Fingerpicking Blues Lesson – Lonnie Johnson’s signature licks
February 4, 2010 by
Filed under blues history
A major figure in guitar history, Lonnie Johnson bridged blues and jazz styles, playing with blues shouters like Bessie Smith and Texas Alexander on the one hand, and Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington on the other. The list of guitarists who have cited him as a major influence reads like a genealogy of blues/rock : Robert Johnson (listen to his ‘Malted Milk’), T-bone Walker, BB King and Jimi Hendrix. Though he fingerpicked the guitar, Johnson’s single string playing, with its singing vibrato, was unique and startling and helped further the guitar as a serious soloing instrument in blues and jazz. Lonnie was definitevely the first in blues history to record single string solo’s. I made up a verse in the key of D with some typical Lonnie Johnson licks and explain them in detail afterwards. IMPORTANT : I had to cut the lesson short to remain under the 100mgb so I did not explain the tuning. It’s from low to high : DGDGBE Most of Lonnie’s playing between 1926 and 1932 is in the key of D and this tuning (aka G6 or drop G tuning) Stefan Grossman made a Lonnie Johnson tabbook with transcriptions of some of his greatest intrumentals guitarvideos.com On the same site you’ll also find a lesson package on Lonnie by Woody Mann. There’s also a tabbook by Lennie Carlson called ‘Away Down In The Alley’ published by Mel Bay (out of print though). Check my playlists for more Lonnie Johnson songs and instrumentals. Also my cd ‘Blues and Gospel from the 78rpm Era’ has a nice Lonnie Johnson inspired track called ‘Boogie Dance’ www.youtunerecords.com I uploaded another lesson in this style (with free TAB) www.youtube.com
I sure love to hear you play. makes me thank God for you tube. you sure know how to capture the original feeling from the GREATS!!! thanks for the lesson.
thanks les, wonderful story – I named my son, after lightin’ struck : “Sam”…
very nice daddystovepipe ! you are a good player and teacher ! i named my six year old daughter lonnie after lonnie johnson ! honeyboy edwards is her godfather ! i could not name her honeyboy ! honeygirl ? hmmm…. anyhow , beautiful demonstration of a beautiful artist ! thanks for the great video ! january 8 2010 les copeland
thanks
form a partial G chord (x00435) and slide it to the 3rd fret to get to the position in brackets; the bend is on the second string 5th fret
could you go into more detail at 3:40
Great job! I’ve got to start using the thumpick with this stuff.
Lonnie is one of my favorite guitarist. (Thanx for the lesson)
No, but there’s plenty of tab to study (see description)
Do you have a tab of this?
thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
omg wery nice nice nice nice nice nice nice nice
Thanks bob, a follow-up lesson is on my loooong “things to do list”……
In the meantime check out Stefan Grossman’s Guitarworkshop : there are Lonnie Johnson lessons by Woody Mann and a Tabbook with cd available. The tabbook contains a bonanza of licks that would spice up your playing for sure.
This is marvellous stuff, and the dropped G is a revelation. Any chance of some more hints and tips on Lonnie Johnson’s playing. You teach this so well.
This is so fun I just keep trying to play it better.
Thanks for turning me onto this music.
BLOODY GOOD PLAYIN OLD CHAP…….
Thank you, was not sure about that because in his late 50’s recordings he played sométimes fast single notes relatively hard and fast. Because of that I was not sure.
Scrapper was a fingerpicker as well – he made quite a few solo recordings on which you can clearly hear this – the snapping of the strings is one of his trademarks.
Thank you. I did not know. On his old recordings I guessed he did finger picking but on photos and on film he always used the pick. Always thought he used standard tuning. Thank for that info. Do you know if Scrapper Blackwell was finger picker or flat pick user. I thought he was flat picking.
Have a nice weekend
Till 1932 LJ fingerpicked his arrangements (99% were in his favorite tuning DGDGBE). He didn’t record for 5 years and changed to standard tuning and playing with a pick to meet up with the ‘market’ of those days (some say because of pressure of his recording company). When he was rediscoverd in the 60ies noone asked about his old style as hardly anyone knew about it….
I’m playing strictly his old pre 1932 style.
I thought Lonnie Johnson was exclusively a flat pick playing guitarist. Am I right and it is only your style combined with the style of Johnson you are playing on this video?
yup! excellent!
Great!5********!!!!!
Live long chap, live reaal long.
Thanks, cat. I wish many blessings upon you. You inspire me. Keep playing and I’ll keep listening.
hey Daddy…Wanted to say thanks for the video. You’ve got a little bit of Robert, Lonnie, Muddy, Albert and Eric all wrapped in those fingers. Very soulful, and chicken pickin’ to boot.
Thanks !