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Michael Johnson >> Chicago Blues >> |
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Michael:
we'll be using more finger picking, much like John Lee Hooker and influenced from great players of the Delta blues style,
I'll send out the video for both techniques, ok our lesson is the Chicago blues style,
what are the notes for the A Minor Pentatonic scale?
chris:
acdeg
Michael:
thanks chris
Michael:
here's our first scale
Skedman:
Thats an interesting way to play that
Eddie_solo:
do u want us to finger pick it
Michael:
your index finger first, yes eddie you can use both
Brian:
so should the last one be index, thumb, index?
Michael:
index now the last tab I sent should be both, I sent the video of the picking technique,
notice the thumb finger technique in the video
AceDuck:
teach, are you playing with your fingernails?
Michael:
here's the first jam track you can jam to, actually finger tips
Michael:
but you can use the fingernails like a classical player
Eddie_solo:
i prefer finger tips
Michael:
try playing the last exercise over the jam track, you can play the scale up and down
Eddie_solo:
the strings seem to get stuck under your finger nails
Michael:
I sent both the tab and the video for the lick and picking technique
Michael:
notice how I have the thumb positioned on the string and the finger position
Michael:
I barre the 1st finger on the 2nd fret, 3rd and 4th string, I use my thumb for all the notes played on the 5th string,
with this technique you can play all kinds of variations of the licks
Eddie_solo:
did u use two fingers to pluck the g and b string
Michael:
yes I did eddie, it's in the 2nd vid
Phish:
This is hard to play
Eddie_solo:
thats what i am doin wrong i only use one
Michael:
which plays off the same scale pattern, but this one uses more of the scale pattern
AceDuck:
do you bend any of the notes?
Michael:
slightly on the 2nd string 1st fret
Skedman:
I'm having a blast with this loop.
Skedman:
Im actually writing music.
Michael:
that's what I hope you all do with these licks
chris:
I am having a bit of trouble with some of the open notes ringing, is this a bad thing?
Michael:
make up your own stuff, you can mute the notes on your picking hand by the base of your palm
Eddie_solo:
r there variations to how u can pick this cos i do it slightly different but it sounds fine
Palm Muting
Michael:
here's the picture, ok now lets try another A minor pentatonic pattern
Michael:
now let's try the next A minor Pentatonic pattern, this pattern is based between the 2nd thru 5th frets
Eddie_solo:
maybe we could do some of this finger picking in the c major scale
Michael:
C major is relative to this scale
Eddie_solo:
i know thats why i thought u could show some patterns within it finger style
Michael:
these all work eddie, ok now let's try the picking exercise for the last pattern using the thumb and index finger
Michael:
notice this picking pattern is pretty much like the first exercise
Skedman:
How about something else to do with the thumb?
Michael:
notice how the thumb plays the open A string while you ascend the scale pattern
Ted:
like all of the licks
Michael:
you can also play an open bass line with the thumb while you play a lick in the scale pattern
chris:
sorta looks like you are squeezing the strings.
Michael:
yes ted, this technique was used by most of the delta blues players, usually because
they played solo and it filled up the sound
Ted:
yea, it does seem to fill up the sound
Eddie_solo:
sounds like a Robert Johnson technique
Michael:
notice on the new lick I play chords/intervals and use the thumb to keep the bass notes playing
Ted:
that sounds like a ZZ Top lick
Michael:
now you know who influenced Billy Gibbons, he listened to many great Delta and Chicago blues players,
just add more distortion
chris:
alot of distortion =-)
Michael:
the thumb really helps the sound, try jamming that lick to the jam track
Skedman:
smokin'
Michael:
it produces a really cool groove, I'll send you all some additional licks you can practice in that pattern
Michael:
I sending you the video of the lick and the picking also, the last lick uses your thumb, 1st and 4th fingers to play most the lick,
the second video shows the picking technique
Ted:
how about a different jam track, I'm tired of the first one
Michael:
yes, I have a slower one
Ted:
that works for me
Michael:
I have one last lick I can send you
Michael:
any questions regarding the lesson, We're going to cover some slide guitar next week
Skedman:
What inspired you to do tonight's lesson?
Michael:
John Lee Hooker inspired this lesson even though he's from Mississippi then made his fame in Detroit
Skedman:
Cool, you inspired me. Thanks
Michael:
check the "Lick of the Day" this week
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