Level: 3/4
Tuning: Open G

Skip James's 1931 recordings are haunting. Most are played in a Crossnote tuning where your guitar is tuned to an open Em chord (E B E G B E). "Special Rider Blues" is a rarity for Skip as it is played in an Open G tuning. This tuning was popular with Delta blues artists Charlie Patton, Son House, Willie Brown, Tommy Johnson and others. But in their hands a completely different feel and sound was produced compare to Skip's "Special Rider Blues". The guitar arrangement has two parts. His playing behind his vocals combines a Bach like lick between vocal lines with octaves played under the singing. His guitar break is totally unique and offers octaves played up the fingerboard resolving to a modern, almost John Faheyesque chord change and back to his haunting main lick.

A must tune to study if you want to learn the possibilities the Open G tuning can offer.