DVD Menus and Lesson info for
DELTA/CHICAGO POST WAR BLUES 2 DVD SET:

» DVD 1 Menu items:

DVD Introduction – in this video we overview the series and discuss the lesson format we'll be using. We detail what material will be covered over the course of the DVD series. We also explain exactly how to use the material to get the most out of the lessons and complementary learning tools, such as the Jam Tracks CD and the written lesson PDF book.

Soloing Options & Strategy – in this lesson, we discuss soloing options and strategies for this particular genre, as well as its main types of rhythms and chords. There are a LOT of soloing options in this Delta Blues style – and we hit many of them in this lesson. Learn about major and minor, as well as soloing with what relates to all. Also learn how to treat each chord as a separate event and how to solo over chords independently. You will also learn what scales and modes work over what chords and why they work. Learn how to mix minor and major and much more.

Blues Grinders Rhythms & Licks – this section of the DVD is broken into three sub-menus:

1. Blues Grinder Rhythm & Licks Part 1 - in this lesson we work on a collection of Delta/Chicago Blues concepts and devices that guitarists such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Muddy Waters, Eddie Taylor and many other blues guitarists employ in this style. Learn how to play a grinder rhythm with several different feels. Learn different rhythmic variations to use on each of the chord changes as well as cool bass note walk-ins. Then learn some cool licks to be played with these rhythms.

2. More Blues Grinder licks Part 2 - in this lesson we continue with the grinder rhythms and we examine different licks and rhythmic devices in the Delta/Chicago Blues style. Learn some killer licks over each of the various chords in the progression. You will also learn some Robert Jr Lockwood doublestop style riffs and how they fit into the overall rhythmic grinder pattern. Also learn some hammer-on as well as picked licks, thumped bass note licks, and learn about the quick change on the IV chord.

3. Grinder rhythms & licks Part 3 - in this lesson we continue with the blues shuffle grinder rhythms and licks. Learn some very cool Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Reed and Billy Butler licks and rhythms over the pattern. Learn more rhythmic variations and how to spice up the rhythms with cool licks and riffs.

BB King Style Blues Guitar – this section of the DVD is broken into two sub-menus:

1. Blues devices in the style of BB King - in this lesson we focus on teaching licks and devices in the styles of BB King, T-Bone Walker, Peter Green, and Albert Collins. We start with some killer BB King licks played around a 6th chord, something he loves to do – you will love these licks! Learn string bending and vibrato techniques. Also discussed is playing in a blues style in which you play over each chord for a more sophisticated sound. Here we teach the importance of listening to the chord changes and learning hip things to play over each chord.

2. Combining Major & Minor for more BB King tones - Here we delve deeper into the style and devices of BB King. Learn how to combine minor and major pentatonic scales over each chord for that BB sound. Here you will learn some killer minor and major licks and how to apply them over the chords for a very BB King sound.

More Blues Lessons – this section of the DVD is broken into two sub-menus:

1. Otis Rush & other Bluesmen styles lesson - in this lesson we continue teaching and exploring licks and rhythmic riffs in the styles of Otis Rush, BB King and many other bluesmen in this Delta/Chicago Blues style. Learn some connected ascending and descending riffs based around the chordal rhythm. Learn licks with killer slides, bends, and you will also learn how to phrase licks together into a cohesive solo.

2. T-Bone Walker, Peter Green, & others styles plus blues tone lesson - in this lesson you will learn about the "out of phase" guitar tone sound that is very popular in this style. Hear the differences with various pickup settings and how they "affect" your tone. Learn more scale patterns in different positions on the neck. You will also learn how to combine major and minor pentatonic scales in various positions across the neck. Learn killer licks and how to phrase licks together while moving fluidly across the neck.

» DVD 2 Menu items:

Blues Phrasing Lessons – this section of the DVD is broken into two sub-menus:

1. Blues Phrasing – linking the boxes together - in this lesson you will learn how to phrase licks together in a fluid manner that makes good musical sense. Learn how to combine minor and major and how to phrase them together when creating licks and riffs. Learn some killer riffs and the connecting links and slides to get your blues soloing to the next level. Also learn the importance of knowing and locating the notes on the fretboard. Put an end to disjointed, boxy sounding licks and say hello to fluid across the neck cohesiveness!

2. Phrasing lesson shuffle in C over the Jam Track - in this lesson we continue the shuffle rhythm and phrasing examples in the key of C over the entire neck. Learn more blues major and minor type licks and how to tie them together into a fluid seamless solo. Learn how to use Jam Tracks as a practice tool for refining and honing these solo techniques and devices. As we go through the lesson we stop and demonstrate how you want to practice applying these techniques over the Delta/Chicago Blues Jam Tracks.

Albert Collins Style Blues Guitar – this section of the DVD is broken into two sub-menus:

1. Albert Collins style techniques lesson part one - in this lesson you will learn all about the tone, gear, and style of Albert Collins. Topics discussed include tunings, capo, the telecaster guitar, string gauge, finger and thumb picking, open string licks, note and interval choice, and other nuances to get that Albert Collins tone. Learn a bunch of licks in this style and incorporate some of these devices into your playing arsenal.

2. More Albert Collins style techniques and with Jam Track - in this lesson we continue teaching Albert Collins style blues guitar. Learn more licks and riffs and then learn how to apply them over the Delta Jam Tracks. In this lesson we will be playing over the Flat Tire Groove, which Albert played over quite a bit. Learn more open string licks, hammer-on and pull-off licks, trills, and also ending licks on certain target notes for that Albert Collins tone.

Acoustic Blues Lessons – this section of the DVD is broken into two sub-menus:

1. Robert Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller acoustic lesson part one - in this lesson we teach some Delta Piedmont Acoustic Blues in the styles of Robert Johnson and Blind Boy Fuller. Learn some killer fingerstyle licks, cool chords, thumping and walking bass lines, and rhythm progressions. Also learn some very famous Robert Johnson type turnaround licks. Learn all the finger patterns and bass quarter note thumping with close up camera work zoomed in on the pick hand.

2. Part two Robert Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller lesson - in this lesson we continue with more fingerstyle acoustic blues teachings in the styles of Robert Johnson and Blind Boy Fuller. Learn more bass thumping, open string licks, doublestops, new chords, rhythmic patterns, and much more.

Slow Blues Lesson – in this lesson we go over a slow blues in the key of A with the quick IV change. Employ many of the patterns learned in the previous lessons. But also now learn how to build new licks and riffs and learn how to practice the licks over the Delta Jam Tracks. Learn new lick embellishments to spice up old licks. Learn the importance of lick variations and phrase variations and how the licks relate to the given chords you are playing over. Learn more licks, how they relate and fit into the progression, and get plenty of note choice and tone tips along the way in this killer lesson.

DVD Menus and Lesson info for
SLIDE GUITAR DELTA & POST WAR BLUES DVD:

DVD Introduction - in this introduction Jeff Ross discusses the format and structure for the coming lessons. He also discusses the styles of slide that will be taught as well as the various tunings that will be taught throughout the DVD.

Tools, Tone, & Tips - this section of the DVD is broken into three sub-menus:

1. Slide guitar tools & tone lesson - in this lesson Jeff discusses the tools need to play in this style of music. Topics include types and models of guitars, string gauge, tunings, pickup settings, guitar action, amplifiers, and tunings and guitars associated with the slide guitar legends in this style. Jeff also demonstrates different types and shapes of slides and the tones associated with each. Slide materials discussed include Pyrex, PVC, stainless steel, glass, brass, bottlenecks, and more.

2. Slide guitar playing tips - in this lesson David Taub teaches some critical slide tips to help you along in your slide guitar journey. David associates and demonstrates the feel of slide with natural harmonics. He teaches how to start sliding around on the neck and gliding on the strings to get that killer slide tone and also how to develop slide vibrato. He discusses slide placement and how to get notes to ring true to pitch when playing slide as well as how to stabilize the slide when first starting. This lesson is packed with tips that will lessen your frustration when leaning slide guitar. /p>

3. Soloing strategies and note choices in this musical style - in this lesson David goes over soloing strategies and note choice when playing slide in this style of music. Learn about the sweet sounds of major and the bluesy sounds of minor. David discusses the progressions you will be playing over in this style as well as what solo options are available. He discusses use of Major Pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic, Blues Scale, Mixolydian and Dorian modes, and how to mix these and why they work over these types of progressions in this style. Learn what scales will work over given chords and progressions and why they work. This key information is invaluable, as you will be blasting these concepts over ALL your playing.

Slide lessons standard tuning - this section of the DVD is broken into three sub-menus:

1. Tampa Red, Earl Hooker, & Robert Nighthawk styles - in this section we go over the half-time breakdown of the song that comes in right after the guitar solo. It's a very cool section of the song utilizing hammer-ons, slides, palm-muting, and big power chords. We teach all the parts with up close shots of the neck and you will learn how to cop the feel of this section utilizing all the needed techniques.

2. Muddy Waters style slide - in this lesson your will learn more slide guitar in standard tuning in the key of E. You will take some of the single note licks you learned in the previous lesson and start combining them with rhythms using double stops and thumping in bass notes with the thumb. This is in that real Muddy Waters style slide guitar. Learn cool licks over each chord in the progression, how to get percussive sounds, how to use chordal embellishments and bass patterns, turnarounds, open scales, how to up-rake notes across the strings, and much more.

3. Slide licks from the V chord - in this lesson we continue teaching slide guitar licks and rhythms in standard tuning. Here you will learn how to take licks and turnarounds from the five, (V), chord. Learn cool licks using chromatic passing notes and a killer turnaround and how to tie them together to get into and out of slow blues progressions and songs.

Open D Tuning - in this lesson you will learn about slide playing using open D tuning. Jeff goes over how to get your guitar in this great alternate tuning often used by slide guitar legends in this style. This lesson will be in the style of Elmore James and many other slide greats. Jeff compares standard A440 tuning to the open D tuning so you can visually see, hear, and compare the tunings. You will learn a cool rhythm and then how to intersperse killer slide licks into the rhythm. Learn a big bunch of killer slide licks, turnarounds, and how to vary them so you can come up with endless possibilities. Jeff also packs the lesson with many slide tips and techniques that will help you along in you slide playing journey.

Open G Tuning - in this lesson you will learn about slide playing utilizing open G tuning. This style tuning is used by many slide guitar masters including Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and Howlin Wolf. Jeff takes you through the tuning and teaches how to get your guitar tuned properly to an open G chord. Get that real Rolling & Tumbling type sounds in this lesson and learn a huge batch of killer licks and rhythms. Learn how to bounce the slide off to open strings as well as how to tie all the licks together into a cohesive piece of music.

Open A Tuning & Bonus Lesson - this section of the DVD is broken into two sub-menus:

1. Acoustic slide lesson in open A tuning - in this lesson you will learn all about slide in open A tuning. Jeff teaches this lesson on acoustic guitar just to demonstrate that you can play many of these slide techniques on both acoustic and electric. Jeff goes over this alternate tuning and how to get your guitar tuned to an open A chord. Learn how to play off an A7 triad and get some really killer sounds and riff ideas. You will also learn some bass note walk downs and how to tie them into the progression.

2. Blues Bonus Lesson - in this lesson Jeff teaches some killer blues licks and techniques in the styles of BB King and Otis Rush. Learn some awesome blues licks over each chord in the given progression. Jeff teaches you how to work off each chord and come up with hip things to play over each chord. Learn some cool chromatic riffs, how to go from the 1 to the 1, cool string bending, hammering to the major 3rd, vibrato, and more. On screen tablature makes it easy to learn all the licks as well as an up close shot of the neck teaches you all the licks and techniques up close and personal.

DVD Menus and Lesson info for
DELTA/CHICAGO BLUES JAM TRACKS PLUS AUDIO CD:

This killer CD has 10 full-on Jam Tracks that are both fun and empowering to use as practice tools. These tracks are a great way to hone your lead guitar skills to a sharp edge. Make no mistake: These tracks sound fantastic because they have been professionally recorded and mastered at Sound Source Studios here in San Diego.

The tracks contain a full band playing minus the lead guitar. That means it's rhythm guitar, drums, bass guitar, and then YOU will be the lead guitar player tearing it up all over these tracks.

These tracks kick butt – period. Along with the written lesson book, they will get your lead guitar playing to the next level….FAST.

To give this CD the most possible valuable variety, I mixed up the keys, chords, and tempos to give you lots of lead guitar avenues over different rhythmic jam examples.