Bluesy
adjective
Sounding similar to blues music or having a feeling or style of blues music.
The band played a bluesy tune that made everyone nostalgic.
Often appears as...
- bluesy tune
- bluesy rhythm
adjective
Sounding similar to blues music or having a feeling or style of blues music.
The band played a bluesy tune that made everyone nostalgic.
Often appears as...
- bluesy tune
- bluesy rhythm
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Music Genre
Use 'bluesy' to describe a distinct genre of music with roots in the African-American history.
He added a harmonica for that bluesy sound.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Mood
'Bluesy' can imply a sad or soulful mood, like the musical form it originates from.
Her voice has such a bluesy melancholy to it.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Emphasis
'Bluesy' often evokes the Southern United States and the early 20th-century atmosphere.
His lyrics are so bluesy, like they're straight out of Memphis.
Compare with
dolefulgloomygrittymelancholicmournfulsadsoulfulwistful
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Quote examples
Yngwie Malmsteen
Swedish Musician
I listened to all those blues records. They were great - Clapton, John Mayall. Then eventually I heard Genesis with Peter Gabriel, and I didn't really understand the difference then, but something struck me about the inversions and the diminished chords... they weren't as bluesy, and I loved it. I found out, that was very baroque-influenced.
Quote examples
Lizz Wright
American Musician
My father was very strict, a very militant parent, because he wanted us to be very focused kids. He sold the televisions, so we didn't watch TV. And he didn't want any music playing that wasn't gospel or inspirational music. In fact, he didn't even like a lot of gospel because he thought it was too bluesy.
Quote examples
George Ezra
English Musician
A lot of what I listened to growing up was blues, but also folk and indie music. So there's this marriage of songs that structurally are quite bluesy. Sound-wise, there's a lot of indie as well. But you can't really say I'm pop-blues, because that's insulting to blues. It just can't exist.
Quote examples
Idina Menzel
American Actress
I can sing 'Happy Birthday' to you in twelve different places, but one of them is going to make you feel a certain thing, maybe it's a vulnerability, maybe an innocence, maybe another way is sexy and soulful or bluesy whatever it is, but with singers, exploring keys, I think, is important.
Quote examples
Ken Hensley
English Musician
I didn't know that you were supposed to tune the guitar to an open chord, and I learned to play slide with a normal tuning. I think it's a little more melodic that way and doesn't sound so bluesy. Of course, if I could play like David Lindley or Ry Cooder, I'd be a happy man!
Quote examples
Frankie Ballard
American Musician
All my influences go into a pot like a big ole stew, and it tastes like all the years I spent trying to play the guitar like Stevie Ray Vaughn. It tastes like Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. And if it comes out bluesy, then so be it.
Quote examples
Thia Megia
American Musician
The type of music that I love to sing would have to be more bluesy and jazzy and more soul-like 'cause I love to belt when it comes to singing, so I guess bigger songs are what I lean more towards.
Quote examples
Dimebag Darrell
American Musician
To me, blues is more of a feel and a vibe, rather than sitting there and saying, 'Well, I'm gonna play bluesy now.
Quote examples
FKA twigs
British Musician
I've never been into the typical R&B voice, with runs and bluesy sounding words. That doesn't suit me.
Quote examples
Haley Reinhart
American Musician
I love classic rock, rock and roll, that's the top notch. I love soul - bluesy music as well.
Quote examples
Yngwie Malmsteen
Swedish Musician
I listened to all those blues records. They were great - Clapton, John Mayall. Then eventually I heard Genesis with Peter Gabriel, and I didn't really understand the difference then, but something struck me about the inversions and the diminished chords... they weren't as bluesy, and I loved it. I found out, that was very baroque-influenced.
Quote examples
Lizz Wright
American Musician
My father was very strict, a very militant parent, because he wanted us to be very focused kids. He sold the televisions, so we didn't watch TV. And he didn't want any music playing that wasn't gospel or inspirational music. In fact, he didn't even like a lot of gospel because he thought it was too bluesy.
Quote examples
George Ezra
English Musician
A lot of what I listened to growing up was blues, but also folk and indie music. So there's this marriage of songs that structurally are quite bluesy. Sound-wise, there's a lot of indie as well. But you can't really say I'm pop-blues, because that's insulting to blues. It just can't exist.
Quote examples
Idina Menzel
American Actress
I can sing 'Happy Birthday' to you in twelve different places, but one of them is going to make you feel a certain thing, maybe it's a vulnerability, maybe an innocence, maybe another way is sexy and soulful or bluesy whatever it is, but with singers, exploring keys, I think, is important.
Quote examples
Ken Hensley
English Musician
I didn't know that you were supposed to tune the guitar to an open chord, and I learned to play slide with a normal tuning. I think it's a little more melodic that way and doesn't sound so bluesy. Of course, if I could play like David Lindley or Ry Cooder, I'd be a happy man!
Quote examples
Frankie Ballard
American Musician
All my influences go into a pot like a big ole stew, and it tastes like all the years I spent trying to play the guitar like Stevie Ray Vaughn. It tastes like Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. And if it comes out bluesy, then so be it.
Quote examples
Thia Megia
American Musician
The type of music that I love to sing would have to be more bluesy and jazzy and more soul-like 'cause I love to belt when it comes to singing, so I guess bigger songs are what I lean more towards.
Quote examples
Dimebag Darrell
American Musician
To me, blues is more of a feel and a vibe, rather than sitting there and saying, 'Well, I'm gonna play bluesy now.
Quote examples
FKA twigs
British Musician
I've never been into the typical R&B voice, with runs and bluesy sounding words. That doesn't suit me.
Quote examples
Haley Reinhart
American Musician
I love classic rock, rock and roll, that's the top notch. I love soul - bluesy music as well.
Example 1 of 10
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