Blues: Blues Bass Play-Along Volume 9 (Pt. 9) [Paperback] Review

I have most of the play along series and they just have some great selections. The fact that this one had Hoochie Koochie Man pretty much sealed the deal for me. Great stuff for begginers to people like myself who are always looking for new stuff and people to play with.

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Product Description:
The Bass Play-Along Series will help you play your favorite songs quickly and easily! Just follow the tab, listen to the CD to hear how the bass should sound, and then play along using the separate backing tracks. The melody and lyrics are also included in the book in case you want to sing, or to simply help you follow along. The audio CD is playable on any CD player. For PC and Mac computer users, the CD is enhanced so you can adjust the recording to any tempo without changing pitch! Songs: All Your Love (I Miss Loving) * Born Under a Bad Sign * I'm Tore Down * I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man * Killing Floor * Pride and Joy * Sweet Home Chicago * The Thrill Is Gone.

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A Guide to Blues/Rock Guitar Soloing (Guitar Educational) [Paperback] Review

Grissom's distinctive and raw country-blues-rock sound comes from a distinctive style that not many have under their fingers.Learning a few of David's ear-candy solo samples will open new frontiers on the neck and add a new twist to the vocabulary of all but a few players.And "raw" just describes his tone/attitude - he's a blistering, masterful player.

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Product Description:
If you're looking to break out of rhythm guitar mode and into the solo limelight, then this book is for you. With advice on licks, technique, feel and what to do (and what not to do) during your moment out front, David Grissom takes you through what every blues/rock guitarist needs to have under their fingers. Topics include: picking techniques, string bending and other left-hand techniques, country licks, borrowing from jazz, finding your own voice, equipment and gear, and more.David Grissom has toured and recorded with a who's who of artists, including John Mellencamp, Joe Ely, Storyville, the Allman Brothers Band, Chris Isaak, Buddy Guy and many others.

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Blues Bag (Guitar Books) [Paperback] Review

Whether you're a beginner, intermediate or advanced guitarist, you'll get something out of this book. I learnt to play some of the classic blues tunes of all time from The Blues Rag. Easy to read, easy to follow, andprovides good notes and instrumental breaks for most songs. The author,Happy Traum, sure knows how to play the guitar, and there's no better wayto learn fingerstyle country blues guitar than from the master himself. Toget the absolute most out of this book, I'd highly recommend you purchasethe video that accompanies it.

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Product Description:
An anthology of traditional blues songs and instrumentals as played by the great country blues guitarist. Written in both guitar tab and standard notation.

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Kids Toy Guitar with Gig Bag for Children Ages 4 and up - Blue Review

Very nice gift for the kids who like to play and practice this musical instrument, very educational.

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Product Description:
A perfect gift for kids / children. This wood guitar is not tuned when shipped. With plastic tuners, kids "pretend to play". All 6 strings make sounds. Non-tunableIncludes the following accessories:Guitar Strap, Gig Bag, High 1E stringPick (color may vary)

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Aurora Acoustic Guitar Strings 12 Gauge Blue Review

the strings have the best sound i have ever heard out of acoustic since i have been playing, great price and an overall great buy!!

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Product Description:
Aurora has developed a proprietary technology for wrapping guitar strings in brilliant protective color for the best sounding, longest lasting, highest quality coated string possible. The Aurora formula delivers crisp, clear sound every time, while providing extended string life and a great new look. Packaged in solid color sets, string colors can be combined for a unique customized look...the possibilities are endless! If you are a younger player or have a more delicate stroke choose a lighter gauge. For a harder play choose a higher gauge of string.

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Arlen Roths 150+ Acoustic Hot Licks For Rock, Blues, Country, Rockabilly, And R&B Guitar Review

This DVD showed me stuff I have been hearing on the acoustic guitar for years and never had the first clue how it was played. Everything is based around the pick n fingers technique which will certainly take a bit of practice if you've never tried it. A lot of the stuff is in a Bluegrass/country vein so you should be aware of that. It's all in the key of C A G E or D, which are the keys that a guitar works well for, and a lot of open strings are used in the licks. Thers no filler, no extended breaks for live performance inserts, it's just one lick after another. For me personally, at least 100-120 of them are "must learn".
The only downsides?? the tab booklet is sometimes a simplified version of what Arlen plays (and sometimes its just not quite right). Just watch the video, you can slow it down. Also, as other people have mentioned the sound quality IS a litte muffled but it's not really an issue. If you love the acoustic guitar you can't go wrong with this DVD.

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Product Description:
Here's your chance to learn more than 150 original acoustic licks in a detailed lesson from the one and only Arlen Roth. Double-stops, roll patterns, pick and finger style, advanced bending, arpeggios, harmony runs, turnarounds, banjo, dobro and pedal steel styles, chicken pickin' and much more are all demonstrated by one of the world's master player/teachers.

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Playin' the Blues: Guitar TAB (Book & CD) (Alfred's Artist Series) [Sheet music] Review

this book is very good it goes hand in hand with the video good for all levels.

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Product Description:
Robben lays out all the basics -- the scales, chords, licks and phrases that are the foundation of modern blues guitar style. He discusses his fingering technique, vibrato and string bending, and also shows his favorite chord forms and comping patterns. Includes a ""lick"" section and several complete solos. In notation and tab.

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NEW RESONATOR - Acoustic Guitar - Steel Pan - BLUES +++ Review

I bought one of these on Ebay about a month ago and I really don't know what I've got. The neck is straight, seems well built, action not too high. It's very pretty (ladd-dee-daa)and it stays in tune and seems to play ok. I don't have a lot of experience with resonators so I can't tell you it sounds like anything cheaper or more expensive. It definately DOES NOT sound like an acoustic, and it's not meant to, but it also sounds a bit quieter than I expected. I searched for a while before I finally pinned down what "brand" it is. I found similar (though the models were electric/acoustic ) from SKYLARK and Karerra until I found this one on 2kool4skool and amazon. Neither place is still selling them. I'm 99% sure it's a chinese make that brands throw their own logo on.

I plan on bringing it to my local shop for a review and see if it needs a new cone and or spider & saddle. I don't want to put too much money into it as it cost me a little over $100.00 USD, but if I can throw another 50-100 for it too sound OUTSTANDING (not just moderately) better, I'll do it.

I see a guy from Vermont bought one, any feedback appreciated.

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Product Description:
Win this auction and receive this BRAND NEW - Traditional Style RESONATOR Acoustic Guitar!

Gorgeous Deluxe SUNBURST finish and astounding sound quality.Bright and lusterous sound cuts through the metal grille of this beauty.

SOLID SPRUCE TOP!
Sapele Wood Back and sides!
Rosewood Fingerboard
Silver Frets
Steel Strings
Nickle Covered Machine heads / Tuners
Classy Purfling surrounds the body (front and back) and also the neck !
The back of the guitar features a laser cut inlay that looks fantastic!

Great players guitar is perfect for blues, jazz, country, rock and more!

Makes a perfect gift for the musicians in your life!

Good Luck Bidders!


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Learn Blues Guitar With 6 Great Masters (DVD & Booklet) Review

I could go all out and say that this DVD sucks if it hadn't been for Arlen Roth's attempt to take the time to explain in detail the technique of vibrato (Most videos move right past learning the art of that technique). The rest of the guys act like they were dragged into the studio after an all nighter to run off a few licks for the cameras to complete the "Blues Masters" line-up. The Lonnie Mack section was ridiculously short. Although I enjoyed seeing lessons by the original blues artists in this video, I would have much rather had the entire video been taught by either Ronny, Duke, Buddy or especially Arlen alone. This DVD is only 30mins and I have found many more in-depth videos that run at least 60-90 minutes that delve much deeper into technique and offer many more examples for the price or less.

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Product Description:
This special DVD offers six great lessons from the masters of blues guitar!
Lesson 1: ßArlen Rothß shows you Chicago blues techniques and BB King and Clapton styles
Lesson 2: Blues legend ßLonnie Mackß shares his secrets of blues rhythm techniques
Lesson 3: ßRonnie Earlß, the master of soulful blues, shows you how to play blues licks and solos.
Lesson 4: Celebrated bluesman ßDuke Robillardß teaches you the essentials including T Bone Walker and Chuck Berry styles
Lesson 5: ßBuddy Guyß, the King of Chicago blues, gives a master class in lead guitar soloing
Lesson 6: Unique blues original ßHarvey Mandelß teaches scales, modes and their improvisational possibilities.
Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

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Taylor Guitars Blue Logo T-L Review

The shirt is well made and fits as most tee-shirts with this size designation. Printing is high quality and the color looks just as pictured. Fabric is very soft and it is a tagless shirt. Shipping was prompt and product arrived in excellent condition.

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Product Description:
Our blue Taylor Logo Tshows off a new color option for our classic Quality Guitars logo. Traditional fit heavyweight, preshrunk 100% cotton with a taped neck and shoulders.

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Levy's Leathers M8PJG-LTB Polypropylene Girls' Guitar Strap,Light Blue Review

I bought this for my daughter's Daisy Rock purple heartbreaker guitar (it's a perfect match in color by the way) and it works out well. She's only 5, so she's small and thin. When tightened up, it works pretty well with plenty of room to spare. The shoulder strap is thick leather with a small amount of padding and seems to do okay for a small amount of playing, but I cannot attest to how well it will do with long sessions. Also, I have a ukulele and wanted a strap that would hold up my uke in the right position so I tried this out for me (and I'm not thin) and when adjusted to it's longest length, it seems to hold the uke at the proper position and not fit too tight, so I'll be purchasing another for that purpose. So all in all, for the price, I think it's a fair deal.

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Product Description:
1 1/2" polypropylene guitar/ukulele strap, for girls, with moveable leather pad, leather ends and tri-glide adjustment. Adjustable to 38"

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Happy Traum Teaches The Blues Guitar of Brownie McGhee (2008) Review

You can't go wrong with Homespun, this DVD is no acception. Happy Traum is an amiable and knowledgable teacher who explains the blues in an easy going, 'come and sit down by the fireside' fashion. He introduces each song by explaining it's background and Brownie's way of playing.There are seven blues in E on disc one and two in the key of A on disc two plus original audio excerpts of Brownie's playing. Happy introduces each key by explaning the basic chords, rythm, baselines, leadlines and turnarounds. Then he moves on to the songs going from straightforward to the more intricate ones.
The plus in these DVD's is the typical Brownie style, turnarounds, chordshapes, baselines and some lovely intro's which make his style unique and gives him the drive in his playing. My favorite's are Sporting Life Blues, Living With The Blues in the key of E and in the key of A both Paw Shop Blues and Careless Love. This doesn't mean the others are less valuable, each song has it's place in the blues repetoire.
In conclusion I can say I have learned some new turnarounds, intro's, chordshapes and baselines that are usefull in any style of guitar playing. The booklet has the music and tab and also the lyrics of the songs. Good value for money.

Songs Disc one:

I'm Gonna Tell God How You Treat Me
I'm Gonna Move To Kansas City
Betty And Dupree
Me And My Dog Blues
Sportin' Life Blues
Blood Red River/ Key To THe Highway
Livin' With The Blues

Songs Disc two:

Pawn Shop Blues
Careless Love
audio's of Brownie's playing.

P.S. On Youtube there is a lovely rendition of Sporting Life Blues by Happy, a must see.

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Product Description:
Brownie McGhee had been a legend to me when, in the spring of 1958, I decided to call him. I had never seen him play, but one 10-inch Folkways lp called Brownie McGhee Blues had been worn thin on my record player, and I knew all the songs by heart. I was astounded by the brilliance and complexity of his blues guitar style. For the next three years, on and off, I made the trip to Brownie s apartment on East 125thStreet and learned a lot more than guitar playing. From Brownie McGhee Blues Guitar by Brownie McGhee and Happy Traum (Oak Publications)Brownie McGhee s rhythmic fingerpicking style, rich accompaniments, intricate lead playing and wide-ranging repertoire influenced generations of guitarists around the world. Happy Traum learned to play directly from this master bluesman, and he knows how to make Brownie s songs and techniques accessible to all aspiring acoustic blues players.Happy starts with the basics so that even novice blues players will be able to get off to a solid start. Concentrating on the keys of E and A, his detailed lesson covers all the musical components that made Brownie s playing distinctive. Happy provides numerous playing tips and advice along with first-hand insights into Brownie s life and music.You ll learn to play classic songs from Brownie s repertoire, including I m Gonna Tell God How You Treat Me, Move to Kansas City, Betty and Dupree, Me and My Dog, Sporting Life, Living with the Blues, Key to the Highway, Blood Red River, Careless Love and Pawnshop Blues.BONUS TRACKS: Listen to Brownie McGhee as he demonstrates eleven songs and techniques that are taught on this DVD. These never-heard audio recordings were recently discovered in Happy s personal archives.

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Roots and Blues Fingerstyle Guitar: Acoustic Guitar Private Lessons (Acoustic Guitar Magazine's Private Lessons) [Paperback] Review

Like a lot of people, I want to play guitar, especially acoustic blues a la John Hurt, Gary Davis, Blind Boy Fuller, etc., etc.Like a lot of people, I own a number of "How to play ..." books.But one thing I'm finally beginning to learn is that NO BOOK will teach you to play if you don't practice regularly.

Having said that, this book covers a range of traditional songs - Sugar Babe, Crow Jane, etc. - and some James' originals, which will increase your mastery of the instrument - IF you practice regularly.He starts with simple alternating bass, and progresses from there.At (what seems to me) appropriate times, he introduces hammer-ons and pull offs, and string dampening. If I can ever progress enough to the last few pieces, I'm pretty sure I'll sound pretty good.Heck, I already sound a LOT better than when I bought the book. (Although that's not really very much of a recommendation.)Certainly, I've had lots of fun trying to master each piece.

This isn't really a "first guitar book," but it IS a well considered introduction to acoustic blues guitar.I find the CD useful - it lets me hear where I want to go - and intimidating: I'll never sound THAT good.Also, it'd be nice to hear more than little snippets of the pieces - typically each piece rates a single verse.

I got this largely because I was so impressed with James' earlier book, Inside Blues Guitar - which doesn't teach you (or at least, me) about how to play as much as provides insight into the culture of blues guitar.Kind of a "Zen Mind, Beginners Mind" for the blues guitarist (or even us blues guitarist wannabes)."Roots and Blues Fingerstyle" IS a how-to and it does work.I can't say it's the best book of its type, or even that it's better than so-and-so's.I CAN say that if you're a beginner or somewhat above beginner guitarist, if you've got some self-discipline, and if you like country blues, you can have a lot of fun, improve your playing, and pick up some nice standards for your repetiore.

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Product Description:
Steve James presents a treasure trove of traditional American guitar styles in this unique book/CD pack. Guitarists will learn fingerpicking and slide techniques not through dry exercises but by playing 25 songs from James' own repertoire and from such masters as Furry Lewis, Blind Willie McTell, Sam McGee, and Mance Lipscomb. Drawing on his extensive research and first-hand experience with these guitar pioneers, James tells the stories behind the songs, too. Features authentic arrangements in notes and TAB, vocal melodies and lyrics, historic photos, and more. Songs: Take Me Back * Sugar Babe * Milwaukee Blues * Sebastopol* John Henry * more!

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She's Got the Blues (Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook) [Paperback] Review

They also list the singer who made it most famous.
Songs:
After You've Gone
Baby, What You Want
Baby, Won't You Please Come Home
Basin Street Blues
Billie's Blues (I Love My Man)
Black Coffee
Blue Turning Grey Over You
Crazy Blues
Don't Explain
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Down Hearted Blues
Everyday
Fever
Fine And Mellow
Gloomy Sunday
A Good Man Is Hard To Find
Gulf Coast Blues
Hear Me Talkin' To Ya
Hold What You've Got
I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me)
I Almost Lost My Mind
I Cried For You
I Will Not Be Denied
I'm A Woman
Jailhouse Blues
The Jealous Kind
The Lady Sings The Blues
Long Gone Blues
Love Me Or Leave Me
Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)
Mad About Him, Sad Without Him, How Can I Be Glad Without Him Blues
The Man That Got Away
Mean To Me
My Handy Man Ain't Handy No More
My Man Blues
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
Pink Bedroom
Please Help Me Get Him Off My Mind
Riverside Blues
San Francisco Bay Blues
See See Rider
Sentimental Journey
Some Of These Days
Some Other Spring
Sorrowful Blues
Spoonful
St. Louis Blues
Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All The Time)
Strange Fruit
Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do
This Bitter Earth
Trouble Is A Man
Trouble In Mind
Two Cigarettes In The Dark
Vision Of Love
Wang Dang Doodle
When The Sun Comes Out
Why Don't You Do Right (Get Me Some Money, Too!)
Why Was I Born?
Woman Alone With The Blues
Your Red Wagon
Yellow Dog Blues

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Product Description:
From the 'Mother Of The Blues' Ma Rainey to the 'Empress Of The Blues' Bessie Smith...From Ethel Waters and Alberta Hunter, to the ultimate blues singer, Billie Holiday... From Lena, Judy, Ella, Sarah, Carmen, Koko, Etta and Dinah right up to Bonnie Raitt and Linda Ronstadt...this book offers an overview of the ladies who shaped and sang the blues from the early 1920's to today. Over 60 songs including: After You've Gone * Baby, Won't You Please Come Home * A Good Man Is Hard To Find * I Ain't Got Nobody * Stormy Weather * and more!

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D'Addario EXL115-B25 Nickel Blues/Jazz Electric Guitar Strings, 25 sets Review

Looking for a well made solid string that professionals use? Look no further. This is also a great deal. You cannot find these strings at a better price. Enjoy.

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Product Description:
25 SETS EXL115 BLUES/JAZZ ROCK

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Blue Microphones Snowflake USB Microphone Review

If you are looking for an inexpensive but high quality, small & portable, USB microphone, the Blue Snowflake is a great choice.Blue Microphones Snowflake USB Microphone

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Product Description:
The Blue Microphones Snowflake USB Microphone follows on the success of their popular Snowball Professional USB Microphone with a new portable design, aptly dubbed the Snowflake. The Snowflake is the first professional quality portable USB mic and embodies everything Blue has become known for; stylish looks and exceptional sonic quality. Blue has combined a USB bus powered capsule with a class compliant design to make the Snowflake truly plug and play on both Mac and PC. The Snowflake's form factor is not only eye catching and modern, but functional as well. The mic folds into a single compact case which also houses a USB cable for easy transport in a laptop bag or even a pocket. Unfolded, the case serves as a desktop stand or a laptop clip, making the Snowflake a natural for everything from podcasting, calling over the web, narrating a home video, or sketching out a song idea on the go.

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Fender 351 Delrin Rock-On Guitar Picks, 12 Pack, Blue, 1mm Review

These picks are great and I prefer this size for playing acoustic. When I play acoustic electric I prefer a thinner pick but this is my choice for pure acoustic. Great value.

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Product Description:
Features our Fender® Rock on graphic. These 351-shaped picks are precision-cut and expertly tumbledto provide a smooth, rounded edge resistant to chipping. The finishing process assures a virtually slipproofgrip and unmatched durability even after hours of playing!

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Acoustic Blues Guitar/157 [Paperback] Review

I happened upon Kenny Sultan quite by chance when I was taking a fingerstyle class at the National Guitar Workshop. The teacher threw me a copy of this book to work on because I was too advanced for the beginnersclass I was in, but not at the level to check out any of the fingerstyleseminars with Martin Simpson, Paul Rishell etc.. In any case, myfirst love is the blues and ragtime, and those couple of days with thisbook had me hooked. When I got home I went right out and bought this bookand, at the risk of sounding sappy, it changed my life.My workschedule prevented regular jam sessions and strumming chords was boring ashell with no one to jam with. This book took me to a whole new level ofplaying and has brought great joy to those hours between work and bed. The cassette is invaluable, the tunes soulful and you even get to dip alittle toe into some ragtime and slide licks. You will quickly want tofind other books by Kenny and probably start scouring the guitar shops fora National or Dobro. This is easily the finest fingerstyle bluesguitar book I have ever seen. And the author is not only a helluva player,but a fine gentleman, too. A letter I sent him asking for some tips ondouble time bass runs was answered in a week.

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Product Description:
This book for intermediate-level guitarists is a follow-up to Kenny's Introduction to Acoustic Blues. It covers blues in five different keys and positions, and incorporates slide or bottleneck playing in both open and standard tunings. All songs are primarily fingerstyle with a monotone bass used for most. The accompanying 70-minute cassette features performances of every example and song, played slowly then up to speed to facilitate learning.

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Playing Funky Rhythm Guitar (Guitar Educational) [Paperback] Review

As someone who has bought more guitar books than I'd care to admit (given my still limited ability!), I can recognise exceptional quality in an instructional book when I see (and hear) it.Chris Hunt has produced the best rhythm guitar book I have ever encountered.It has 55 examples which are usually 2-4 bars long (a few are longer) and 8 play-along tracks with just bass & drums for extended practice.Without a doubt, every lesson is a minor gem.The rhythms and chord voicings presented here are things you have heard on hundreds of classic R&B tracks, but I think any guitarist of any style can benefit from the wisdom that is distilled in these pages.The quality of production, execution and knowledge that Chris has shared is as good as it gets.It will save me a lot of money that I would have given to a teacher to learn all that is contained here.It deserves to become THE benchmark rhythm guitar text and a best seller that every guitarist should own.

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Product Description:
Learn how to play funk and RandB rhythm guitar with easy-to-follow instructions on the hottest grooves. CD features recorded demonstrations of every example, plus 8 jam along tracks! Topics covered include: the backbeat * single-line parts * quarter note, eighth note, and 16th note feels * reggae grooves * shuffle and triplet feels * common chords and progressions * and more!

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DVD-Blues/Roots Guitar-Fingerpicking & Slide From Delta to New Orleans (2005) Review

Steve James certainly knows how to play the guitar.He may be one of the best players you never heard of...but don't let that stop you from buying this DVD.The songs he covers here aren't the run-of-the-mill standards, which is a nice change from most videos.

Proof that James is a master of technique is evident immediately as he spices up the first song, Sugar Babe.I've been playing this song for a long time and always thought it needed something more, and James showed me how to make it jump a little more.Granted, it's not exactly how Mance Lipscomb played it.

The material does get more challenging as the video goes on, but James presents some really nice turn arounds, again, not typically seen.I should mention that the manufacturer of this DVD rates this as Level 3, Early Intermediate; you have been playing a while and can play without too much difficulty. The instructor still covers the material in detail, but there are more challenges.That's pretty much right off their website.

With that in mind I want to point out that the last two songs on the DVD are slide guitar songs.This really isn't the best video for learning slide guitar if you are a complete novice.James doesn't say it specifically, but he expects the viewer to know the basics of slide guitar.He just breezes through the basics.

The only criticism I have is that James is often squirming in his seat when talking and not playing.His nervous demeanor is distracting, and at times he is so uncomfortable talking that he strums inanely during his explanation of the part he is about to play.All in all, it is a minor thing.

As the title states, this is all about roots and blues and James can teach you a thing or two.Also, if you get a chance to see him live, don't miss it!

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Product Description:
Steve James is known for his mastery of blues guitar styles, as well as his deep knowledge of the history of the great traditional players, from Piedmont to Delta. On this lesson, he takes five pieces representative of different styles and teaches them in careful detail for the learning student. Using guitars from his extensive collection (a 1936 National Trojan, a Collings C-10 and a National "O" style resophonic), he covers some of his favorite arrangements in different keys and tunings, highlighting techniques, chord theory, licks and other musical insights that will be useful in figuring out any other blues-based songs you'll want to learn.
This lesson starts with Mance Lipscomb's classic version of "Sugar Babe," a basic 8-bar blues arrangement with alternating bass. Steve shows how, by changing bass notes and adding hammers, slides and syncopations, even this fairly simple song takes on a life of its own. "Wet Laundry Blues" moves to the key of A, and is more typical of the Delta style, with rhythmic feels, walking basses and licks used by Scrapper Blackwell, Robert Johnson and others. "Buddy Bolden's Blues," a classic jazz/blues in C, makes use of the "thumb roll" and some funky New Orleans-style chords.
Moving into open G ("the queen of tunings"), Steve gets you started in bottleneck style, showing how to produce a good tone with proper slide technique. His powerful version of "Stack Lee's Blues" (aka Stackolee, Staggerlee, etc.) mixes slide, fretted and open string notes in a powerful instrumental. Finally, "Hot Time on the Old Town Tonight," Steve's show-stopper in open D (Vestapol) tuning, was adapted from the playing of Sam McGee. It includes combinations of slide, pulled-off, fretted and open notes, with variations involving both standard and palm harmonics as well as rhythmic "banging" the strings.

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Learn Guitar Techniques: Fretburning Blues Runs Review

not bad, actually found a bunch of licks thats useable all over and any time.. less structured (in a good way) than other tutorials in this range..

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Product Description:
This superb DVD will teach you 30 runs using all of the classic techniques used in blues soloing: bends, pull-offs, hammer-ons, slides, double stops, vibrato and more. Each idea is played in context with a backing track and then demonstrated slowly with full explanations on the scales and techniques used. These melodic phrases will help you to solo over the entire length of the fretboard in a variety of blues situations.

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12-Bar Blues Solos: 25 Authentic Leads Arranged for Guitar in Standard Notation and Tablature (Guitar Collection) [Paperback] Review

I love this book. I'm an "advanced beginner" guitar player, and I'm just starting to learn the blues. This book has lots of easy blues solos that sound really great. The CD comes 2 track for each piece--the solo track and a play-along 12-bar-blues track. The CD is also great because you can use the 12-bar-blues track to start improvising your own solos.I highly recommend this for anyone wanting to learn blues guitar:)

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Product Description:
This book and CD package contains 25 authentic blues solos arranged for beginning to intermediate guitarists. Explore the styles and techniques of blues guitar with loads of interesting licks and fun arrangements. The companion CD includes a demonstration of every example in the book.

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Fingerstyle Blues Songbook Book/CD (String Letter Publishing) (Acoustic Guitar) [Paperback] Review

I'm an intermediate finger picker and I bought this book to learn a few more songs.There are 15 arangemets ranging from country, piedmont, Texas, delta and slide in standard and open tunings.It contains some easy songs that I could play almost immediately and some more challenging ones that I'm still working on. The CD was very helpful as it has each song played twice: once full speed with sung lyrics and once slowed down so you can work out what's happening.
If your thumb can already do its own thing without you having to tell it, then this book is a bargain at only 10 bucks. If your thumb is still connected to your brain, then buy beginning fingerstyle blues by Arnie Bearle and Mark Galbo first.

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Product Description:
Add to your repertoire and reinforce your technique with this collection of blues songs. Bring these songs to life by listening to the recordings on the companion CD, which features short versions of each piece, played slowly and up to tempo. Includes full guitar parts in standard notation with chords, accompanying parts, and tablature, as well as detailed notes on song origins and arrangements.

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Full Size Acoustic Guitar with Carrying Bag - Blue Review

I bought this inexpensive guitar hoping to be able to have some fun, but upon opening the package, it was defective.Half of the tuning pegs did not turn.I read the reviews for other guitars by this maker and was disappointed to find several reviews with similar complaints.I advise you to consider a slightly more expensive guitar and pay a little more for the tuner, bag, etc..

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Product Description:
This is a 41" Full Size guitar for the beginner to intermediate user. Suggested Retail for this item is $249.99, without the accessories. The guitar features: - Solid Spruce Top, Mahogany Colored Back and Sides with white trim, Rosewood Fretboard and Bridge, Dot Inlay on Fretboard, Stainless Diecast Tuning Pegs, Traditional Headstock w/ Inlay, Fully Bound with Abalone Trim on Perimeter, Mahogany Neck with Truss RodIt includes the following accessories. A $25 value, absolutely free: Free Nylon Gig Bag, and Free Strap. The Steel String Acoustic Guitar is perhaps the most versatile and common guitar type. The Steel String Acoustic Guitar has a loud, bright ringing tone that clearly projects to the listener. This type of guitar is the backbone of most country and bluegrass bands. It's perfect for backing a singer and its stylistic palette encompasses everything from New Age and Country Blues, to hot Bluegrass flatpicking, jazz fusion and "unplugged" rock. Sound, beauty and price were all blended together when this guitar was created. From the deep, warm tones of the Mahogany back and sides to the loud, bright projection of the Solid Spruce top you'll never want to play anything else after you've put your hands one one of these guitars.

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Blue Microphones Snowball USB Microphone (Brushed Aluminum) Review

Always hold it close to your mouth to eliminate echo and get that deep, rich satin voice you're looking for!

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Product Description:
The Blue Mics Snowball USB Microphone is the world's first professional USB mic! The Snowball finally provides you with a USB mic that's not only easy to use, but sounds as good on your desktop as it does in a professional recording studio. Whether you're recording a guitar at your kitchen table or a complete band in the studio, the Snowball can capture it with detail unheard of before in a USB mic. The Snowball is a direct plug n' play mic that connects to either a Mac or PC - no additional software is needed. With its dual capsule design and unique three-pattern switch (cardioid, cardioid with -10dB pad and omni), the Snowball can handle everything from soft vocals to the loudest garage band - and it's ideal for podcasting. Check it out and you'll see why it's the coolest mic in town. Blue Mics Snowball Features Plug and play design - no software required! Professional studio quality performance - record both vocals and instruments Mac and PC compatible Blue's renowned circuit and unique two-capsule design Switchable mic patterns for a variety of recording applications Great for podcasting Includes custom mic stand and USB cable Add The Ringer for a few coins more! Designed for Blue's complete line of spherical microphones, The Ringer is a vintage-style suspension mount designed to isolate the microphone body from low-frequency energy when mounted on a mic stand. The Ringer also accommodates virtually any microphone with a standard thread mount.

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Austin Bazaar Metallic Blue Electric Guitar with 10 Watt Amp - Beginner Kit Review

I am writing about the metallic blue guitar combo with the 10 watt amp.As of the time of this writing, the amp I received was not the one in the photo, but the same as the one seen in the photo of the Austin pink guitar combo pack elsewhere on this site.Other than that, everything was as pictured.

I am an adult who is learning the guitar.I have played the bass guitar on and off for years, so I have some familiarity with electric basses.I bought this because it was so cheap and I was willing to take a chance for the money.I am glad I did.The other combos I considered were closer to double the money.

The guitar:It says "Crescent" on the logo, not Austin, which was noted in another review on the Austin store front site.No big deal.The strings on the guitar are crappy, crappy.It did come with 6 replacement strings whichare alsocrappy.It also came with a cheap gig bag, which will work if you only go to lessons and back and dont drop it, and will keep the dust off.The strap is cheap, leave it on the guitar and don't take it on and off.Don't trust it too much, either.I use it sitting down. It came with an amp cord that is OK. The pick is OK, hard to ruin that!Rembember this is a $100+ combo.

The guitar was dusty when I got it like it had been hanging around, not bad, but noticable.The finish is a blue/green sparkle kind of color that I like.(I am tired of black, white and red guitars). There were no mars in the finish. The nut had a very slight gap on one side that did not seem to overty affect anything, but I would prefer to see it flush into the neck.The neck was straight and felt good, although it was marred cosmetically by what looked like rough edges, but were actually smooth to the touch. There is a pick edge sized gap between the neck and body, more so than other guitars that I have but not alarmingly so.The neck does appear to be straight on solid with no movement and even with the body on checking.The fret edges were a bit rough, but not annoyingly so.There is some string buzz, but I think that is a saddle height adjustment issue that needs to be made.The machine heads feel cheap but seem to be holding a tune pretty well for now, I am hoping they hold up.The bridge looks good for a this price range.It came with a whammy bar that I am not using right now.The controls all seem to work pretty well and the 5-way switch is OK. No pot noise or dead spots, no loose or wobbly knobs.Nothing exciting, just very basic.The body is surprisingly heavy--I anticipated a lighter weight guitar.(I am female, so this may not be as much so for a guy)The sound is not bad for a cheapy, I have heard worse.It came with a truss rod wrench and an allen wrench for the bridge.I did have some trouble with adjusting the height on one of the strings--the screw kept slipping on one side of the B string.

The amp:I LIKE this little amp!!Remember it is not the one pictured with this guitar--look for the pink combo elsewhere on the website.This is a slim, lightweight amp with bass, treble, mid, gain, andvolume knobs.There is also a gain button and a headphone jack.All are on the front of the amp for easy reach.The controls work well with no pot noise or dead spots or loose knobs.The amp actually has a clear, sharp sound, surprising kick for its size.It is attractively designed and seems pretty durable.It did come witha very slight ding on the top, which was easily pressed down and glued and is not noticable now.

My combo was not damaged in shipping at all and came at the designatedtime.Is this as good as a Fender combo?Guitar wise probably not quite, amp wise maybe better.If you can get a Squier guitar, get one, if not, and your budget is limited, this combo is very good for the price.I would buy another.

UPDATE:I did buy another Crescent guitar and it is even better than this one!It is also much lighter.

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Product Description:
This electric guitar is inspired by the classics of the 50s and 60s. It is handcrafted with attention to the detail and has a traditional double cutaway solid body construction. It is ideal for musicians of any age. Whether you need another Guitar to add to your collection or just need a little something for jam sessions in your garage, this Electric Guitar is for you! It features basswood body and neck, rosewood fingerboard with 22 frets, 3 single coil pick ups, one volume knob and 2 tone knobs. The scale measures 25.5". It also includes a gig bag, an extra set of strings and an amp cord. This is a $30 value, free. The included portable amplifier has a 10 Watt output. It is easy to carry with its special ultra thin design. It has two band EQ and Volume, Base tone, and Treble controls. Buy with confidence as this guitar comes protected with a one year warranty against any manufacturing defects. And at this price you cannot find a better value.

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Dean Markley Blue Steel LT 2552 Electric Guitar Strings (.009-.042) Review

I usually spend a lot more on strings. But, I tried these based on good reviews at another site and I am very happy and surprised with their performance. I don't have long term experience and I am not a big string bender, but, for a light string on my Strat, they have a really nice tone and feel like a coated string.

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Product Description:
It's simply amazing what a little -320° liquid nitrogen can do to a guitar string. Put a set of Dean Markley Blue Steel strings on your electric guitar and hear what all the excitement is about. Twice the tone and twice the life.

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Learn To Play Bottleneck Blues Guitar #1 DVD Review

This DVD, along with volumes 2 & 3, are hands down the best available if you want to play authentic pre-war style blues slide guitar.Bob Brozman is an extraordinary player with an encyclopedic knowledge of the music.Bob's incredible chops are vividly documented not only on this DVD but in the 26 recordings he has released since his first in 1981.Beyond the music, Bob is acknowledged as the world's foremost authority on National guitars.His 1993 book, The History and Artistry of National Resonator Instruments, is the definitive work on the topic.Bob's passion for pre-war blues and slide guitar comes across clearly throughout this DVD.

If you have never touched a guitar before this DVD may not be the best place to start.Even though Bob starts from the very beginning and leads the viewer through all aspects of slide playing in detail, the early sections progress quickly and it is helpful to already be comfortable with first position chords and basic finger picking.If you have been playing for a while but have not learned finger picking you can learn the basics here if you can resist the temptation to skip ahead to the embellishments Bob demonstrates as the lesson progresses.

Tone is what differentiates a rudimentary slide player from an excellent player.Bob explains, demonstrates, and leads the viewer through progressive exercises that will help you produce the clean and accurate tones that sets one slide player apart from another.Even if you are already a slide player the DVD is worth the price for Bob's instruction on harmonics.I can say from experience that adding a few tasteful harmonics into your slide playing now and then will set you apart at a jam!

DVD 1 in this series starts with the basics and rapidly progresses into repertoire tunes such as "Walking Blues," "I Can't Be Satisfied," "Crossroads Blues," and "Come On In My Kitchen."Along the way Bob teaches tricks and embellishments used by players like Robert Johnson, Bukka White, Muddy Waters, and Tampa Red.Most of the instruction uses the popular Open G ("Spanish") tuning though there is a section on Open E ("Vastapol") tuning.(More in Volumes 2 & 3.)

You simply will not find anyone that knows the history of the music, the instruments, and how to play it and demonstrate basic and advanced playing techniques better than Bob Brozman.There are other tutorials on blues slide guitar but why not start with the best?Highly recommended if you are at all serious about slide guitar playing in the Delta Blues style.

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Product Description:
Bob Brozman's remarkably detailed instruction starts with the basics, including the open tunings needed to get the true bottleneck sound. Through careful explanations of essential left- and right-hand techniques, exercises and songs, this video reveals the secrets of traditional blues/slide guitar.
Beginning and experienced slide players alike will benefit from this presentation of powerful licks and runs, rhythm techniques, use of vibrato and harmonics and other ways to get the true Delta sound. Before you know it, you'll be playing dynamic tunes made popular by the blues greats! Bob covers the early Delta blues sound of Robert Johnson and the driving rhythm and slide of his composition "Walking Blues."
Bob illustrates additional runs and rhythms, and guides you through the dynamic Muddy Waters tune "Can't Be Satisfied." He then uses "Cross Roads Blues" to take you into even more complex rhythmic devices.
This video presents a complete picture in the art of bottleneck blues guitar. You'll receive a wealth of ideas to work on and be able to use the tools you have learned to build your own repertoire of bottleneck blues favorites.

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AB 43 Inch Bass Guitar with Carrying Bag and Accessories - Transparent Blue Review

Arrived a day early. Excellent shipping time. Sounds fine and works great. No problems. Only reason this didn't get a 5 is because the color i got was much lighter than the blue i ordered. It was more like an aqua blue. Either way, I don't plan on exchanging it. Very good seller and will definetly do business again.

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Product Description:
This Electric Bass is ideal for musicians of any age! Whether you need another Guitar to add to your collection or just need a little something for jam sessions in your garage, this Bass is for you! It has 20 Frets and a great looking Basswood Body. And the best part is, it includes a Gig Bag and Carrying Strap This guitar makes a great gift!

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The Blues Guitar Of Keb' Mo' Review

If you want to learn the blues.....there is no better teacher.....and there is a version of the song "Henry" on here that will knock your socks off. Keb's guitar teacher assists him on this video and he is great too.

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Product Description:
Now available on DVD! Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Kevin Moore (aka Keb' Mo') takes students on a powerful journey into the world of traditional and contemporary blues guitar. He begins by showing how turnarounds and harmonized scale passages can be t

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Blues Alchemy - Instructional Guitar 2-DVD Pack Featuring David Hamburger Review

Blues Alchemy contains 10 lessons on how to play blues in 10 different styles. Each lessons contains solo and rhythm playing demonstration - both in tempo and played slower - with discussion of each element - showing the fingering and the flow of the music (call-response) very clearly. For both solo and rhythm part there are additional lessons discussing possible variations. Each lesson is available as video and transcription including tablature as PDF. Also as PowerTab files. Generous jam tracks in each style are included.
General approach in Blues Alchemy is to help players transcend playing minor pentatonic scale over entire blues progression. This course will teach you how to switch between major and minor pentatonic sales (and blues scales) to outline the harmony in much more interesting way then using minor pentatonic all the way through. David discusses each style of blues covered and he picked each solo to very clearly demonstrate important aspects that style. This is one of better courses for advanced beginner blues guitarist out there - if you cover several lessons then I bet that you will survive without too much stress playing for the first time at your local blues jam.

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Product Description:
As anyone who squeaked through 10th grade history knows, the alchemists were a semi-scientific posse of medieval individuals utterly hung up on the notion of transforming lead into gold. Of course, their efforts did not lead to economic good times, but Blues Alchemy addresses a much more useful and likely kind of transformation: turning those leaden, everyday blues licks and chord progressions into tasty and intriguing improvisational gold. These DVDs are about learning to play the changes, but not in the sense that jazz musicians do it isn't about learning every arpeggio and mode under the sun. Instead, on ten diverse chord progressions, master blues alchemist David Hamburger will teach you how to transform your blues bag into gold by learning how to target tones and play the changes. This hands-on playing course guides the student through 10 distinct blues rhythm patterns and variations, 10 distinct solos and variations, plus dozens of extra blues licks and tricks of the trade.

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Crossroads: Eric Clapton Guitar Festival 2007 (2007) Review

Well first of all, this is a fantastic show, and it's in Chicago. The line up is stellar and everyone is having a great time. Yes there could have been others there as we all know- Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, Steve Vai and maybe even Les Paul--and with Blues folk Otis Rush -who has been sick and of course Bo Diddley (who had a tune dedicated to him by Robbie Robertson and had suffered a stroke earlier this year) Chuck Berry (he lives close!) Jody Williams maybe a lot of others...

But you can't please everyone and I thought the show was a nice mix. Very entertaining and the various combinations which played together (the real highlight of this DVD) seem to work well. I am a Blues enthusiast and the Blues in this show is fantastic. Hubert Sumilin plays great as does Robert Cray-who usually has no effects, but pulls off a little delay in "Poor Johnny". And Johnny Winter, who is also ill, brings back the fire in "Highway 61" as noted his slide playing is still phenomenal, and he gets applause from Derek Trucks!

B.B. King is very charming as usual at 82 and does well with Jimmie Vaughan, Hubert and Robert Cray. Well presented and touching with Eric in the wings. In Disc 2 we have John Mayer and the charismatic Los Lobos who start it off. Then the masterful Jeff Beck always amazing as he was when I first saw him with Rod Stewart on vocals at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1968. His quartet with Tal Wilkenfeld on bass, originally an Aussie from Sydney (Bondi) now based in the US-she is a stunner she may be the next Jaco Pastorius or Charlie Mingus and sexy too! I agree with other reviewers this band should tour now! Maybe Tal can sing?

Eric's set is great of course. I saw it in Australia this year (twice). Great selection of not the usual E.C. classics--well Doyle Bramhall II does "Outside Women Blues" on Disc 1. He does things from early in his solo career and of course a tribute to George Harrison. The highlight is his sub-set of Blind Faith tunes with Stevie Winwood. I haven't heard "Presence of the Lord"since I was 19 years old!!! Just superb. "Had to Cry Today" with Winwood and Clapton playing double lead is also excellent. This was worth the whole price of the DVD.

Yes, everyone has the items and artists they would wish for. This set does include Jeff Beck thankfully, but the whole show is well presented.
I am a Blues person but can appreciate Albert Lee and Vince Gill, too. This DVD will satisfy most musical tastes. The end with Buddy Guy, after ZZ Top in Texas, was also appropriate and proper even if Buddy did not have his incredible Sax player with him on the night. Buddy is a Chicago Blues icon and you could not have had a guitar show in Chicago without him. The final jam of the day "Sweet Home Chicago" with Buddy, John Mayer, Johnny Winter, Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughan, Hubert Sumlin and Eric was a perfect end to the show.

This DVD is a must for guitar fans of all genres. The extras include snippets of performances of Tab Benoit, with his 72 Telecaster Thinline, playing with Skunk Baxter, Harvey Mandel (a native of Chicago of Canned Heat fame) with his strange custom axe and a very attractive young woman "Orianthi" getting an interesting Blues sound out of a PRS.

It is commendable that this show is different and varied and is a great companion volume to the first Crossroads DVD. And this Chicago edition has the comic wit of Bill Murray--I loved his intro of Eric Clapton while he was dressed up like the Clapton of '68 with perm and painted Gibson SG- wow! Lastly, it was very interesting and touching to 58 year olds like me, who have played guitar all of our lives, when Bill came out at the start of the show and played "Gloria" ("the only song I can play") I am sure many many folks out there had a tear in their eye with that memory!

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Product Description:
The second Crossroads Guitar Festival - a day-long concert featuring legendary music & collaborations - was held on July 28, 2007 to benefit the Crossroads Centre in Antigua. Filmed in HD, this two disc DVD features over four hours of historic performances from that day. Since it's inception, Eric Clapton's vision for the festival has been to create an event where his friends & contemporaries can have fun & jam together for the benefit of a good cause.

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Birth of the Groove: R and B, Soul and Funk Guitar: 1945-1965 (Inside the Blues) [Paperback] Review

Five stars and I stand by every one of them. For me, this is the perfect book focusing more on rhythm than on lead guitar. But of course it's not about rhythm guitar in the (boring) strumming sense. This is a book on double stops, licks and fills. Instead of teaching you how to play one hundred notes in three seconds, this book teaches you how to play one note at the exact right point in time.
Yes, it's about timing, about economical use of notes. In short, the secret of what makes music funky and groovy.

I am an intermediate player, but I do think even better players might find it interesting. The book is also a guide to a lot of great guitarists who haven't been put in the spotlight like Clapton and Hendrix. The session men behind a lot of great music who know how to play for the song not to ruin it with stupid solos.

33 songs/examples on the CD. I have only gotten til example 7 yet, but I'm really looking forward to doing more. Each new thing might take me a day or two to master, but I already feel I'm making great progress.

In short, for me this book makes practising fun. And well, that's a whole lot more than could be said about all other books around.

Great historical info, tips on recordings etc.UPDATE (years later): I'm still very happy with this book. I went through almost the whole book in my honeymoon phase. In fact, now it's probably time to go back through this book again and do a refresh. A comment to this review expressed disappointment to the fact that many of the licks are very short. He's right about that. For me it was the exact right book at the right time in my development. I really got a fresh start into electric guitar after having played acoustic (mostly strumming) for many many years. Short licks and phrases that I managed to master in a day or two turned out the perfect practise companion. In that sense it's also a book you'll work yourself through quickly and not have that lasting quality. In that way it could seem expensive and disposable - but I compare price/value to how much I've improved with paying for lessons. And in that way - this book has been my best investment in tutorship ever.The short examples for me was what makes this a good practice book. I'm a better player after it and it has opened up my fretboard to a lot more lead/rhythm-stuff that I never managed to get into before. After all, I've bought many books before where the examples and songs are so long that I never manage to get through them.

As a result of my enthusiasm over this book I ordered a few more books by the same author. They still look really tempting, but so far I haven't really gotten around to finish them like with this one. Maybe because the examples in the other ones are longer...

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Product Description:
The years 1945-1965 saw a radical and exciting shift in American popular music. Blues and swing jazz helped to produce a new musical form called rhythm and blues, which in turn set in motion the development of soul and funk, not to mention rock Ã-nÃ- roll. What united these genres was an emphasis on the beat, or the groove, over the melody that would culminate in the syncopated monochord workouts of funk. Along the way, some of the greatest electric guitarists of the postwar years explored the boundaries of the new instrument with a rich array of hot licks. This book/CD pack explores everything from the swinging boogie of Tiny Grimes, to the sweaty primal funk of Jimmy Nolen, to the styles of Mickey Baker, Billy Butler, Steve Cropper, Cornell Dupree, Jerry Jemmott, Curtis Mayfield, Ike Turner and everyone in between. Includes in-depth lessons, historical analysis, rare photos, and a CD with 33 full-band tracks.

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Learn to Play The Blues Guitar (and Harmonica) of John Hammond Review

I almost passed out when I saw this. There is almost no available video of John Hammond. All I've been able to compile over the years is 2- half hour Austin City Limits shows and an older instructional video he did many years ago. Now there is this and an amazing new Paris concert DVD. I found out about them on the same day and ordered them both immediately. I was not disappointed. John is so humble and gracious when interviewed which contrasts with his power and emotion when playing. His voice and playing are in the best shape of his career and I'm so glad that both have been captured for ever on this (and the Paris) DVD.

Specifics: This is not a DVD that will teach beginners how to play the blues although there is a lot they can still absorb and take away from it. Even non guitar playing fans of John will love this for the stories and the close up playing and as I said because there is so little available video of John. The Tablature that comes with it is very useful but does not always match perfectly what John plays. Only small sections of what John plays shows up in the Tab booklet that comes with it. Although the title mentions harmonica playing there is basically no instruction on harp playing other than a broad discussion of what keys he uses. I have some harp playing experience and wasn't able to add to it from this video. The split screens are nice and the DVD is nice and long at about 2 hours so it doesn't feel rushed.Note, he covers both standard tuned acoustic guitar and open tuned resonator guitar.

I love this DVD but feel it is more about being up close with John while he does his thing than about learning to do what he does. That's why I think it has wider appeal than just guitar players.

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Product Description:
John Hammond's passion and commitment to his music have inspired blues lovers throughout the world for more than forty years. Now guitarists (and harmonica players) can learn, up close, how John plays the songs, licks, grooves and soulful solos that make up his dynamic blues style.
John breaks down nearly a dozen songs from his vast repertoire, showing the scales, chord shapes, licks and turnarounds that define the country blues genre. As he shares his musical ideas and techniques, he discusses his musical mentors and recounts colorful anecdotes that illustrate his long career as a touring blues musician.
You'll learn innumerable ways to improve your own blues playing, including the use of the slide and how to integrate the harp into your songs. The whole lesson is enhanced by John's heartfelt performances of the songs he is teaching, which include Just Your Fool, Phonograph Blues, Hellhound on My Trail, Terraplane Blues, Come On in My Kitchen, Untrue Blues, Honest I Do, Drop Down Mama, Jitterbug Swing, Come to Find Out and Slick Crown Vic.

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Blue Microphones Icicle XLR to USB Mic Converter/Mic Preamp Review

The Icicle is truly a great piece of hardware. It's as simple as plugging your mic cord into the product and plugging that into your USB. The BEST thing about this product is it allows you to take your mic wherever there is a usb equipped computer. It is light weight so I don't know it's durability and don't plan on throwing it to find out. The Icicle comes with a gain knob which is a plus BUT remember with this is a 60 dollar plug n play tool so it doesn't have any other features. *also i didn't have the noise/feedback issue

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Product Description:
The Icicle is Blue's new stylish USB converter and mic preamp combo that allows you to connect any XLR microphone directly into your computer via USB. The Icicle features a studio quality microphone preamp, 48V phantom power, fully balanced low noise front end, analog gain control, and driverless operation.


Connect any XLR microphone directly into your computer via USB.Click to enlarge.
Use with dynamic and condenser mics thanks to 48V phantom power.

Make Any Mic a USB Mic
The Icicle works with both dynamic and condenser microphones, providing high quality and hassle-free connectivity with Mac or PC. Whether you're using a microphone for digital recording, podcasting, voice messaging, or voice recognition applications, the Icicle is the quick and easy way to get connected.
Plug and Record
Simply plug in the USB cable and your mic will be live--no special driver installation is required.
Quality and Simplicity
The Icicle features a built-in, studio-quality mic preamp, along with a fully balanced, low-noise analog front end to send a clear signal via USB.
It also supplies 48V Phantom Power for condenser mics.
On the control front, the Icicle keeps it simple, with a single analog volume level control.
What's in the Box
Blue Icicle, 6-foot USB Cable

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AXL Headliner Series Electric Guitar, 3/4-Sized, Metallic Blue Review

I have the full size version of this guitar. You will not find a better value for the price. It stays in tune well and sounds great! Nice going AXL!

Click Here to see more reviews about: AXL Headliner Series Electric Guitar, 3/4-Sized, Metallic Blue

Product Description:
Available in full, 3/4 or 1/2 size, the AXL Headliner SRO (AS-750) electric guitar is a budding guitarist's perfect axe, featuring a solid alder body, three single coil pickups, maple neck and tremolo bridge. The Headliner SRO has met the demand for a quality guitar that is also available in fractional sizes. Full-size SRO models are available in black, white, sunburst and red finishes. Fractional sizes are available in black, metallic blue and metallic red. The Headliner is also available in a left-handed version (AS-754)

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Guitar Signature Licks: Blues With Greg Koch Review

This DVD featuring Greg Koch is a very well rounded look at some must know and play blues classics.The thing i like about his teaching method is that he takes time to show you proper string bending and phrasing at slower speeds,he also breaks down each song into understandable terms.For instance in the song "the Sky is Crying" by Stevie Ray Vaughan he demonstrates a very tricky solo run that would otherwise be very hard to learn on your own simply listening to the CD.Born Under A Bad Sign by Albert knig is played and explained using both Kings and Eric Claptons version.
There could have been a little more jammed into this DVD but you will walk away a little better blues player after watching and playing along to it a few times.

P.S both his Stevie Ray Vaughan dvd's are better in my opinion for complete knowledge.......Like others i'm not to thrilled with the "Gristle" DVD it's just OK.(2 stars)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Guitar Signature Licks: Blues With Greg Koch

Product Description:
Learn the trademark riffs and solos from eight great blues classics

Songs: The Things That I Used To Do : Sweet Home Chicago : Born Under A Bad Sign : Killing Floor : The Sky Is Crying : Dust My Broom : Frosty : All Your Love (i Miss Loving)

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Fender 351 California Clears Guitar Picks, 12 Pack, Lake Placid Blue, Medium Review

Beautiful translucent blue with tropical palm image. Great for soft strumming on acoustic guitar.One did break on me, but the others have held up well so far. I'd get 'em again in 1/16th beat!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fender 351 California Clears Guitar Picks, 12 Pack, Lake Placid Blue, Medium

Product Description:
Dude, like, seriously, you are so the boss of the beach when you use Fender California Clear 351 guitar picks.With its wider body and rounded tip, our famous 351 shape is, like, the pick shape most associated with Fender.Available in thin, medium and heavy, of course, and in more cool colors than you can shake a palm frond at...

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Silvertone Fastback Electric Guitar, Blue Review

Deal or not, if you are serious... you do not buy a guitar in this price range.And I do not mean serious in terms of wanting to really be a pro guitarist... I just mean, if you are serious in trying to learn guitar... do not.These things are always overly cheap and unplayable.I have a few cheap models of Silvertone guitars that are for display purposes only (signed by artists) and, trust me, as a guitarist who owns many guitars, I cant even play these things. They are so cheap, the strings do not stay in tune, usually have intonation problems (cant clear frets and thus buzz and pop or never have proper note frequences at all the frets).They usually always feel cheap too and the feel does affect the playability and tone.If you want to really learn you have to pay at least a little more and go for better brands.I would recommend anyone serious in learning to never buy a guitar that costs under $300... you are just wasting your money and the problems and limitations may even frustrate you and work against you learning how to play.Go for the brands that are made by the bigger dogs... like ESP's LTD brand... Gibson's Epiphone brand, or Fender's lower brand (Squire?).There are other examples.I am sure Ibanez has some good lower models (though I am not sure they have a lower brand name for their cheaper gear).If you do have to go for a cheaper brand, at least then buy their top of the line models (this pertains to Dean, for example).But for me, brands like Silvertone and Archer... are just plain no good for real use.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Silvertone Fastback Electric Guitar, Blue

Product Description:
Bold and beautiful. This single cutaway solid body design is an exciting lightweight electric guitar full of features and extras. The high-tech quilt maple top, maple neck, and maple fret board are stand out features on this quality instrument. The owner of this incredible guitar will enjoy its stunning appearance as well as the warm and bold sound of the dual humbucking pickups. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned player, you'll be pleased you picked the Silvertone Fastback.

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The Herb Ellis Jazz Guitar Method : Swing Blues [Paperback] Review

If you're into learning Ellis' uptown beboppy swing style, you should investigate this book.The "how to" part is pretty brief, going over a few of the CAGED shapes, scales and arpeggios as they apply to dominant and 9th chords, plus a look at chromatics.But it's what Ellis does with this that makes the book a great resource.He lays out three long multi-chorus blues solos with various tempos and feels, and it's pretty much the sort of playing you'd hear on one of his records.They're all transcribed and annoted in places with the shapes particular lines were built on.Ellis is a master of taste, timing and melodic bluesy lines, and this book showcases all of that.Check it out.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Herb Ellis Jazz Guitar Method : Swing Blues [Paperback]

Product Description:
The Herb Ellis Jazz Guitar Method is designed to take the mystery out of playing jazz guitar. Each book in the method is based on one of the three pivotal chord progressions in the jazz guitarist's repertoire. Herb teaches single-note improvisation through a system of simple "shapes" that are derived from chord fingerings.

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