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Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
My journey into the blues
I hope you can bear with me on this journey and appreciate why I am posting on a flamenco forum, albeit off-topic. I lived in Spain and tried for many, many hours to conquer flamenco guitar but the amount of study, practise and somewhat 'alien' beat meant that I just couldn't get into it as I wanted.
Upon my return to the UK and with so many other important things to do, like set up a new home with a new wife and make some money, I decided last Christmas that I would start playing the blues as a compromise. It's just easier for me, I guess because I was a kid in the 60s explosion of blues-influenced British bands and jumped into the 70s band scene when I was just 13.
I am convinced that flamenco has helped in this choice. The familiarity of the fretboard, phrasing and getting the right tone etc. The evolution of flamenco and the blues are often compared.
Anyway, I have decided to learn some standards and go busking to get me out of the house, build confidence and hopefully meet some folks who want to form a small band locally.
I have been unable to get this tune out of my head for weeks, so I have attempted my version of the intro as a small step. I fully intend to try and sing it one day. Although I have taken some feedback and learning to modulate solo with chords, bridges and turnarounds, this is unapologetically one of the most beautiful few bars of solo work I have ever heard. I used to bump into Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac many years ago, when he had burned out and was bumbling around Southwest London like a tramp.
Pete and his music live on, though. This is my small busking setup of Fender Strat, Roland Micro Cube and iPhone for the backing track. I hope you can see some improvement in my playing. You can also hear the dog whimpering in sympathy at 00:14.
Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)
RE: My journey into the blues (in reply to Escribano)
oh yeah, blues.... Very nice playing man. You got the write vibe and feeling. I used to play metal and blues too in my teenage years....though my favourite sound of guitar was always this
I used to play metal and blues too in my teenage years....though my favourite sound of guitar was always this
Man, that was so on my list already! Gives me goosebumps. I'll let you know how it goes. Got the Les Paul Goldtop all set up for it but my lord it is way heavy for busking
Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: My journey into the blues (in reply to El Kiko)
quote:
dog ....coool ...i wondered what that noise was .....
you should incorporate that in to your new blues name ..."Howling Dog whatever ..."
She's had a bad neck for 3 weeks and is just recovering, so we have had our fill of howling dog, but I'll think about it. When I was a 10 or 11 years old I was going to form a band called Murky Ditchwater and the Tadpoles
RE: My journey into the blues (in reply to Escribano)
Great and I fully understand you. And besides, the most important is that we play, not so much the style we play or the instrument we play. Might see you out there on the streets although I´m not in favor of amplified music in the streets. Power to the real thing. Acoustic instruments.
Great and I fully understand you. And besides, the most important is that we play, not so much the style we play or the instrument we play. Might see you out there on the streets although I´m not in favor of amplified music in the streets. Power to the real thing. Acoustic instruments.
I thought you might. I need to try new (or old) things or I go stale and get miserable. Here in Bath we tolerate low amplification and I can't get the sound or bends I want on a steel string, but I will be working the acoustic now and then for the delta styles e.g. John Lee Hooker with open tuning, such a lot to try
Posts: 1743
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands
RE: My journey into the blues (in reply to Escribano)
Cool sound Simon!
Way to go! Music is music, a friend of mine 67 years of age played 40 years flamenco, bought this winter a gipsy jazz guitar, Playing blues now , and the mouth harp...... I had to convince him to keep his Conde......:-) Enjoy your new journey!
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