Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
In this series of lessons we will explore various fingerstyle blues guitar styles & techniques. This first lesson focuses on the Key of C. We will delve into the alternating as well as monotonic bass techniques; blues slides, hammer-ons & pull-offs & blues slurred notes. The playing techniques of Mississippi John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis & Blind Blake are discussed. But more importantly the aim of this lesson is to give you a freedom to improvise playing a blues.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
On first listening I was quite disappointed with this in comparison with lessons two and three. However having come back to it I have become more enthused . The three lessons provide a basis for a deeper understanding of the blues. To miss out on lesson one would therefore be a mistake as it represents a great start to learning the blues.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
A very nice surprise
3 Jun 2008
Amazon Verified Purchase
Never judge a book by its cover, right? I profess guilt in this as the cover of this series was not terribly impressive. What is impressive is Stefan Grossman's ability to teach.
Cleverly staying in one key at a time, Stefan patiently brings the student not simply a solid background of acoustic blues, but also of small "tricks" as he calls them. These "tricks" or short licks, hammers, pull offs, etc, are things taken for granted by Intermediate or Advanced players, but the type of little things that beginners listen to and marvel over. Stefan generously shares these little, and sometimes quite simple little manuevers that vastly improves the sound of the song.
Stefan also includes original recordings of the songs; some from as early as 1927, and has you listen to the original; sometimes more than one version, before hearing him play, and before breaking the song down for you.
The only negative is that the TAB (which includes all the lyrics) has graphics that are not the easist to read. But, I could not take away from the 5 stars for that.
I never knew of Stefan's music, which may be a plus in my case. I am able to view him simply as a teacher. There are a lot of instructional DVDs out there by talented players who are not talented teachers. Stefan's easygoing personality is a must. Why? In taking DVD lessons (which is my only source of instruction) you spend many hours "with" the instructor, as you repeat the lessons over and over. If the instructor's personality is not your 'cup of tea', you will find that you will learn less, as you subconciously pull away from the time spent. Conversely, when you enjoy the personality of the teacher, you are inclined to spend more time "with him" via DVD; subsequently, learning far more.
Such is the case with Grossman. Perhaps it is the age and wisdom that comes as the ego no longer seeks rock star adoration from people. I have had the unpleasant experience of sitting "before" an instructor who's talent is amazing, but who's love of himself is so over the top, that I ended up selling the DVDs...perhaps my own weakness, but in conversing with others, I find that others feel the same way.
Enjoy Grossman. He is not there to tell jokes, nor boast of his past accomplishments (Martin Guitar has built one in his honor, so not much else needs to be said). Enjoy the personality who seems eager to do one thing: share his love of acoustic blues.
Great series.
Cleverly staying in one key at a time, Stefan patiently brings the student not simply a solid background of acoustic blues, but also of small "tricks" as he calls them. These "tricks" or short licks, hammers, pull offs, etc, are things taken for granted by Intermediate or Advanced players, but the type of little things that beginners listen to and marvel over. Stefan generously shares these little, and sometimes quite simple little manuevers that vastly improves the sound of the song.
Stefan also includes original recordings of the songs; some from as early as 1927, and has you listen to the original; sometimes more than one version, before hearing him play, and before breaking the song down for you.
The only negative is that the TAB (which includes all the lyrics) has graphics that are not the easist to read. But, I could not take away from the 5 stars for that.
I never knew of Stefan's music, which may be a plus in my case. I am able to view him simply as a teacher. There are a lot of instructional DVDs out there by talented players who are not talented teachers. Stefan's easygoing personality is a must. Why? In taking DVD lessons (which is my only source of instruction) you spend many hours "with" the instructor, as you repeat the lessons over and over. If the instructor's personality is not your 'cup of tea', you will find that you will learn less, as you subconciously pull away from the time spent. Conversely, when you enjoy the personality of the teacher, you are inclined to spend more time "with him" via DVD; subsequently, learning far more.
Such is the case with Grossman. Perhaps it is the age and wisdom that comes as the ego no longer seeks rock star adoration from people. I have had the unpleasant experience of sitting "before" an instructor who's talent is amazing, but who's love of himself is so over the top, that I ended up selling the DVDs...perhaps my own weakness, but in conversing with others, I find that others feel the same way.
Enjoy Grossman. He is not there to tell jokes, nor boast of his past accomplishments (Martin Guitar has built one in his honor, so not much else needs to be said). Enjoy the personality who seems eager to do one thing: share his love of acoustic blues.
Great series.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
The more you work with Stefans lessons, the more you learn how good they really are.
29 July 2010
If you are going to teach yourself, then this is the way to go. My first lessons 35 years ago were from a Stefan Grossman LP and a tab book. It was much more difficult without a visual, but I did learn. I came away with s solid foundation playing an alternating bass. Video opened up a new world and Stefan made the most of it. Seeing is more then a thousand words could ever describe. I can tell you first hand, that over many years Stefan has also progressed as a teacher. While learning tunes in the easiest possible way you are also being "pushed" to learn the right things for the right reasons. This is not apparent at first, but you are learning from a "skilled instructor" who well understands what the next curve in the road is going to be and preps you for it. Believe me, as one who made many mistakes and learned the hard way, working with these videos is such a joy. Actually, I find Stefans video instruction much better then face to face instruction with a so-so instructor. Picking up the guitar again after many years of having put it aside, using these videos the things that once stifled me became so clear. If you are not around good guitar players to "get the feel", you need these videos. It just doesn't really come any other way. These aren't beginning beginner lessons but if you've fumbled with the guitar some and can hold and change a few chords you have enough to get started. Be prepared to work and you will have plenty to do and enjoy!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Grossman's blues guitar instruction
24 Feb 2009
Stefan Grossman's blues guitar instruction DVD(lesson 1) is excellent. He starts from the basics of tuning to clear examples of various finger styles and techniques with several songs. Each song is taught carefully and played slowly on a split screen--left and right hand. In my estimation it is like having a live teacher with you explaining these techniques. I highly recommend this and others in the series for guitarists on every level.
jay alexander
jay alexander
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
