Learning the blues

[frankus]

And actually it was "Rosanne" I had in mind when I made the sit com comment ....

That was Blues Traveller wasn't it?

[noisepolluter]

Find a local blues jam and go. That will teach you much more than any of this.

I recently found one which is well run, friendly, within walking distance, with decent beer and on a convenient night. I still haven't gotten together the gumption to actually take the guitar along. Keep telling myself I need to set some time aside to learn 2 or 3 actual songs properly first - guess what happens (or rather, keeps on failing to happen...)

Over the years I've accumulated various blues books/DVDs but really I can't kid myself any longer that I'm going to make any significant progress without actually getting playing out.

[noisepolluter]

The starting point is you have to be an avid consumer of blues. If you're not listening to and devouring the music all the time then lower your expectations of being able to play it, because you're just on your way to making the incidental music from a bad American sitcom.

I'm actually working towards making the theme tune to Bottom, as it goes...

[erictheweary]

And actually it was "Rosanne" I had in mind when I made the sit com comment ....

Also anyone ever suffered through an episode of According to Jim on channel 4 at breakfast - Jim ( Belushi) plays harp in a blues band in the series I think.

[thing]

Listen to the tone they use as well. I get so many young kids who play blues with a shred setting on their amp....getting the right tone can lift your playing just as much as getting the right notes.

[frankus]

you can't learn the blues!!! it's gots ta be punched into you by a weeping mother beating the alcohol out of her only son while singing negro spirituals - it's painful, not everyone makes it but when you've done that you can watch sesame street and have a biscuit and some milk...John Mayer very nearly didn't make it, 'hold on, son!!! hold on!!' I told him, 'jes think of bert and ernie, the count and that sweet sweet milk, it's coming and real soon so don't you quit on me!'

Blues Boy Jack Rambling Magic Jimmy James 12-bar hyphenated name was best known for his two albums "My name is Blues Boy Jack Rambling Magic Jimmy James 12-bar hyphenated name" and "My name still is Blues Boy Jack Rambling Magic Jimmy James 12-bar hyphenated name" and his best of medley mp3 available on itunes my_name_is_and_was_blues_boy_jack_rambling_magicji mmy_james_12bar_hyphenated_name.mp3

[DaveMcK]

I think we may be forgetting the most important factor here...to play the blues you need to live the blues.

[TheGuitarWeasel]

I think we may be forgetting the most important factor here...to play the blues you need to live the blues.

I'd been playing at the blues for years before I realised it: actually blues has very little to do with the notes and scales ... they're formulaic to a large degree, but quite incidental. What blues is about is channelling raw emotion from the player's banks of experience to the listener's soul. So, when the only language you have to convey your feelings are the same notes everyone else uses ... what's the answer? Phrasing! Oh, and in my opinion, in general people use too many damn notes too fast at first ... when you are trying to master this emotional language speak clearly, don't gabble! Playing slowly also really cheeses off the show offs at blues jams too ... they rip of some hammer on/pull off blues lick at 500 miles an hour ... you answer with a pick rake, into long sighing bend topped with luscious 'whipped vibrato' and a cherry ... they cant answer that!
Oh, and remembering what it feels like to be skint, jilted and at the bottom of the pile helps too!

[frankus]

I think it was Hot Wee-Wee Jefferson said "you can't play the blues till you've worked the blues and rested the blues" and went on to recommend that "12 bars a day helps you work rest and play".

[Lewy]

I think it was Hot Wee-Wee Jefferson said "you can't play the blues till you've worked the blues and rested the blues" and went on to recommend that "12 bars a day helps you work rest and play".