blues

Latest about blues

Jack Casady performs with Hot Tuna at the Further Festival. Jimi Hendrix Experience - performing live onstage filming German TV Show 'Beat Club'
How Jefferson Airplane's Jack Casady wound up recording one of Jimi Hendrix's greatest studio jams

By Nick Wells Published

Jack Casady recalls the late-night studio session that became Hendrix's legendary Electric Ladyland recording

4 Comments
Bassists
Hubert Sumlin, pictured at Tramps Bar in New York City on June 26, 1987
The incredible life and times of Hubert Sumlin, one of the blues' greatest guitarists

By Alan Paul Published

In a 1992 GW interview, the late Howlin' Wolf guitarist of 23 years told tales of taking (with permission) one of Eric Clapton's favorite Strats (before giving it back), fistfights with his boss, studio shenanigans, and the day Hendrix played Wolf's guitar with his teeth...

Guitarists
A still from Joe Bonamassa's video lesson for Guitar World issue 605
From B.B. King to Eric Clapton and Otis Rush, the blues is the core element of Joe Bonamassa's playing

By Joe Bonamassa Published

In this essential video lesson with the guitar superstar, he explains why it doesn't matter what style he is playing – it always begins and ends with the blues

Artist Lessons
Derek Trucks and Eric Clapton perform at the Eric Clapton's 70th Birthday Concert Celebration at Madison Square Garden on May 1, 2015 in New York City
Eric Clapton tried to invite Derek Trucks onto his album with JJ Cale – but he thought it was a prank call

By Matt Owen Published

Trucks was in the middle of a game of poker when Clapton came calling – but he didn't answer the phone

Guitarists
Albert King plays his iconic V onstage
Why four notes and the truth are all you need for a great slow blues solo

By Richard Barrett Published

In this lesson, we are using just four notes to construct four blues examples that put expression first

Techniques
A still from Corey Congilio's video lesson
“Resolving with a more conventional blues phrase sounds really cool and satisfying”: Corey Congilio on how to add harmonic depth to your solo improvisations

By Corey Congilio Published

Congilio’s Blues Extensions column continues with a lesson in playing a five-minor-7 arpeggio over a dominant 7 chord

Artist Lessons
Rhys John Stygal
Teen blues prodigy reunited with his stolen Stevie Ray Vaughan Strat

By Matt Owen Published

Rhys John Stygal received support from Joe Bonamassa after his Number One guitar was stolen in Austin, Texas, last month

Guitarists
Brian Setzer and Stevie Ray Vaughan
Brian Setzer on what he learned playing Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Stratocaster

By Matt Owen Published

Stray Cats hit the road with the blues legend back in 1989, giving Setzer the chance to learn the truth behind the SRV tone rumors

4 Comments
Guitarists
Philip Saye
Philip Sayce on the greatest Strats, his tone secrets – and why he always has a Silver Sky in the mix

By Charlie Wilkins Published

The tone gourmand talks new vs vintage Strats, hiring SRV's amp tech, and the guitar he calls Big Daddy

Guitarists
Stevie Ray Vaughan
The legacy of Stevie Ray Vaughan, and what could have been

By Amit Sharma Published

How SRV followed Texas Flood, wrestled blues guitar from the club to MTV and became the guitar hero everyone wanted to copy – all before passing too soon

Guitarists
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