Level: 3
Tuning: Dropped D

Tommy Johnson was born near Terry, Mississippi, and in about 1910 moved to Crystal Springs, where he lived for most of his life. He learned to play the guitar and by 1914, was supplementing his income by playing at local parties with his brothers Major and LeDell. In 1916 Johnson married and moved to Webb Jennings' plantation near Drew, Mississippi, close to the Dockery Plantation. There he met other musicians, including Charlie Patton and Willie Brown. He recorded for both Victor in 1928 and Paramount Records in 1929. His recordings featured classic performances and were imitated throughout the Delta.

"Canned Heat Blues" is played in a Dropped D tuning. It has a wonderful melodic lick that propels the playing. You'll need to give special attention to the brush strokes. Brushing up towards the bass strings give a different texture than brushing down to your treble strings. As his "Big Road Blues" this is played in a Dropped D tuning.

"Canned Heat Blues" was recorded during the Prohibition Era when liquor was not allowed. Throughout the USA bootleggers made their own brews. The term 'canned heat' refers to a homemade drink made from denatured and jellied alcohol (commonly known as Sterno). People would drink this mixture as a form of surrogate alcohol. But Sterno is poisonous and terrible results would follow after drinking it.