Description
I’ve had several requests for more of a delta blues style lesson so I thought I’d compose a little piece and show you how to play it. I always dread trying to teach something like this because there is so much to show and I’m always afraid that I’m going to leave something important out – but after reviewing the video, I think I covered pretty much everything on this lesson. This is inspired by Robert Johnson (although nowhere near his level of complexity), you can hear some of his style in this. If you’re a premium member, I’ve included the tab for this one so feel free to download.
Let me know if you’d like to hear more of this style lesson as there are lots of different styles and techniques that I can use to create videos.
Delta Blues Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson
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Hi brian, good pick, iam going for it. pretty sure I will be ok with it all the greats love this guy keith richards, eric c and so on keep up the good work.
john123
Hey Brian,great lesson! Once again, you know what we’re looking for.Since you asked,I ,for one ,would definitely love to see more of this type of lesson. I’ve got an acoustic aching for something new to do.By the way ,what are you playing? Looks like it might be on old Regal?,Stadium?, whatever it is,it’s very cool. Thanks again.
@ mrfosters - Cool, I’ll do another one of these with a new twist this week. Glad you liked it. As got the guitar, very good eye, it’s an old late 20s Regal parlor guitar that I bought from a guy selling on Craigslist. Not in great shape cosmetically but it sounds and plays great.
Hey Brian,Thanks again for the lesson! never really been able to play this type of blues but really want to be able to, your lesson really helps…as always Awesome lesson!
Hey Brian
This is fantastic …
You’ve got lots of electric on line so more acoustic and blues oriented would be welcomed.
I can’t believe the callouses I’ve built up this month. They don’t get sore any more!
Continue with the videos ….
Cheers,
Jim
Thanks Brian - Great lesson!
Found it difficult to control my thumb at first (it kept wanting to play as many notes as my fingers) but eventually something clicked, and I got the hang of it. I know I’ll probably have lost it again next time I pick up my guitar, but that’s the joy of your lessons - there’s always an instant refresher lesson available to get me back in the groove!
Keep up the good work - you’re making a lot of people happy! - that’as never a bad thing is it?
Looking forwards to the next Delta lesson… “with a twist’, no less!
Pete
Cool, glad you got it figured out Pete - btw, the next lesson is now available 🙂
As expected, I DID forget how to play this piece when I next picked up my guitar. So I re-learned it, and the same thing happened - again & again!
However, a neat trick I taught myself was, when I had a quiet moment, I’d play the piece ‘in my head’. I found it helpful to imagine the notes as I played them - I could easily adjust the tempo until I got it right.
The next time I played it on an actual guitar, I got it ‘Spot-on’ first time. (although I will confess to waking up with the tune still playing in my head! - Man!, I’ve got it BAD!)
Pete.
@ StreakyPete - Glad to hear that you’re waking with this in your head… sounds like you really DO have it bad. That’s a great strategy for remembering something though - doing a quick play by play in your head before starting. It’s weird because honestly I just sort of turned on the camera and made this thing up based on some Robert Johnson fingerstyle licks that I know. I could create many more blues fingerstyle guitar lessons like this if there is a strong interest.
Bring it on Brian!
As I said before, I found it challenging - but that’s exactly want I want/need after years of being stuck behind ‘The Wall’.
It feels more rewarding and enjoyable to play something like this, and I’m sure the rest of the guys will appreciate some more of the same.
Great work!
Pete
What did you change with your vid. This one is out of sync. with
the sound?
Good lesson other than the sync problem
Thanks
Gary
Hey Gary, I can’t seem to replicate what you’re talking about - it isn’t out of sync for me? Could you try viewing on a different browser perhaps?
Hey Brian,
Thanks for this lesson,very reminiscent of many songs but the best for mine, as a long time big Clapton fan, is his acoustic interpretation of Drftin Blues off From the Cradle album which sent chills down my spine when I first heard it. There is complex simplicity to songs like this in that you listen to them and say to yourself its just a 12 bar blues so it should be easy but the truth is it takes months to even get it down to a point of just passable playing
Stratman007 - well said. Yeah it’s songs like this that seem very simple and almost primitive on the surface, but when you start breaking them down and trying to replicate them you quickly realize that it’s much more difficult that your ear tells you it should be. I love Clapton’s version of Dritin’ as well, in fact there isn’t a single bad song on “From The Cradle” - one of the best albums ever recorded in my opinion.
GREAT STUFF
Hay Brian,
What kind of guitar and strings are you useing in this delta blues lesson? It looks old ,but sounds good
Thanks
It’s an old 1920’s Regal guitar (made in Chicago) - not in great shape, but it sounds great. The strings are Martin medium gauge.
Hi Brian, the video and sound are not in sync and am in a bit of a mess, I downloaded and printed the TAB so that I could practice, but notice that on the sound it sounds like you are plucking the G,B,and E strings four times, whereas the Tab states three times, am I reading it wrong, or is it my hearing?
JIM
The video and audio should sync up - I can’t seem to replicate this issue. It may be something weird with your browser and the Flash plugin perhaps? If you don’t mind, try downloading Google Chrome (unless you’re already using it) - it’s free. Try viewing the video through Chrome and see if you’re still having sync issues.
Hi Brian, Have downloaded Chrome, and it has improved, the sound and video are now in sync. Will see if my performance improves.
JIM.
Hi Brian. really like your lessons. My question for you is. I love the blues. Can I use a pick on the delta blues ? Or do I have to learn finger picking ?
@jaminpapa - you can use a pick sure.. there’s no “right” way to do it. Some people use a thumb pick to play delta blues style as well. Do whatever you’re most comfortable with. Although I will say that playing fingerstyle is something you should practice learning - because it’s so incredibly versatile.
Hey Brian,
Loving the lessons. You’re an excellent teacher. The best Ive had to be honest.
Just a question about the rhythm to this song are you playing the 8th notes with a swing?
Cheers,
Andy
Hey Andy, thanks! yes there is a bit of a swing to this in regards to 8th notes
Great Lesson Brian. Thanks. My Vote fore more of this nature please.
Good day and good music to ya.
-Spruce
hi ! there seems to be a wee mistake on the tab. first measure 2nd and third beats sem to be swing eights notes rather than triplets. am i right? ta muchly for your answer
Thanks,I just discovered you and find it great,,I sure want to see more on this kind of bleus..
Hey Brian,
Great site with amazing explanations. Downloaded the tab to this one for better practice sessions and it has been coming along nicely between those and watching the video. Defintely keep the delta lessons coming. Any future plans for Travis picking lessons for more folky/country/blues songs?
Brian,
Really enjoying this Delta Blues number.
I’m working and working on it.
Hardest part for me is getting to that first A
chord on time. Somehow the rest comes easier.
I’ll get there. Thanks for all you do. Jill
Keep the acoustic blues coming. I’m getting pretty good on the piedmont style, so the more I can learn, the better.
Thanks
Love the fingerstyle blues. So hard to find good teachers of the techniques. Good stuff I have improved grweatly over the last day or two. Keep ‘em coming!
hi, this is a great lesson. Is there any chance you could do some more delta blues lessons?
I really love the Delta blues style. I’m just starting out learning how to play this style. It would be great to get some more lessons on Delta blues style guitar when you get the time, cheers,
Hey brian this is a great lesson, I have searched the web, you have the best stuff going on. Any chance of doing some Steve Winwood type stuff ie….Dear Mr. Fantasy type lessons.
@Mitchlong - Steve Winwood is a great suggest - adding that to the “to-do list”. Thanks!
@Chrisrudd - yes more delta blues coming :) Lots more
Thumbs up for more delta blues!
Really digging the fingerstyle blues lessons. I have been working on a lot of Travis pick variations lately, but came across your blues fingerstyle lessons on YouTube and here I am. I would love to see more fingerstyle blues, but no hurry. It’s going to take me awhile on what you’ve currently got posted.
Thanks man!
Hi Brian, great lesson on delta blues. Love to see more of delta blues style like maybe Lightnin Hopkins style if possible. I would like to learn as much of this style as possible
Thanks
Brian, please add more of the delta blues style lessons. I’m working on the ones you’ve already done and trying to get the speed up. Speed, of course, is a relative term! Also, please consider more beginner blues lessons. It’s pretty difficult to jump in at this level.
Hi Brian, I just joined today, found this lesson on you tube about a week ago and can’t stop trying to play it :0)
I’m finding it quite difficult and challenging but I love the sound, well I’m going to spend some time looking around the site,
Pleases keep posting Delta Blues,
All the best
Paul in the Uk
:0)
I like these melody,very deep sound
Hi Brian, just started a week ago with this lesson and have learnt a lot. Thanks. I just want to let you know that you play the lesson differently to the tab. see bar 4. also it would be helpful if you could note the cords on the tab. just a suggestion.
Hi, Brian.
I’m enjoying playing this very much. It’s difficult, but I’m making it.
The only thing I just can’t do is the first string pull on the A chord. Does it work with nylon strings or should I stop trying and buy metal?
Thanks!
I want to learn this so bad. New to reading tab, so I might be messed up but, the tab seems inconsistent with the video around the hammer section. Does an isolated bass note precede the hammer (as in the video) or is in coincident with the start of it (as in the tab)? Also, does the next bass note precede playing the open B-E (as in the video) or does it follow (as in the tab).
@DJG, some of these older videos the tab timing might be off a little. The notes themselves are all accurate, but the timing may be slightly off.
Hi Brian,
it’s a 13 bar blues ???
I put it in 12……… :-)
It’s great anyway.
Thanks
hi i seem to have a hard time playing the thumb at a different speed that the other fingers. is there a trick or lesson that could help me to get better at it?
Brian,
This is very similar to some of the stuff I’ve played in the past. However, your little single string tips and fingering style have enlightened me. The strings have always been there but you helped me rediscover what I’ve been missing. More delta style and early lessons would be very cool.
Hi Brian, I found some mistakes in the tablature. It took me a while to understand what I was doing wrong to reproduce the first notes. Check it if you can.
Regards,
Frédéric.
Great explanation of Delta Blues style picking. You always have a way of breaking the lessons down in segments that are not terribly long. I just happened to stumble upon a neat ending which is just to voice an Eminor and pluck only the 5th and 4th string @ the 2nd fret simultaneously. This is after your “B7”. thanks again~!
Just started working on this. Thought I’d share my own tip about learning to coordinate the bass part. Brian suggests start with the bass part and layering in the lead. I took a slightly different approach. I started with tapping my foot to the lead part to see where exactly those bass notes came in, in relation to the lead. Next I started practice putting in the bass notes with the lead and once I was done with the first bar I continued the bass line and practiced making it smooth that way. Kind of backwards from what Brian suggested but it worked for me.
Went to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc-J_Ew8Jw0 to download the tab for this lesson and it looks like its only for Premium members only.
Guess I should have read between the lines
Brian, once again very cool lesson.
One question I have is why is it when I slide my fingers on the wound strings they really seem to ring out kind of loud. I don’t here that when you are playing.
I find it somewhat annoying.
Is there a technique other than completly lifting my fingers off the strings? Are there strings that won’t ring out so loud when sliding on the wound strings?
My strings are new, could that be the problem?
Yes please! More Delta and Hill Country Blues please!
Thanks!
Great lesson Brian! Have always been a huge Robert Johnson fan and this is a nice introduction to his style and sound. Lately I’ve been digging through some of your earliest lessons like this one. Just wanted to say it’s amazing how you’ve developed as a teacher over the years and how dynamic and thorough the lessons have become. Much love and keep ’em coming!
Its a pity that the tab is not similar with your instructions in the video
Great lesson!! I have found that Delta Blues is what I want to continue to work on.
Brian: Just signed up for Premium, downloaded Tablature, but I’m missing what you’re demonstrating following the second A. I usually follow the tablature closely, as I am an inexperienced player. Is there another Tablature I’ll need with your demo?
Excellent! I’ve been so close to Delta-style blues so many times… but I couldn’t hear it properly.
This lesson has shown it in sufficient detail that I can now make a basic attempt at it and it doesn’t sound too bad. Also liked the RJ style turnaround!
I just picked up a used Gretsch Jim Dandy parlour guitar for cheap so I’ve searched Brian’s lessons for Robert Johnson and came up with several lessons so looking forward to learning them.