Course details

While there are many different styles of acoustic blues, Waltons New School of Music's Acoustic Blues Guitar Basics course provides an extensive introduction to three distinct fingerstyle approaches:

  1. Monotonic Bass, where the thumb maintains a steady bass line on a single string while the fingers pick out a melody on the treble strings.
  2. Alternating Bass, where the thumb alternates between two or more bass notes on the bottom strings as the fingers pick the treble strings.
  3. Delta Strumming, where the thumb and fingers sweep or brush across several strings simultaneously, creating a full lush accompaniment.

Students will be introduced to these techniques initially through basic study songs but will also get the opportunity to tackle some classics of the genre, including:

  • Sweet Home Chicago – Robert Johnson
  • Dust My Broom (Acoustic) – Freddie King
  • Key to the Highway – Big Bill Broonzy
  • Baby Please Don’t Go – Lightnin’ Hopkins
  • Hey Hey – Big Bill Broonzy
  • Stack O’ Lee – Mississippi John Hurt
  • Candy Man Blues – Mississippi John Hurt
  • Kind Hearted Woman Blues – Robert Johnson

Please note that this isn’t a soloing course; acoustic blues is primarily an accompaniment style. Solos and lead playing are encountered less frequently and are usually presented as variations on the accompaniment.

Although this course is an introduction to acoustic blues guitar, it is not a course for guitar beginners and some of these songs may prove challenging even to experienced players. Participants should be familiar with guitar tablature and all basic chord forms, including barre chords.

Acoustic Blues Guitar Basics is one of our group courses. Private, partner, group and intensive lessons in acoustic blues guitar and other guitar styles are also available.

Updated on 08 November, 2015

About Waltons New School of Music

Founded in 1994 and located in Dublin city centre, the New School is a comprehensive music centre, combining music tuition of the highest standard with innovative approaches to music education. Please browse through Their Theybsite and learn about the many lessons, cTheirses, workshops and external programmes They offer. Since no Theybsite can ansTheyr all of yTheir queries, They are happy to do so – by phone, by email or in person.

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