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Chapter 2: Blues Meets Guitar: A Match Made in Musical Heaven
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In the process of electrifying a guitar, blues players noticed something else
that was different, too: Electric guitars sustained longer. The notes just
seemed to hang on longer instead of dying away quickly, as they did on
acoustic guitars and banjos before that. As a result of this increased sustain,
electric guitars were able to produce more substantial vibrated notes, bent
notes, and long notes that held their sound. Along with jazz players, blues
players found they could now more closely emulate vocal and horn stylings.
This change encouraged a more versatile approach to single-note, or lead,
playing. Before the electric version, the guitar was largely a rhythm instrument,
with some notable exceptions, such as the jazz playing of gypsy
guitarist Django Reinhardt.
What You Need to Get Your Groove On
To be a well-appointed blues guitar player, you need to have not only your
acoustic or electric guitar, but also you need other stuff that allows you to
play. Check out this list:
Picks: Being able to play with a pick is an important skill, and you
should learn to play with one before deciding to be a rebel and go without.
(Some traditional players of both acoustic and electric blues don’t
use a pick. They use the unadorned fingers of the right hand to produce
all their blues sounds, from full strummed chords to riffs to leads.)
Strap and pins: If you plan to stand when you play, you need a strap,
and your guitar must have strap pins to go through the strap holes.
Spare strings: As far as “string breakage,” it’s not a question of if, but
when. Strings break all on their own, even if you don’t play hard or bend
them. Carry spares, so that a sudden “string mishap” doesn’t shut down
your jam for the night.
Tuners: Most guitar teachers (yours truly included) will tell you that it
should be illegal to allow beginning guitarists to roam the earth without
a tuner. These days, the word “tuner” should mean “electronic tuner,”
the battery-operated kind that you can plug into (or use the onboard
mic, if you’re playing an acoustic).
An electronic tuner is designed for quick and easy guitar tuning, and you
can tune silently to boot. You can use other tuning methods (such as
employing a pitch pipe, tuning fork, or the relative method), but the recommended
way is to use a tuner, which allows you to use your eyes (by
watching a meter or digital display). Don’t worry, your ears will catch up
in time. A tuner is an essential tool — and courtesy — for all who appreciate
in-tune music.
TEAM LinG