Blues/Roots Guitar

HOMESPUN
Intermediate Level Fingerpicking
Taught By Steve James.
Level 3
80-minute DVD or VHS, Includes tab book


Steve James is known for his mastery of blues guitar styles, as well as his deep knowledge of the history of the great traditional players, from Piedmont to Delta. On this lesson, he takes five pieces representative of different styles and teaches them in careful detail for the learning student. Using guitars from his extensive collection (a 1936 National Trojan, a Collings C-10 and a National "O" style resophonic), he covers some of his favorite arrangements in different keys and tunings, highlighting techniques, chord theory, licks and other musical insights that will be useful in figuring out any other blues-based songs you'll want to learn.

This lesson starts with Mance Lipscomb's classic version of "Sugar Babe," a basic 8-bar blues arrangement with alternating bass. Steve shows how, by changing bass notes and adding hammers, slides and syncopations, even this fairly simple song takes on a life of its own. "Wet Laundry Blues" moves to the key of A, and is more typical of the Delta style, with rhythmic feels, walking basses and licks used by Scrapper Blackwell, Robert Johnson and others. "Buddy Bolden's Blues," a classic jazz/blues in C, makes use of the "thumb roll" and some funky New Orleans-style chords.

Moving into open G ("the queen of tunings"), Steve gets you started in bottleneck style, showing how to produce a good tone with proper slide technique. His powerful version of "Stack Lee's Blues" (aka Stackolee, Staggerlee, etc.) mixes slide, fretted and open string notes in a powerful instrumental. Finally, "Hot Time on the Old Town Tonight," Steve's show-stopper in open D (Vestapol) tuning, was adapted from the playing of Sam McGee. It includes combinations of slide, pulled-off, fretted and open notes, with variations involving both standard and palm harmonics as well as rhythmic "banging" the strings.

This lesson with a top contemporary blues artist will add many new tricks and some wonderful songs to your guitar repertoire. You'll also get rare insights into the great traditional players who originated this truly American art form.

About Steve James
Steve James is a top performer on the contemporary acoustic blues circuit, playing a dynamic combination of fingerpicking and slide guitar, mandolin and six-string banjo. His notoriety is based on numerous critically acclaimed recordings, a tireless international tour schedule and published work that includes articles, instruction books and videos. He is a favorite at music camps and workshop programs. Steve has been interviewed for features in Acoustic Guitar, Guitar Player, Blues Revue and Folk Roots, and has been heard on “A Prairie Home Companion,” “The House Of Blues Network” and many other syndicated programs worldwide. Steve has played live with a slate of blues/roots luminaries including John Hammond, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, Howard Armstrong and his frequent duet partner Del Rey. He has also appeared on numerous compilation albums, including a Grammy-nominated tribute to Mississippi Fred McDowell and an homage to Charley Patton to which he contributed both music and liner notes.