In this 2-part course, Stefan Grossman explores the world of Fingerpicking. Master the alternating bass technique used by legendary artists as you learn their songs, taught phrase by phrase. Includes rare footage of the style's pioneers.
"I first met Stefan in the States years ago and we became extremely good friends. Personally, I have learned a great deal from him. Let's face it, he needs very little introduction from me as a blues artist, discographer and connoisseur in blues." -Eric Clapton
Instrument Guitar
This two-course set is for beginner and intermediate guitarists who want to start fingerpicking. In them you will learn how to master the alternating bass style, which we sometimes jokingly refer to as "bum-chick." It is the most popular fingerpicking style played and has been used by legendary guitarists. Mississippi John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, Chet Atkins are but a few of the giants of this style.
You'll learn a collection of great songs. Each tune is taught phrase by phrase and then played again slowly on a split-screen so that you can carefully see what both hands are doing. As well, you will see rare footage of some of the great fingerstyle players such as Rev. Gary Davis, Lightnin' Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb, Merle Travis, Brownie McGhee, Elizabeth Cotten, John Jackson, Pink Anderson and Doc Watson.
INCLUDED: a detailed tab/music digital PDF booklet
Rev. Gary Davis use to tell his students that playing the guitar was easy. He would say that a piano player has only two hands (the left keeps an alternating bass while the right plays a melody) but a guitarist has three hands! Our right hand thumb is one hand and plays the bass figures while our index finger is our second hand and plays the melody. Our third hand is our left hand which fingers chords. The results produce a full and orchestrated fingerstyle sound with a rhythmic bass played against melodic lines. This is the alternating bass technique.
Stefan Grossman has been recording, performing and writing about acoustic fingerstyle techniques and styles for over forty years. During the period from 1965-1975 he studied and traveled with some of the legendary figures in the story of blues guitar. These include Rev. Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Son House, Skip James, Fred McDowell and Mance Lipscomb
Stefan has recorded numerous solo albums including Love, Devil And The Blues, Yazoo Basin Boogie, Shining Shadows, Black Melodies On A Clear Afternoon and Friends Forever as well as duet recordings with John Rnbourn, larry Coryell, Duck Baker and Tokio Uchida.
"I first met Stefan in the States years ago and we became extremely good friends. Personally, I have learned a great deal from him. Let's face it, he needs very little introduction from me as a blues artist, discographer and connoisseur in blues."
-ERIC CLAPTON
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