There'll never be another band like the Grateful Dead but the Dead's music lives on. Now you can start to play and sing nine classic Grateful Dead tunes from start to finish with Fred Sokolow's 92-minute instructional DVD. Foreach song Fred shows you how to fingerpick backup while singing how to play an instrumental solo and how to begin and end the tune. Along the way you'll learn a lot about fingerpicking backup patterns soloing ideas and chordpositions.

New Orleans Fingerstyle Blues Guitar features a mix of New Orleans-flavored fingerstyle guitar tunes. Cory Seznec takes you through songs such as Lookin' For A Woman and High Society inspired by the virtuosic playing of SnooksEaglin a laid back Latin rumba style version of Corrina Corrina a punchy brass band tinged harmonically interesting rendition of the gospel tune Give Me Dat Ol' Time Religion and an arrangement of the piano prodigy JamesBooker's scorching tune Classified. The goal of the lesson is to help develop different right hand rhythmic techniques - rumba style thumb dragging bass movement flamenco-esque strumming; and help the playerdevelop passing chords and inversions incorporate classic bluesy New Orleanian ornamentation and generally spice up left hand techniques. Within each song Cory breaks everything down and slowly walks the player through thearrangement. For any guitarist looking to branch out and try a new 'feel'! A detailed tab/music booklet is included as a PDF file on the DVD. Each tune is taught phrase by phrase and played slowly on a split-screen. Songs include: Lookin' For A Woman High Society Corrina Corrina Give Me Dat Ol' Time Religion and Classified.

The life and music of Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter is the stuff of true legend and you can discover the secrets of his style and sound with Harry Lewman in this unique DVD tutorial. Widely regarded as one of the mostinfluential folk musicians in America's history Lead Belly's career spanned the era of minstrel shows the Blues explosion of the 1920s and the dawn of the singer/songwriter. His influence upon Woody Guthrie and Pete Seegerwould shape the way in which all American singer/songwriters write and play to this day. In this special DVD presentation Harry Lewman explores the stories behind the songs and explains in detail the unusual way in whichLead Belly tuned strung and played the 12-string guitar. Rare footage of Lead Belly is also featured in this lesson.

Volume 2-In this second lesson for Celtic Fingerstyle Guitar Tony McManus explores all the dance rhythms of Scottish music with its pipe-marches strathspeys single and double jigs slip jiogs and reels. McManus has been notablysuccesfull in translating the complex music of the highland bagpipes to the guitar and to maintain the integrity of the music he introduces three unusual tunings: CGCGCD CGDGCD and DAAEAE. The idea and playing of sets ispresented as well as further exploration of ornamentation techniques. Complete with a 32 page tab/music booklet of all the pieces included in the DVD.

Flatpick guitar is the name given to the style of playing simple melodies on the upper strings whilst strumming an accompaniment on the lower strings and Dix Bruce's DVD will show you how. Developed by Mother Maybelle Carter this self-accomopaniment method is the foundation upon which all traditional folk bluegrass and country techniques have been built. Bruce uses nine great country classics and bluegrass standards to give you the chance to masterthis special skill. He demonstrates the bass note/strum technique and shows how melodies can easily be integrated into known chord patterns. There are also sections that will help you transpose tunes into almost any other keydesired - a very important and useful skill especially in group-playing situations.

The city of St. Louis played host in the 1920s and 1930s to one of the most distinctive and vital blues scenes ever documented on record. Like Memphis and Atlanta St. Louis served as a sort of magnet attracting musicians from the surrounding hinterlands and providing performance opportunities that were not available out in the country. Many of the St. Louis musicians were transplanted Mississippians like Charley Jordan while others like Clifford Gibson and Teddy Darby originally hailed from Kentucky. The various early influences that the music of these players displayed ended up coalescing into something that might be called the 'St. Louis sound'. Included on thisDVD are transcriptions and teaching of the songs of Teddy Darby where the guitar and voice track each other closely Clifford Gibson with his distinctive approach to playing in Spanish tuning and the mysterious low cross-note sound Charley Jordan with his acrobatic thumbwork and occasionally raggy sound and the enigmatic Lane Hardin who only recorded two titles under his own name. The songs selected for inclusion in the lesson have been chosen to introduce you to a variety of different tunings and playing positions and employ different right hand approaches that will expand your ability to utilize techniques like thumb lead and brush strokes. A PDF file is included on the DVD which can be printed out into an easily readable 8.5” by 11” booklet including not only detailed transcriptions of the songs but the songs’ lyrics as well. As well all of the original recordings from which the transcriptions were made are included on the DVD.

Understanding Implementing and Overcoming The Caged System-In this instructional DVD renowned Guitar tutor Rolly Brown discusses the strengths and weaknesses of one of the most popular methods for navigating the Guitar fingerboard the caged system. In Uncaged & Free Brown discusses how to use the system in order to get the maximum result with the least effort and explains how to transcend its weaknesses by becoming able to move up and down the neck in the most fluid and fluent fashion. This DVD explains: The five neck positions and their chord structures. The five most effortless major scale fingerings. Superimposition of scales and chords. Understanding chord movement in each position. Blues scale fingerings o Minor scales.Horizontal and vertical concepts of navigation. Overcoming CAGED with interval scales horizontal scales sliding pentatonic scales and arpeggios. In this instructional DVD renowned Guitar tutor Rolly Brown discusses the strengths and weaknesses of one of the most popular methods for navigating the Guitar fingerboard the caged system. In Uncaged & Free Brown discusses how to use the system in order to get the maximum result with the least effort and explains how to transcend its weaknesses by becoming able to move up and down the neck in the most fluid and fluent fashion. This DVD explains: The five neck positions and their chord structures. The five most effortless major scale fingerings. Superimposition of scales andchords. Understanding chord movement in each position. Blues scale fingerings o Minor scales. Horizontal and vertical concepts of navigation. Overcoming CAGED with interval scales horizontal scales sliding pentatonic scales and arpeggios.

In the 1920s and 30s Bessie Smith was 'empress of the blues.' Her passionate singing and performing style and her songwriting influenced all the blues and jazz singers that followed. Many of the songs she popularized both blues and “tin pan alley” tunes have become standards in blues jazz rock and pop music. Songs in this collection have been recorded by artists as diverse as Eric Clapton Leadbelly Billie Holiday Chet Atkins Bing Crosby David Lee Roth Big Bill Broonzy B. B. King and Sam Cooke. They’re great tunes for guitar pickers and Fred shows you how to back yourself up singing them and how to fingerpick instrumental versions of six classics. With hisexplanations of the arrangements split-screen slowed-down versions of the songs and with the tab and music in the accompanying booklet you’ll learn how to play St. Louis Blues Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out Backwater Blues After You’ve Gone I Ain’t Got Nobody and the sensational Send Me To the Electric Chair . The songs sound terrific on guitar and with Fred's instruction the arrangements are easy to follow. A 1920s film of Bessie Smith singing St. Louis Blues is featured at the end of the lesson. A detailed tab/music instructional booklet is included as a PDF file on the DVD. In the 1920s and 30s Bessie Smith was 'empress of the blues.' Her passionate singing and performing style and her songwriting influenced all the blues and jazz singers that followed. Many of the songs she popularized both blues and “tin pan alley” tunes have become standards in blues jazz rock and pop music. Songs in this collection have been recorded by artists as diverse as Eric Clapton Leadbelly Billie Holiday Chet Atkins Bing Crosby David Lee Roth Big Bill Broonzy B. B. King and Sam Cooke. They’re great tunes for guitar pickers and Fred shows you how to back yourself up singing them and how to fingerpick instrumental versions of six classics. With hisexplanations of the arrangements split-screen slowed-down versions of the songs and with the tab and music in the accompanying booklet you’ll learn how to play St. Louis Blues Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out Backwater Blues After You’ve Gone I Ain’t Got Nobody and the sensational Send Me To the Electric Chair . The songs sound terrific on guitar and with Fred's instruction the arrangements are easy to follow. A 1920s film of Bessie Smith singing St. Louis Blues is featured at the end of the lesson. A detailed tab/music instructional booklet is included as a PDF file on the DVD.

Woody Mann's Fingerstyle Blues Guitar illustrates how traditional country blues guitar techniques and styles can be extended and explored to create new textures and feelings. Woody demonstrates blues in the keys of A D and E and shows how variations and improvisational ideas can be developed. The playing ideas of Blind Boy Fuller Big Bill Broonzy Lonnie Johnson Blind Lemon Jefferson Rev. Gary Davis and Scrapper Blackwell as well as otherblues ledgends are discussed. Woody combines these playing techniques and styles into a series of instrumentals that will illustrate new possibilities for playing fingerstyle blues. A 24 page PDF tab/music booklet is included.

French-Algerian fingerstyle guitarist Pierre Bensusan is a unique talent. His sound and style confounds classification being both profoundly original and yet familiar and expressive. His fingerprint is on it whether it is hisearlier folk and Celtic-based renderings his free-form improvisational material or in settings solo or ensemble. Undoubtedly he is one of the world’s finest DADGAD players. His music reaches far beyond the idiom of a guitarplayed in a non-standard tuning living by the rationale that music is not made for a specific instrument but about musical ingredients and how you combine them. In this first DVD Pierre teaches 10 compositions exploring thetechniques and skills required to play them whilst also allowing an insightful glimpse into the mind of one of the world’s great guitarists.

The Ukulele has never been more popular and Fred Sokolow 's relaxed user-friendly teaching style makes it easy to learn. In this lesson Fred takes you to the next level beyond simple strumming. You'll learn more first position chords as well as moveable (up-the-neck) chords. He shows you some fingerpicking accompaniment patterns a few major scales and how to play a 12-bar blues in any key. You'll also learn how to pick out melodies and play some beautiful chord/melody solos. Tunes include Tumbling Tumbleweeds Tennessee Waltz Route 66 Not Fade Away A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody See See Rider and more. Fred slows all the tunes down and breaks them down so they're easy to learn. You'll also enjoy his “uke lore ” stories about the the songs and the players. All the songs are written out in tab and music with chord grids as well. Whether you're a novice or a uke player wanting more repertoire and technique there's plenty here for you. It's a great way to expand your horizons on this wonderful instrument.

World class jazz guitarist Martin Taylor's playing has been greatly influenced by the master Jazz pianist. In this challenging DVD lesson Martin applies his fingerstyle jazz genius to the music of the great Americancomposer Duke Ellington. Five of Ellington's magnificent compositions are presented in this in-depth 52 minute lesson. Be warned these are complex arrangements for the advanced guitarist.

In this lesson Fernando Perez teaches several evocative instrumentals from different world music styles. The tunes are performed in standard as well as alternative tunings. In this lesson Fernando Perez teaches several evocative instrumentals from different world music styles. The tunes are performed in standard as well as alternative tunings. Fingerstyle techniques are used throughout the lesson. Two tunes are arranged for slide Guitar. Perez takes you on a globetrotting voyage where you will explore: How to understand the sound and techniques found in the music of the Balkans Japan Brazil Hawaii Malawi and Argentina and how to apply theses to the Guitar. Cool and unusual rhythms applied to the guitar in a way that goes further than just strumming chords but also how to make guitar arrangements with theserhythms. Origins and relations between world music styles in order to better understand and perform them. Many interesting fingerstyle Guitar tricks and techniques. Main scales used in these instrumentals. Understanding grooves how to feel and apply them as you play the music. How to further develop these tunes as well as creating new ones. New musical approaches coming from other cultures which will open up your vision as a player. New simple and easy Guitar tunings which will offer you a broader sound spectrum in your Guitar arrangements. Unusual slide techniques ie. how to play behind the slide uncommon chords and special tricks. A dynamic World Music repertoire full of variety. Each tune is taught phrase by phrase and played slowly on a split-screen. Titles include: Into the Balkans (Balkans) Samba para Ti (Brazil) Ame (Japan) Malawi Dance (Malawi) Kalani (Hawaii) and Tango/ Habanera (Argentina/Cuba). 120 minutes • Level 3 • Detailed tab/music PDF file on the DVD

Davey Graham is a perfectionist. Since 1961 when he recorded the quite remarkable - and largely unnoticed - 3/4 AD with Alexis Koerner he has restricted his record output and almost everything he has recorded has been of a high standard. So when he agrees that this is one of the finest records he has made it really has to be one of the finest Guitar records of recent years. Throughout his career he has mixed these high personal standards with an inventive daring approach to music. Because he plays acoustic Guitar he may have been labelled as a 'folkie' but nothing could be further from the truth. He knows a great deal about folk music - and the folk music ofNorth Africa and India as well as Britain and America - but he also has a strong interest in medieval music later classical music jazz and the blues. The sixteen tunes on this album were all chosen because they were instrumentals Davey likes and enjoys playing rather than to demonstrate particular Guitar styles but of course the results work on both levels. This album is both an intriguing musical selection and a tribute to his remarkable technique. He has included hymn tunes a selection of Irish melodies that are a great personal favourite of his. 'They are mostly pipe and fiddle tunes and I've been working on them for some time. I take a great interest in the Irish scene and I'm learning the language'. Alongside these there are the classical and medieval pieces ranging from Vaughan Williams' Down Ampney to the Prelude From The Suite In D Minor by Robert De Visee ('a Frenchman who matched Dowland'). Also included is a PDF TAB/music booklet featuring these songs from the recording: Medley: Lord Mayo/Lord Inchiquin; Lashtal's Room; Renaissance Piece; Hardiman The Fiddler; Fairies' Hornpipe; Forty-Ton Parachute . You will need Adobe Acrobat (a free download) to open and print this file from your computer.

The compositions of Turlough O'Carolan born in 1670 have a special place in the story of Irish music as does the figure of Carolan himself a blind itinerant harper living at a time of significant change in Irish history.Carolan seems to embody the image of the old bards in whom resided the last vestiges of the ancient music and the lost art of extempore poetry. His music is often seen as a link between traditional Irish melodies and baroque musicbut more importantly it includes some of the most striking melodies ever composed in any tradition. Originally written for harp these compositions lend themselves perfectly for the fingerstyle guitarist. In this lesson Duck Baker teaches a wide variety of Carolan pieces from the simple folk-like air Blind Mary to the stately Hewlett. The mysterious Planxty Kelly and the deeply melodic The Fairy Queen are presented as well as Carolan's Concerto a complex folk-baroque arrangement of the bard's most celebrated composition.

Traditional and Celtic Guitar authority John Renbourn gives you a close-up guide to the unique sound of the Celtic style. Discover a wide variety of authentic open tunings and the melodies that have characterised Celtic music forso many years with the individual twist that Renbourn provides. Split-screen techniques allow you to concentrate on either hand individually ensuring that you master examples as easily as possible. Soon you will be added Celticflavours to your own songs and ideas.

Buster B. Jones is a master of the guitar styles of Chet Atkins Merle Travis and Jerry Reed. He has explored their music styles and techniques and has developed his own unique approach. Buster is known as a blazing fast anddynamic player but his original compositions expose a lyrical and gentler side to his musical personality. In this DVD lesson he presents six original instrumentals. They are dedicated to and influenced by his friendsand family -- Thom Bresh Marcel Dadi Paul Yandell and his granddaughter Marissa. These instrumentals will charm you as well as challenge your playing techniques. Titles include: Charming Basically Bresh Farewell MyFriend Marissa Dawn Paul's Place and A Walk In The Park.

Grossman writes: I love fingerpicking blues in the key of C. Blind Blake Big Bill Broonzy Rev. Gary Davis Mississippi John Hurt Mance Lipscomb and Tommy McClennan all favored this key. All approached their playing from different angles and perspectives. Mississippi John Hurt had a happy sounding alternating bass style. Big Bill Broonzy combined a driving bass technique. Blind Blake's 'sportin' right hand' would stumble his bass alongside quick single string licks and his piano sounding guitar. Rev. Gary Davis had several techniques playing in C. His most unique was using an alternating bass that never played the root C note. In other arrangements his playing took BlindBlake's ideas and explored them with complex bass movements rhythmic licks and quick single string runs. And then there's Tommy McClennan and his heavy rhythmic right hand. These legendary blues guitarists all played out of first position chords using different right hand approaches and touch. How amazing that there were so many different sounds produced. So many that I found it necessary to expand this lesson to two DVDs running close to four hours of instruction in all. Each tune is taught phrase by phrase and played slowly on a split-screen. A detailed tab/musicbooklet is included as a PDF file on the DVD. As well the original old recordings are included in the Bonus Audio section. Titles and topics include: Cocaine Habit Blues People That I Use To See Can't See No More Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight You Are My Sunshine Tryin' To Get Home You're Gonna Quit Me Love With A Feeling Troubles You May Leave Taking Your Place At The Break Of Day Turn Arounds in C and Searching the Fingerboard 227 minutes - Level 2/3 - Detailed tab/music PDF file on the DVD

The key of E shouts out: 'Play the blues.' It is the most popular setting for playing in the style of Lightnin' Hopkins. Chicago bluesmen love playing in E. But there are other approaches of fingerpicking blues in the key of E. In this lesson we will explore styles and techniques as played by some of the legendary bluesmen. Charley Jordan's unique approach will be taught with note-by-note transcriptions of his 1930's recordings of 'Keep It Clean' and 'Hunkie Tunkie Blues'. Big Joe Williams' classic 'Baby Please Don't Go' will combine a little of the old (with a Mance Lipscomb right hand technique) with a taste of the new (licks from Booker T. & the MGs). The perennial 'Careless Love' and 'I Shall Not Be Moved' have touches of Mississippi John Hurt while 'Crow Jane' takes its cues from the playing of Big Bill Broonzy and Brownie McGhee. 'Pigmeat Shuffle' combines the bass and licks of Rev. Gary Davis. And of course Lightnin' Hopkins' playing is included with an arrangement combining many of his trademark licks. A detailed tab/music booklet is included as a PDF file on the DVD. Each tune is taught phrase by phrase and played slowly on a split-screen. The Bonus Audio section presents a wide assortment of bluesmen playing the tunes taught in various settings. Titles include: 'Baby Please Don't Go' 'Pigmeat Shuffle' 'Crow Jane' 'I Shall Not Be Moved' 'Careless Love' 'Hunkie Tunkie Blues' 'Keep It Clean' and 'Texas Lightnin' Blues'. 107 minutes - Level 2/3 - Detailed tab/music PDF file on the DVD.

Jody Stecher’s guitar arrangements are blues tinged banjo influenced and highly inventive. They are fluid evolving and subject to flights of fancy and improvisation in actual performance. Yet they contain a lot thatis “fixed” or repeated from performance to performance. The seven arrangements presented in this lesson are crystallisation's of the motifs and patterns typically used by Jody when playing these tunes. Five tunings andfour styles of picking are presented. Jody’s music has the flavor and atmosphere of traditional old time country music country blues and mountain music but the actual details of execution and arrangement are uniquelyhis. This practice of original expression is itself an important element of American traditional music which is fundamental to aspiring guitarists. Titles include: Boat’s Up The River Buddy Won’t You Roll DownThe Line Red Rocking Chair Old Country Stomp Casey Jones Riley And Spencer and Those Two Blue Eyes.