Blind Lemon questions

Subject: RE: Blind Lemon questions
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 27 Jan 02 - 10:11 PM

Here's a page of Blind Lemon Jefferson song keys and sources. Thanks to Doc John the Bluegill of Tweed's Blues for finding this on Frank Basile's site. Lemon Jefferson's Blues Keys

Subject: RE: Blind Lemon questions
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 27 Jan 02 - 11:50 AM

Hi Iceboy. You already HAVE nailed Lemon's style. It's frustratingly difficult as a whole, but when you break it down into parts, it CAN be tackled. here's one little oddball trick. Find some recordings of the fine white blues guitarist (and contemporary of Lemon's) Dick Justice. His recordings are cleaner than lemon's and easier to learn from, and he plays the stuff virtually note for note (an amzing accomplishment)

Certain things have to be learned first though before you can apply them to a "lemon" song. That tremolo he does!! Yikes that's hard. Also you need to be fluent (I expect you are) in the "thumb-index" single string style. He's obviously big on "partial" chords, and as you mention, doesn't feel the need (always) to go from '6' to '2' before hittin' the '5'....or does he? Is he just playing some parts really quietly?

It's like a puzzle isn't it? Maddening, but great fun when you solve (parts of) it.

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Blind Lemon questions
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 27 Jan 02 - 01:40 AM

I've wondered about the same thing and, no, I don't think you're nuts. Jefferson is maddening to study because he plays rhythm and lead guitar alternately and breaks off from one and starts the other whenever a break occurs, sometime unpredictably. He sketches things and implies things because he has no second guitarist. He's the first real single note lead guitarist in the blues, so his bass runs and rhythm work are sometimes 'ghostly'.

Guess I'll get out my old records tomorrow and see what I can figure out. I've been meaning to take on 'Black Snake Moan', an all time great. Thanks for the push.

Subject: Blind Lemon questions
From: GUEST,Iceboy
Date: 26 Jan 02 - 06:07 PM

Blind Lemon Jefferson is my latest favorite pre-war guitar genius, espcially when running bass lines and fills in the key of C. He often implies an A7 when nearin the end of a verse by running his bass line down from C to A. In a typical guitar rag that move would be followed by a D7, or Dm7, and then a G7 back to C. Lemon n't make it that simple! He often seems to glide over the end of the verse with a solo vocal line, as in Black Snake Moan, with a few muffled guitar notes underneath. I can hear, I think, a G note hanging on the high E third fret but the rest of it's pretty hazy. Anybody know exactly what he does in thoe several beats between the open A string and the downbeat of the next C chord? I know, I know....what's this guy, nuts? Trying to figure out Blind Lemon? Hint, I AM in Antarctic, after all. :^) Pass the gin, please. ~Iceboy