This week's guitar lesson is a follow-up to last week's Muddy Waters style acoustic blues guitar lesson (EP213). I received so many requests for a Part 2, that I decided to go ahead and create an additional 24 bars that you can combine with EP213. … [Read more...]
Slow, Easy Delta Blues Composition Played Fingerstyle (Bri Lefty Blues) – EP177
This lesson is designed to show you how to play a relatively easy delta blues fingerstyle composition. I realize that the word "easy" is totally subjective and will mean different things for different players, but the truth is that fingerstyle playing is just awkward when you first try it. It's awkward for everyone though. This composition has a droning bass line which fall right on the beat, so you're not trying to deal with an alternating bass line like you would if you tried to play Chet … [Read more...]
Delta Blues Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson – EP145
In this guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a solo delta blues guitar composition that's played fingerstyle (meaning no picks with the right hand). This is not a difficult fingerstyle composition because the bass (thumb) stays on one string at a time, matching the chord that you're playing. This makes it much easier to master than alternating bass lines where the thumb goes back and forth between different strings. You'll hear some Robert Johnson influence in this one as well. … [Read more...]
Lonnie Johnson Style Guitar Lesson – Rhythm and Lead – EP140
In this guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a ragtime rhythm and a Lonnie Johnson style lead on acoustic guitar. This is made for two guitars (one playing rhythm and one playing lead), although if you don't have a second guitar player you can use the provided MP3 jam track. The jam track allows you to play the lead the first time through, rhythm the second time through, and you can keep alternating back and forth between rhythm and lead. This is just like being in a virtual jam session … [Read more...]
Acoustic Blues Guitar Lesson in G – No Accompaniment (With a pick) – EP104
In this blues guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a solo blues arrangement in the key of G (played with no accompaniment). I'm also playing this with a pick (so no fingerstyle required for this one). I do use a hybrid picking technique in a few spots, but they're fairly straight-forward and should be easy to pick up. … [Read more...]
Lightnin’ Hopkins Style Acoustic Guitar Lesson – EP088
Although Lightnin' Hopkins was best known for playing fingerstyle guitar, this lesson is a series of Lightnin' Hopkins guitar licks, played with a pick on acoustic guitar (although you could do this with electric as well). This 2 part lesson works well on it's own, with no accompaniment and can be played by beginners, intermediate, or advanced players. … [Read more...]
Blues Fingerstyle Lesson – Delta meets Ragtime – EP076
In this lesson, I'll show you step by step how to play an original blues composition on acoustic guitar (played fingerstyle). Fingerstyle means playing without a pick, so the focus of this lesson will be on the right hand. You can play this delta blues / ragtime composition on either acoustic or electric guitar (although it sounds better on acoustic. You need to be a premium member to access any of the lesson material associated with this week's lesson. … [Read more...]
Delta Blues Meets Electric Guitar (with a full band) – EP075
I wanted to take some old delta blues style licks and modernize them by playing them in more of a Chicago style electric blues (with a full band). You’ll hear some Son House and Robert Johnson influence in this. The first half focuses on rhythm and the second half focuses on lead (all in the E minor pentatonic scale). Make sure to download the MP3 jam track to practice your timing (especially for the lead part). … [Read more...]
Fingerstyle Acoustic Delta Blues Guitar Lesson – EP037
In this week's guitar lesson, learn how to play a fingerstyle delta blues arrangement on acoustic guitar. This lesson is split into 2 videos, part 1 is free, however, part 2 is only available to premium members. There are some Robert Johnson inspired licks in this one. Intended for intermediate players, although if you're new to fingerstyle playing or would like to learn more, this would be a good lesson to start with. … [Read more...]
Acoustic Slide Guitar Lesson – Delta Blues – EP026
In this guitar lesson I'll show you how to play basic, delta blues style slide guitar on an acoustic. This is played in open D tuning, and I'll show you an easy way to tune to open D, without even needing a tuner. I also assume you know little to nothing about slide and will walk you through all of the basics, how to hold a slide, what finger to use, etc. If you've always wanted to learn how to play slide, this lesson is a great one to get you started! … [Read more...]
