Blues guitar players wanting to expand their chops...

Lately I have been discovering there are a plethora of great instructional DVD's out there to greatly expand my playing ability and guitar vocabulary for musical expression. A couple of them I highly recommend especially if you feel like you hit a brick wall lately with your playing. This discussion was started to share a recommendation list from all pickers who are looking are currently studying a DVD they're having good experiences with. a particular DVD. Any takers?

Here's a couple in my library I been working with:

Electric Country Blues- DVD 1 & 2 by Jim Weider on Homespun Tapes
http://www.homespuntapes.com/shop/product.aspx?ID=420

Learn To Play Bottleneck Blues- DVD 1,2 & 3 by Bob Brozman
http://www.homespuntapes.com/shop/product.aspx?ID=718

Playing The Blues DVD- Robben Ford
http://www.amazon.com/Playin-Blues-Robben-Ford/dp/B00007CWI7/ref=pd...

I have all of these and they are really great. The Bob Brozman DVD's will keep you busy for about 5 years! Even though it primarily covers acoustic pre-war styles... it all can be applied to electric playing too. The Jim Weider DVD's are really exceptional and will expand you chops big time. Robben Ford has several DVD's the one I have is an older one... but digs into the basics of his playing style quit well. I love them all!

Hope to hear back from other players!

Cole

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by K on December 17, 2008 at 1:58am: Hi,

Depending on the level of playing, I'd recommend the following:-

Robin Trower: Classic Blues/Rock Guitar http://www.amazon.com/Robin-Trower-Classic-Blues-Guitar/dp/B000GRUV...

Not exactly instructional stuff ie. doesn't teach you things note for note. More like a demonstration / seminar kinda thing but it has some electrifying licks and 12 bar blues solo. Great stuff

Warren Haynes: Electric Blues & Slide Guitar http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Haynes-Electric-Blues-Guitar/dp/B000BM...

Ditto

Ronnie Earl: Blues Guitar With Soul http://www.amazon.com/Ronnie-Earl-Blues-Guitar-Soul/dp/B000BM7YWY/r...

Ditto

I have also discovered some great DVD sold on-line. Check out:-

www.learningguitarnow.com by John Tuggle. It has 3 blues dvd (also downloadable) which are awesome. Also there are a few Slides DVD and short lessons. Great stuff

www.steviesnacks.com by Anthony Stauffer. Focuses on SRV style. There a few DVDs there and one coming out.

Btw, I need not add Robben Ford's Playing The Blues as you have already mentioned it. The Slo-mo Blues is awesome!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Toby Walker on January 21, 2009 at 9:25am: You can't go wrong with anything from Roy Bookbinder. He does a remarkable job of teaching fingerpickng blues techniques in his DVD's.

Toby Walker
http://www.littletobywalker.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Craig Irwin on January 27, 2009 at 4:54am: I get good TAB & links to the audio sent to my inbox from 50 Blues,I haven't paid a cent but there is a course
if you want to sign up.I've downloaded my 50 blues & are picking up the TAB daily.,all styles covered.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Darren Watson on January 27, 2009 at 5:13am: I believe TAB is evil and is ruining a lot of guitarists before they even get started. I have to re-teach a lot of my students from scratch how to play MUSIC MUSICALLY. Tone, rhythm and EARS is what counts.

Go get some real lessons from a respected local tutor and play with as many people as you can as often as you can.

Of course DVDs are a good albeit non-interactive way into the world of blues guitar. But seriously... I can't stress enough the difference in finding a good real-life teacher.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cole Prior Stevens on January 27, 2009 at 7:33am: I ordered the Ronnie Earl Guitar with Soul DVD and it is great! He does a lot of stuff I already know but has a different approach to it, so it opened up a whole new perspective for me. Surprisingly, the Ronnie Earl DVD really gets you thinkin' about the country side of the blues groove with any key.

I have a Roy Bookbinder DVD too, which is pretty basic, but has a lot of cool country blues licks 'n tricks in it as well. Good DVD for beginner slide players and finger picking like Toby says. I haven't seen it in a couple of years, I should break that one out and revisit it too.

I don't use tab because I'm a lefty that plays strung righty. Tab is a real challenge for me. I always feel seasick after about 10 minutes with it. Perhaps Dramamine would help... LOL! But I have to agree with Darren, nothing substitutes a good instructor!

I'm going to try Greg Martin's & Warren Hayne's DVD's next I think.; ▶ Reply to This