* Call-and-response format: Blues music often features a call-and-response format, in which one person sings a line and the others respond.
* Repetitive chord structure: Blues music is typically based on a repetitive chord structure, often following the I-IV-V chord progression.
* Use of the "blue" note: The "blue" note, which is a flattened third or seventh note in the scale, is often used in blues music to create a sense of melancholy or longing.
* Improvisation: Blues music often features improvisation, in which musicians create their own melodies on the spot.
Lyrical themes:
* Personal troubles and hardship: Blues lyrics often deal with personal troubles and hardship, such as poverty, heartbreak, and racism.
* Social commentary: Blues lyrics can also be used as a form of social commentary, to express the concerns and frustrations of a particular community.
* Humor and irony: Blues lyrics often use humor and irony to lighten the mood and provide some comic relief from the serious topics that are often addressed.