Play Delta Blues by yourself! Sound Vintage & Complete even on your own! Guitar Lesson with Tabs!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Access all lesson materials by becoming a Patreon at the link below for just a small monthly fee!..
/ alexfarranguitar
If Patreon isn’t your bag, you can purchase the materials for this lesson alone, directly at the link below;
smogfalls.gumr...
Book in for a private Zoom lesson to level up your playing, or find new inspiration!.. just choose a slot at the link below;
tidycal.com/al...
Blues by yourself.. no need for backing tracks or loopers on this one. Guitar playing rarely gets more rewarding than being able to sit down and improvise entire pieces of music by yourself.. and blues is the perfect form for learning how to do just that!
As always, we cover a ton of important, fundamental concepts needed to play authentically in this vintage blues style so don’t skip through the lesson in case you miss something profoundly important.
Also, stick around til the end to hear how I dialled in my tone for this one. Featuring my 53’ Gibson es125 and my 1957’ Fender Tweed Champ.
⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️
00:00 - Performance
01:28 - Introduction
02:07 - Lesson materials
02:36 - Separating the bassline from the melody
03:07 - Breakdown of the First 12 Bars
12:46 - Breakdown of Bars 13 to 25 (full of little tricks!)
24:38 - Technique - important stuff!
26:20 - Time Feel & Proper Practice!
26:48 - Slow playthrough w/metronome
28:26 - Tone Talk
29:40 - You do NOT need long nails to play finger style!
30:13 - Recommended listening
Videos referenced in this lesson;
Gear used in this video;
1953’ Gibson es125
Thomastik 12 gauge flats
1957’ Fender Tweed Champ
Open Plan Recording “the grill” mic
Neumann KM184 mic
Universal Audio OX - amp top box
Universal Audio Apollo Twin X
Logic Pro
Universal Audio plugins
Sony ZVE-10 camera
Neewer Desktop Tripod
Final Cut Pro
Thanks for watching!
Instagram: / alexfarranguitar
Buy me a coffee: www.buymeacoff...
#blues #deltablues #bluesbyyourself #unaccompaniedblues #fingerstyle #fingerpicking #bluesguitar #mississippiblues #sonhouse #skipjames #robertjohnson #ericclapton #clapton #unplugged #es125 #jimihendrix #rhythmguitar #leadguitar #electricguitar #country #blues #guitarsolo #guitar #guitarist #music #musician #gibsonguitar #roots #vintageguitar #vintage #1950s #fender #vintageamp #alexfarran #guitarlesson #lesson #inspiration #motivation #swampy #jukejoint #chicagoblues #rockabilly #bluessolo #marcribot #bluegrass #fenderchamp #blindblake #ragtime #guitarra #chitarra #guitarplayer #electricguitar #acousticguitar #acoustic
Patreon.com/AlexFarranGuitar for TABS & Backing tracks!
The hat being an essential part of the pentatonic
You mean the Stetson Pentatonic?.. absolutely 👌🏻
An easy fix at least! 😮💨
How could it be a Delta Blues without a hat?
@@andrejlz a wise man 😎😂
Always...
I highly recommend downloading the materials for this little etude! Diving in a little deeper will be very rewarding. At first glance this typical E-Blues may appear like something we have all played a million times before. But this incredible teacher has added some EXTREMELY interesting little tricks and details to the basic concept! These small elements definetely make a huge difference and adds enormous freshness to the relationship with the beloved Instrument. I cannot thank You enough, Alex!!!
Thank you for the kind words my friend, I really do appreciate it! Very glad you’re getting so much out of this lesson! 🙏🏻
As a Mississippian that has heard his fair share of delta blues musicians… You nailed it! Great tone, and phrasing! Our region is saturated with this soulful style of music, often passed along to each other without even understanding the theory behind it. It is nice to hear someone that understands the theory and can articulate the method. Well done
Thanks mate, I appreciate that! As a self taught player the theory came later for me, through observing and absorbing these styles. Glad you found it useful 🙏🏻🍻
I would vote this one as Alex's finest lesson to date........and that's saying something!! Jim C.
Aw shucks!.. thank you Jim C, I appreciate that! 🙏🏻
@@AlexFarranGuitar Actually Alex......if one gets this Delta Blues lesson down along with your equally great electric Chicago Blues course.......one definitely moves up a notch on the 'well-rounded' guitar player scale!! These are wonderful times to be a thirsty for more knowledge and technique guitar player!! Jim C.
Agree..great lesson..blues theory made cool
I appreciate that you explain this in a deliberate, moderately slow manner.
Also that you identify the proper notes on the fretboard, so that 71 year old Geezers can absorb this knowledge gradually.
You explain how to work in the arpeggios in a relaxed mode.
Thanks Gregory, really glad you like my teaching approach 🙏🏻
Best part of the week!! Cannot wait!!!
Thank you Sukie! Hope you enjoy this one! 🙏🏻😎
Looking forward to this
Cheers John! Me too! ;)
Another great lesson Alex, really love delta blues!
I'm glad you enjoyed it mate, I love the delta blues too! 🙏🏻
Just tuned in a little while ago. Great lesson as always. I save all your stuff that I want to circle back to. Started doing this stuff 60 or so years ago, but always more to know. Thanks Alex
That's great to hear my friend, glad you like my videos! Indeed.. never stop learning! 👌🏻
Thank you Alex for providing the most exciting lesson I've had for long ! I discover your channel with this one and you instantly get a new subscriber. cheers !
Thank you my friend, that means a lot to me! Very happy you enjoyed it so much! 🙏🏻
Loved this from the first time I heard it! Thought to myself "I can learn that! No problem." This is the first time I've paid for materials from a UA-cam tutorial - so worthwhile, and necessary! I have to admit my first run throughs left me feeling that I've bitten off far more than I can chew! Almost gave up thinking I was finally too old to learn anymore. It looks much simpler than it is! Slooowly (very!) but surely I am putting it together. Confidently playing about half of it so far. Thank you for the skills-building challenge, for the clear instructions, and for making it so attractive! Browsing your channel I'm sure I'll find something else to tackle once I've mastered this piece. Many thanks again!
Thank you so much for the comment my friend! I’m so glad you took the challenge to learn this! I’m sure you’ll be playing through the whole things at full speed very soon indeed! Keep up the hard work buddy! 🙏🏻🧡
Just what I'm working on Alex ....perfect timing and great lesson,Thanks 👍
Awesome! Really glad to hear you found the lesson useful! 🙏🏻
Just watched this again (for the umpteenth time). Bloody brilliant.
Thanks man, I really appreciate that! 🙏🏻🧡
I've watched literally hundreds of YT guitar tutorials and this is one of the best. Your approach to Delta Blues is really unique and your instructional style is excellent. And I love that beautiful es125!
Thankyou Greg, that really means a lot. I'm so glad you enjoyed the video my friend! :)
Ditto from Canada
Love your choices in colour temperature, balance, and design … as well as your music and teaching
Thank you so much! That means a lot! 🙏🏻
Man! Thank you for going into such detail. This is something to work on for awhile
Ive been doing deep dives of the old style blues and how they got there sound...one documentary said it came from British ballads. Eitherway i had to find out how to play it. Love the sound, since all our music stems from the blues. Kinda like every dog got a wolf in em , you know....we all got some blue in us 👍😎 thx brotha
Thanks for the kind words mate, I really appreciate it! Glad you enjoyed the video 🙏🏻🍻
Nice playin', nice guitar, nice lesson & nice hat...! Thanks!
Cheers mate! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻
What style do you NOT play well!?!? Really impressive on many levels. Thank you!!
Haha thanks buddy, I appreciate the comment! 🙏🏻
terrible at SEA SHANTIES
I'm only half way through my first viewing of this vid, but this is pure gold!
It's not a shopping list of what to do, but a direction for players to explore in order to improvise better.
Impressive and luvly, all in one!
Thanx for this!
Thank you so much for the kind words! Really glad you’re enjoying the lesson buddy 🙏🏻
SAME. Had to stop as soon as he goes around the first time....
@@DonHajicek thanks buddy, glad you enjoyed this jam packed lesson! .. just chip away at it slowly and you’ll get there for sure🙏🏻
This is really nice, I'll be deep into this tomorrow no doubt. Thanks again Alex!
That’s awesome Tommy! I hope you enjoy it buddy. Let me know how you get on 👍🏻🍻
@@AlexFarranGuitar We'll do! Thus far for me regarding Blues style tutorials you and Rob Swift are certainly the best I've encountered by far, thanks again for all your work.
@@TommySG1 my pleasure matey! 👍🏻
Alex. Learning so much from you. Much appreciated. 🙏
My pleasure mate, glad you’re enjoying the lessons 🙏🏻
Wow! This one lesson is like a lifetime of knowledge for me🤩💥well done and thank you.
This was a fabulous lesson, Its taken me many years to be able to absorb what is being taught here. The pinches and walking bass lines. I can do some of these licks good enough to encourage myself further. If I jammed on this particular lesson 3 times a week for a month, I'll get alot better.
Thanks for the comment Aaron, I’m glad you enjoyed the depth of this lesson! Hope you revisit again in future 🙏🏻
Got a small exposure to this style but not enough to comfortably improvise. This reaaaally filled in some blanks. One of the best vids out there, and instant sub. Thank you!
Thanks for the comment buddy, I really appreciate it! Glad the video was useful 🙏🏻🍻
I. WANT. THIS. thanks man, this is what I've been searching for.
So glad you enjoyed the lesson buddy, thanks for the comment 🙏🏻
Dont know if i can pull any of that off, but i sure am gonna try. As always, thank you for the lessons and giving me motivation to grab my guitar. I had just sat it down too darnit...hahee.
You can definitely do it buddy!.. just get a solid, proper practice routine going and it’s inevitable! Glad you’re finding the videos inspiring 🙏🏻
Your a good teacher. When players start the whole patrion thing I run. I just want pointers and tips because I've been playing for 46 years. Now that I'm older, the wife who's a nurse makes me play. She says it's a thing to do to stave off dementia. So thank you for the lesson.
Thanks man, glad you enjoy the lessons. Certainly no harm in picking things up for free, but of course there's equally no harm in us teachers wishing to be paid for our hard work (hence the Patreon thing). Cheers buddy! 🍻
What a great lesson. I got the pdf and been enjoying it and learning allot.
That’s so good to hear, and Thank you for getting the lesson materials too.. the support means a lot!
Excellent! At last, someone who actually understands what he is talking about. Very clear and very musical. 👏👏👏
Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed the lesson! 🙏🏻
So good! Thanks for the lesson 😊
My pleasure mate, thanks for the comment! 🙏🏻
Jam packed lesson with golden information and tips as usual. I just hit print for the PDF and I’m going to give it a go! Interesting I am actually playing tunes in their entirety and building a nice repertoire of songs instead of just noodling endlessly so I owe that to following Alex Farran’s lessons highly recommend
That is amazing to hear Mark, and exactly my hope for these lessons! Thanks for you comment and your enthusiasm mate 🙏🏻🍻
That was sweet, I love this type of playing! It just goes to show you that it doesn't need to be super complicated or overly fast to sound good! 👍 🎸 🇨🇦
Absolutely right! Music is all about melody and groove, not the speed olympics! 🤪
there's so much tasty stuff here, it's keeping me going for a long time! thanks
@@TheHarmonicaBarge I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for the comment mate 🙏🏻
Great piece and great video. Got most of it from watching , but bought the notation as well for a couple things that I’m gonna steal.
Thanks Matt, I appreciate that 🙏🏻
Alex every of your videos/lesson are so full of many details to dig and learn, we need to invest a lot of time and effort to take advantage of your awesome compositions. So for sure, I can imagine how long time and care you put in these lessons. Your channel is a source of good taste music arrangements, theory, rhythm, licks of many styles.
I wish you the best, you really deserve it and thanks so much for sharing!
Ah mate, thank you so much! I appreciate the kind words 🙏🏻 I’m so glad you enjoy the lessons and variety of styles I’m covering. Much more to come!
Thank you for this lesson! I purchased the sheet music and subscribed. I appreciate your in depth explanation of what’s going on here
Thanks buddy, I appreciate the purchase and the comment!.. glad you enjoyed this lesson! 🙏🏻
Sir, I had to improv an hour and a half set Saturday, and I’m sooooooo lucky I ran this video beforehand. I owe you a debt of gratitude 🫡
Oh man, it’s absolutely my pleasure! I’m so glad it helped! Thanks for the comment mate 🙏🏻🍻
Hi Alex, this imho is one of your best lessons if not the best . Very tasty and inspirational. Brilliant ....
Thank you my friend, I’m really glad you enjoyed it so much! 🙏🏻
@@AlexFarranGuitar It will take me a while . Thank God I am retired and have time.Made a challenge for me to master it. May God Bless you my friend. My grandkids would love it.
great content as usual! such a nice style Alex!
Thanks mate, glad you like this style! 🍻
Why didn’t your channel feed appears on my phone sooner! Lovely lesson. I don’t sing. But I love fingerstyle acoustic blues. Just the type of instructions I need. Subscribed. Joined your Patreon. Look forward to improving acoustic blues with your help. Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words and for your support Alan, very glad to have you in the Patreon community. 🙏🏻🧡🍻
:20 in and I'm already hittin that Like button.
Thanks mate! 🙏🏻
Man I’ve come back to the video for a touch-up. The print is great, but once in a while it is amazing to hear Alex walk you through it again. This is a tough one, but I’m persevering no matter how long it takes me because it’s just that important to me to have it down-so far I’m still at base camp and the summit is way off.
That’s good to hear Mark, glad you’re revisiting time and time again. That’s the best way I reckon.. just chip away bit by bit until it’s all nice and tidy 👌🏻
Your in the Cool Zone for sure, Alex!!!
Thank you buddy .. so are you! 😎🍻
Alex, you’ve just found a new fan. Unbelievable lesson. Will head over to website to download some material. UA-cam is amazing, it allows us to discover incredible talent like yourself.
Many thanks for allowing us to discover the underworld of Delta blues.
Philip Campion, Irish, living in Brittany, France.
Thank you Philip, I really appreciate the kind words 🙏🏻 I’m so glad you found the lesson useful, and yes, please do check out my other videos and lesson materials. I cover a lot of different “roots” styles from jazz and blues to country and folk. Glad to have you here mate 🍻
Very nice! I’ll buy this lesson
Thank you Bobby, much appreciated mate 🙏🏻🍻
Amen you are very blessedBrother
You are my favorite guitar player. I know we’ve all got 1000 favorite players, but you are really blessed. I love your touch and your sound.
Oh man, thank you so much! That’s very kind 🙏🏻🧡
What a fantastic video have a wonderful day Alex also i will always be your friend no matter what ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊
I’m really glad you enjoyed it! And thank you for the kind words my friend! 🙏🏻🧡🍻
Beautifully executed and as usual thoroughly explained Alex. Your breadth of knowledge and consistent top tier playing regardless of musical style is very inspiring and shows what hard work can achieve.
Always a professional presentation in addition to an entertaining video.
Many thanks and much respect to you.
The getup and room Dekor is totally giving a vibe 😮
A good vibe I hope? Thanks mate 🙏🏻
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU AND THANK YOU...I already play some of this style.. but your approach and depth takes it to another level for me...
You’re so welcome my friend, thanks for the comment! 🙏🏻
That is lovely man, so much peple think this is basic music, but to play that requires a lot of refinement and skill. Love it man.
Cheers Josh, I appreciate the comment my friend :)
Awesome. Just discovered this, ordered this, and halfway to learning this. Spot on instructions. Thanks.
That's so good to hear! Thanks for picking up the materials, and for the kind words 🙏🏻
thank you Sir for this lesson. Your channel is great and there's lot of useful content which will definitely help me become a better player. thanks
Ah that’s so good to hear!.. thanks for the comment my friend! 🙏🏻
Loved it from bar one , first beat actually. That tone is warm.
Ah thank you matey! 🙏🏻
Great demonstration, well explained, and a really lovely tone and smooth performance. 👏🏻
Thank you buddy 🙏🏻
Great stuff and that Gibson sounds fantastic! thx
@@Krispy1011 thanks buddy! 🙏🏻
Wow, what a great video. I'll be viewing more of your stuff.
Thank you so much! 🙏🏻
Righteous playing & beautiful guitar. reminds me of Scott H Biram. Most of all you have lit this video superbly, really nice lighting love it.
Thanks mate, so glad you like it!
Dude! You’re amazing! Thank you for this! Much love! ❤️🤘🥰
No worries mate, thanks for the kind words! 🙏🏻
Thanks for sharing this great music. Always been a rocker but man does this just grab ya!!! Always wanna get better and learn new stuff. Thanks!!! Keep up the great work and continued success!!!
My pleasure mate, thanks for taking the time to comment. I'm with you dude, grew up as a rocker! As you're proving, the sign of any good musician is the desire to explore every style and take something of value away from it! 🍻
My, " Hat " is off to you Sir !
Tremendous !
Nicely done !
🍻
Cheers & Beers
from the U.S. !
Thanks mate, cheers and beers always welcome! 🙏🏻🍻
This is packed with superb material. Thank you for the excellent break down and beautiful playing. I attempted my own transcription to practice hearing and capturing some of the nuances. There's a lot going on!
Thanks for the comment mate, really glad you enjoyed it! Yes, definitely a lot of concepts thrown into this one. I'm working on a Part 2 at the moment too. 🍻
@@AlexFarranGuitar That's fantastic! Will take a good while for me to digest the concepts from this first video but looking forward to part 2 already. When it comes to solo guitar music, I feel this style of blues is as rich as anything. Will check out the recommended listening, thanks for including that part in your video.
Fantastic stuff. More lessons like that would be great.
More to come for sure! Working on part 2 as we speak ;)
I love this lesson! Great playing! Im on it!!!
Nice one mate! Thanks for the comment 🙏🏻
Class act.
Thanks buddy! 🙏🏻🍻
i am stunned by the depth and effort going into these videos, they are truely keeping me going. Thanks ever so much
Thanks so much for the kind words! Really glad you enjoy the lessons and the various styles I’m covering on this here channel! 🙏🏻
First patreon channel I subscribe. Great content, thanks!
Thank you Alejandro, I really appreciate the support my friend! 🙏🏻🧡
Very cool indeed
Thanks Frank! 🙏🏻
Thank you, really cool, greetings from Germany
Thank you so much! 🙏🏻
Excellent video lesson! Thank you very much! 👍👏👏👏
My pleasure buddy, thanks for commenting!
I have been playing this chord progression for a while but there is so much in here that takes it up many levels . Thanks. ( I like the triplets, b7 arpeggio and the steady bass )
Thank you George! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻
@@AlexFarranGuitar I sure did - thanks - excellent
Really great tune, and a well structured lesson. Thanks a bunch!
Thanks so much! Really glad you liked it 🙏🏻
dude that was an insane intro. never saw you before but now I know for sure you are the real deal.
Thanks man, that’s very kind! 🙏🏻🍻
Very nicely played. What a great tone .
Thanks buddy!
Phenomenal lesson. Thank you so much, this is the perfect material to stimulate my fingerstyle blues practice routine. Keep doing what you do!
Thanks for the comment mate, I’m so glad you enjoyed the lesson! 🙏🏻
That minor pentatonic with major 3rd blend (4:10) makes me think of Skip James. That's the sound. Can't beat the devil's music.
Thanks buddy, glad you could hear that in there!
great stuff --- I REALLY need the metronome on this one, especially when it goes into a lot of successive triplets in the 2nd chorus... i purchased your gumroad materials for this lesson --- the accuracy in the sheet music is A+
Thank you buddy, glad you appreciate the thoroughness of my sheet music! 🙏🏻
Yes indeed.. metronome practice is so important with these things 👌🏻
Great lesson, must learn it.
Thanks mate, have fun! 🙏🏻
Thanks a lot Alex!! I really love Delta blues 💙
I’m glad you do Martin! Thanks for the comment my friend 🙏🏻
Very good lesson, thank you
Glad you enjoyed it buddy 🙏🏻
Nice and useful lesson, thank you, and this Gibson sounds fabulous
Thanks buddy, glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻
Love this man, just bought the tabs as well!
That’s awesome! Thanks so much my friend 🙏🏻
This sounds is fantastic!
This is WAY beyond my skill level.
Glad you liked it Mike! I’m sure you could learn it with some dedicated practice! 👍🏻
Play delta blues by yourself? Sounds like twenty years of my life, my twenties and thirties! Another great video with lots of great tips. Cheers!
Haha thanks man, glad you enjoyed it!
Great lesson. Tasteful playing. Many thanks :)
Thank you buddy, glad you liked it!
Great lesson! Thanks Alex.
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻
This lesson contains all the Delta Blues moves I was lacking. I was in the doldrums and now the sun has come out.
That’s so good to hear! Thank you for the comment! 🙏🏻
This is pure gold and the style!
Thanks buddy, glad you enjoyed it! 🙏🏻
I absolutely loved that sound my man!
Thanks Michael, really glad you liked it! 🙏🏻
Thank you very very much. Greetings from Spain.
My pleasure!.. thanks for the comment. P.S: I LOVE Spain and have family ancestry there! 🧡
still struggling with the gypsy blues in A from a year ago... but also looking forward to this 😊
You'll get it buddy, just keep up the practice! Thanks for tuning in 🙏🏻
lots of good info and tricks on that vid thx for sharing
My pleasure buddy, glad you liked it 🙏🏻
Oh man, you just know this is going to be so good…those three words in the thumbnail look very promising.
Thank you Gert! Hope you enjoy it! 🙏🏻😎
Awesome , can I say it sounds soooo bluesy but better ? thanks heaps for sharing all the best
My pleasure buddy, thanks for the comment 🙏🏻
After one month work some progress is made ! Happy to have purchased the tabs it sure does help
Lovely. Is that an old Gibson ES 150?
It’s a 1953 es125 🍻
@@AlexFarranGuitar made in Kalamazoo, I love it. I think it is a 125 that they used to play in Devil Makes Three as well, I grew up in Kalamazoo and will get my hands on one someday. Great content, too.
This is excellent. Thank you.
My pleasure! Glad you liked it 🙏🏻
Nice.
I've somehow only just discovered you after over a year of scouring UA-cam for interesting guitar lessons.
Bell rung... Looking forward to more...
Thanks buddy, I appreciate that! Make sure to check back on my previous videos.. I've been doing a lesson every week for a year now. 👍🏻
Awesome! Purchased the lesson right away. Could you maybe provide some pointers as to the theory behind the E7 run in bars 15 and 16?
Thanks for the purchase and the comment my friend! 🙏🏻 That run is a mixture of a few different things. First and foremost, plot out your E major triads on the top 3 strings and use those points as landmarks or target notes. We then add colour around them courtesy of elements from the major and minor pentatonic scales.. making sure to always “correct” that minor 3rd up a semitone to G# 👍🏻
Perfect, just the pointers I was looking for:) thanks a lot!
Great sound!! and hat also!
Thanks buddy! 🙏🏻🍻
Great stuff; Alex; Well done indeed ! Nowadays money is tight, so it's nice to fill up that sound with one player ! Frank&Patty N.Y. State.
Thank you my friend! Haha you’re right on! 🍻