“Experience Blues” by Ruth Willis and Blind Willie McTell is a “Piedmont-style” song, which uses the fingerpicking technique often heard in this style. Willis sings most of the song, with a few interjections from McTell between verses. The whole song is in an A-A-B format following one similar melody throughout each verse. Every line she sings include both high and low pitch, but she always ends on a low note. The song was very consistent and steady the whole way through.

The only time the melody changes throughout the whole song is between the last two verses. She has finished her sad story filled with heartache, and suddenly the music shifts to a more upbeat, peppy guitar solo. I am confused by this because it doesn’t fit with the mood or style of the song thus far. As soon as the guitar interlude is over we return to the same A-A-B format and dreary lyrics that follow the previous pattern. What I find interesting is the upbeat change comes between the two lines where she is singing to the Lord. I am having trouble figuring out what that might mean, but I feel like there could be a connection there. 

Based on the lyrics, tone, and melody of this piece I can definitely hear the blues aspect. She is sharing her story of her realization that her love was not real, and the hurt from the lie of him claiming it was.