Best Blues Music Books of 2025

Wilson Cook Avatar
Wilson Cook
Last Updated: Apr 24, 2023

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Blues music books are a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about the history and evolution of this important musical genre. These books cover a wide range of topics, from the early days of the blues in the Mississippi Delta to the modern blues scene in cities like Chicago and Memphis. They also delve into the lives and music of famous blues artists like B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Robert Johnson, providing insight into their unique styles and contributions to the genre. Whether you're a musician, a music lover, or simply curious about the blues, these books are an essential addition to any library.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Beyond Pentatonic Blues Guitar: Master Intermediate to Advanced Blues Lead Guitar Concepts, Licks, Scales & Theory for More Sophisticated Soloing and Improvisation Cover #TOP 1
Beyond Pentatonic Blues Guitar: Master Intermediate to Advanced Blues Lead Guitar Concepts, Licks, Scales & Theory for More Sophisticated Soloing and Improvisation
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey Cover #TOP 2
Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide to Great Music and Mixed Drinks Cover #TOP 3
Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide to Great Music and Mixed Drinks
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Blues Music Books

Beyond Pentatonic Blues Guitar: Master Intermediate to Advanced Blues Lead Guitar Concepts, Licks, Scales & Theory for More Sophisticated Soloing and Improvisation

Campbell, Mr Ross
Lewis, Mr Luke
Apr 15, 2023
Beyond Pentatonic Blues Guitar: Master Intermediate to Advanced Blues Lead Guitar Concepts, Licks, Scales & Theory for More Sophisticated Soloing and Improvisation Cover
Beyond Pentatonic Blues Guitar: Master Intermediate to Advanced Blues Lead Guitar Concepts, Licks, Scales & Theory for More Sophisticated Soloing and Improvisation

Beyond Pentatonic Blues Guitar by Ross Campbell is a must-read for intermediate to advanced blues guitarists who want to take their solos to the next level. The book goes beyond the basic blues scale and teaches the melodic and harmonic ideas used by professional blues guitarists to create authentic solos. The author covers topics such as targeting chord changes, controlling tension and release, utilizing triads and arpeggios, and chromatic coloring. The book includes detailed explanations, examples, licks, and full solo etudes, as well as a backing track in all 12 keys. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for blues guitarists who want to improve their soloing skills.

Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey

McCormick, Robert Mack
Troutman, John
Apr 4, 2023
Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey Cover
Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey

Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey by Mack McCormick is a fascinating book that delves into the life of the legendary blues musician, Robert Johnson. McCormick spent decades researching and reconstructing Johnson's life story, and this book is the culmination of his work. The book provides a glimpse into the Mississippi landscape during Johnson's time, the racism he faced, and the impact of his music on future generations. The inclusion of 40 unseen black-and-white photographs documenting McCormick's search adds to the book's allure. Overall, this book is an important historical object that deepens our understanding of a stellar musician and the complexities of his life.

Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide to Great Music and Mixed Drinks

Darlington, André
Darlington, Tenaya
Running Press Adult
Apr 17, 2018
Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide to Great Music and Mixed Drinks Cover
Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide to Great Music and Mixed Drinks

Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide to Great Music and Mixed Drinks is a unique guide that combines music and cocktails. The book features 70 great records from the 1950s through the 2000s, with each entry having liner notes that underscore the album's musical highlights and accompanying "Side A" and "Side B" cocktail recipes that complement the music's mood. The book is organized by mood, making it easy to find the perfect cocktail and album pairing for any occasion. The photography throughout the book is stunning and adds to the overall experience. Booze & Vinyl is a must-read for music and cocktail enthusiasts alike.

Guitar Scales for Beginners: How to Solo Effortlessly and Create Your Own Music Even If You Don't Know What A Scale Is: Secrets to Your Very First Scale (Guitar Scales Mastery)

Head, Guitar
Independently published
May 27, 2019
Guitar Scales for Beginners: How to Solo Effortlessly and Create Your Own Music Even If You Don't Know What A Scale Is: Secrets to Your Very First Scale (Guitar Scales Mastery) Cover
Guitar Scales for Beginners: How to Solo Effortlessly and Create Your Own Music Even If You Don't Know What A Scale Is: Secrets to Your Very First Scale (Guitar Scales Mastery)

This book, titled "Guitar Scales for Beginners: How to Solo Effortlessly and Create Your Own Music Even If You Don't Know What A Scale Is: Secrets to Your Very First Scale (Guitar Scales Mastery)" by an Independently Published author, is an excellent guide for guitar beginners on how to learn and master scales without getting overwhelmed. The author shares their personal experience of learning scales and provides a step-by-step method to make sense of the boxes and stitch them together to create good music. What makes this book unique is that it teaches only one scale but provides the tools necessary to learn every other scale in the future. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their guitar skills and become the guitarist of their dreams.

#TOP 5

Cream: Clapton, Bruce & Baker Sitting on Top of the World: San Francisco, February-March 1968

Genzolini, Edoardo
Palmer, Tony
Halverson, Bill
Mar 28, 2023
Cream: Clapton, Bruce & Baker Sitting on Top of the World: San Francisco, February-March 1968 Cover
Cream: Clapton, Bruce & Baker Sitting on Top of the World: San Francisco, February–March 1968

Cream: Clapton, Bruce & Baker Sitting on Top of the World: San Francisco, February–March 1968 is a comprehensive documentation of Cream's live performances during their legendary pairing with the American city of San Francisco. The book presents author Edoardo Genzolini's detailed analysis of all sets played by the band at both venues, recorded by Atlantic Records and filmed by legendary British documentary filmmaker Tony Palmer. The inclusion of rare, never-before-published concert photographs makes this book a must-read for any Cream fan. Despite the inaccurate documentation and devastating fire at the Atlantic Records audio archive, this book provides the definitive chronicle of Cream's iconic shows.

Beginner Electric Guitar Lessons: Book with Online Video & Audio

Vogl, Peter
Mar 17, 2021
Beginner Electric Guitar Lessons: Book with Online Video & Audio Cover
Beginner Electric Guitar Lessons: Book with Online Video & Audio

Beginner Electric Guitar Lessons Book with Online Video and Audio Access is a comprehensive guide for those who want to learn how to play electric guitar. Written by Peter Vogl, the book covers everything from the basics of guitar playing to more advanced techniques such as playing scales and chords. What sets this book apart is the online access to video instruction and audio tracks, which makes it easier for beginners to learn and play correctly. The book is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn how to play electric guitar and is highly recommended.

How To Play Acoustic Guitar: The Ultimate Beginner Acoustic Guitar Book

Mather, Pauric
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
May 8, 2017
How To Play Acoustic Guitar: The Ultimate Beginner Acoustic Guitar Book Cover
How To Play Acoustic Guitar: The Ultimate Beginner Acoustic Guitar Book

The "How To Play Acoustic Guitar" book is the ultimate guide for beginners who want to learn how to play the guitar. With 130 pages of superbly explained guitar lessons, 100 beautifully illustrated guitar chords, and rhythm patterns, this book is better than a guitar teacher. It also includes over 100 easy-to-play guitar songs and step-by-step lesson videos, live, and email support. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to play acoustic guitar quickly and efficiently without any prior knowledge of music.

#TOP 8

ShowTime Piano Jazz & Blues: Level 2A

Faber, Nancy
Faber, Randall
Faber
Jan 1, 1993
ShowTime Piano Jazz & Blues: Level 2A Cover
ShowTime Piano Jazz & Blues: Level 2A

ShowTime Piano Jazz & Blues: Level 2A is an exciting collection of jazz and blues pieces arranged for Level 2A piano students. The book offers a range of sounds from soulful blues to jazz originals, including popular hits like Blue Moon and Bye, Bye Blackbird. As the student practices, they will improve their reading and rhythmic skills while enjoying the sounds of jazz and blues. Faber Piano Adventures has done an excellent job of creating a book that is both entertaining and educational for young musicians.

#TOP 9

FunTime Piano Jazz & Blues: Level 3A-3B

Faber, Nancy
Faber, Randall
Faber Piano Adventures
Jan 1, 1999
FunTime Piano Jazz & Blues: Level 3A-3B Cover
FunTime Piano Jazz & Blues: Level 3A-3B

Faber Piano Adventures' FunTime Piano Jazz & Blues: Level 3A-3B is a must-have for any Level 3 student interested in exploring jazz and blues style. The book offers a vast collection of jazz and blues standards, as well as original compositions, that are easy to follow and enjoyable to play. The book also comes with helpful introductory videos, making it even easier for students to learn and improve their skills. Overall, this book is an excellent addition to any pianist's collection and offers a unique opportunity to explore the jazz and blues genre.

#TOP 10

The Complete Guide to Playing Blues Guitar: Compilation (Learn How to Play Blues Guitar)

Alexander, Mr Joseph
Apr 25, 2014
The Complete Guide to Playing Blues Guitar: Compilation (Learn How to Play Blues Guitar) Cover
The Complete Guide to Playing Blues Guitar: Compilation (Learn How to Play Blues Guitar)

The Complete Guide to Playing Blues Guitar Compilation is a three-part series that teaches essential skills to become a master blues guitarist. The book offers over 245 pages of blues guitar mastery with over 400 notated audio download examples and over 20 backing tracks. It covers rhythm guitar, melodic phrasing, and beyond pentatonics that help you play any blues song. The Complete Blues Guitar Soloing Course will have you writing and improvising your own solos in no time. Overall, this comprehensive guide is a must-have for anyone who wants to learn how to play blues guitar.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the 4 genres of blues?

Modern studies of the blues identify a range of different styles of blues: delta blues, country blues, down-home blues, urban blues, harmonica blues and so on.

2. What is typical blues music?

The blues has a distinct melancholic and somber tone, which is achieved through vocal techniques such as melisma, rhythmic techniques such as syncopation, and instrumental techniques such as “choking” guitar strings on the neck or applying a metal slide to the guitar strings to create a whining voicelike sound.

3. How many genres of blues are there?

You might know blues when you hear it. But would you know what genre of blues you're hearing? Blues comes in many different flavors, roughly 25 of them, each with their own nuances and style.

Editor's Notes

During our blues music book research, we found 1,200+ blues music book products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 17,178 customer reviews through our big data system to write the blues music books list. We found that most customers choose blues music books with an average price of $17.01.

Written by
Wilson Cook Avatar

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.