The Guitar Of Blind Blake

Blind Blake was the premier ragtime blues guitarist of the 1920s. He extended the alternating bass style, that was popular at the turn of the century, to encompass the dance trends and more complex blues ideas that were emerging from the jazz bands of New Orleans and Chicago. His playing featured unique right hand thumb rolls that evoked the feel of the Charleston dance-step. Rev. Gary Davis greatly admired Blake’s playing and used to remark that Blake had a “sportin’ right-hand”. Blind Blake influenced generations of country blues guitarists and was never equalled.

Whether your favourite blues guitarist is Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Blind Blake, John Lee Hooker, Big Bill Broonzy, or Mississippi John Hurt, studying the basic techniques presented in this program is the first step toward being able to capture the essence of their traditional styles. In The Basics Woody Mann shows you practical ways to develop fundamental technique and offers you insights into the musical logic of blues guitar.

Whether your favourite blues guitarist is Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Blind Blake, John Lee Hooker, Big Bill Broonzy, or Mississippi John Hurt, studying the basic techniques presented in this program is the first step toward being able to capture the essence of their traditional styles. In The Basics Woody Mann shows you practical ways to develop fundamental technique and offers you insights into the musical logic of blues guitar.

Contemporary acoustic fingerstyle blues encompasses a wide variety of styles, techniques and sounds. In this lesson, four multi-sectioned blues instrumentals based on traditional techniques, blues piano ideas, single string melodic guitar licks and horn styled solos are presented. The music varies from a piano-styled boogie to a slow country blues reminiscent of the playing of Blind Blake and Jelly Roll Morton, to a New Orleans blues in the style and feel of Ray Charles and Snooks Eaglin.

Jorma Kaukonen's first musical influences were the fingerpicking blues of Blind Blake, Rev. Gary Davis, Big Bill Broonzy and other traditional players. From those inspirations, he built the acoustic guitar style that has made him a top guitarist and a legendary figure in the pop music world.