Jazz 

Blues : Top 50
Most Common Blues Tunes List
Here's a list of the most commonly called (and played) jazz blues tunes. A huge part of
the jazz repertoire consist of blues or bluesy type of songs. There are many variations :
form, tempo, tonality, style and harmonic structure come to mind. 

 When attending a jazz jam session, it is always a good idea to have a handful of blues
themes available to play. It's my experience that everybody has "got the blues"
somehow, so why not play it!

Very Common Blues Tunes

Here is a list of jazz blues tunes you're almost certain to hear or play at jam sessions.
Most of them are pretty simple. The common blues tunes below are "easy to call" at
jams because musicians tend to know them well.

I challenge you to memorize 10 of 'em ASAP! 

[Format is : Title - Key - Style, form notes]

All Blues, - G - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar (6/8 meter)

Bessie’s Blues - Eb - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar (V-IV)
Billie’s Bounce - F - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar 
Blue Monk - Bb - Med. Swing, 12-bar (V-IV)
Blue Trane - Eb - Med. Swing, 12-bar (V-IV)
Blues for Alice - F - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar “Bird” Blues
C Jam Blues - C, F, Bb - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar (V-IV)
Footprints - Cm - Med. Swing (or straight), Minor Blues (in 6/4)
Freddie The Freeloader - Bb - Med. Swing, 12-bar (V-IV)
Mr. P.C. - Cm - Fast Swing, 12-bar Minor Blues
Now’s The Time - F - Med. Swing, 12-bar
Sandu - Eb- Med. Swing, 12-bar
Sonnymoon For Two - Bb - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar
Straight, No Chaser - F - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar
Tenor Madness - Bb - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar
The Blues Walk - Bb - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar
Things Ain’t What - C, Db, F, Bb, ... - Med. Swing, 12-bar
They Used To Be      
Turnaround - C - Med. Swing, 12-bar
Watermelon Man - F - Med. Funk Bugaloo, 16-bar Blues
 Somewhat Common Blues Tunes
These jazz blues tunes show up at jam sessions from time to time. They're worth
learning because they're great melodies, and besides, they're great to know just in case
you're looking to mix up the repertoire a little bit.

[Format is : Title - Key - Style, form notes]

Alright, Okay, You Win - Eb, Bb,… - Med. Swing, Blues with Bridge
Au Privave - F - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar jazz blues
Bag’s Groove - F - Med. Swing, 12-bar (V-IV)
Blues By Five - Bb - Med.-Fast Swing, 12-bar (V-IV)
Bluesette - Bb, G - Med.Swing, “Bird” blues (variation in 3/4)
Cheryl - C - Med.-Fast Swing, 12-bar
Chi-Chi - Ab - Med/Fast Swing, “Bird” Blues
Isotope - C - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar
One For Daddy-O - Bbm - Med. Swing, Minor Blues
Scotch & Water -Bb -Med/Fast Swing, Blues with Bridge
Stolen Moments - Cm - Med. Swing, Minor Blues
Unit Seven - C -Med/Fast Swing, Blues with Bridge
Walkin’ - F - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar
When Will The Blues Leave? - F - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar

Less Common
Blues Tunes

These are tunes are some of my favorite blues to play that are seldom called at jam
sessions. They have slightly more elaborate forms or melodies, and therefore are played
less often...  But they're great tunes!

[Format is : Title - Key - Style, form notes]

A Simple Matter of Conviction - Dm - Swing, Minor Blues (3/4 meter)

All Members - F - Fast Swing,  12-bar
Barbados - F - Med/Fast "Rhumba"/Swing, 12-bar
Blues Connotation - Bb - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar
Boogie Stop Shuffle - Bbm - Fast Swing, 12-bar (V-IV)
Butch and Butch - G - Med/Fast Swing, “Bird” Blues (variation)
Eighty-One - F - Med. Straight 8th’s, 12-bar (V-IV)
Homestretch - Bb - Fast Swing, 12-bar (V-IV)
Royal Garden Blues - Bb - Med/Fast Swing, 12-bar (V-IV)
Society Red - F - Med/Slow Swing, 12-bar
Soul Surge - F - Med. Swing, 12-bar (V-IV in 7/4 meter)
Swinging Shepherd Blues - C - Med. Swing, 12-bar
The Sidewinder - Eb - Med. Funk/Bugaloo, 24-bar (V-IV)
Third Floor Richard - F - Med. Swing, 12-bar (V-IV)
Twelve More Bars To Go - Bb - Med. Swing, 12-bar (V-IV + variation)
Two Bass Hit - Db - Fast Swing, 12-bar (for solos)