Topic: Country Blues Guitar in Spanish & Vestapol Tunings

[SGGW]

Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop Presents:

[float=left][/float]Country Blues Guitar in Spanish & Vestapol Tunings
taught by John Miller

The use of open tunings on the guitar to accompany singing is one of the hallmark sounds of the Country Blues. Unquestionably, the two open tunings that have been used most commonly in the Country Blues have been Spanish tuning, often called Open G tuning and Vestapol tuning, quite often called Open D tuning. For this 2-DVD lesson, we've chosen the names Spanish and Vestapol to designate these tunings, because in practice, Spanish tuning was not always tuned exactly to an open G chord and Vestapol tuning was not always tuned to an open D chord.

Each one of these tunings represents its own sort of sound universe, but what is really interesting to hear is the different approaches that different players took to the same tunings, and the different sounds that resulted. In each of these tunings, you'll encounter players whose approach was so melody-driven that it ends up sounding almost like slide guitar played without a slide, and at the opposite end of the spectrum, high concept, chordally sophisticated arrangements. We've purposely chosen the songs that are taught on the lesson to encompass as much of that sound spectrum as possible.

On Disc 1, the Spanish tuning lesson, we start by presenting an overview to the tuning, how it is set up, and where the foundational chord positions needed to play Country Blues in that tuning are located. Then we launch into the repertoire: Elizabeth Cotten's serene rendition of the hymn When I Get Home, Mississippi John Hurt's danceable Boys, You're Welcome, Teddy Darby's hypnotic Built Right On The Ground, Clifford Gibson's uptown Bad Luck Dice, Mance Lipscomb's ancient-sounding Willie Poor Boy and Kenny Baker's haunting Legend of the Whistling Brakeman.

On Disc 2, the Vestapol tuning lesson, we begin with the an overview that provides the sound of the tuning, the approach that is best suited to it, and the chordal positions needed to play Country Blues in it. Then we go to the songs: Tarheel Slim's instrumental No Time At All, Jimmy Lee Williams' churning locomotive Have You Ever Seen Peaches?, John Byrd's Old Timbrook Blues, Memphis Willie B.'s eerie Brownsville Blues, Blind Boy Fuller's driving Little Woman You're So Sweet, and Jesse Thomas' mind-bender Another Friend Like Me.

Instruction is offered with the kind of patient attention to detail for which John Miller's lessons have been acclaimed, and all of the original performances of the songs are included on the discs, as well as tab and standard notation and the lyrics to the songs. Learn the songs on these lessons and you'll be equipped not only to continue learning more songs in these tunings on your own, but perhaps even to create your own arrangements and songs in the tunings.

226 minutes ? Level 2/3 ? Detailed tab/music PDF file on the DVD

http://www.guitarvideos.com/products/guitar-workshop-instructional-dvds/country-blues-guitar-in-spanish-vestapol-tunings

[banjochris]

Looks like another good one, John! What a great selection of tunes!
Chris

[Stuart]

It looks great, John. I'm looking forward to watching it. I'm sure that there will be a lot to learn as always.

As and aside, the bridge collapse on the Bellingham - Seattle highway (I-5) last night is certainly going to be inconvenience for many. Thankfully no one was seriously injured. Hopefully the detour around won't be too much of a hassle for you.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the good words, guys.  This is such a huge topic that it would justify several lessons just on songs in these tunings.  I hoped to get some of the less obvious choices in there, maybe.
You're right about the freeway bridge on the Skagit being out being a major inconvenience for a lot of folks, Stuart.  Luckily, neither Ginny nor I were on the road last night when the collapse happened.  I'm currently in Seattle and will be returning home tomorrow, so I'll have to scout a good alternative route then.  This is not the kind of problem that gets fixed over a week-end, either, though I'm sure they'll have it repaired as soon as possible and it looks like only the span itself will have to be replaced.  It's amazing and lucky there was no one killed.
All best,
Johnm

[harriet]

I picked that up yesterday. I am wondering if the lyric in "Have You Ever Seen Peaches' I noticed was similar to one I heard first from Frank Stokes and I thought he wrote it -  "the more you cry, the further you drive me away". Is that a lyric that bluesmen use and appears indifferent songs. Kind of like the line"what you want with a woman, won't do nothing you say" appears in several songs that I've heard.

H

[Johnm]

Hi Harriet,
I don't know who first used that line but it shows up all over the place.  I think Charley Lincoln alone must have sang it in about 80% of his recorded songs.
All best,
Johnm

[harriet]

Thank you, John.

[uncle bud]

Blind Lemon used the formula in Matchbox Blues in 1927 (the Okeh recording). Ed Andrews actually used the first part of it in 1924 in "Time Ain't Gonna Make Me Stay" (sic), which is a kinda cool mishearing of the lyric on the part of the record label. Coulda sworn Ma Rainey used it, but can't remember where. Maybe it was another gal.

[Dom94]

Hi john,
I can't manage to get a big sound like you without thumbpick on titles like: you're so sweet or Brownville blues !

[joe paul]

Thanks for this great lesson, John.
I love "Willie, Poor Boy" by Mance Lipscomb, can't stop playing it ! There's another great version on his Texas Songster collection on Arhoolie, the one that starts off with "Sugar Babe". It reminds me of Ruben, as Elizabeth Cotten plays it in D or vestapol, another song that's got an element of banjo-style playing with the melody in the bass register. Anyone got ideas of other songs in this vein?

[Norfolk Slim]

Harvey does an excellent Willie Poor Boy, having learned it from John many years ago now.

High time he posted something on the back porch!

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I'm glad folks are enjoying this lesson.  Dom94, if you strike the strings with your thumb already in contact with the string, you can play really hard and loud without the sound breaking up or buzzing.  Gordon, one of my favorite thumb lead, banjo-style tunes is J. W. Warren's "Rabbit On A Log", which he plays on his Fat Possum CD.  It may be available via iTunes also.  He played it out of Vestapol, and it is one of the tunes I was considering for the lesson but didn't get around to doing.
All best,
Johnm

[westside ryan]

Looks awesome!  To bad am poor right now!  Oh well, it's something to look forward to!