Fingerpicking Blues Guitar 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 country blues 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 Abroad. 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. 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. 105 minutes DVD is region 0, playable worldwide.
The Guitar of Bukka White
Bukka White’s slashing slide figures and pounding chords are capable of generating a high level of excitement, capable of leaving dancers joyously exhausted. Yet there is also a sensitivity and a sense of dynamics to his music. Bukka’s Lyrics ran the gamut from the perceptive to the surreal. The combination of these two voices places Bukka squarely within the blues tradition and his own unique niche.In this lesson Tom Feldmann takes you through 10 of Bukka White’s tunes. Starting off in Vestapol tuning you’ll get his right hand, train beat picking down pat with Special Streamline. Next you’ll to master playing in Cross-Note tuning with Jitterbug Swing, Aberdeen Mississippi Blues, World Boogie and Sic Em Dogs On.Bukka’s approach to Cross-Note tuning set him apart from his contemporaries and will add a new depth to your own playing. You’ll learn Bukka’s trick of dampening the 3rd as his signature « Spank the Baby » technique, a real crowd pleaser. Moving into Open G in’ To Die Blues and Gibson Hill. The lesson finishes with When Can I Change My Clothes in Standard Tuning.112 Minutes DVD is region 0, playable worldwide.
Playing Lead Trumpet
Wayne is enjoying a career as one of the most active lead trumpet players in the world. With the Playing Lead Trumpet DVD, Wayne Bergeron discusses and demonstrates the essential aspects of lead trumpet playing for all levels, from students to professionals.