One of the earliest styles of blues music, originating in the Mississippi Delta, a region that stretches from Memphis, Tennessee in the north to Vicksburg, Mississippi in the south, the Mississippi River on the west to the Yazoo River on the east. Guitar and harmonica are the dominant instruments used. The vocal styles range from introspective and soulful to passionate and fiery.

Delta blues music was first recorded in the late 1920s. The early recordings consist mostly of one person singing and playing an instrument, though the use of a band was more common during live performances. The greatest exponent was Robert Johnson, who was referred to as the king of the Delta blues singers. Other significant Delta blues artists include Son House, Charley Patton and Mississippi John Hurt.

Delta blues is a style as much as a geographical appellation. Skip James and Elmore James, who were not born in the Delta, were considered Delta blues musicians and performers travelled throughout the Southern states. Eventually, Delta blues spread out across the country, giving rise to a host of regional variations, including Chicago and Detroit blues.

There is disagreement as to whether there is a substantive difference between blues that originated in this region and that in other parts of the country. The defining characteristic of Delta blues would seem to be instrumentation and an emphasis on rhythm and bottleneck slide, but the basic harmonic structure is not substantially different from that of blues performed elsewhere.

The Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman Farm was an important influence on several blues musicians who were imprisoned there, and was referenced in songs such as Bukka White's Parchman Farm Blues.