Fingerpicking Ballads

Arrangements In Vestapol Tuning-'The Open D Tuning (D A D F# A D) also referred to as the Vestapol tuning is a powerful and evocative tuning that was widely used by guitarists in the 1920s to play country blues ballads rags and folk tunes. In this lesson I focus on arranging five of my favorite blues melodies in Vestapol plus an original instrumental.The religious tune When I Lay My Burden Down was in the repertoire of both Black and White traditional guitarists. I have arranged it in an Elizabeth Cotten/Mississippi John Hurt style. The beautiful blues Goin' To Germany was recorded by the Cannon's Jug Stompers in the 1920s. I have always wanted to find the right setting for this melodic countryblues and the Vestapol tuning gave me the feel and textures that I was looking for. Sam McGee played guitar behind Uncle Dave Macon when he recorded I've Got The Morning Blues in Vestapol. This is a fun tune to play and leads nicely in to Hesitation Blues a song recorded by many artists. My arrangement tries to combine a sliding jug sound with some funky blues licks. Peg Leg Howell's Skin Game Blues is a rare example of an early blues song with three distinct sections. Peg Leg played this with a bottleneck but for our arrangement we will rely on our fingers to make the notes sing out.We finish the lesson with Innocence Abroard. An original instrumental that ties together the right and left hand techniques we have studied.A detailed tab/music booklet is included as a PDF file on the DVD. Each tune is taught phrase by phrase and played slowly on a split-screen. Bonus audio tracks of the original 1920s recordings are included. These are the records I first heard that influenced me to rearrange the melodies to the Vestapol tuning.' Stefan Grossman

Roger McGuinn brings his love of folk guitar to novice and intermediate players providing a solid repertoire of classic songs as well as the basic techniques needed to play them. Putting his trademark 12-string guitar aside he uses a six-string acoustic to show you the chord progressions bass runs and special licks that make his arrangements distinctive. You’ll be able to use either standard fingerpicking or Roger’s flatpick-and-fingers approach to make these songs come to life. The sea shanties ballads blues spirituals and cowboy songs you’ll be learning are part of the backbone of the American folk music tradition and they are great fun to learn and sing. You’ll alsobe playing McGuinn originals such as 'Gate of Horn' 'May the Road Rise to Meet You' and the Byrds’ hit 'Chestnut Mare' which Roger demonstrates on his Martin 12-string for a more authentic Byrds sound.

Demon In Disguise-?The extraordinary folk-blues guitarist David Bromberg has strolled back into the spotlight as abruptly as he resigned from it nearly three decades ago when he dissolved his fantastic and popular touring band in 1980 to study violin making... The fluid orchestral invention of Bromberg?s fingerpicking ? his original calling card on pivotal late-1960S and 1970S sessions for Jerry Jeff Walker (?Mr. Bojangles?) and Bob Dylan (New Morning) ? is in undiminished bloom invigorating sturdy old blues and ballads.? - ROLLING STONEIn this intimate portrait the legendary David Bromberg talks about his influences and performs the music he loves - a wide panorama of Americanblues folk country bluegrass ragtime jazz and contemporary sounds.Inspired by the music of Pete Seeger and the Weavers among others he began studying the guitar at age 13. After graduating from Tarrytown High School he enrolled at Columbia University intent on a career as a musicologist. During this period he discovered the old recordings of Blind Blake Lonnie Johnson Big Bill Broonzy Marshall Owens Luke Jordan and other great country bluesmen as well as contemporary recordings of B.B.King Freddie King and Albert King. He studied with Rev. Gary Davis for several years and as Rev. Davis said ?I have no children but I have several sons?. David was a son to the great Reverend.Drawn to Greenwich Village's flourishing coffeehouse folk music scene of the mid-1960?s David left Columbia University and opted to devote full time to his music. Shortly thereafter his extraordinary guitar picking and exceptional stylistic range brought him to the attention of many other musicians: Bob Dylan Ringo Starr George Harrison Tom Paxton and Chubby Checker are only a few of the notables who sought David out as a back-up artist for recording. In all he has played as a sideman on over 100 albums.

The ancient Celtic repertoire offers the fingerstyle guitarist a tantalizingly wide range of moods and emotions from sad laments to lyrical ballads to vibrant dance rhythms. This collection presents a vast array offingerpicking Guitar solos settings on timeless airs hornpipes reels planxties set dances jigs slip jigs marches songs and compositions by the renowned 17th century blind Irish bard Turlough O'Carolan. The solos are invaried Guitar tunings and are presented in notation and tablature. Performance notes and suggested listening guides are also included. Comes with access to online audio with 27 songs from this book.