Corey Harris Teaches Blues Guitar
HOMESPUN

From Mississippi to Mali

Taught By Corey Harris.
Level 2
90 Minute DVD, includes music and tab

Corey Harris has absorbed American country blues traditions and plays them as authentically and powerfully as anyone on the scene today. He has also explored the African guitar styles on which much of the blues was based, and on this remarkable instructional session he teaches songs and instrumentals that bridge the gap between the two cultures.

Corey starts by teaching two blues in C: High Fever Blues, his original based on old Charlie Patton/Tommy Johnson style blues, and Blind Blake's more rag-like C. C. Pill Blues. Tuning to open E, Corey gives you a detailed lesson in slide guitar. He covers the traditional Jack o' Diamonds and his original King Cotton, both with improvised variations. Skip James' compelling Special Rider Blues, with its unusual open E minor tuning, reflects the crossover between American blues and African musical style. Corey then goes into two tunes he learned in Mali that reflect both blues and African sounds: the warm, peaceful fingerstyle tune Bajourou (“Big String”) from Ali Farka Touré and the flatpicking instrumental Sundiata by Mohamed Kouyate.

Each song will add rich blues to your repertoire and the picking styles and variations will give you the tools to create your own style based on these roots traditions.

About Corey Harris
Corey Harris burst onto the scene in 1995 with his debut recording Between Midnight and Day, an acclaimed exploration of acoustic, rural blues styles. His musical approach also encompasses New Orleans funk, reggae and, especially, African guitar styles. In his film, “Feel Like Going Home,” Martin Scorcese documents Corey's musical visits to Malian master musician Ali Farka Touré, a collaboration that became part of Corey's groundbreaking CD Mississippi to Mali. His other albums include Between Midnight and Day, Fish Ain't Bitin', Greens From the Garden, Downhome Sophisticate and Vu-Du Menz, recorded with piano legend Henry Butler. Corey's most recent release is Daily Bread (2005).