Big Bill Broonzy’s recording career spanned the 1920s until his death in 1958. His repertoire was well recorded, from solo to duets to ensemble playing. He recorded for almost every Race label of the 1920s-1940s. He was rediscovered just as the “folk revival” was beginning in the mid-1950s and made a series of exciting albums for Folkways Records as well as recording various albums during European tours. He was a master of ragtime and country blues guitar. His playing was highlighted by a strong pulsating bass and melodic lead lines. It is a very powerful and challenging guitar style. In this three cassette series Woody Mann captures the essence of Big Bill’s playing.

Lesson One: House Rent Stomp and Brownskin Shuffle are presented in this lesson. These two tunes illustrate Big Bill’s playing of blues and rags in the Key of C.

Lesson Two: This lesson presents three excellent examples of Big Bill’s blues playing in the Key of A and E. His melodic lead lines played against a solid monotonic bass are illustrated with Moppin’ Blues, Hey Hey and Worrying You Off My Mind.

Lesson Three: To complete our study, we look at Bill's Stovepipe Stomp played in the Key of D and Saturday Night Rub played in the Key of G.

Level 2/3 • 24 page tab/music book with direct download link to audio files.