Baker claims that the author Washington Irving is credited with giving us the term "the blues" in 1807 to describe the emotions associated with melancholy, but it was not until the 1890s that the musical form began to spread. It was usually played with voice and banjo, and sometimes guitar. In 1912, black composer W.C. Handy published his first blues music. After that, the blues form gained popularity and spread rapidly.
Blues 101 describes the 1920s as a time when the blues experienced a period of growth around the country. Many regional styles developed, such as the Delta or Mississippi blues, the Texas blues and the Piedmont (southeastern United States) blues. Instruments used during recordings at that time include a single male singer who accompanied himself on guitar or piano. Sometimes there was also a percussionist or harmonica.
The 1930s and '40s were highlighted by the development of blues combos that performed all over the country with piano, guitar and percussion. After World War II, instruments began to become electrified and amplified. The electric guitar and amplified harmonica were often used, though according to Blues 101, some bands preferred to add a saxophone. The blues form and sound that arose from this period and continues to this day is commonly referred to as the "electric blues" or the "Chicago blues."