Wheatcroft | Improvising Blues Guitar & CD

This unique book gives an in-depth insight into blues guitar, from early Chicago Blues, through Memphis and Detroit Blues, the British Blues boom, Jazz Blues and many other blues genres, right up to the blues styles of today’s hottest guitarists.

Focusing on the playing styles of influential guitarists, author John Wheatcroft teaches the basics of blues improvisation and shows how it has developed over the years. Learn how to solo like classic blues guitarists B. B. King, John Lee Hooker and Albert Collins and then move on to find out more about the playing styles of Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robben Ford and many others.

Simple step-by-step guides introduce basic techniques, harmony and theory, with demo solos and backing tracks on the accompanying CD.

Contents:

• Introduction
• Welcome to the Blues
• How to Read Fretboard Diagrams
• 1. Acoustic Blues & The Delta
• Key Players
• Artist #1: Mississippi Fred McDowell
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• The I–IV–V Chord Progression
• Artist #2: Lightnin’ Hopkins
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• The Thumb-Pick
• Artist #3: Robert Johnson
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• The Turnaround
• Questions, Answers & Blue Notes
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Microtones & ‘Blue’ Notes
• 2. Chicago
• Key Players
• Artist #1: Muddy Waters
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Tailing-Off Notes
• Artist #2: Hubert Sumlin
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Introduction to Vibrato
• Artist #3: Buddy Guy
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Adding Simple Bends
• The Advantages of Downstroke Picking
• Artist #4: Mike Bloomfield
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Repetitious Extended Phrasing
• Rhythm Study
• 3. Memphis & Detroit
• Key Players
• Artist #1: John Lee Hooker
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• ‘Call & Response’ Phrasing
• Artist #2: B. B. King
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Artist #3: Albert King
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Outrageously Wide String Bending
• Artist #4: Robert Cray
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Staccato Phrasing & Popping the Strings
• Rhythm Study
• 4. Early Texas Blues
• Key Players
• Artist #1: T-Bone Walker
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Swing
• Artist #2: Freddie King
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Riff-Based Soloing
• Artist #3: Albert Collins
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Rapid Pull-Offs Using the Thumb
• Artist #4: Otis Rush
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Vocal-Like Crying Vibrato
• Rhythm Study
• 5. The British Blues Boom
• Key Players
• Artist #1: Eric Clapton
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Applying Wide Vibrato to a Bent Note
• Artist #2: Jeff Beck
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Emulation of Slide with Vibrato Bar
• Artist #3: Jimmy Page
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Advanced Fast Pull-Offs and Wide String Bending
• Artist #4: Peter Green
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Expressive Vibrato Technique
• Rhythm Study
• 6. Country Blues & Rock’n’Roll
• Key Players
• Artist #1: Scotty Moore
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Rock ’n’ Roll Triplets
• Travis-picking
• Artist #2: Chuck Berry
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Following the Changes
• Artist #3: Roy Buchanan
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Harmonizing in 3rds and 6ths
• Volume Swells
• Artist #4: Danny Gatton
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Advanced Hybrid-Picking
• Rhythm Study
• 7. New Wave Texas
• Key Players
• Artist #1: Jimmy Vaughan
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Soloing with Chord Fragments
• Artist #2: Duke Robillard
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Swing & Jazz Phrasing
• Artist #3: Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Extreme Dynamics & Expression
• Artist #4: Eric Johnson
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Pentatonic Superimposition
• Rhythm Study
• 8. Rock-Hot Blues
• Key Players
• Artist #1: Jimi Hendrix
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• The Hendrix chord
• Artist #2: Gary Moore
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Extreme Vibrato, Palm Muting & Pinched Harmonics
• Artist #3: Walter Trout
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Expanding the Pentatonic Palette
• Artist #4: Joe Bonamassa
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Large Intervallic Skips via Open Strings
• Rhythm Study
• 9. Jazz Blues
• Key Players
• Artist #1: Charlie Christian
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Eighth-Note Extended ‘Bop’ Rhythmic Phrasing
• Artist #2: Wes Montgomery
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Exclusive Use of the Thumb for Picking
• Artist #3: Larry Carlton
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Spelling Out the Changes
• Artist #4: Robben Ford
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Tension, Release & ‘Outside’ Playing
• Rhythm Study
• 10. Slide Masters
• The World of Slide Guitar
• Artist #1: Elmore James
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Intonation & Vibrato
• Artist #2: Ry Cooder
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Muting
• Artist #3: Duane Allman
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Extending the Range of the Guitar
• Artist #4: Sonny Landreth
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Blues Phrasing Beyond the Box
• Rhythm Study
• 11. Acoustic Blues Revival
• Key Players
• Artist #1: Bob Brozman
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Incorporating the Slide
• Artist #2: Rory Gallagher
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Bass Line Runs & Mixing Approaches
• Artist #3: John Hammond
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Fingerpicks, Fingers or Hybrid?
• Artist #4: Keb’ Mo’
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Developing Your Own Voice & Making Improvements. Fast!
• 12. Conclusion
• What Is Feel?
• Assignments and Improvisation Tips
• Make Your Tone Work for You
• Delivering the Package
• Suggested Listening