Roots & Blues Fingerstyle Guitar: Acoustic Guitar Private Lessons [Paperback]

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.

I will first echo the previous reviews by saying, "You got that right!" Steve is an amazing player and a great teacher. He is the director of the Roots & Blues Workshop at the Kerrville Folk Festival. In one of his sessions this year he walked a group of us through the Sam McGee finger buster "Railroad Blues." Some in that workshop were experienced and some were new to finger picking but all left the 3-hour session able to play the toughest parts of Railroad Blues to some degree. Steve added to the class by sharing the details of his first meeting with Sam McGee. Imagine being introduced to one of your heroes with "Steve's a big fan of yours" only to hear the reply, "I don't know if I'm a big fan of his - I haven't heard him pick yet" and be handed a guitar. How's that for pressure? Steve's playing, his songwriting, and his stories are the real thing because Steve is the real thing.

This book isn't for beginners, i.e., those that have never played fingerstyle before. If that's you it isn't impossible to start with this book but it might save you a lot of frustration to start with a more basic introduction to Blues fingerpicking. If you are beyond the basics (i.e., can hold a conversation while your thumb plays an alternating bass line through chord changes) this book will help you advance IF you practice. Steve builds with each tune and can show you how but you'll still have to do heavy lifting. But if you are willing to work through this book and practice frequently you will end up a much better Blues player.

Steve's previous book (Fingerstyle Blues Songbook) is great but it is more of a repertoire builder than a tutorial. Roots and Blues Fingerstyle Guitar Book is a tutorial in which each song builds on the previous work. As you progress Steve adds embellishments that help polish your playing. All songs on the accompanying CD are played twice, once slowly and once up to tempo. (Steve does this at his workshops too - it really helps to see him play it slowly first.) This book includes tunes like Milwaukee Blues, Amos Johnson Rag, Stack Lee's Blues, and Guitar Rag.

If getting the visual helps you might also consider Steve's Blues/Roots Guitar DVD. The book and DVD compliment each other with little overlap. And attend his Roots & Blues Workshop at the next Kerrville Folk Festival if at all possible. It is three days of small group instruction from Steve and friends in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. The workshop is held the week after Memorial Day but be sure to be there on Memorial Day for the afternoon Blues Project. It's worth the trip.

Steve is the real thing. A blues guitarist, writer, teacher who literally lived with some of the legends of roots blues and they taught him their licks. He teaches a week-long class at the Kerrville Folk Festival that is well worth the price. Go if you can. Hell, go even if you can't afford it--you can't afford not to.

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