Learn Classic Blind Blake Blues Songs on Acoustic Guitar

 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.

Bad Feeling Blues is a somber and technically brilliant recording from the June 1931 sessions in Grafton, Wisconsin, appearing on the original Paramount 10-inch shellac.

As one of the final recordings Blind Blake ever made before the bankruptcy of Paramount Records and his subsequent disappearance from the music scene, the track carries a heavy, historical weight. While the concept of a modern music video did not exist in 1931, the song has been revitalized in the digital age through various historical archival projects on YouTube, often paired with the only known photograph of Blake.

Written by Blake himself, the song features the "talking guitar" style that made him a legend, with intricate fingerpicking that sounds remarkably like a ragtime piano. It remains a definitive example of his late-career mastery and the haunting mystery surrounding his final years in the Midwest.

Chump Man Blues is a rhythmic and witty country-blues track released in early 1930 as a 78-rpm single on the Paramount label.

Written by Blake and originally paired with "Ice Man Blues" on the A-side, the song explores the perspective of a man being taken advantage of in a relationship, delivered with a lighthearted vocal grit. Because Blake recorded in the pre-television era, no film or video footage of him performing this track exists, making the original audio recordings the only surviving link to his virtuosity.

The production is notable for its clean, percussive thumb-lead style, which became a foundational technique for the Piedmont blues genre. Interestingly, the song has been frequently studied by acoustic guitar historians for its "stride" guitar patterns, which attempted to replicate the complex left-hand movements of ragtime pianists on a six-string instrument.

Diddy Wah Diddy is one of the most famous and influential recordings in the history of the blues, originally recorded by Blind Blake in 1929 for Paramount. The song title refers to a mythical "land of plenty" in African American folklore, and Blake’s racy, double-entendre lyrics became a sensation in the late 1920s.

While Bo Diddley later recorded a song with the same name, it was Blake’s original composition that set the standard, leading to famous covers by artists like Captain Beefheart and Leon Redbone. No music video was ever produced, but the song's legacy was famously referenced on the cover of the first issue of Zap Comix by Robert Crumb.

The track is recognized for its infectious, bouncing rhythm and a vocal delivery that highlighted Blake's charisma as a performer, proving why he was the top-selling artist for his label during the peak of the 78-rpm era.

Early Morning Blues holds the distinction of being the very first solo recording by Blind Blake, released in 1926 as the debut single for his exclusive contract with Paramount Records.

Written by Blake, the song was a massive commercial success, reaching a wide audience across the South and the Midwest and establishing him as a "wizard of the piano-sounding guitar." The lyrics deal with the classic blues theme of waking up to heartbreak, delivered with a sophisticated fingerpicking style that was years ahead of its time.

While no historical film footage of Blake exists, this recording is often used in documentaries to illustrate the birth of the East Coast blues sound. Interestingly, the success of this single was the primary impetus for record companies to begin searching for more solo blues guitarists, effectively changing the landscape of American popular music in the late 1920s.

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.

Hard Pushin Papa is a high-energy, rhythmic showcase of Blind Blake’s unique "Geechee" influence, featured on a 1928 Paramount 78-rpm release. Written by Blake, the song highlights his incredible speed and precision, featuring walking bass lines and syncopated thumb rolls that many modern guitarists still find difficult to replicate.

Like his other works, there is no associated music video, as Blake died in 1934 long before the advent of music film clips. A unique bit of trivia regarding this era of his recording is that Blake was so respected that white jazz legend Eddie Lang once recorded under the pseudonym "Blind Blake" to sit in with African American groups.

The track is recognized for its exuberant energy and its blend of ragtime dance rhythms with traditional blues structures, cementing Blake's reputation as the "King of the Country Blues Guitar" during his prolific years in Chicago.

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.