HOMESPUNBlues, Rags, Ballads and Instrumentals
Taught By Happy Traum.
Level 2
90-minute DVD or VHS
Play the powerful basses, dynamic rhythms and rich, resonant chords that are only possible on the 12-string guitar! This lesson by veteran guitarist Happy Traum teaches songs, styles and techniques that will open up vast possibilities on this exciting instrument.
The 12-string’s six sets of doubled strings provide a depth of sound, richness of tone and rhythmic possibilities that are unique in the guitar family. This user-friendly, easy-to-follow video is just what you need to get into the traditional styles of Lead Belly, Pete Seeger and other 12-string innovators. From the secrets of proper stringing and tuning to a whole range of fingerpicking ideas, your 12-string playing is guaranteed to jump to a whole new level.
You’ll soon be playing classic blues, rags, folk songs and instrumentals: The boogie woogie-style walking bass lines of "Alabama Bound" and "Good Morning Blues," the haunting harmonies of "In The Pines, and rare Lead Belly arrangements of "House of the Rising Sun" and "Never Said a Mumblin’ Word." In addition, you’ll learn three compelling arrangements to folk songs in dropped-D tuning: "Times Are Getting Hard," "Delia’s Gone" and "Bright Morning Stars."
Note: This lesson addresses specific styles for the 12-string guitar, but the songs and techniques will be of interest to 6-string players as well. Try adapting this material to whichever instrument you are currently playing.
Student Review:
"I want you to know how much I have learned from your video on the 12-string
guitar. I think this is one of your best lessons; it has really motivated me
to get more into playing the 12-string." - Mark Pink
During the past forty years, Happy Traum's avid interest in traditional and contemporary
music has brought him recognition as a performer, writer, editor, folklorist,
teacher and recording artist. He has performed extensively throughout the U.S.,
Canada, Europe, Australia and Japan, and has appeared on recordings as a featured
artist, as a member of various ensembles, and as an accompanist. He has played
and recorded with Bob Dylan, Chris Smither, Maria Muldaur, Eric Andersen, Rory
Block, Jerry Jeff Walker, Allen Ginsberg, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel
and innumerable others. Happy is the author of more than a dozen best-selling guitar instruction books, has written numerous magazine columns and articles, and for three years was editor of Sing Out! The Folksong Magazine. He and his brother, Artie Traum, have been playing as a duo since 1968. Their first two Capitol albums, "Happy And Artie Traum" and "Double Back," are widely considered to be classics. Long-time residents of Woodstock, NY, Happy and Artie co-produced several important records for Rounder, featuring some of the area's finest folk and rock musicians. These included "Mud Acres, Music Among Friends" and "Woodstock Mountains." Happy and Artie's album "Hard Times In The Country" featured liner notes by Allen Ginsberg. In 1993, Happy and Artie released their latest duet album, "The Test Of Time," featuring traditional and contemporary songs backed up by some of Woodstock's finest musicians.
Happy's solo albums include "Relax Your Mind," "American Stranger," "Bright Morning Stars" and "Friends And Neighbors." A compilation CD, "Buckets Of Songs," has been released by Shanachie Records. In 2001, “Bright Morning Stars” was reissued in CD format in the U.S. (Lark’s Nest Music) and in Japan (Slice of Life Records).
Perhaps Happy Traum's most important and lasting musical contribution has been Homespun Tapes, which he and his wife Jane founded in 1967. This dynamic and growing mail order company has a catalog of approximately 400 different music instruction lessons on audio cassette, CD and video tape, taught by top professional performing musicians. Happy produces all of the lessons, and brings to Homespun his many years of experience as a popular and productive member of the music community.