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Tune Req: Talking Blues (guitar tab)

22 Sep 02 - 08:21 PM (#789241)
Subject: Talking Blues Guitar..... tab?
From: Lane

The chords are pretty basic, but I've heard some nice variations and single string work... Tom Rush, Paxton, etc... anyone have tab or advice on how to pick it out?


22 Sep 02 - 08:28 PM (#789244)
Subject: RE: Talking Blues Guitar..... tab?
From: GUEST

There are thousands of 'talking blues'

A better indication of which particular one you are after, would be helpful...


22 Sep 02 - 09:04 PM (#789256)
Subject: RE: Talking Blues Guitar..... tab?
From: Lane

My oversight.... I'm specifically looking for the Tom Rush "Original Talking Blues", which is very similar to the other - Paxtons "Pot Luck Blues". Sorry to be vague....

Thanks


23 Sep 02 - 06:31 PM (#789864)
Subject: RE: Talking Blues Guitar..... tab?
From: Phil Cooper

This isn't tab, I know. But, I am fond of "Talking Vietnam Potluck Blues." When I used to teach beginning guitar I would tell students that the talking blues for songs like that (or Paxton's "talking pop art") started with a G chord.

Using a thumb on the bass note and then strum for the chord play the low E (fretted at the third Fret), strum the G chord, then play the A string (fretted at the second fret), then strum the chord. Switch to the C chord and play the A string at the third fret, then strum the C chord. Then, play the D string, fretted at the second fret, and play the C chord. Now, switch to the D chord, play the open D string and strum the D chord. Then, play the low E string open, then fretted at the second fret, then fretted at the third fret, then strum the G chord. That's the basic pattern. Other than the bass run, you're alternating bass notes and chord strumming.

You're also walking your bass notes up,till you go back to that three note bass run, back to the G chord. Hope I was able to explain that clearly, without resorting to tab.


23 Sep 02 - 06:38 PM (#789868)
Subject: RE: Talking Blues Guitar..... tab?
From: Amos

Well, Phil, that sounds 'most as good as Woodie doin;' it! :>)

A


24 Sep 02 - 09:24 AM (#790213)
Subject: RE: Talking Blues Guitar..... tab?
From: M.Ted

Well done, Phil! About as good a description as anyone could come up with--now if someone could just explain how to fit the words in;-)


24 Sep 02 - 04:52 PM (#790529)
Subject: RE: Talking Blues Guitar..... tab?
From: Phil Cooper

If you've heard the song, the pattern just kind of rolls along. It's fairly regular, except where it isn't, for the sake of effect. I'm assuming Lane had heard the song enough to see how the talking blues pattern fit along with it. In some respects, that's harder to explain, than where to put the fingers in the pattern. You have to get a feel for it. Perhaps that's rather vague as an explanation, but that's how you need to do it.


24 Sep 02 - 04:58 PM (#790532)
Subject: RE: Talking Blues Guitar..... tab?
From: Amos

Well, it's a little like jazz. If you gotta ask, you prolly wouldn't unnerstan the answer anyway! :>)

A


25 Sep 02 - 12:16 AM (#790745)
Subject: RE: Talking Blues Guitar..... tab?
From: Lane

Yeah.... you're right.. it's a "feel" thing, and I can play it fine, heard it so many times it's almost automatic - BUT - moving beyond the basic bass runs described above, there are some nice other licks, leads (sort of) in both of those... I'm looking to go beyond the basic chord/bass run progressions....

Lane


25 Sep 02 - 03:51 PM (#791217)
Subject: RE: Talking Blues Guitar..... tab?
From: M.Ted

For the record, I can play, sing, and even dance around while I play the walking/talking blues, and have been able to do it, more or less at will, for some thirty three years(next week)--and I can play jazz, too--And have even taught others to do the same--the thing that is hard is to explain it all in a paragraph--

As for you. Lane, if you can play the basic thing, you know how to do all you need to make that bass line go anywhere, it is just a case of deciding where you want it to go--