Verified answer

historically Chicago style evolved from the Delta blues

The delta bluesmen moved into the city and discovered the electric guitar. more and more they formed bands and thus Chicago style came to be.

Delta blues is one of the oldest forms of the blues, generally it would consist of a voice and a guitar, with perhaps the occasional harmonica or footstomp. Early delta blues artists include Blind Willie Johnson, Charley Patton, WIllie Brown and Tommy Johnson. Some of these artists would use a slide guitar to play which does have a distinctive sound. In the 1920s and 1930s the leading players were Son House and Robert Johnson (the latter was titled as the King of Delta blues). As African-Americans moved from the poverty of the Delta region to urban areas, principally Chicago, the music changed. Partly due to new technology and partly due to a requirement for louder music due to the urban environment the music became electrified, and the music would be played with a band. This transition can be heard in the music of Muddy Waters. His early songs were Delta blues where he played unaccompanied on songs such as Can't Be Satisfield and Rollin Stone. Several years later he was playing wih a band including second guitarist, harmonica, piano, stand up bass and drums. I'd recommend Muddy Water's The Anthology as a starting point, in addition to orginal recordings by Son House and Robert Johnson.

There are some artists who still play Delta blues, Alvin Youngblood Hart in particular has made several fine albums.

They are both great forms of music, I personally prefer Chicago blues as it is more uptempo and cheerier, but there are times when there is the need for some good delta blues. The finest Chicago blues players such as Muddy and Howlin Wolf always had a little hint of the Delta in their playing as that was their heritage.

both are great...pehaps the most obvious difference is that Chicago blues is usually played by an amplified band and may have gtr or other instrument solos, and can have 'up' songs and 'down' songs, whereas Delta blues is usually played by a solo singer/musician, few solos, and is mainly 'down'. There are exceptions to this generalisation tho.

I love all good blues but my fave is Delta blues - it's more personal, stark.

Greatest Delta Bluesman - Son House

Geatest Chicago bluesman - Sonny boy Williamson no1

Chicago blues is what I prefer. Go to your local library and check out a variety of blues CD's. You'll start hearing the different styles and get to know some of the greatest musicians that have ever lived.

Both are amazing. The Blues is my fav type of music. I would say I prefer Chicago Blues the most

I really like delta cuz its so grainy and cultural

i love them both

but i have to go with delta

i think it shows more emotion and feeling

and its darker and looser/rawer

i love them both though