Country Blues Super Pack

Lessons

• Lesson 1: Death Don't Have No Mercy

  Rev. Gary Davis was one of the most influential blues players of the last century. Death Don't Have No Mercy is one of his iconic tunes that was covered and rearranged by artists like Hot Tuna and The Grateful Dead. This lesson looks specifically at the way Davis recorded it on his album Harlem Street Singer. There will be a follow up lesson looking at Jorma Kaukonen's versions and improvising over the progression but this is where it started for all of us who love to play in his style.

• Lesson 2: Country Blues Guitar - Introduction

  The *Introduction* starts with an overview of the entire volume, continues with a bit of blues theory regarding key signatures and common chord progressions, and concludes with a brief discussion on some of the players who popularized the style.

• Lesson 3: Country Blues Lesson 2 - The Key of E

  In Lesson 2 we learn a couple of songs in the key of E. These expand on the exercises in Lesson 1 by combining them with some chord changes and arranging them in a pattern of measures. *Smokestack Blues* is an 8-bar progression over 1 chord and is a variation of Howlin’ Wolf’s Smokestack Lightning. *Blues Man* takes the idea a step further and branches into a 16-bar progression using chords I-IV-V in the key (E-A-B). Both songs are done using the Mono Bass technique in a style similar to pieces by Big Bill Broonzy, among others, and would be considered Level 1 and 2 respectively. The lesson concludes with a segment on experimenting with your own licks.

• Lesson 4: Country Blues Lesson 3 - Mississippi Blues

  Lesson 3 introduces a song the key of A and adds the technique of Alternating Bass notes. *Mississippi Blues #3 uses some hammer-ons and passing bass notes between chords and is a bit more folk-blues, in the style of Mississippi John Hurt. This song is an example of a 24-bar progression, mainly because the first 8 measures are essentially repeated as the last 8 measures. It is a bit more advanced than the songs in Lesson 2 and would be considered a Level 4 song.

• Lesson 5: Country Blues Lesson 4 - Sand Dollar Blues

  In Lesson 4 we look at *Sand Dollar Blues, a 16-bar progression in the key of G. This uses the Alternating Bass technique as well, and introduces the idea of syncopated melody notes being played before the chord changes, an anticipation by musical definition. We also discuss chord inversions; chords with bass notes other than the root, sometimes known as ‘slash’ chords (D7/F#). Sand Dollar Blues is a Level 4 song and is similar to pieces by John Fahey and some simpler ones by Reverend Gary Davis.

• Lesson 6: Country Blues Lesson 5 - Summertime Strut

  Lesson 5, Summertime Strut is another 16-bar progression, but with a ragtime feel like more complex pieces by Reverend Gary Davis, Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller, and even a touch of Arlo Guthrie’s Alice’s Restaurant. This lesson is in the key of C and addresses the theory of using chords outside the key signature. It includes some quick changes and other left hand techniques that will require a little more time to master- stretching and moving separate fingers in different directions at the same time, and the option of using your left thumb to fret notes on the 6th string. It is a Level 5 song and completes Volume 1 of the Country Blues Guitar course.

• Lesson 7: Candyman Guitar Lesson - Rev. Gary Davis

  Reverend Gary Davis is one of the most influential fingerstyle guitarists in history. This lesson is on one of his most famous songs, Candyman. It uses mostly an alternating bass pattern, although it is inverted from the standard lower string first pattern. Rev. Davis referred to this style as 'old fashioned picking' and felt it was somewhat elementary compared to some of his more complex pieces. We also look at his instrumental version called Two Step Candyman.

• Lesson 8: Cocaine Blues Guitar Lesson - Rev. Gary Davis

  Cocaine Blues is another Rev. Gary Davis tune in a style that he called "old fashioned picking", meaning steady alternating bass notes and not too complex in his eyes. It is one of his most covered songs, having been played by the likes of Dave Van Ronk and Jackson Browne for example. This lesson presents a simple way of accompanying the verse and chorus as well as more complicated variations and a short instrumental solo.

• Lesson 9: She's Funny That Way Guitar Lesson

  Country Blues great Reverend Gary Davis played a couple of different styles over the years, starting with Blues and Ragtime before concentrating on Gospel in his middle years, and returning a bit to the Ragtime style in his later years. *She’s Funny That Way*is an 8-bar tune that uses a chord progression commonly used by Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the 1920s like Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. It is in 12/8 time and this fingerstyle lesson includes a segment that helps demystify time signatures in general.

• Lesson 10: Sally, Where’d You Get Your Liquor - Guitar Lesson

  *Sally, Where’d You Get Your Whiskey*is one of Reverend Gary Davis’ more whimsical tunes, although it falls into the blues category of doing away with an unfaithful woman. It is more Ragtime than Blues and is done in swing time. It uses easy chords and nice runs but has a challenging stretch as well as the added complication of singing over a syncopated guitar part.

• Lesson 11: I’ll Be All Right Someday - Guitar Lesson

  *I’ll Be All Right Someday *is a catchy ragtime song of Rev. Gary Davis’ that uses some quick changing partial chord shapes up and down the neck. Neil’s arrangement incorporates a lot of ideas that Jorma Kaukonen added to the song as well.

• Lesson 12: Hesitation Blues - Rev. Gary Davis - Guitar Lesson

  Hesitation Blues is one of Gary Davis’ most popular songs and has been covered by dozens of great blues artists. This lesson is really based the way he played it on the recording Lo’ I Be With You Always, a 10-minutes version with lots of entertaining verses sung over the basic accompaniment. There is also a discussion about the chord progression and examples of some extra licks and fills heard in other versions of the song.

• Lesson 13: Country Blues Lesson 1 - Basic Concepts and Techniques

  *Lesson 1* covers some basic concepts and techniques, starting with an explanation of the shuffle rhythm commonly used in blues, continuing with discussion and demonstrations of right hand positions and techniques, and then heading into some left hand techniques like string bending and vibrato. This lesson then introduces some exercises to get you started on keeping a steady bass pattern going while playing a few simple licks. Even an absolute beginner could master Exercise #1 with a little practice. The subsequent exercises expand on the first and are followed by Play Along segments for each one, all done with a metronome to help develop good rhythmic techniques and habits.

• Lesson 14: Ain't No Tellin' Guitar Lesson - Mississippi John Hurt

  Ain't No Tellin' by Mississippi John Hurt takes us into another of his favorite keys, C Major, and uses most of his typical licks in that key. It is an example of the 16-bar blues form, really more of a folk form, that he commonly used as well. The Travis-style accompaniment includes using the left thumb to wrap around to fret the 6th string for F chords, but otherwise the main challenges with the song are the speed and synchronizing the vocals.

• Lesson 15: Candy Man Blues Guitar Lesson - Mississippi John Hurt

  Candy Man Blues is by Mississippi John Hurt and is one of his more complex songs. It features the alternating bass technique but not always in the standard order. It also uses some passing bass notes and unusual inversions of chords where open bass strings are used that are not normally part of the chord. It is in the key of A and includes some interesting chord shapes up the neck in the solo section.

• Lesson 16: Got The Blues Guitar Lesson - Mississippi John Hurt

  Got The Blues, Can't Be Satisfied is another example of Mississippi John Hurt's delicate fingerpicking style. It uses his typical alternating bass accompaniment to little licks and fills in the key of G. It is a modified 12-bar progression, having 2 extra half measures to complete a signature fill of his and particularly challenging because it is played pretty quickly and includes vocals sung over a couple of bluesy licks

• Lesson 17: Shake That Thing Guitar Lesson - Mississippi John Hurt

  As was alluded to in our Country Blues Volume 1 set of lessons, we are bringing you some fingerstyle blues by Mississippi John Hurt. One of his simplest songs is Shake That Thing, a tune that showcases some easy licks in the key of G and is our starting point for exploring more from this blues legend.

• Lesson 18: Stagolee Guitar Lesson - Mississippi John Hurt

  Stagolee is another staple in the Country Blues world from Mississippi John Hurt. His arrangement showcases an unusual 11-bar blues form and is done with a steady alternating bass in the key of D. Like many of his tunes, it features clever, but simple licks found in the chord shapes.

• Lesson 19: Spike Driver Blues by Mississippi John Hurt - Guitar Lesson

  This is one feel-good fingerpickin’ blues tune from Mississippi John Hurt. With a bouncy swing feel and some easy to play chicken pickin’ licks, this lesson is chock full of great music and cool tips to help get your finger picking up to speed.

• Lesson 20: Casey Jones by Mississippi John Hurt - Guitar Lesson

  There are few old blues fingerpickers that have been as prolific as Mississippi John Hurt. His unique style and seemingly easy, but truly challenging technique will give even the most experienced fingerpicker a challenge.
  
  This song showcases his abilities like no other, and if you want to improve your playing, especially your fingerpicking than this is the lesson for you!

• Lesson 21: See See Rider by Mississippi John Hurt - Guitar Lesson

  If you’re a fan of blues and fingerpicking than it hardly gets better than Mississippi John Hurt. His raw and emotional style of songwriting mixed with his impressive guitar technique makes for top caliber music all around. In this lesson we cover one of his classic hits from beginning to end including his trademark thumb technique similar to Travis picking.
  
  By the end of this lesson you’ll be fingerpicking the blues like the old master himself!

• Lesson 22: Nobody's Business But My Own - Acoustic Guitar Lesson

  This old timey blues tune by Mississippi John Hurt is a shining example of great songwriting. By accompanying his voice with some simple chords that he outlines using a fingerpicking technique (which you’ll learn) he is able to craft some amazing feel and music.
  
  In this lesson you’ll get the full scoop on how to play Mississippi’s unique brand of fingerpicking and all the licks that go into this blues classic.

• Lesson 23: Big Leg Blues by Mississippi John Hurt - Guitar Lesson

  For you fingerpickers out there, it hardly gets better than Mississippi John Hurt. This tune is a classic of his that showcases some of his old-timey techniques and phrasing all within the context of just a few simple chords.
  
  If you’re looking to take your fingerpicking from just average to excellent, Mississippi’s songs are the place to start, and this one is a perfect chance to get you picking like the mater himself!

• Lesson 24: That’ll Never Happen No More - Guitar Lesson

  That’ll Never Happen No More is a ragtime tune from the 1920s, written by Blind Blake but performed by many of the next generation’s masters. Dave Van Ronk’s and Jorma Kaukonen’s arrangements are incorporated into this lesson, allowing for a bit of improvising with variations as well.