Why Blues is my go-to on tough days.

I didn’t come to the blues because I wanted to impress anyone.(that's why teenage me got into metal 😅)

I came to it because it worked.

Early on, I was pulled in by players like B.B. King, Robert Johnson, and Jimi Hendrix. B.B. King was actually my first concert — which probably explains a lot. Big tone, space between notes, and the confidence to let a single phrase say enough.

What stuck with me wasn’t flash. It was feel.

The Structure Is the Point

One reason blues works so well as a grounding practice is its structure.

Twelve bars, familiar movement, clear form.

I don’t have to decide what to play. I don’t have to invent something new. I drop into the form and let it carry me. When my head is busy or scattered, that predictability is doing most of the work.

Blues doesn’t ask questions. It just starts.

Repetition is a feature, not a flaw and blues fully supports playing the same thing over and over.

Same scale.

Same bend.

Same phrase, again.

That repetition is grounding. My hands know where to go. My ears know what’s coming. I can stay present without overthinking or chasing ideas.

Some days I barely leave a few notes — and that’s fine. The blues has never complained.

Expression Without Needing Words

What I’ve always respected about blues players — especially the ones I grew up listening to — is how much they could say without

explaining anything.

You can be subtle.

You can be rough.

You can leave space.

Blues makes room for frustration, humor, tension, and release without turning it into a big emotional event. It’s honest music, but it’s not dramatic about it.

I use blues because:

It works when motivation is low

It gives me focus without pressure

It’s familiar enough to feel safe

It doesn’t require a “good day”

It rewards showing up, not pushing harder

Sometimes it’s five minutes. Sometimes it turns into more. Either way, I usually feel steadier when I’m done.

Blues as practice, not escape

This isn’t about zoning out or avoiding things. It’s about staying grounded.

Blues keeps my hands, ears, and attention engaged at the same time — which is often exactly what I need. No hype. No performance mindset. Just music doing what it’s always done.

Simple form.

Honest sound.

Reliable results.