When it comes to learning to play the piano, you likely started out by focusing on classical piano songs, from the likes of Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin. But the truth is, there are so many other genres you can experiment with when you know how to play the piano.
And if you ask us, jazz blues piano songs are some of the best kinds of tunes to play. This style of music originated in the Deep South in the 1860s and it continues to delight musicians of all levels and backgrounds today.
If you’re interested in learning to play blues music, then you’ve come to the right place. Here we’ve gathered some of the best blues songs on the piano of all time. If you’re looking to experiment with some beginner blues piano songs or want to challenge yourself to something more advanced, our list has you covered.
Check out 50 of the best blues piano tunes below!
50 Best Blues Piano Songs
Jazz blues piano songs are typically characterized by walking bass lines, specific chord progressions, and flattened blues notes. In the songs below, you’ll discover how some of the finest pianists, from Ray Charles to Katie Webster, have put their own spin on this style of music over the years.
Listen to these iconic piano pieces below for inspiration, and get ready to try them out for yourself!
1) Boogie Woogie Stomp — Albert Ammons
2) Rock Little Baby — Cecil Gant
3) Steppin’ Out — Memphis Slim
4) The Snow Is Falling — Ray Charles
5) Heavy Heart Blues — Champion Jack Dupree
6) Jambalaya — Fats Domino
7) Travelin’ Blues — Charles Brown
8) Hey Bartender — Floyd Dixon
9) Mardi Gras in New Orleans — Professor Longhair
10) Tanqueray — Johnnie Johnson
11) Blueberry Hill — Fats Domino
12) CC Boogie — Katie Webster
13) T’Aint Nobody’s Business If I Do — Otis Spann
14) Boxcar Boogie — Dr. John
15) Got My Mojo Working — Pinetop Perkins
16) 1-2-3-4…Fire! — Jimmy Yancey
17) Yancey Special — Tuts Washington
18) Two Fisted Mama — Katie Webster
19) Kindhearted Woman Blues – Robert Lockwood Jr.
20) Early in the Morning — Booker T. Laury
21) Fess Up — Dr. John
22) Snaps Drinking Woman — Champion Jack Dupree
23) Skeet’s California Sunshine — Floyd Dixon
24) Bald Head — Professor Longhair
25) I’ve Got My Fingers Crossed — Piano Red
26) Cow Cow Blues — Cow Cow Davenport
27) Forty Four Blues Theme — Eurreal ‘Little Brother’ Montgomery
29) Soon This Morning — Charlie Spand
30) Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie — Clarence “Pine Top” Smith
31) Must Have Been the Devil — Otis Spann
32) Almost Lost My Mind/Empty Arms — Ivory Joe Hunter
33) 44 Blues — Roosevelt Sykes
34) Walking the Blues — Champion Jack Dupree
35) Pigalle Love — Memphis Slim
36) Call My Job — Detroit Junior
37) Leavin’ Your Town — Sunnyland Slim
38) Ain’t It a Shame — Leroy Carr
39) In The Beginning — Willie Tee
40) Hound Dog — James Booker
41) Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen — Charles Brown
42) Early In The Morning — Booker T. Laury
43) Dollar Bill Boogie — Big Joe Duskin
44) Cruel Hearted Woman — Thunder Smith
45) San Francisco Can Be Such A Lonely Town — Omar Sharriff
46) Cold Chills — Herny Gray
47) On The Spot Boogie — Charlie Musselwhite
48) Hesitation Blues — James P. Johnson
49) You’re My Man — Victoria Spivey
50) Harlem Parlor Blues — Sammy Price
How to Play the Blues
Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with some of the best blues songs around, it’s time to tickle the ivory on your own! But if you still need some tips on how to play blues piano, PianoPlayingAdvice.com offers some great tips in their article on learning blues piano. Here are some of the steps they recommend:
The easiest way to learn blues piano is to learn the LEFT HAND rhythms LONG before you learn all the fancy licks in the RIGHT HAND.
Become familiar with the piano keyboard, musical alphabet, notes, scales, and finger warm-ups.
Become familiar with the pentatonic and blues scales. Gain knowledge of repeating blues phrases.
Buy a blues licks book to learn about blues sounds while playing the piano.
Listen to famous recordings of blues music and blues styles, like rock and jazz music. Listen to Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck, and Roosevelt Sykes. This will help you to internalize blues music and rhythms.
After becoming familiar with the basics of piano blues seek out other musicians to play blues, jazz, and boogie-woogie. It is all about playing with feeling and soul. Learn to jam with others playing blues to help you become more proficient at playing the piano.
Continue reading the article here.
While the above tips are a great place to start your musical journey, nothing beats studying one-on-one with a private piano teacher. When you sign up for piano lessons, your teacher will instruct you on all the ins and outs of learning how to play blues piano. Whether you need help remembering piano basics or want to learn how to sing the blues along with your instrument, your lessons will cover it all. Sign up with us today to explore the wonderful world of blues piano!
Readers, what are your favorite blues songs to play? Let us know in the comments!
Suzy S.