Folk Guitar Fingerstyle

Texas & Delta Blues Guitar

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:33:12 +0000

Texas Blues
Texas Blues began to appear in the early 1900s among African Americans who worked in oilfields, ranches and lumber camps. In the 1920s, Blind Lemon Jefferson innovated the style by using jazz-like improvisation and single string accompaniment on a guitar; Jefferson’s influence defined the field and inspired later performers, like Lightnin’ Hopkins and T-Bone Walker.

During the Great Depression in the 1930s, many bluesmen moved to cities like Galveston, Houston and Dallas. It was from these urban centers that a new wave of popular performers appeared, including slide guitarist and gospel singer Blind Willie Johnson and legendary vocalist Big Mama Thornton.[1] T-Bone Walker relocated to Los Angeles to record his most influential work in the 1940s.[1] His R&B influenced backing and saxophone imitating lead guitar sound would become an influential part of the electric blues sound that would be perfected in Chicago by artists like Muddy Waters.[1]

The state R&B recording industry was based in Houston with labels like Duke/Peacock, which in the 1950s provided a base for artists who would later pursue the electric Texas blues sound, including Johnny Copeland and Albert Collins.[1] Freddie King, a major influence on electric blues, was born in Texas, but moved to Chicago as a teenager.[1] His instrumental number “Hide Away” (1961), was emulated by British Blues artists including Eric Clapton.[2]
(Source From Wikipedia).

Delta Blues
Although Delta blues certainly existed in some form or another at the turn of the 20th century, it was first recorded in the late 1920s, when record companies realized the potential African American market in Race records. The earliest recordings were by the major labels and consist mostly of one person singing and playing an instrument, though the use of a band was more common during live performances.

Some of these recordings were made on field trips to the South by record company talent scouts, but some Delta blues performers were invited to travel to northern cities to record. According to Dixon & Godrich [1981], Tommy Johnson and Ishman Bracey were recorded by Victor on that company’s second field trip to Memphis, in 1928. Robert Wilkins was first recorded by Victor in Memphis in 1928, and Big Joe Williams and Garfield Akers also in Memphis (1929) by Brunswick/Vocalion.

Son House first recorded in Grafton, Wisconsin (1930) by Paramount. Charley Patton also recorded for Paramount in Grafton, in June 1929 (and again, at the same location in May 1930). In January and February 1934 Patton visited New York City for further recording sessions. Robert Johnson traveled to San Antonio (1936) and Dallas (1937) for his ARC, and only, sessions.

Subsequently, the early Delta blues (as well as other genres) were extensively recorded by John Lomax and his son Alan Lomax, who criss-crossed the Southern US recording music played and sung by ordinary people helping establish the canon of genres we know today as American folk music. Their recordings number in the thousands, and now reside in the Smithsonian Institution.

According to Dixon & Godrich (1981) and Leadbitter and Slaven (1968), Alan Lomax and the Library of Congress researchers did not record any Delta bluesmen (or women) prior to 1941, when he recorded Son House and Willie Brown near Lake Cormorant, Mississippi, and Muddy Waters at Stovall, Mississippi, however this claim is disputed as John and Alan Lomax did record Bukka White in 1939, Lead Belly in 1933 and most likely others.

(Source From Wikipedia).

Fingerpicking Exercises

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:52:40 +0000

When it comes to the right hand, developing a good technique by practising fingerpicking exercises on a daily basis, will help tremendously.

Of course for folk guitar, most fingerpicking is done using the thumb, index and middle fingers, but some folk guitar patterns and certainly classical guitar fingerstyle also uses the ring finger.

It is a fact that if you develop the weaker fingers on your hands, it helps the control and the development of the stronger fingers. If classical players practise exercises using their pinky finger to improve the control of their ring finger, it is a good idea for folk guitarists to practise using their ring finger to develop the middle finger and so on.

A daily exercise for the fingerpicking hand could include as many pattern combinations as possible also including an alternating thumb bass.

Taking it to the next stage might include hammer-ons and pull-offs, also known as slurs. Combining left hand exercises at the same time will obviously be twice as efficient in using your time.

Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitar

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:54:04 +0000

This video contains examples of previous patterns, chords and hammer-ons. So far we have used just three patterns and one chord. Just think what you could do with more patterns and more chords plus fills, riffs and bass progressions.

Alternating bass notes are a feature of this style and each chord has its own bass note (or root) plus the alternating bass note which is usually a 5th away. For example, if C is the bass note of the C chord, then the alternate bass note will be G … a fifth degree away.

This video contains
examples of previous patterns, chords and hammer-ons.

Fingerpicking Guitar

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:50:46 +0000

At the end of the three bars of Dsus, D and Dadd2 a short riff is included using hammer-ons (HO). An important point about hammer ons is that the closer your left hand finger is to the string when you start the hammer on, the less sound you will get. Use distance like a golfer’s back swing to hit the string harder.

This pattern is the same as the first one we learnt except it omits the second note.A change of just one note adds a new dimension & variety to the
rhythm.

Acoustic Guitar Notes of Interest.
Guild Guitars Inc.started their company in 1952 and introduced several acoustic models that became very popular. In 1968 Guild introduced the Dreadnought D-55 which became its flagship model as well as the 12 string jumbo and small bodied acoustic guitars. The Guild sound is strong, well balanced and crystal-clear and along with Martin and Gibson, produce some of the best acoustic guitars available.

Folk Guitar Chords

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:48:38 +0000

The D chord has many possiblities for fills and those little extra notes that can make fingerstyle sound so special.

One reason is because the first string is easy to change to notes that compliment the basic chord.

Also the bass has both the tonic and second inversion on the open strings making it easy to find hammer-ons for fills.

Here is a further
example of added bass lines… and more chords!

Folk Guitar Lessons

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:46:36 +0000

The example below shows variations on the E (highest sounding) string. These extra notes add variety to the sound and give an opportunity for hammer-ons and pull-offs. It is amazing how many riffs can be made out of the D chord and the extra notes on the first string.

The above chords are played in the order that you see them.

Adding an alternating bass, as below, increases the variety and of course, makes it more difficult to play!

Acoustic Guitar Notes of Interest.
There are many different shapes of acoustic guitar and in the Gibson acoustic range there are: super jumbo, jumbo, square shoulder, round shoulder, small body, contemporary (single cutaway) and archtop (jazz).

Fingerstyle Technique

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:43:52 +0000

So far we have used just one pattern and one chord.
Just think what you could do with more patterns and more chords plus fills, riffs and bass progressions.

The best position for the right hand when playing fingerstyle is with the wrist out, away from the guitar, and the fingers pointing inwards (not too curled).

Here, the hand is supported at the elbow whereas if you
play electric guitar it is quite correct to have the wrist near or on the bridge – especially for damping the strings.

There are many exceptions to the rule – people with a
poor technique who play brilliantly, but it is good to be aware that if you hold your wrists, hands and fingers in a good position, you won’t be making it more difficult to play!

Guitar Strumming

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 08:36:31 +0000

Most people begin their guitar playing by learning to strum and sing. It is also the case that people often begin their “playing in a band” experience by playing rhythm guitar.

Strumming is easier than playing lead guitar, however, it is often under valued because to be very good rhythm guitarist is a lot more difficult than many realise – to be a poor rhythm guitarist is of course quite easy!

So what is the best way to learn to strum and what makes a really good rhythm guitarist?

Learning to Strum
There are basically two rhythms:
The straight and the swing (sometimes called a shuffle rhythm).

It is surprisingly difficult to learn both “feels” at the same time so it is probably best to get used to one first. The video below shows how to play the straight rhythm and the importance of using rests or gaps in the patterns to create interest.

Examples of songs in a straight rhythm are Born To Be Wild, Ticket To Ride, Layla and Sultans of Swing to name but a few!

Examples of songs in a shuffle rhythm are: He’s Got The Whole World, Yellow Submarine, That’ll Be The Day and just about every 12 Bar Blues song.

The important rule is to play a down strum on the main beats and to strum upwards in between.

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Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:45:36 +0000

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Thu, 20 Jan 2011 08:48:32 +0000

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