Roots and Blues Fingerstyle Guitar (Acoustic Guitar Magazine's Private Lessons)

Rating:
Summary: Real country blues, as taught by a master player
Review: Like a lot of people, I want to play guitar, especially acoustic blues a la John Hurt, Gary Davis, Blind Boy Fuller, etc., etc. Like a lot of people, I own a number of "How to play ..." books. But one thing I'm finally beginning to learn is that NO BOOK will teach you to play if you don't practice regularly.

Having said that, this book covers a range of traditional songs - Sugar Babe, Crow Jane, etc. - and some James' originals, which will increase your mastery of the instrument - IF you practice regularly. He starts with simple alternating bass, and progresses from there. At (what seems to me) appropriate times, he introduces hammer-ons and pull offs, and string dampening. If I can ever progress enough to the last few pieces, I'm pretty sure I'll sound pretty good. Heck, I already sound a LOT better than when I bought the book. (Although that's not really very much of a recommendation.) Certainly, I've had lots of fun trying to master each piece.

This isn't really a "first guitar book," but it IS a well considered introduction to acoustic blues guitar. I find the CD useful - it lets me hear where I want to go - and intimidating: I'll never sound THAT good. Also, it'd be nice to hear more than little snippets of the pieces - typically each piece rates a single verse.

I got this largely because I was so impressed with James' earlier book, Inside Blues Guitar - which doesn't teach you (or at least, me) about how to play as much as provides insight into the culture of blues guitar. Kind of a "Zen Mind, Beginners Mind" for the blues guitarist (or even us blues guitarist wannabes). "Roots and Blues Fingerstyle" IS a how-to and it does work. I can't say it's the best book of its type, or even that it's better than so-and-so's. I CAN say that if you're a beginner or somewhat above beginner guitarist, if you've got some self-discipline, and if you like country blues, you can have a lot of fun, improve your playing, and pick up some nice standards for your repetiore.