Gathering a repertoire of folk/blues

Subject: Gathering a repertoire of folk/blues
From: GUEST,Baz
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 11:25 AM

I've just recently got into playing folk and blues songs on my acoustic. I'm a fingerstyle player of some 10 years experience (off and on), and I've just had a great time working through a some books by John Renbourne, "Folk, Blues & Beyond", and "Celtic Melodies & Open Tunings". These books have introduced me to great arrangements of tunes like "Lord Franklin" and "Sandwood down to Kyle", but I am hungry for more.....can anyone suggest a good source of material to learn new songs - I don't know much about the folk/blues "scene" so I don't even know which albums to buy to try and copy things from (with the exeption of Bert Jansch & Davy Graham).

Any help much appreciated.

Ta.

Subject: RE: Gathering a repertoire of folk/blues
From: M.Ted
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 11:30 AM

You should listen to some of the real acoustic blues guys, like Charlie Patton, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Blake, Robert Johnson, Lonnie Johnson--etc--

Subject: RE: Gathering a repertoire of folk/blues
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 11:39 AM

Baz - A simple way to learn about what to learn is to go out and listen - IF you are UK , lots of clubs and sessions where you can meet other people who sing and play !

Subject: RE: Gathering a repertoire of folk/blues
From: Wesley S
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 11:51 AM

You might enjoy some of the material available over at www.guitarvideos.com - plus they have a forum for folks interested in blues, celtic and fingerstyle guitar. It's operated by Stephen Grossman. Both instructional videos and CD's can be found there.

Subject: RE: Gathering a repertoire of folk/blues
From: Grab
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 01:36 PM

Radio, especially internet radio. With the right software (RM Recorder), you can rip the "listen again" streams off the BBC website. Mike Harding ain't much good, but Colum Sands' "Folk Club" show on Radio Ulster is well worth it.

Blues-wise, there are some box-sets of blues artists - Big Bill Broonzy, Robert Johnson, etc., giving a decent selection of their work. They're not too expensive, and they're pretty good.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Gathering a repertoire of folk/blues
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 06:29 PM

LEADBELLY.

Subject: RE: Gathering a repertoire of folk/blues
From: Ernest
Date: 30 Sep 05 - 02:08 PM

Doc Watson, Norman Blake, Dan Crary (all american folk), Tony McManus (Scotland), Ian Melrose (Scotland, lives here in Berlin)...

Subject: RE: Gathering a repertoire of folk/blues
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 30 Sep 05 - 03:06 PM

Mississippi John Hurt, Rory Gallagher, Dick Gaughan, Nic Jones and Martin Simpson (especially the instrumentals).

Subject: RE: Gathering a repertoire of folk/blues
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 30 Sep 05 - 07:49 PM

You have 2 choices

1) pick a style that others 'approve' of then practice in the style of one of the 'greats'

2) listen to what 'you like', then develop your own style.


In the first case you may end up a faithful copy of those 'greats'. but remember that all those greats chose the second choice above....

Subject: RE: Gathering a repertoire of folk/blues
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 30 Sep 05 - 08:27 PM

Foolestroupe,

Thanks for that insight. I couldn't have said it any better.

Subject: RE: Gathering a repertoire of folk/blues
From: GUEST,woody
Date: 01 Oct 05 - 09:09 AM

if u are in beverley any time lok up pip & merry this man can play open tuning folk/blues standad; finger picking he seldoms plays but when he is on form magic; she sings like a angel.

Subject: RE: Gathering a repertoire of folk/blues
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Oct 05 - 01:49 PM

Theres plenty of recorded stuff, and we've all got our favourites. Mine is probably the guys who played on the blues project sampler - a very influential record that came out in 1960's on the elektra label.

the real difficulty is seeing the stuff played these days. theres just not so much interest as in the days when every little town had two or three folk clubs. In the 1970's and 80's, many good musicians went to work on the continent, and didn't come back.

For accompanying skills try to see Wizz Jones, Jack Hudson, Ralph McTell. Derek brimstone for how to present serious songs to an audience without boring the arse of them, or telling them that you're a genius for having discovered songs that they didn't know about.

You will note (I hope ) that most of the people named even by yourself are of the 1960's generation. When factionalism and general pettiness broke up the folk music movement as a mass movement, we lost a generation of musicians and songwriters. Lets hope you are the next great white(or whatever colour) hope.