rhizoverbBeta
DictionarybluesMusical genre
noun

blues

BLOOZ/bluːz/

A music genre rooted in African American traditions, often expressing sorrow.

The guitarist plays the blues in a small club downtown.

A Black blues guitarist and a diverse small band perform with expressive restrained emotion in a modest club.
Etymology
blueOld Frenchblue, pale
+sEnglishplural

Blue developed the figurative meaning ‘low-spirited,’ and ‘the blues’ came to mean depression or sadness. The musical name may connect with this melancholy sense.

In context

Ananas Stars55:54
rarely will you find Floyd dishing up catchy hooks Tunes short enough for AirPlay or predictable three chord Blues progressions
Pink Floyd

More examples

  • Her singing draws on traditional blues.
  • The band mixes blues with rock and soul.
  • He studies early recordings of the blues.

Forms

blues

Similar words

jazz
A related but distinct musical tradition with broader improvisational forms.