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Delta Blues - unaccompanied Blues guitar! (Patreon)

Published:
2024-04-13 14:00:09
Imported:
2026-08
Tags:

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Content

Blues by yourself.. no need for backing tracks or loopers on this one. Guitar playing rarely gets more rewarding than being able to sit down and improvise entire pieces of music by yourself.. and blues is the perfect form for learning how to do just that!

As always, we cover a ton of important, fundamental concepts needed to play authentically in this vintage blues style so don’t skip through the lesson in case you miss something profoundly important.

Also, stick around til the end to hear how I dialled in my tone for this one. Featuring my 53’ Gibson es125 and my 1957’ Fender Tweed Champ.

Files

Delta Blues on your own! Vintage & Authentic Fingerstyle Guitar lesson. Learn to Play by yourself!

Access all lesson materials by becoming a Patreon at the link below for just a small monthly fee!.. https://patreon.com/AlexFarranGuitar If Patreon isn’t your bag, you can purchase the materials for this lesson alone, directly at the link below; https://smogfalls.gumroad.com/l/dfvrh Book in for a private Zoom lesson to level up your playing, or find new inspiration!.. just choose a slot at the link below; https://tidycal.com/alexfarranguitar/guitarlesson A lesson on how to play authentic, delta blues as a solo guitar player. There’s nothing more rewarding than being able to sit down, alone, and play unaccompanied, but complete sounding blues on a nice old guitar. As always, we cover a ton of important, fundamental concepts in this style so don’t skip through the lesson in case you miss something profoundly important. Also, stick around til the end to hear how I dialled in my tone for this one. Featuring my 53’ Gibson es125 and my 1957’ Fender Tweed Champ. ⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️ 00:00 - Performance 01:28 - Introduction 02:07 - Lesson materials 02:36 - Separating the bassline from the melody 03:07 - Breakdown of the First 12 Bars 12:46 - Breakdown of Bars 13 to 25 (full of little tricks!) 24:38 - Technique - important stuff! 26:20 - Time Feel & Proper Practice! 26:48 - Slow playthrough w/metronome 28:26 - Tone Talk 29:40 - You do NOT need long nails to play finger style! 30:13 - Recommended listening Videos referenced in this lesson; Gear used in this video; 1953’ Gibson es125 Thomastik 12 gauge flats 1957’ Fender Tweed Champ Open Plan Recording “the grill” mic Neumann KM184 mic Universal Audio OX - amp top box Universal Audio Apollo Twin X Logic Pro Universal Audio plugins Sony ZVE-10 camera Neewer Desktop Tripod Final Cut Pro Thanks for watching! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexfarranguitar/ Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/alexfarran #motown #stax #soul #muscleshoals #stevecropper #jimihendrix #ernestranglin #rnb #cornelldupree #rhythmguitar #leadguitar #electricguitar #guitarsolo #country #blues #jazz #jumpblues #guitarsolo #guitar #guitarist #music #musician #gibsonguitar #roots #vintageguitar #vintage #1950s #fender #vintageamp #deluxereverb #alexfarran #reggae #guitarlesson #jazzblues #guitarsolo #lesson #inspiration #motivation #curtismayfield #telecaster #offset #nachocaster #swampy #jukejoint #chicagoblues #rockabilly #jumpblues #roadhouse #divebar #bluessolo #bluesguitar #marcribot #keithrichards #bluegrass

Comments

Joseph Corso

Thanks AF …just remarkable how wonderful your lessons are…went to a recording session yesterday snd played some of your open chord magic lesson licks and It was amazing to see the reactions from everyone they were so pleased !!!!

Alex Farran Guitar

That's so good to hear Joseph! Thank you so much for the kind words my friend 🙏🏻

Mark Gavin

fantastic - you can add a bend from the G bass note to G# before the pull off in bar 2 to get that min to maj 3rd sound. Thanks!

David

Good stuff Alex. Many thanks for your hard work and great talent.

Eirik Kildal

Thanks Alex! Great lesson. Brgds Eirik

Wayne America

Hi Alex, Thanks for your advice on technique at the end of the video. You mentioned to me before about the importance of using a metronome - I can see its merit because with this piece I will need to coordinate a regular bass beat with melody...so it is like there are two simultaneous channels of sound. This is an area where I need to discipline myself. By the way, I work Mon-Fri 8-5:30ish. I would have booked a lesson but your timeslots intersect with my work hours. Message me if you have any slots outside of these times. Thanks also for recommended listening. I checked out Patton, Johnson, Blake, Skip James, and Leadbelly as well. Their recordings are archaic with raspy voices. Are you aware of any more modern sources that attempt to replicate the guitar parts but strip out the vocals?

Alex Farran Guitar

Thanks for the comment Wayne, glad you’re enjoying the lessons. For me, the raspy and poor sound quality is all part of the mood, but if you’re looking for modern players who have a bit of that feel, I’d recommend checking out Woody Mann, Mike Dowling, Bob Brozman and Charlie Hunter. 👍🏻

Wayne America

OK, until I can book lessons, I was thinking of forensically going through the songs I have played so far and putting some notes in a diary. You have delivered loads of important guidance. Let me check out the four additional artists you've mentioned.

MarkF

I am really going to be taking my time with this lesson because I think it is going to be well worth the pay off on so many levels for my playing. It sounds great on the old Gibson, but I think it will translate onto an acoustic nicely too. Thanks for another gem of a lesson Alex.

Tony Davies

Superb lesson, way beyond my skill set, i just cant get the bass and melody going at the same time🙁

Alex Farran Guitar

Thanks Tony, glad you enjoyed it! Just keep working hard on the coordination between thumb and fingers.. it will inevitably come, but it takes constant dedicated and patient practice. Keep your chin up buddy :)

Alex Farran Guitar

Thanks Mark, I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. Oh for sure, it'll work great on an acoustic. I did originally intend it that way but felt the temptation to explore some tones on the old arch top ;)

Tony Davies

Thanks for the encouragement Alex I'm determined to get there in the end

Banjiboi

This is a brilliant lesson and also love the Tom Waits style one. I just joined moments ago, and my biggest question is… without studying the theory behind what’s going on here, do you think it’s possible to transition these lessons into being able to improv in this style… I’ve been stuck in the basic pentatonic blues scale my whole life and just wish I could fiddle out stuff like this. You are incredibly talented and i really dig the styles you are teaching

Alex Farran Guitar

Thank you man, I really appreciate the kind words and your support here on my Patreon 🙏🏻 Unfortunately there’s no shortcut.. you do indeed have to learn some theory.. that’s the only thing holding you back and keeping you “stuck in the basic pentatonic” as you put it. I’ve been teaching for nearly 20 years now, all day every day, and that is the most common problem people have when they come to me. They’re “stuck in pentatonic”. It’s literally a case of with every single bit of new theory you learn and apply, you bust out of that jail with a step in the right direction and a whole new world of sounds and expression become available with each step you take. Makes total sense when you think about it as what’s it’s all really about is knowing your fretboard and gaining a knowledge (and therefore more control) over what you play and when 👍🏻

Banjiboi

Thank you for the quick response Alex, and I appreciate the honesty and completeness of your answer. I will continue to put practice time in and try to learn more. I would love to have the freedom that you see when you look at a fretboard.

Alex Farran Guitar

My pleasure buddy, you can absolutely learn to see it that way.. it just takes a lot of dedicated practice and hard work of course! You can do it man!

Brendan Tindall

This is hard going I swear I’ll get it under my fingers, even if it’s the last thing I do 😄

Alex Farran Guitar

With that driven attitude you certainly will do my friend.. love the determination! 👍🏻🧡

Rancho

Signed up on the basis of this. Wonderful stuff.

Alex Farran Guitar

Thank you Rannoch, I really appreciate that. Much more of this type of lesson to come! In the mean time, have fun digging back through the archives my friend 🙏🏻🍻

GoofyRaf

Maybe Keb’mo too

GoofyRaf

Easy on paper… not in fingers. Nice piece man, thanks

Wayne America

Thank you for mentioning Keb' Mo ! That was a really good tip. I just watched a few of his videos on YouTube...like 'Am I wrong?' and 'Walking Blues' These are definitely worthwhile to see his style.

Alex Farran Guitar

thanks buddy, glad you liked it! A good challenge for both hands certainly!

John Olenski

It's going to take some time to manage my thumb's codependency! Having a good time with this one. Very nice.

Michael Sosebee

Thanks for the hard work; this one really shines.

Alex Farran Guitar

It's a tough thing to work on John, but do stick with it and you'll be handsomely rewarded!

Brendan Tindall

Hey Alex I’m really hooked on this, can’t let it go til I get it, just wondering about old guitars and amps, are you using the old gear to get more of a feel and sound of the era ?have old guitars got something that can’t be replicated in modern ones ? Cheers Brendan

Alex Farran Guitar

Really glad you’re enjoying this lesson Brendan 🙏🏻 Hmm, that’s a tough question.. for me, I just prefer the sound and feel of my old gear. Although for example with new amps, if it’s a clone of an old circuit, I love it equally.. just hard to beat those original designs. Old guitars do tend to have a different sound and feel for sure though.. especially acoustics and archtops.. more so tha n solid bodies.

Jerome Oks

Ah-oh, Smokestack Lightning;)

Jerome Oks

What method would recommend to improve ear training?

Michael Sosebee

I love this tune! I'm amazed at how versatile your guitar lessons are.

Jean-Luc

every sentence is pure pleasure. clear explanations and above all, at your fingertips...music straight from the Mississippi Delta.

William Wong

Hi Alex, I’ve just paid and joint your Patreon membership. Where shall I find your tab for the Delta Blues tune?

Alex Farran Guitar

Hi William, thanks for joining us here! Just open the very post that you’re commenting on and you’ll see underneath a “downloads” section. That’s where you’ll find all corresponding lesson materials 👍🏻

William Wong

Hi Alex I could only download the audio recording ezip file. I could not find the tab file.

Alex Farran Guitar

All the files are in the same zip file matey. Audio, PDF and Guitar pro.. all separate files contained in there. I’m sure you know, but a zip file is just a way to put a bunch of individual files into one easy to download folder .. it also has the benefit of compressing the file size a little to make the download that much quicker. But, once you double click or open a zip file it will de-compress and show you all the contained files within.

Mike Talkington

Also joined because of this piece. Excellent. More please 🙏

Alex Farran Guitar

Thank you Mike, I'm so glad you liked it! Part 2 is currently in the works so watch this space! 😎

Alex Farran Guitar

Hi James, so once you get a feel for how Patreon is laid out, it becomes quite easy. Just find the little search bar near the top of my page and type any keyword in that relates to the lesson you're after, ie; blues, dirty blues, pentatonics, triads, telecaster etc and you'll find exactly what you're looking for. You can also browse my "collections" section of Patreon where I've grouped the lessons by genre. Once you've found the lesson you're looking for, simply click on it to fully open the post and you'll see an "attachments" area underneath my text description.. click on the zip file there to download all of the related lesson materials. I hope this helps buddy, let me know how you get on!

Brian

Please notify us when Part 2 is ready - thanks

Mark Vollmer

Hi Alex, I've subscribed to your Patreon account, but I can't find the attached documents for this lesson. The ezip file is an audio file. I've been able to download some of your other reference materials. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks!

Olli Aaltonen

I recently subscribed to your Patreon. This is exactly the blues style I've wanted to learn so I took this on first. Not being familiar with the independent thumb technique, I keep messing up. Not so independent yet. Too much coordination between thumb and fingers. No progress after dozens of tries to learn the bass and melody at the same time. I suspect that, for someone like me, it would be better to start by keeping the thumb going steadily and then add melody notes one by one. Keep repeating up to where the thumb groove falls apart until you succeed and only then proceed to the next melody notes/bar. Takes patience but I feel I have started to make progress.

David Blanche

I've been playing close to 50 years and have neglected my independent thumb work up until a month ago. The melody comes easy but, my commitment to my thumb has yet to pay off. I'll get it. Im almost embarrassed to say I've been an instructor for 19 years and although my whole system is built with a blues foundation thumb independence or real Delta Blues has never come up. Slide guitar, Blues Rock, Contemporary, Heavy Blues and my fave Swing/Jump Blues is popular with my students. I'll be proud to one day to be able to introduce this to my students. I've been following a system by another instructor that im sure will pay off. This piece here will mos def be one id like to tackle the right way. Thank you Alex.