Mel Bay

Author: Stefan Grossman
Format: DVD
Instrumentation: Guitar
Version: Instructional DVD, Booklet in PDF file
Level: Intermediate/Advanced

This DVD lesson is for the intermediate and advanced fingerstyle guitar player. It is for the student who feels comfortable with an alternating bass technique and wants to expand and explore ideas in blues and ragtime using more advanced right and left hand techniques.

The four instrumentals featured in this lesson are all extended compositions offering a variety of musical ideas. Piano sounding blues in the key of A are presented with Mississippi Blues and Blues For The Mann. A Blind Blake approach in the key of C is used for the Glory of Love. Struttin' Rag in the key of E brings together three distinct sections. It opens with a blues piano sounding motif and then steps into a more country atmosphere. It finishes with a series of bass licks reminiscent of Merle Travis's Walkin' The Strings.

There are many challenges to master in these four instrumentals. Each is taught phrase by phrase and then played slowly on a split-screen. A detailed tab/music instructional booklet is included as a PDF file on the DVD.
Duration: 76 minutes

Song List:

• Mississippi Blues
• Struttin' Rag
• Glory of Love
• Blues For The Mann