Blues By The Book
HOMESPUN
Fingerpicking Blues
Taught By Roy Book Binder.
Level 3
Two DVD or VHS set, includes music/tab booklet

Roy Book Binder modestly asserts that he's just showing you "some tricks about playing the guitar" here. Well, Roy's humble, that's sure, but by the end of these two videos you will have mastered a complete vocabulary of licks and techniques and be ready to develop your own distinctive blues style, which is what "Book" had in mind all along.

He carefully breaks down the elements of his fingerstyle brand of "hillbilly country blues" into the simplest pieces -- "like a puzzle" -- but you'll soon see the wisdom in his philosophy: "There are no rules to playing the guitar. Anything you can do is just fine. The blues are played out of emotions."

Roy gained his appreciation of blues and ragtime improvisation when he apprenticed with the great Piedmont style players. His firsthand knowledge of their stylings -- plus his reminiscences and stories -- make these lessons a must for anyone who loves traditional blues.

Review:“This guy really cracks me up with his slow turtle voice, old-timer accent and dry sense of humor. He often tells little stories and funny things that keep you interested and covers complex and mind blowing Country Blues and Ragtime tricks in a way that even my hound dog could understand…. In any case you will enjoy these tapes for years and learn more in a few months than it took these pros to learn and decode for years.” – Web review on Epinions.Com

Student Review:"I purchased the two Roy Book Binder tapes a while back and I just wanted to let you know that they are in my opinion some of the best instructional tapes I have ever watched. I learned more about Florida blues pickin’ in two hours than I have in twenty years of playing. I rate your instruction tapes as the very best there is available and I put Roy’s tapes right there with yours. Thanks for making this available to everyone. I have become a decent finger picker thanks to you guys." - Greg Martin (by email)

Fingerpicking Blues: Lesson One
75 Minute DVD or VHS, Includes Music and Tab

If you're ready to develop your own distinctive blues style, Roy Book Binder has assembled a complete vocabulary of licks and techniques to help you do it. Roy humbly calls this thorough breakdown of the elements of his own fingerstyle blues style "some tricks about playing the guitar," but don't let his laconic delivery fool you. By the time you're finished studying with "Book," you'll have a solid base of skills under your fingertips.

Roy's firsthand knowledge of the great Piedmont-style players makes this video a must for anyone who loves traditional blues. Our trademark Homespun split screen makes it easy to learn as Roy demonstrates a wide variety of chords, right- and left-hand patterns and several of his favorite licks. He also teaches endings, runs, slides, open-string techniques, pull-offs, hammer-ons, damping, turnarounds and much more!

By the end of this video, you will have mastered Pink Anderson's snapping string technique, Rev. Gary Davis' two-finger style and Roy's arrangements to "Black Dog Blues," "Hesitation Blues" and his own medley of ragtime/blues

Fingerpicking Blues: Lesson Two
80-minute DVD or VHS, Includes music and tab

Roy Book Binder's back again! This time, his in-depth exploration of blues techniques concentrates on chords and positions needed to play in the essential key of A. With his trademark wit and good humor, Roy encourages you to take his "book of tricks" and incorporate them into your own playing to build repertoire and arrangements in traditional fingerpicking style.

The popular performer teaches songs, turnarounds, chord variations, right hand rhythms and his own unique approach to blues guitar with powerful arrangements in the styles of Pink Anderson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Jesse "Baby Face" Thomas and others.

Roy then puts these elements into play with traditional country blues tunes, including the classic "How Long Blues," "Every Day Of The Week," "Texas Blues," and his original show-stoppers "New Age Woman Blues" and "Polk City Ramble." Turning to open D (Vestapol) tuning, Roy finishes his video with "Anywhere You Go I Can Go There Too."

This delightful lesson in fingerstyle blues guitar with one of America's best-loved performers will delight aspiring fingerpickers, as well as all fans of "The Book!"

About Roy Book Binder
Roy Book Binder learned to play the blues from Rev. Gary Davis, Pink Anderson and other legendary bluesmen. Since then, he has been on the road in his Airstream mobile home, spreading his unique brand of "hillbilly country blues." Though he has performed with such artists as B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles and Doc Watson. "Book" usually brings his music, his wit and talents as a raconteur onto the stage as a solo artist. He is listed in the Blues Who's Who, appears regularly on TNN's "Nashville Now" and has received five-star ratings from Billboard for his Rounder Recordings.