The Very Best of Blind Blake". While his songs were primarily released as singles, they were later compiled into these albums.
Born in Jacksonville, Florida in the late 19th Century, Blind Blake made his name in the 1920s and 1930s, a period of great cultural and economic change. This was during the era of Prohibition and the Great Depression, significant historical contexts that shaped his music and the blues genre as a whole.
Blind Blake Guitar Lesson Titles
Bad Feeling BluesChump Man Blues
Diddy Wah Diddy
Early Morning Blues
Georgia Bound
Hard Pushin Papa
Police Dog Blues
1. Bad Feeling Blues
- Learn To Play On Guitar
Bad Feeling Blues is a classic example of his talent. While the lyrics often revolve around common blues themes of heartache and trouble, it's Blake's guitar work that truly stands out.
His intricate finger-style guitar playing, characterized by fast and nimble finger-picking, is a hallmark of his songs, including "Bad Feeling Blues."
Chords And Strumming
I play this one in standard tuning with a root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern with picking involved. The chords here are D, G7, A7 and a D7.
Guitar Lesson Detail - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Back To Song List
2. Chump Man Blues
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Chump Man Blues has very little info on it on the web.
Chords And Strumming
This one is played in standard tuning with a root down up root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern with picking and the chords D, G7 and an A7.
Guitar Lesson Detail - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Back To Song List
Blind Blake's Cause Of Death
While Blind Blake and his blues contemporaries were often singing about struggle and hardship, they also created entertaining, rhythm and blues-infused melodies. Their music served as a form of therapy and distraction from the harsh realities of the era.
Very little is known about the details of Blind Blake's personal life but his early death, in the mid-1930s, has been revealed to be a bad cause of pneumonia at the age of 38. It's believed he died somewhere in Wisconsin.
3. Diddy Wah Diddy
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Diddy Wah Diddy is one of Blind Blake's most famous and enduring songs.
The song showcases Blind Blake's incredible fingerpicking technique. He used a complex, syncopated fingerpicking style that involved intricate patterns and alternating bass notes, which became a signature of his music.
Chords And Strumming
The chords you'll need here are C, C7, F and a G7 in standard tuning. Picking is involved here with a root down root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern.
Guitar Lesson Detail - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Back To Song List
4. Early Morning Blues
- Learn To Play On Guitar
Early Morning Blues was recorded by Blind Blake in 1927. This song is a prime example of his intricate fingerpicking technique and mastery of the acoustic guitar.
The lyrics in "Early Morning Blues" typically revolve around themes common in blues music, such as love, hardship, and the struggles of everyday life. In this song, the singer reflects on the difficulties of waking up early in the morning, which is a sentiment that resonated with many during the Great Depression era.
Chords And Strumming
I play a root down up root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern here in standard tuning with the chords C, C7, F, G7, A7 and D7. Picking is required.
Guitar Lesson Detail - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Back To Song List
5. Georgia Bound .. (not Blues)
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Georgia Bound is a famous blues song recorded by Blind Blake back in 1927. This track is a great example of his unique and impressive guitar style. Blind Blake was known for his skill in playing the guitar, and you can hear it clearly in this song.
The lyrics of "Georgia Bound" tell a story about someone leaving Georgia and going somewhere else, maybe because of personal problems or not having enough money. This was a common theme in many blues songs during that time, which often talked about the difficulties faced by African Americans in the early 1900s.
Blind Blake's guitar playing in "Georgia Bound" is outstanding. He used a style called Piedmont blues, which involves intricate fingerpicking and switching between different bass notes. His guitar work is full of rhythm and complex patterns that made him stand out as one of the best guitarists of his era.
Chords And Strumming
I play this one in standard tuning with a root up down up and repeat mixed with a few riffs. The chords in this one is C, F, G7, C7 and a Adim.
Guitar Lesson Detail - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Back To Song List
6. Hard Pushin Papa
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Hard Pushin Papa was recorded by Blind Blake recorded in 1929.
One of Blind Blake's strengths as a songwriter was his ability to craft engaging narratives within his songs. "Hard Pushin' Papa" is an example of his storytelling prowess, as it paints a vivid picture of the central character and his struggles.
Chords And Strumming
There is picking here in standard tuning with the chords G, C7, D7 and an A7. For rhythm play a root down up root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern.
Guitar Lesson Detail - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Back To Song List
7. Police Dog Blues - Learn To Play On Guitar
Police Dog Blues is a famous blues song by Blind Blake, a guitarist and singer known for his impact on music. He recorded this tune in 1929, and it's one of his most famous works.
The song is an instrumental, meaning there are no lyrics; it's just Blind Blake playing his guitar. His guitar skills are extraordinary, with fast and intricate finger-picking and a rhythm that keeps you tapping your foot. Blind Blake's talent on the guitar shows how skilled he was in the Piedmont blues style.
Even without words, Blind Blake's guitar tells a story. The music is lively and energetic, creating a feeling of urgency and excitement. The title, "Police Dog Blues," hints at a chase or pursuit, and the music matches this with its dynamic and rhythmic performance.
Blind Blake's recordings, including "Police Dog Blues," have been incredibly influential in the world of blues guitar. His unique finger-picking style and complex arrangements set a high standard for future guitarists. This song is a timeless example of early blues guitar and continues to inspire musicians and guitar enthusiasts all around the world.
Chords And Strumming
This one has a root down up root up down up rhythm pattern with the chords D, G7, A7 and a D7 in standard tuning with plenty of lead picking.
Guitar Lesson Detail - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
<Back To Song List
Other Popular Blind Blake Songs & Top 5
Some of Blind Blake’s most well-known songs include "West Coast Blues", "Early Morning Blues", "That Will Never Happen No More", "You Gonna Quit Me Blues", and "Diddie Wa Diddie", among others. His songs, much like Blind Blake himself, were known for their dynamism and variety, ranging from fast-paced dance tunes to low, soulful ballads. Many would class his top 5 as follows:
- Early Morning Blues
- West Coast Blues
- That Will Never Happen No More
- You Gonna Quit Me Blues
- Diddie Wa Diddie
Blind Blake's Musical Style
Blind Blake's musical style was rhythmically complex, incorporating elements of ragtime and what was then becoming known as 'Piedmont blues'. Known for his distinct and intricate finger-picking technique, Blake often played with a pick to create his elaborate ragtime and blues riffs. His guitar style, fast picking and all, has become iconic in the genre and is referred to as 'Piedmont blues'.
Yes Blind Blake Was Really Blind
Blind Blake’s music not only stands as a testament to his genius, it serves as a footprint in blues history, paving the way for countless musicians. The vast legacy of Blind Blake songs continues to charm, inspire and entertain us, keeping the rhythm of the blues alive. Blind Blake may have lived in obscurity and died in mystery, but his music and influence continue to resonate today - in families’ homes, in musician's instruments, in blues lovers' hearts and in every beats of American blues history.
Blind Blake’s recordings continue to inspire blues and fingerstyle guitarists around the world. While the original recordings showcase remarkable technical skill, these simplified acoustic arrangements let modern players explore that sound in an accessible way.
Try them all — and if you enjoy this style, check out more early blues lessons in our vintage blues section or explore other legends like Mississippi John Hurt and Big Bill Broonzy.
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