Level: 2/3
Tuning: Standard

In this lesson, Tom Feldmann takes you step-by-step through the Rev classic “I Belong To The Band.” Although the chorus remained the same from 1930-1960, what the Rev played over the verse changed, and Feldmann teaches those variations in addition to one variation that he picked up from Jorma Kaukonen. One distinct difference between the early recording is a bass lead break that did not appear in the 1960’s, which Feldmann includes in the lesson.

The bass lead break has seemingly been ignored by artists covering this song, but mastering it will really make the piece stand out from the typical cover, and hopefully inspire the confidence to incorporate such a bass lead in your other material. “I Belong To The Band” is certainly one of the Rev’s more approachable songs, largely due to the use of basic first position chords instead of his fingerbusters used in many of his other pieces. This would be a great “first” Gary Davis song for anyone looking to get into his style.