Archive for January, 2009
The Complete History Of Blues Guitar
Posted by: | CommentsBlues music was derived from the African-American communities in the U.S. out of work songs, spiritual songs, field hollers, chants, shouts and simple ballads that rhymed. A lot of aspects of the blues are indicitive of African influence.
The call-and-response aspect of the music came directly from African roots and there were a lot of lines that would get repeated twice or more. This later evolved into a line repeating twice and then on the third time around there would be an ‘answer line’. You can still find these characteristics of early blues in modern day music, especially hip-hop.
The term ‘The Blues’ refers to the ‘blue devils’ which means down spirits or sadness.
The blues guitar plays a heavy role in blues music as well as modern music. It has influenced Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Bluegrass and even Rock N’ Roll tremendously.
The original blues of the early 1900′s, otherwise known as “poor man’s blues” was normally associated with hard times, oppression from white folk, cruelty of the police, gambling, economic depression, floods, magic, farming and dry periods. This music was fueled by a lot of heartache and depression. Usually a lost loved one or an overall harsh environment inspired the lyrics and the tone of the blues guitar.
After the world war, you began to see blues songs that were about relationships and ***. Also, humor was added to the mix. Here is a funny example:
“That must be your woman, cause mine don’t look like that…
I said That must be your woman, cause mine don’t look like that…
Have you seen my baby? She’s so big and fat…”
The blues guitar style emerged from the American South’s instruments of the time which were the banjo and the Diddley Bow. This was a home made one stringed instrument that was popular in the early 20th century. Figures such as Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Son House and Blind Willie McTell were a part of the delta blues style which used a lot of finger picking techniques and slide guitar innovations.
Eventually, after WWII ‘electric blues’ became increasingly popular where the blues guitar was played on electric guitars as were the bass guitars. This was most prevalent in the Chicago area.
Blues music today has become a multi-cultural genre with artists playing Blues in every corner of the world. Texas-born Stevie Ray Vaughan set the music world on fire with his modern combination of Blues and Rock until his untimely death in 1990. Other modern Blues artists making a mark are: Shemekia Copeland, Susan Tedeschi, Robert Cray, Taj Mahal, Charlie Musselwhite, and the North Mississippi Allstars .
The history of blues guitar and poor man’s blues is rich with culture and stories of good times and bad. I could go on for days about the history of the blues guitar but let’s make this part 1 so you don’t fall asleep on me!
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A Review of 50 Blues Guitar Backing Tracks by 50Blues
Posted by: | CommentsI have been looking for good blues backing tracks for the longest time.
Finally, I have found the ones that I know will better my guitar playing tenfold. I can’t believe how great the sound quality really is, I feel like I’m actually jamming with a professional blues backing band.
So what makes a blues lick remarkable?
It is not the riff, nor is it the tone. Experienced blues players know that one of the secrets of great tone isn’t just the sound of an amp, but the feel.
In its simplest form its all about having a great backing to bring out the best in a blues lick.
If you’re sick of wasting money on expensive guitar lessons, felt frustrated with playing the same lick over and over again, you might just find guitar backing tracks very useful.
Normally you gain a bunch of corny MIDI tracks which are just fake digital instrument sounds that are worse than television game sounds from the 70s!
50Blues has an amazing deal where you get 50 blues backing tracks that are Instantaneously download-able after you buy them. There is also an option to purchase the 2 CDs instead.
Practice your improvisations and composition skills over a selection of 50 different blues based jamming tracks in different keys and tempo.
Not only can these be used for improving your guitar playing but also the harmonica and harp.
The blues has influenced many other genres of music, such as rock and roll, jazz and popular music of today so uncover the #1 proven method of improving your blues playing.
They have everything from slow blues ballads, shuffles, fast, funk, jazzy blues and much much more. Now, with a click of a play button I can practice my guitar riffs and licks over a professional band that remains in tempo and knows how to back up a lead guitarist.
Any real blues musician will tell you that practice is what makes the difference. That is hands on practicing with a real blues backing band. Of course playing live is always the best because you can practice performing in front of people as well as playing along with the band.
But with blues backing tracks from 50Blues you are THAT MUCH CLOSER to the real deal. My lead guitar playing has already improved by at least DOUBLE since I have been playing along with these backing tracks. I’ve enjoy practicing so much with these tracks.
If you are just starting out with blues guitar or if you are looking to improve your existing soloing skills I highly recommend this product to you. I give it two thumbs up and 5 stars!
The only bad thing about it is that you can’t practice in front of people like you can when playing with a real live professional band at a club or event or gig.
But hey…this is the next best thing and you might like it better being able to practice on your own before unleashing your skills to the rest of the world!
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