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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!
I just had the opportunity to review the a really nice instructional book from Hal Leonard Corporation, Play Like Freddie King, The Ultimate Guitar Lesson. Dave Rubin has really done it this time with a super book demonstrating the style of Freddie King. The book takes five basic King tunes, Going Down, I'm Tore Down, Remington Ride, San Jose and The Stumble and explains in great detail how to capture the spirit and articulation of King. On each of these tracks, Rubins explains the basis for the track, Kings approach and style, and then explains specifically how to articulate the ideas with detailed fingering techniques to achieve the sound. A complete tab of the track showing vocal line, guitar line as written and tab. Breaking each track down into sections makes it easy to understand and replicate. Building on this basis, the book in conjunction with the digital tracks, then shows how to build on these basics with essential King riffs, and even Signature riffs for Hideaway, Butterscotch, Sen-Sa-Shun, Side Tracked, Just Pickin', In The Open, Funnybone, The Sad Night Owl, Palace Of The King, Have You Ever Loved A Woman and Pack It Up. Also included is a super section on Integral techniques suggesting when bending techniques, directional picking, pull down bends and suggested fingering. With a section on influences and another, references to must see videos and CDs, this is the full package. I've been a Freddie King fan for a long time and this book is really helpful to getting where you're going.
I just received the newest instructional blues book, Chicago Blues Rhythm Guitar... The Complete and Definitive Guide by Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin and Dave Rubin and it has it all. This book starts at the beginning with simple tips on setup and history. Then as you start to get into the tablature, it's all written out there for you, beginning with a boogie shuffle on the bass strings.What's really cool is they go further and show it's application in a way that you know how to apply it. Sliding 9ths never sounded so easy. These give the track fullness say like on Stormy Monday. Comping gives your track a Freddie Green richness. And flat tire that odd note out used quite effectively by SRV on Pride and Joy. The box shuffle is a standard of Buddy Guy for example. Once you understand the root it makes it soo much easier to fill. Jimmy Reeds "two beat" style is also covered.
Next E major and A Major keys are covered with basic runs. On this you can build the basic triple stop chord form.
Tips on using a capo and tuning as well as a practical application is really helpful.
The next section is devoted to accompanying a harmonica player. This is particularly important in the traditional effectiveness of harp/guitar call and response. Try it! Robert Lockwood Jr and Luther Tucker riffs are nicely touched upon. This is the gold standard here.
Next there is a discussion of blending guitars and piano work. Substituting guitar for piano with a similar effect is also covered.
Covering the change up rhythms is critical. Latin influence as well as funk, in blues is very prominent including Jr Walker and James Brown feel. A morphing into the blues rock style is also covered with slides and runs from Jimi. Yup, there are even base Beck and SRV runs here to get your feet wet.
Also included is dialog about playing with strong players as well as a number of pages of cool lead riffs for two.
This is a real cool book (and DVD) that brings you from the most basic to the more complex concepts but keeping it simple that any level guitarist can work through it.
If you are into blues guitar and want to secure some riffs...this is a great place to start.
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