101 Best Blues Songs to Learn on Guitar
In the vast world of music, few genres capture the raw emotion, soulful melodies, and electrifying energy quite like the blues.
In this post, I’m going to share with you a journey through 101 epic blues songs to learn on guitar. Whether you're a beginner eager to dive into the world of blues or an experienced guitarist seeking new challenges, this curated list will guide you through essential tracks that define the genre's diverse landscape.
From the haunting melodies of Robert Johnson to the scorching solos of Stevie Ray Vaughan, we'll cover iconic and influential songs that have shaped the blues into what it is today.
You’ll get a video for each song and also a skill rating for each guitar lesson:
Level: 🎸Easier
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
Level: 🎸🎸🎸Advanced
Each song on this list has been chosen for its significance, popularity, and unique guitar techniques that make it an excellent learning experience. However, they are not in any kind of order other than alphabetical. So whether you're yearning to master the intricate fingerpicking patterns of acoustic blues of Mississippi John Hurt or longing to wail through blistering electric solos like Johnny Winter, you'll find something to ignite your passion and hone your skills.
So, grab your guitar, tune-up, and let’s get started!
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1. Ain't No Sunshine | Bill Withers | Freddie King
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
While not necessarily a traditional style of blues, the blues influence here is still crystal clear. This song follows an 8-bar blues song form plus the simple use of the i, iv, and v chords make it a great one to play for a jam session or at home.
2. Alberta | Eric Clapton
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
Eric Clapton’s recording of “Alberta” is a great 12-string style blues in the key of C. The song’s melody sounds strangely familiar to a tune called, “Corrine Corrina” first recorded and released by Charlie McCoy and Bo Chatman around December 1928.
3. All Shook Up | Elvis Presley
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
Here’s a great blues in the key of Bb, written by Otis Blackwell and recorded by Elvis Presley. The song is a blues with a bridge and the guitar part has a nice walking bass line in it.
4. All Your Love (I Miss Loving) | Eric Clapton & The Bluesbreakers
Level: 🎸🎸🎸Advanced
This blues standard was originally written and recorded by Chicago blues guitarist Otis Rush in 1958. Here we’ll dive into Eric Clapton’s version with the Bluesbreakers from the Beano album.
5. All Your Love | Magic Sam
Level: 🎸🎸🎸Advanced
Here’s a soulful blues in the key of B. This guitar part features a lot of 9th chords. It uses both a dominant seven #9 as well as just dominant ninth chords. Plus it has an edgy guitar tone with tremolo added in as well for an effect.
6. BB King Guitar Lesson - Phrasing Over G Progression
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
When it comes to playing a slow blues lead in my opinion, nobody did it better than B.B. King. In this video, I’ll break down a lesson with King and show how he plays over blues chord progressions in the key of G.
7. Baby What You Want Me To Do | Jimmy Reed
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
This Jimmy Reed classic is a must-know for blues players. In this lesson, I’ll unpack the Jimmy Reed shuffle in the key of E.
8. Back Door Man | Howlin' Wolf
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
Written by the great Willie Dixon this song was recorded by Howlin’ Wolf in 1960. It was also later covered by the Doors.
9. Be Bop A Lula | Gene Vincent
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
This rockabilly style blues in the key of E was first recorded in 1956 by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps. In this one, you’ll learn to combine chords and a walking bass line.
10. Be Careful With A Fool | Johnny Winter
Level: 🎸🎸🎸Advanced
Dive into some blistering Johnny Winter licks in this live version of “Be Careful With A Fool”. Learn his phrases note-for-note and supercharge your slow blues lead playing.
11. Before You Accuse Me | Bo Diddley
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
This song was written and recorded by American musician Bo Diddley in 1957. It’s a great shuffle-style groove in the key of E. Check out the turnaround lick as well for a classic Diddley-style lick.
12. Before You Accuse Me | Eric Clapton
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
Although this song was written by Bo Diddley, Eric Clapton has a great version of it on the Unplugged record.
13. Beginner Blues Slide Guitar | 12-bar blues in open G
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
Wanna play slide guitar? Here’s an intro lesson to playing slide guitar in the style of Muddy Waters.
14. Big Boss Man | Jimmy Reed
Big Boss Man | Jimmy Reed
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
Another classic from the LEGENDARY blues musician Jimmy Reed. This one has some unique chord changes you can use to “comp” in a blues in any key.
15. Big Legged Woman | Freddie King
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
Here’s a funky blues in the key of C from Freddie King’s album Texas Cannonball released in 1972. This song has a great riff and is perfect for improving your single-note picking.
16. Birthday | Beatles
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
Here’s a great blues riff in the key of A. This isn’t necessarily a traditional blues but this shows how the blues made its way into rock n roll. It still follows the I, V, and V!
17. Black Friday | Steely Dan
Level: 🎸🎸🎸Advanced
Here’s a band that took the blues to another level. The opening riff is a great take on a typical blues shuffle pattern but after that Steely Dan takes the chord changes to the moon.
18. Blue Suede Shoes | Elvis Presley
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
Here’s a fun blues rock and roll standard. It was written and first recorded by American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Carl Perkins in 1955.
19. Blueberry Hill | Fats Domino
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
The first part of this song follows an 8-bar blues progression, and then later has some interesting chord changes. This song was first published in 1940, but Fats Domino’s version is the most popular.
20. Bo Diddley | Bo Diddley
Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate
Again with this one, it’s not a straight-up blues but I still think it’s important to know as a guitarist so I’ve included it here. Learn this Bo Diddley rhythm!
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