How to Write Hokum Blues Songs

If blues were a cheeky uncle who tells stories that make your grandma blush, hokum blues would be the uncle in a sequin jacket. Hokum blues is the part of the blues family that smiles when the world is messy. It mixes clever wordplay, ribald humor, and a groove you can shake your shoulder to. This guide gives you everything from the musical skeleton to the dirty punchlines so you can write hokum blues songs that get laughs, snaps, and cash in the tip jar.

Everything here is written for artists who want to learn fast and start playing sooner. You will get clear templates, lyric prompts, chord maps, rhythm advice, arrangement ideas, and performance tips that work in smoky bars, sweaty house shows, and awkward coffee shop open mic nights. We explain every term as if you just stepped out of a time machine from 1999 and your playlist is mostly pop punk. If you already know the basics, great. If not, I will hold your hand with street level analogies and bad jokes.

What Is Hokum Blues

Hokum blues is a style of blues music that leans into humor, risqué metaphors, and playful boasting. It rose to popularity in the early twentieth century. Songs in this tradition use double meanings and everyday images to talk about sex, luck, money, and relationships without getting boring. Think of it as comedy and blues in a pillow fight. The music is often upbeat and danceable even when the lyrics are a little scandalous.

Example artists and songs you might recognize include Lonnie Johnson, Tampa Red, and the early recorded vaudeville style blues tunes. If you want a modern frame of reference imagine a comedian who also happens to play guitar and is on a mission to trick you into singing along with a chorus about something slightly inappropriate.

Why Hokum Blues Works

• Humor makes hard truths easier People will sing about pain if you make the pain funny.
• Double meaning hooks memory A good wink makes a line stick.
• Simple structure means fast payoff You do not need complex harmony to deliver a gut laugh and a great groove.
• Audience participation is built in Call and response lines and short refrains invite shouting back.

The Basic Musical Building Blocks

Before we write a single dirty pun, we need the musical frame. Hokum blues usually lives inside the familiar twelve bar form and uses three primary chords. If you are allergic to music theory that has a fancy name, calm down. I will explain every label like it is a recipe that requires zero gourmet skills.

Twelve bar form explained

Twelve bar form is a song shape that lasts twelve measures. A measure is a unit of time in music. Most hokum blues songs repeat this twelve measure shape over and over while you tell your story. The advantage is obvious. You have a predictable groove and the listener knows when the joke is coming.

Typical pattern in plain terms

1. Four measures of the home chord
2. Two measures of the four chord followed by two measures back on the home chord
3. One measure of the five chord, one measure of the four chord, then two measures of the home chord

If that sounds like alphabet soup, think in simple numbers and feel. The labels are Roman numerals used to name chord functions. The home chord is called I. The four chord is called IV. The five chord is called V. If you play guitar and you know E7 A7 B7 those are examples of I IV V when the song is in the key of E.

How to feel the groove

Hokum blues usually swings. That means pairs of eighth notes are not even. The first is a bit longer and the second is shorter. The result is a lilting sway you can tap your foot to. Call and response and small syncopated turns in the rhythm keep things playful.

If you prefer a classroom image imagine walking with a swagger where your left foot takes a longer step and your right foot follows fast. That is swing in a sentence. For practice, clap long short long short while a drummer keeps a steady pulse and your chest will understand it fast.

Harmony and Chord Choices

Hokum does not demand complexity. You want the harmonic backdrop to be predictable so the melody and the joke land. Use dominant seventh chords to add grit and movement. Dominant seventh chords are often written as E7 or A7. The seventh is a note that creates tension and a tiny attitude problem. That attitude is perfect for hokum.

Three chord trick

Pick your key. If you choose E you will use E7 as the home chord, A7 as the four chord, and B7 as the five chord. Play a basic rhythm pattern called a shuffle on guitar or piano and you are already five minutes into a hokum song. The shuffle is a simple two note or broken chord rhythm with swing. It supports call and response and space for jokes.

Adding color

Add a quick passing chord or a minor iv for spice. A minor iv means you play the four chord as a minor. It sounds like a little sigh in the music. Use it in the last two measures of the twelve measure form to tease or underline a line that turns the joke.

Lyrics That Wink and Sting

Hokum relies on clever phrasing and everyday images. Writers use double entendre to make a line mean two things at once. Double entendre is a phrase that seems innocent on the surface but carries a hidden meaning. Teaching this is not a license to offend. Use character and wit instead of crude shock. The goal is sly laughter not dismal awkwardness.

Core topics

• Sex and flirtation
• Money and bragging
• Luck and bad choices
• Travel and missing trains
• Household objects that become props for jokes

Real life scenario

Imagine your first night playing a bar where the bartender is older than your song ideas and the crowd includes a retired school teacher. You sing a line about your lover's "new set of keys" and the teacher laughs because she sees the literal key on a table. The person next to her laughs because they heard the other meaning. You just created a room sized wink and a memory. That is hokum in action.

Structure for a hokum verse

1. Start with a tiny scene that is physical and specific
2. Follow with a line that pivots or reveals more detail
3. End the verse with a setup that points toward the joke or the title

Example verse pattern

I found your left shoe by the door. It looked like it had a secret. I thought about laundry but then I thought about other things.

Notice the image, the pivot, and the setup. Hokum lives in that pivot.

Hook and chorus

Hokum choruses are short and repeatable. They often include the title and a ring phrase that the crowd can clap to. Keep it simple. Make it rhythmic. A good chorus might be a single line repeated with a small change on the last repeat.

Example chorus

You got my socks all twisted, baby. You got my socks all twisted. You got my socks all twisted and you stole the other one.

You can see how the repetition builds the laugh. The last line lands the twist. The crowd can shout the first two lines wherever they want and still get the joke.

Lyric Devices That Work Every Time

Double entendre

Write a line that means two things. For example a "pocket full of keys" can be literal and metaphorical. A good double entendre gives the listener a moment to register both meanings. Timing matters. Leave space after the reveal for a drum hit or a snare crack so the audience can laugh before the next line arrives.

List escalation

Give three items that build in absurdity. The first item is normal. The second is closer to trouble. The third is the punchline. Lists work because humans expect pattern and then enjoy a deviation. Use this to set up a chorus.

Ring phrase

Start and end the chorus with an identical short line. It ties the song together and helps memory. In performance you can drop instruments and let the room shout the ring phrase back to you as the band stops for a beat and then comes back in.

Callback

Bring a line from verse one back later with a one word swap. The listener feels the story move forward without you over explaining. Callbacks create that delicious moment when the crowd says I see what you did there and gives you credit for cleverness.

Example: A Simple Hokum Blues Template

Here is a practical template you can use right now. Pick a key, learn the three chords, and write fast. I will show you a chord map and a lyric sketch you can fill.

Chord map in words

1. Measures 1 to 4 play the home chord with shuffle rhythm
2. Measures 5 and 6 switch to the four chord
3. Measures 7 and 8 return to the home chord
4. Measure 9 plays the five chord
5. Measure 10 plays the four chord
6. Measures 11 and 12 return to the home chord and end with a tag or a quick turn

Real life practice tip

Set a timer for ten minutes. Play the chord map on loop and speak aloud silly lines about things in the room. Do not worry about rhyming. You will find one line that shines. Build your chorus around that line.

Fill in the blanks lyric sketch

Verse one: A tiny object and a quick action that reveals character. Example: My left shoe sat by the stove like it had a plan.

Pre chorus: A setup that hints at the joke without finishing it. Example: I tried to cook but the skillet kept looking like your grin.

Chorus: Ring phrase repeated with a punchline on the last repeat. Example: You got my socks all twisted. You got my socks all twisted. You took the other one and danced in the kitchen.

Verse two: Escalate the story. Add a list or a detail that raises the stakes. Example: Your coat in the sink, your hat on the floor, your lipstick on the coffee cup.

Bridge or tag: One short line that changes perspective. Example: I might forgive the mess but not the missing shoe.

Three Complete Short Song Examples

These are starter songs you can steal parts of. Use them as templates for melody, rhythm, and comedic timing. They are intentionally silly. That is the point.

Song A: Shoe Drama

Key: E

Chord form: E7 for four measures, A7 for two measures, E7 for two measures, B7 for one measure, A7 for one measure, E7 for two measures

Verse

The left shoe sits by the stove like a traitor. It got crumbs in the toe from a midnight raid. The coffee mug wears your lipstick like a badge of honor.

Chorus

You got my socks all twisted. You got my socks all twisted. You took the other one and danced in the kitchen.

Verse two

Your hat now takes up two chairs. Your coat drinks the heat from the heater. My toothbrush keeps staring like it knows a secret.

Bridge

I could be mad about the mess. I am more offended by the missing shoe.

Song B: Pocket Full

Key: A

Chord form same twelve measure pattern with A7 as home

Verse

You walk in swinging a pocket full of keys like you are a locksmith and a bandit. Every key jingles like it is gossiping about where you have been.

Chorus

Got a pocket full of keys, baby. Got a pocket full of keys. One opens my door and another opens trouble.

Verse two

The spare key hums like a tune you whistle at midnight. The neighbors clap like they know the rhythm of your footsteps.

Song C: Laundry Love

Key: G

Verse

You folded my shirts like you were solving a mystery. You left one sleeve out like a clue. I folded it back and pretended not to see.

Chorus

Fold me like a map, baby. Fold me like a map. But do not crease the corner that hides the good parts.

Verse two

The dryer sings a tune that sounds suspiciously like your laugh. The sock puppet we made now points to your footprints.

Melody and Topline Tips

Hokum melodies often sit low in the verse and leap into the chorus for emphasis. Keep the chorus melody singable. If you want people to sing back a line they need to breathe and they need a vowel that is friendly. Open vowels like ah and oh work well. Test melodies on pure vowel sounds before adding words. That helps prosody which is the match between lyric stress and musical stress. If the strongest word in your line falls on a weak beat the line will feel off even if the words are funny.

Practical drill

1. Play your chord map on loop
2. Sing nonsense vowels for two minutes
3. Mark the part that feels easiest to repeat
4. Drop your best joke into the easiest part

Arrangement and Instrumentation

Keep it minimal unless you have a horn section and a budget. A guitar or piano, upright bass or basic electric, and a snare and kick will get you ninety percent of the hokum vibe. Add a harmonica for personality or a washboard if you want to look like you know a secret about old timey music. The goal is a pocket where the singer can talk and the band can respond with hits and small fills.

Stop time and hits

Use stop time where the band stops and the singer speaks a line for effect. The rest of the room leans in and then the band jumps back in for the punch. It is the comedic pause in music form. Place one in every chorus or every other chorus depending on taste.

Solo space

Leave a solo section that is short and playful. A two bar guitar lick or a four bar harmonica answer is enough. Make the solo a conversation with the chorus. If the player jokes with the vocal sometimes the audience laughs twice.

Performance Tips That Make a Room Love You

Hokum thrives on connection. Talk to the crowd. Use eye contact. If you have a line that is suspect deliver it with a grin and then let the room decide how they feel. Invite them into the joke. A simple call and response like the chorus tag will transform listeners into participants. When they participate they pay attention and they remember you.

Real life scenario

At a house party you try a brand new hokum chorus. The host laughs loud enough to be the metronome. Three people sing the chorus back. You now have ten people who are invested in the rest of the song and maybe your merch. That is the leverage of hokum.

Recording Tips

Hokum recordings should feel live even if they are not. Leave small imperfections. Do not over compress the vocals. Preserve room sound so the listener can feel the breath and cheekiness. A simple mic setup with one dynamic mic for the voice and one condenser for room can sound great. If you have a small budget record the band playing together. The energy of a live take will carry the jokes and the timing better than a sterile patchwork of parts.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

• Jokes with no path Fix by adding a specific image. Replace abstract statements with objects and actions.
• Crude without craft Fix by using metaphor and timing. The best joke hints rather than hits you over the head.
• Melody that fights the lyric Fix by speaking the lyric at conversation speed and aligning stressed syllables with the strong beats.
• Too long Fix by trimming verses and keeping the chorus short. Repetition is good but not a substitute for a new twist.

Exercises to Write Hokum Blues Fast

Object to joke drill

Pick an object in the room. Write five different ways that object could mean trouble in a relationship. Make one of those ways absurdly literal. Ten minutes.

Double entendre workout

Pick a phrase and write three lines where the phrase means something clean and then two lines where it means something else. Keep each version short and musical. Five minutes.

Twelve measure sprint

Set a loop for the twelve measure form. Play it for twenty minutes while you shout out lines. Collect the funniest lines and arrange them into a verse and chorus. Play the whole thing three times and see what lands in the room.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Hokum plays with innuendo. That is fun. It is not a license to be mean. Be mindful of boundaries and do not target a person or group with offensive language. If your song is about seduction it should aim to amuse not to degrade. Think of your listener who paid to see you and does not want to feel attacked. If you are unsure ask a trusted friend for feedback who will tell you bluntly how it reads outside your creative bubble.

How to Modernize Hokum Blues

Keep the spirit. Update the images. Use modern references like apps, delivery bags, or electric scooters as the props for your jokes. The groove can stay classic while the lines talk about things from your actual life. Modern hokum blends old forms with new slang. Do not try to copy original recordings verbatim. Use those records as a mood board and then write from your own messy present tense.

Where Hokum Blues Works Live

• Late night bars with a crowd that wants to laugh
• House parties where people know your name or your jokes
• Small festivals with a tent of listeners who want something playful
• Busking spots where short songs and big hooks get money fast

Real life scenario

If you play a neighborhood block party you can try a hokum chorus that mentions the corner deli. People will laugh because they know that deli and the joke will land because of the shared reference. Local details outsell generic cleverness every single time.

FAQ

What exactly is hokum blues

Hokum blues is a playful style of blues that uses humor, double meaning, and rhythmic bounce to tell stories about sex, money, and mischief. It is often rooted in the twelve measure form and uses simple chord progressions that let the lyrics take center stage.

Do I need to be offensive to write hokum

No. You need cleverness and specific images. The best hokum is cheeky not cruel. Aim for slyness and surprise. If a line punches down or makes a group feel unwelcome you should rewrite it.

What chords should I learn first

Learn the three dominant seventh chords in a key. For guitar players common starter shapes are E7, A7, and B7. For piano players play the root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh. Those chords create the classic hokum tension and movement.

How do I make a hokum chorus stick

Make it short. Repeat it with a ring phrase. Place the title on a singable note and use an open vowel to help the crowd. Leave a small pause before the final repeat for laughter or a drum hit.

Can I write hokum on an acoustic guitar

Absolutely. The acoustic setup is perfect. Try a percussive thumb and brush the high strings for rhythm. The voice and guitar combo is intimate and brings out the comedy.

How do I keep the music from sounding old

Update language and production. Use contemporary sounds sparingly. Add a modern drum sound or a subtle synth pad under a classic shuffle. Keep the structure but modernize the texture.

Action Plan You Can Use Tonight

1. Pick a key and learn the home chord and the four and five chords.
2. Set a twelve measure loop on guitar or piano at a comfortable tempo with swing feel.
3. Do the object to joke drill for ten minutes and pick the best line.
4. Write a one line chorus that repeats twice and adds a small twist on the last repeat.
5. Play the whole twelve measure shape and sing the verse and chorus. Use stop time for the laugh moment.
6. Record a live demo with the band playing together. Keep the first take that has the most energy even if it has small mistakes.
7. Play it for a friend and ask them to point to the line that made them laugh. Keep that line. Edit everything else down.

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