As fingerpickers, we have our hands full.
We play basslines, chords, and melodies all at the same time.
That’s a lot to handle.
Fortunately, there’s something really cool that I noticed in the beginning of my acoustic blues journey.
And it helps us manage all those musical duties.
You can play great acoustic blues and folk tunes without moving around the fretboard.
Yes, some artists will have you flying around the fretboard with crazy chord moves.
Looking at you Rev. Gary Davis.
The good news is you can grow into that but you don’t have to start there.
There’s plenty of great sounds right under your fingers. Even with basic chords you (probably) already know.
The latest Tuesday Blues lesson is a prime example.
We’ll explore a bouncy Piedmont blues example inspired by one of my favorites, Etta Baker.
You’ll learn how to weave a melody into the baseline while holding down a common E chord shape.
We’ll use simple embellishments to add movement to the alternating bassline.
Ready?
Watch the video above to take the lesson.