Didn't know Woody Man was gone. I enjoyed a class with him in the Wirral, UK. A patient teacher and lovely man. He was a great artist and I love his own compositions too. Also saw him in concert and double bill with Bob Brozman on London South Bank.
"Simple blues in C"--I must be very uncoordinated because I find this simple piece VERY challenging--but worth every bit of the effort to try to attain. Thank God for the speed setting on UA-cam. Mann is a gem.
I heard Joe Walsh say if you want to learn how to play guitar like the greats watch their right hands. Those old acoustic blues guys exemplified this. Great lesson and thanks.
Everything is so perfect on this video. From handsome young Woody playing an absolutely beautiful guitar that sounds incredible. From the clothes he's wearing against the background and then the crown jewel, the song itself! This tune, with Woody playing it should be in some movie scene. Perhaps some western, or speakeasy. The whole thing (lesson included of course) is awesome!! P.S. I "truly" appreciate Woody beginning the lesson with tuning us up with his guitar. It's huge. I wish more instructors did that. I want my guitar to sound as close as possible with the guitar the instructor is playing for obvious reasons.
One of the very best blues guitar instructors/players on the planet. I've had the pleasure to learn Special Rider Blues by Skip James from Woody during a guitar seminar I attended in 2001. He is such a natural player, whose playing seems effortless. I love me some Woody ;-)
I am happy to have found your interest in Blind Blake. He was born in The Bahamas and one of our greatest musicians of all times known for his unique style. It reflected "old Bahamian style" of music. For many years he played at our international airport and was the first greeting in sound the millions of tourists heard when they landed to our shores. We are very proud of him and his legacy. Val from Bahamas
Different musician. The Bahamian musician Blake Alphonso Higgs, who went by "Blind Blake" and performed from the 30s through the 60s, is a different guy from the Piedmont Blues musician Blind Blake being considered in this video. This Blind Blake recorded in the late 20s and early 30s, and was dead by 1934.
Arthur "Blind" Blake was born in Jacksonville, Florida, (some sources claim Newport News, VA) and he died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, late in 1934, aged around 37 or 38. He is buried in Glendale, Wisconsin.
Did he say "It's a nice simple blues"?! Really nice playing. I don't know any Blind Blake compositions. It all looks quite neat, compact, played around chords...until you try and play it yourself! Thanks for the interesting clip.
Unbelievable tune you play at the end. Got all those sounds from pretty much one position. Shows the skill and simplicity of cord play. Love it, so simple, yet so good!
Agree. My teacher was trying to get into my head that good melodies fall inside your chords so there are not a lot of left hand pyrotechnics. This video is a good example of that.
R. Crumb's 'Heroes of Blues, Jazz and Country' quotes Arthur 'Blind' Blake as being born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1895 and dying in Jacksonville, Florida in 1937. He based his career in Chicago in the 1920s. Between 1926 and 1932 he recorded nearly 80 sides for Paramount Records, afterwards fading into obscurity. Text in the book by Stephen Calt, David Jasen and Richard Nevins. Great artwork by Robert Crumb; really informative book.
I don't think fingerstyle blues gets much more difficult than this or Blind Blake's Diddie Wah Diddy. That thumb. That "sportin' right hand"! My Goodness.
andrew wheeler I worked on dropped thumb by just changing chords and dropping my thumb over and over and over, until it came naturally. Then work on going from the fifth UP to the sixth string. Then, take those skills back to the song. Much easier.
Nobody knows. Big Bill Broonzy saw him live but didn't report on his technique. And ultimately it is irrelevant as long as you are playing the right notes and sound great.
I think he HAD to be using the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers of his right hand on the 3rd, 2nd and 1st strings. Just listen to the first fewseconds of Southern Rag. That part isn't hard to play but you HAVE to do it as described above and with your thumb on the bass strings. I saw the film 'Harlem Street Singer: the Rev Gary Davis Story' (Music Supervisor: Woody Mann) a few years ago and was amazed to see that Davis only used two fingers of his right hand! Seems like such a waste to me! Good luck with trying Blind Blake pieces using just two fingers!
Hello, I’m sorry for infringe on your profile, you are wonderful and I would definitely love to be your friends , get to know more about you ..here’s my email carlwilson685@gmail.com both on hangout messenger , I would be glad to hear from you ..
Thanks, Woody. This is an excellent instructional video. The song is similar to "Early Morning Blues" that I've heard. But you show a lot of cool stuff I haven't seen.
2 days in and I've got about 30 seconds of the song down. Honestly, finding out the notes is the hard part. Once you know what to play, it's not that bad. I love the sound though. I'm used to playing Lightnin' Hopkins-esque tunes, but sometimes a sweet song, like this one, is just what I'm looking for to add to my repertoire. Thanks for the lesson.
Now, if only Martin would make a guitar that sounded like this Gibson.You're right. Blake's right hand stuff is a total mind f***. Great job on showing how its done. Bravo! See ya 1/29/11.
Blake Alphonso Higgs was the Bahamaian player referred to below 1915-1986. Blind Arthur Blake died 1934. Check Wikipedia for details - I can't seem to post a link from an iPad.
I own the Grossman download and that is how I've learned enough to play a brief version of the tune (till I learn the rest of course). It's a great vid and I'd definitely recommend it. I sent a recording of me playing it to my dad but it's still like a technological nuclear winter so.. when he hears it I'll feel some sense of completion..
this is a great video, and helps . . . but its too arduous to learn this kind of playing just by ear and eye! the way UA-cam videos work make it lengthy. Do you think there's any sheet music transcriptions of blind blake tunes?
TenThumbs Productions hey bud, click the link in the description, then click "Click Here to Order RIGHT NOW as a Direct Download". it's $25 for the tutorial videos and pdf tab for the songs black dog blues, diddie wa diddie, chump man blues, police dog blues, that'll never happen no more and lastly blind arthur's breakdown.
To C. Wodarski - I realized he was not the same Blind Blake. This man who I heard in Nassau in 1961 was a Bahamian and died in 1989 so I understand. This one played bluesy island music.
He plays a D7 at 2.00 minutes. I don't mean to sound pedantic, but...I don't know the original tune. I guess it's more about interpretation and making something your own rather than slavishly copying a tune.
Brother, I'm not interested in an argument, anyone who's into Blind Blake/ragtime guitar/Woody Mann is alright by me. 'But', should you listen to the original tune, which I would recommend, you will note the various differences between this and Blake's. I know Woody plays a D7, Blake doesn't, that's what I meant. However if you are teaching a song, I would suggest slavishly teaching it. I'm not interested in a teacher's interpretation of something. I've met Woody at a workshop, he's cool, I was asking if maybe somebody knew of another Blake recording of this tune that he was basing this version on. When I get round to posting my own faithful instructional vid of the Blake original, you will be the first to know! Listen to Blind Boy Fuller, 'Meat shakin' woman' for more good stuff
(a little late reply, so it is directed to anyone reading:) I wondered the same thing about some teachers' videos (including this one), but I had to realize that some teachings are straying quite far regarding actual notes, but that most of the teachers, like Woody Mann here, has mastered the particular style, and succeeds in teaching that. But not the Black Dog Blues recording. He puts in elements from Blake's 'Early Morning Blues', and some other tune I can't remember the title of, so you won't find the recording, you will find several. Later in the video he teaches 'Blind Arthur's Breakdown', but to me that bears more resemblance to Mann's '10th Street Scratch' , which brings in ideas from e.g. Wabash Rag, West Coast Blues, the actual tune et. c. Just regarding Blind Blake, I would recommend Ari Eisinger's great double-DVD, because he is more into both this style, and the teaching of the actual recording. More so than any other I have encountered, even though a youtube guitarist here and there does great videos on tunes I otherwise can't find. Eisinger's tablature is great too, it feels very complete when playing from it, even though like most, he points out that he didn't put as much in the tab as he actually demonstrate in the video. (that is the case with most video tabs, and large tab-collection books, but that is another subject almost) Another tip: Stefan Grossman authored a great old tune book with only Blind Blake tunes, some of the tabs are not complete, but I got out much from it. As a side note: To me I think the above more 'general' 'method/teaching idea', succeeds in getting at least me, to want to study this even more, and from other sources, even though it has made me quite irritated on some occasions. Especially when I really wanted to know - how did this master guitarist come up with 'this' - only to find that just that 'measure' wasn't in the lesson! Not to mention the many tablatures I have, that managed to miss so much details. That also (finally) got me working more with the slow-downer, but I sometimes wish they would have put that info there from the start. (hope this helps, best regards...)
It's like Bob Brozman said in an instructional video. He a Robert Johnson or Son House tune. He said something to the effect of. I'm not gonna play the song as Johnston/House did on July 8th 1936(date of the original recording) I'm gonna capture the feeling of the song. Bob argued that these old guitar guys would change their songs all the time so it's not important to get the song 100% to the recording. Plus at the beginning of this video Woody says everybody has their version of a Blind Blake tune. I suppose this is Woody's. I guess he just liked the D7 so he can get back to G so he added it to his version.
In very loving memory of Mr. Woody Mann (1952 - 2022 R.I.P. // gone but not forgotten).
I spent a fantastic summer afternoon in one of his Masterclasses…beer was drunk, music played, technique taught and life lessons passed on
I miss him!
Oh, I didn’t know. So sad. 😢
@@uschimyers Yeah I just found now myself! I am saddened AND bummed!
Didn't know Woody Man was gone. I enjoyed a class with him in the Wirral, UK. A patient teacher and lovely man. He was a great artist and I love his own compositions too. Also saw him in concert and double bill with Bob Brozman on London South Bank.
Man, if i could pull off Blind Blake songs like this/with the same feel, id consider myself a master; incredible.
"Simple blues in C"--I must be very uncoordinated because I find this simple piece VERY challenging--but worth every bit of the effort to try to attain. Thank God for the speed setting on UA-cam. Mann is a gem.
I heard Joe Walsh say if you want to learn how to play guitar like the greats watch their right hands. Those old acoustic blues guys exemplified this. Great lesson and thanks.
Especially for ragtime. You've got to have that driving rhythm.
Amen
+TenThumbs Productions Except blind blake was blind...so he didn't watch anything :o amazing tho right
If Joe said it, it must be true!
Many left handed greats would say watch they're left hand it really depends on you're hand
One of the finest guitar tutors out there. Any style, any key.
Thanks UA-cam for keeping the spirit alive. What a master of his craft. Thanks for Sharing 🤗
Everything is so perfect on this video. From handsome young Woody playing an absolutely beautiful guitar that sounds incredible. From the clothes he's wearing against the background and then the crown jewel, the song itself! This tune, with Woody playing it should be in some movie scene. Perhaps some western, or speakeasy. The whole thing (lesson included of course) is awesome!! P.S. I "truly" appreciate Woody beginning the lesson with tuning us up with his guitar. It's huge. I wish more instructors did that. I want my guitar to sound as close as possible with the guitar the instructor is playing for obvious reasons.
its hard to find authentic blues guitarists these days that can bring the greats to life as Woody does
One of the very best blues guitar instructors/players on the planet. I've had the pleasure to learn Special Rider Blues by Skip James from Woody during a guitar seminar I attended in 2001. He is such a natural player, whose playing seems effortless. I love me some Woody ;-)
Comfortability, word of the day. That's it, mighty stuff, thank you.
I am happy to have found your interest in Blind Blake. He was born in The Bahamas and one of our greatest musicians of all times known for his unique style. It reflected "old Bahamian style" of music. For many years he played at our international airport and was the first greeting in sound the millions of tourists heard when they landed to our shores. We are very proud of him and his legacy.
Val from Bahamas
Different musician. The Bahamian musician Blake Alphonso Higgs, who went by "Blind Blake" and performed from the 30s through the 60s, is a different guy from the Piedmont Blues musician Blind Blake being considered in this video. This Blind Blake recorded in the late 20s and early 30s, and was dead by 1934.
Arthur "Blind" Blake was born in Jacksonville, Florida, (some sources claim Newport News, VA) and he died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, late in 1934, aged around 37 or 38. He is buried in Glendale, Wisconsin.
Great technique.
The music starts after 1:39 for repeat playing and study.
Thanks for posting this vid.
Anyone who keeps Delta blues alive is important to the roots of all modern music. More please. Thanks Woody.
Uhhhhh...Blake was east coast...Piedmont style....
@@pelumaad331 Now aren't u the clever little blues scholar
@@ledaswan5990 ....lol..my black history...but don't tell DeSantis...
Did he say "It's a nice simple blues"?! Really nice playing. I don't know any Blind Blake compositions. It all looks quite neat, compact, played around chords...until you try and play it yourself! Thanks for the interesting clip.
Anthony Monaghan he does make it look easy.
Unbelievable tune you play at the end. Got all those sounds from pretty much one position. Shows the skill and simplicity of cord play. Love it, so simple, yet so good!
Agree. My teacher was trying to get into my head that good melodies fall inside your chords so there are not a lot of left hand pyrotechnics. This video is a good example of that.
R. Crumb's 'Heroes of Blues, Jazz and Country' quotes Arthur 'Blind' Blake as being born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1895 and dying in Jacksonville, Florida in 1937. He based his career in Chicago in the 1920s. Between 1926 and 1932 he recorded nearly 80 sides for Paramount Records, afterwards fading into obscurity. Text in the book by Stephen Calt, David Jasen and Richard Nevins. Great artwork by Robert Crumb; really informative book.
I don't think fingerstyle blues gets much more difficult than this or Blind Blake's Diddie Wah Diddy. That thumb. That "sportin' right hand"! My Goodness.
Dude it's almost impossible for me to play it... its crazy. Also difficult is Hey hey by Big Bill Broonzy and anything by Buddy Moss
andrew wheeler I worked on dropped thumb by just changing chords and dropping my thumb over and over and over, until it came naturally. Then work on going from the fifth UP to the sixth string. Then, take those skills back to the song. Much easier.
How about what's that smells like fish by blind boy fuller?
Trying to play along for weeks now! THIS SHIT IS RAD!
Woody Mann and Stefan Grossman are almost singlehanded responsible for keeping the country blues alive by there videos and tab books
Quite right, there was another Blind Blake who lived in Nassau who played mainly island tunes and he was great!
+Olivia Crockett I think you're referring to Joseph Spence... amazing player.
+R Lutes His name was Blind Blake and mainly played Island music
in the 60's when I was in Nassau, Ba
Good instructor on showing blind Blake’s voicing, I had thought Blake used a two finger technique however
Nobody knows. Big Bill Broonzy saw him live but didn't report on his technique. And ultimately it is irrelevant as long as you are playing the right notes and sound great.
I think he HAD to be using the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers of his right hand on the 3rd, 2nd and 1st strings. Just listen to the first fewseconds of Southern Rag. That part isn't hard to play but you HAVE to do it as described above and with your thumb on the bass strings. I saw the film 'Harlem Street Singer: the Rev Gary Davis Story' (Music Supervisor: Woody Mann) a few years ago and was amazed to see that Davis only used two fingers of his right hand! Seems like such a waste to me! Good luck with trying Blind Blake pieces using just two fingers!
Beautiful
Hey Woody,I remember meeting you in New York. I was dating Attila's daughter Alicia.After all these years,I still enjoy your music! Bravo! Stephen
In the early 60's Blind Blake played at Olympia Hotel in Nassau where I'd hear
his wonderful music from my room each evening. Olivia Crockett
Blind Blake died around 1933.
Daniel Mathisen This Blind Blake lived in Nassau in 1961 when I lived there and mainly played island songs such as Fly Away.
Nicely produced, smart, thorough, and solid sound & video. Nice work! Just bought your R Johnson transcriptions. Thank you!
Hello, I’m sorry for infringe on your profile, you are wonderful and I would definitely love to be your friends , get to know more about you ..here’s my email carlwilson685@gmail.com both on hangout messenger , I would be glad to hear from you ..
Thanks for this tutorial . Great explanation of blind blakes technique .
Sounds beautiful, can’t wait to learn it,,, thanks so much.
Thanks Woody been following you for years,Still trying to play Heading East,Im Finally getting there............
Blake and rgd def had the sportiest thumbs in history
Really enjoyed this. Thanks, Mann!
Crazy good stuff, tough to play and keep the song going so well, bravo
Thanks, Woody. This is an excellent instructional video. The song is similar to "Early Morning Blues" that I've heard. But you show a lot of cool stuff I haven't seen.
2 days in and I've got about 30 seconds of the song down. Honestly, finding out the notes is the hard part. Once you know what to play, it's not that bad. I love the sound though. I'm used to playing Lightnin' Hopkins-esque tunes, but sometimes a sweet song, like this one, is just what I'm looking for to add to my repertoire. Thanks for the lesson.
So great!
Youve got a great touch, you seem like a great guy. Thanks for this lesson
Oak Publishing has tab and sheet music available for this and many other similar tunes. Thank you very much.
Now, if only Martin would make a guitar that sounded like this Gibson.You're right. Blake's right hand stuff is a total mind f***. Great job on showing how its done. Bravo! See ya 1/29/11.
Blake Alphonso Higgs was the Bahamaian player referred to below 1915-1986. Blind Arthur Blake died 1934. Check Wikipedia for details - I can't seem to post a link from an iPad.
very beautiful indeed !!!
God...the sound of that guitar. I want one that sounds like that :(
Such a nice J-185!!
Wow, this a totally different way of fingerpicking I had not even thought of.
wow, i signed in just to upvote this...
cool sounds and nice guitar
Enjoyed your music!!
Blind Blake was from Jacksonville Florida.
...and south Georgia...and Virginia....and Milwaukee....apparently
Berlusfan, you should buy the DVD and the book that goes with that DVD, then you would be able to learn this piece
7:14 for the split screen version
great work!
Bar 3 and 7 how do you damp the open G string ? Thanks
Every time I start trying to play this it keeps turning into 'Early this Morning'.
I own the Grossman download and that is how I've learned enough to play a brief version of the tune (till I learn the rest of course). It's a great vid and I'd definitely recommend it. I sent a recording of me playing it to my dad but it's still like a technological nuclear winter so.. when he hears it I'll feel some sense of completion..
👉🏼 thank you very much ✌🏼👍🏼
Awesome thank you so much !!
waow amazing playing
this is a great video, and helps . . . but its too arduous to learn this kind of playing just by ear and eye! the way UA-cam videos work make it lengthy. Do you think there's any sheet music transcriptions of blind blake tunes?
marvelous!
thanks for going to all the trouble today i found a new artist to study he rocks..was he blind too ! no way
@newporter42 7:14 for the split screen version
Thanks a million!
Where would you find the tab?
beautiful👏👏👏👏👏👏✨
Beautiful Gibson j185
does anyone know what guitar he is using!? sounds gorgeous! and it has a smaller body than usual right?
That guitar looks like it has an oversized fretboard, over 2" at the nut??
Many thanks for your posting this.
i can't figure out what he's playing in the arpeggio at 7:29
Ton Van Bergyk did a similar arrangement which
flows blues and rockets...rmnscnt of blues
piano of the '20s
i think there is a mistake in the tab at the begining of the 8th bar. it should be
0 1 - 2 - - instead of - - - 2 - -. can any one else confirm this?
who gives a fuck....lets see you do better ya fuckin troll. I bet youre life is perfect.
bluelagoon10023 just trying to help others trying to learn this song. keep hatin bro.
Where did you get the tab from?
TenThumbs Productions
hey bud, click the link in the description, then click "Click Here to Order RIGHT NOW as a Direct Download". it's $25 for the tutorial videos and pdf tab for the songs black dog blues, diddie wa diddie, chump man blues, police dog blues, that'll never happen no more and lastly blind arthur's breakdown.
Thanks Dean! Got my weekend planned it looks like.
Thanks for the schoolin'
Great vid!
7:23 for split screen
To C. Wodarski - I realized he was not the same Blind Blake. This man who I heard in Nassau in 1961 was a Bahamian and died in 1989 so I understand. This one played bluesy island music.
+Olivia Crockett Joseph Spence
That old Gibson really sings
Thought this is in Open D (or E ) tuning??
sorry I am getting confused Black Dog and Police Dog !!!!
Very much like Blake's "Early Morning Blues"
Is this considered Ragtime or Blues? Loved every second btw.
bilarion Yup Actually Both Ragtime Elements and Blues Elements
bilarion n
Check out my new cover of Guitar Chimes uploaded yesterday under Blind Blake.
It's a 50's Gibson J-185
R.I.P. Woody
woody mann is the king
What model of Gibson guitar is being used in this video?
its a hummingbird
TRAINIAC19 It's a J-185, from '52 I believe.
Anyone got the tablature?
Was this recorded in the 80s?
+PONTY PRIDD Most likely late 80's early 90's. Guitar tuition videos got big around 1990 :-)
Can anyone tell me what version this is??? Though similar, the 'original' Blake version is quite different. No D7 chord etc...
He plays a D7 at 2.00 minutes. I don't mean to sound pedantic, but...I don't know the original tune. I guess it's more about interpretation and making something your own rather than slavishly copying a tune.
Brother, I'm not interested in an argument, anyone who's into Blind Blake/ragtime guitar/Woody Mann is alright by me. 'But', should you listen to the original tune, which I would recommend, you will note the various differences between this and Blake's. I know Woody plays a D7, Blake doesn't, that's what I meant. However if you are teaching a song, I would suggest slavishly teaching it. I'm not interested in a teacher's interpretation of something. I've met Woody at a workshop, he's cool, I was asking if maybe somebody knew of another Blake recording of this tune that he was basing this version on. When I get round to posting my own faithful instructional vid of the Blake original, you will be the first to know!
Listen to Blind Boy Fuller, 'Meat shakin' woman' for more good stuff
peanutpeanut123 I will look up the original Blind Blake version, and the Blind Boy Fuller tune. Cheers.
(a little late reply, so it is directed to anyone reading:) I wondered the same thing about some teachers' videos (including this one), but I had to realize that some teachings are straying quite far regarding actual notes, but that most of the teachers, like Woody Mann here, has mastered the particular style, and succeeds in teaching that.
But not the Black Dog Blues recording. He puts in elements from Blake's 'Early Morning Blues', and some other tune I can't remember the title of, so you won't find the recording, you will find several.
Later in the video he teaches 'Blind Arthur's Breakdown', but to me that bears more resemblance to Mann's '10th Street Scratch' , which brings in ideas from e.g. Wabash Rag, West Coast Blues, the actual tune et. c.
Just regarding Blind Blake, I would recommend Ari Eisinger's great double-DVD, because he is more into both this style, and the teaching of the actual recording. More so than any other I have encountered, even though a youtube guitarist here and there does great videos on tunes I otherwise can't find.
Eisinger's tablature is great too, it feels very complete when playing from it, even though like most, he points out that he didn't put as much in the tab as he actually demonstrate in the video.
(that is the case with most video tabs, and large tab-collection books, but that is another subject almost)
Another tip: Stefan Grossman authored a great old tune book with only Blind Blake tunes, some of the tabs are not complete, but I got out much from it.
As a side note: To me I think the above more 'general' 'method/teaching idea', succeeds in getting at
least me, to want to study this even more, and from other sources, even
though it has made me quite irritated on some occasions. Especially when
I really wanted to know - how did this master guitarist come up with
'this' - only to find that just that 'measure' wasn't in the lesson!
Not to mention the many tablatures I have, that managed to miss so much details. That also (finally) got me working more with the slow-downer, but I sometimes wish they would have put that info there from the start.
(hope this helps, best regards...)
It's like Bob Brozman said in an instructional video. He a Robert Johnson or Son House tune. He said something to the effect of. I'm not gonna play the song as Johnston/House did on July 8th 1936(date of the original recording) I'm gonna capture the feeling of the song. Bob argued that these old guitar guys would change their songs all the time so it's not important to get the song 100% to the recording. Plus at the beginning of this video Woody says everybody has their version of a Blind Blake tune. I suppose this is Woody's. I guess he just liked the D7 so he can get back to G so he added it to his version.
Woody Mann 😄
me too!
5:47 "Comfterbility"?
That guitar has fine fretboard inlays
The tab please...
regars.
1:40
great, standard tuning ?
1:02 he explains tuning.....
@@OthO67 not really
How do I get the tabs
Go to guitarvideos.com & order the dvd or download the digital version.
Easy
"and if you dont fall asleep by the end of this video then you werent paying attention"
wow
I've got a woody, man.
💝💗💖💟
The strange about Blake is that he was not blind!!!
attempting this using the cotton pick'n style is hard but so rewarding
Is it me or does this dude look like Greg from The Brady Bunch! Anyway...great lesson.
00
Who’s better than Blind Blake?