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The Blues The term "blue" has described a condition of depression or downhearted since at least the 16th century; it apparently entered the American vocabulary after the Civil War. In the 20th century it has been used to describe music that shows such a state of mind. Performance or interaction with the music can in addition be seen as a means of eliminating the sensation of "the blues." This characteristic of the blues is acknowledged as a key part of the blues format. A common belief is that people who do not feel ‘blue’, or have a ‘blue sense’, generally cannot play blues music in the manner for which it was intended. Many blues musicians believe that a person’s ability to play blues meaningfully is a true sign of his/her worth as a musician. Inside the area of blues, the capability of playing blues with meaning is the core of the style. This is why it is believed that if a person cannot play blues with soul and significance, they cannot be considered a true bluesman. Some particular methods of playing the blues include "rough" or "unrefined" timbres, "blue" notes such as the b3 or b