In
this video, Mary focuses on the East coast or Piedmont style of
blues first made popular by Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller an Rev.
Gary Davis, and now an essential ingredient in today's roots guitar
styles. Mary begins by explaining the I-VI-II-V chord progression
that gives the ragtime blues their essential sound, and demonstrates
it in all five keys in which it is traditionally used. Having established
this basis, she then goes on to show you the tools that will help
expand your improvisational abilities, including moveable 7th chords,
bass runs, and melodies.
To help consolidate your playing in the context of real song, she uses Blind
Boy Fuller's classic ";Rag Mama"; for getting you used to the progression and teaching
you how to take it further. Further expanding your techniques and repertoire,
Mary then adds seven other tunes that use this progression, a medley of ragtime
blues songs, and her own tune, ";Black Dog Rag,"; The pieces and techniques shown
on this video are arranged progressively, so you can see your playing improve
as you go along. Level is appropriate for advance/intermediate players. As a
guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Mary Flower has carried on the tradition of
roots music for over three decades, specializing in the blues. A longtime favorite
in Denver, Colorado, she took to the road after her children were grown and quickly
achieved national prominence, Today she is best known for her may CD's, concert
and festival appearances, and as a prizewinning contestant in the National Fingerpicking
Guitar Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival. In addition to performing,
Mary is also a respected teacher. She has shared her deep knowledge of blues
styles and history with students privately, in workshops and blues camps, for
the Handy Awards in Memphis, and on staff at the Augusta Heritage Center (Elkins,
West Virginia), the Port Townsend (Washington) Blues Festival, and the Swallow
Hill School of Music (Denver). Includes TAB CD-ROM
