Folk Blues
Duck Baker–Thumbs of Fury
Since I often talk about right hand technique on this Blog, you might think ‘Thumbs of Fury’ refers to the right hand thumb.* Yes, the fingerpicker’s Jedi force surely resides in the right hand thumb, but in the case of long-time fingerstyle master Duck Baker, there’s a lot going on with the left hand thumb. [...]
Duck Baker-Modern Fingerstyle for the Ages
I’m pretty much obsessed with guitar technique, especially fingerstyle, so I was excited to get a chance to hear the legendary Duck Baker perform and catch one of his teaching workshops.
Duck Baker jumped on the instrumental guitar circuit in the early 1970s, at a time when the glow was still warm on the 1960s heyday [...]
What is Fingerstyle Guitar Anyway?
A discussion of fingerstyle techniques, categorization, and the advent of modern fingerstyle, percussive guitar. The music of Vicki Genfan.
What the Hell are the Piedmont Blues?
I had been playing fingerstyle blues for many years before I ever heard the term ‘piedmont blues.’
I had gravitated towards a group of players that included Blind Blake, the Reverend Gary Davis, and Brownie McGee, looking for songs that I felt comfortable singing, without knowing they were all from the same region. There’s certain [...]
The Difference Between Country Blues & Folk Blues
The Blues, and roots acoustic blues in particular, covers a lot of ground. With so many regional styles and so much history, its a complex landscape to describe.
If someone were to ask me ‘what’s the difference between Country Blues and Folk Blues?‘ I’d say ‘Woah, don’t let classifying the music be a distraction [...]
