The Finger

Or more accurately, The Fingers.

I've been listening to a lot of acoustic blues from the masters lately. Players like Big Bill Broonzy, Bo Carter, Rev. Gary Davis and Blind Boy Fuller.

I've been slowing down their songs (thanks to Transcribe) and doing some deep listening. I've been listening for things like if they're playing with picks or bare fingered, if a chord's being played with an upstroke or a downstroke, and if the fretting hand thumb is being used to fret with.

Here's the Reverend with his thumb and one finger approach.

Next up is Blind Boy Fuller. Gary Davis was one of Blind Boy Fullers teachers. He also played on some of Fuller's recordings like Rag, Mama, Rag (look for an upcoming lesson on this song). From listening to him, I suspect that Fuller played with thumb and 2 fingers.

Bo Carter was an especially memorable player. He was a member of the gifted Chatmon family that was centered around Jackson, Mississippi. He's mostly remembered for the raunchy, sex oriented songs that make up much of his recorded work. We guitar geeks will also note his interesting runs and chords and his sophisticated thumb and 3 (sometimes 4!) right hand technique.

What I've noticed in all of this research is how strongly the personality of each player comes through. In the long run, it doesn't matter so much how you approach the guitar. The bigger thing is that you approach and play the guitar in a way that's reflective of who you are.

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Mel Bay Month

That's it for this month. I'll see you in February!

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