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Roots Blues and Fingerstyle Guitar
Level 1
For guitarists with a basic knowledge of chords, melody and runs, or those with a little more experience who are accustomed to playing with a pick; Steve will start from "square one" as he presents techniques and repetoire that will demystify the art of melodic fingerstyle guitar. Picking a simple bass line with your thumb over two or three first position chord shapes isn't hard to do. Incorporating a finger picked melody or a series of economical, bluesy "riffs", over the same changes is a walk in the park. Play both at the same time? It's not as hard as it may sound, as Mr. James will demonstrate, along with harmonic and rhythmic ideas that will add depth and "drive" to the sound of your guitar. Some tab and chord diagrams will be supplied. The emphasis will be "hands on". In addition to your guitar, a notebook and portable sound recording device are suggested.
AnchorAbout Steve James
"For me, the blues is a point of departure," says guitarist, singer, and songwriter Steve James. "I like taking from the past and enlarging upon it." Born in New York City to a musical family, James was bitten by the blues bug early on, and after seeing Muddy Waters and Mississippi John Hurt, he decided to make music his life. In the early 1970s he migrated to Bristol, TN ("bothering old people and playing with fiddlers,") then Memphis (where he played with Lewis, Bukka White, and Lum Guffin,) and finally Texas in 1977. Throughout this time, he became acquainted with the classic music and many of the great musicians of the American South. A touring musician and recording artist, Steve is a font of historical knowledge, an engaging performer and a talented teacher. A long time contributing editor to Acoustic Guitar magazine, he has had two books and over a hundred articles published in recent years.
A regular at FPR, Steve is known among fans of blues and roots music for his ability to incorporate elements of early blues and country guitar into the original style and repetoire that inform his live performances and numerous recordings (including his latest solo effort "Short Blue Stories"). An experienced teacher, Steve is a long-time contributing editor for Acoustic Guitar magazine and has created instructional DVDs on guitar and mandolin for Homespun. He invites you to visit: www.stevejames.com.
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