Jared James Nichols is one of my favourite guitarists in the modern blues scene. He fuses the best elements of hard American rock with the blues, putting a new twist on the great 'power trio' bands of the 1970s. Having grown up in Wisconsin - a state known more for...
I have wanted to sound like Joe Bonamassa since I first became aware of him around 5 years ago. I heard songs like 'Stop!' and 'Sloe Gin', and became enthralled by both his playing, and the quality of his guitar tone. To my mind, Joe Bonamassa is one of the...
In the history of the blues, there are few characters who have played such a pivotal role as Bessie Smith and the early 'classic blues singers'. At the beginning of the 20th century, there was a burgeoning blues scene in the Deep South. In rural areas like the Mississippi Delta, itinerant guitarists...
Stevie Ray Vaughan was the guitarist who first got me hooked on the blues. He is a blues guitarist who has it all - amazing touch and feel, beautiful tone, and the ability to play at great speed. As John Mayer so succinctly put it: There is an intensity about...
One of the best things you can do to improve as a blues guitarist is to learn the major pentatonic scale. Most blues guitarists have a good grasp of the minor pentatonic scale and it’s various shapes (if you don't, then fear not - I cover everything you need to...
If you want to play blues lead guitar, you need to have a solid grasp of the minor pentatonic scale. This is by far the most commonly occurring scale in the blues. Every famous blues guitarist has used the minor pentatonic scale; from B.B. King, to Eric Clapton to Stevie...
A number of months ago, I wrote an article about the best guitar pedals for the blues. It really got me thinking about how crucial guitar pedals are when it comes to achieving a beautiful blues tone. So I thought it would be interesting to break down my last article on...
Larkin Poe are one of the most interesting bands in the modern blues scene. In their own words, they’ve created a 'brand of Roots Rock ‘n’ Roll: gritty, soulful, and flavoured by their southern heritage’. They are unlike any band in the world of contemporary blues. Fronted by sisters Rebecca...
Gary Moore played a fundamental role in the evolution of the blues. He took the traditional blues form and fused it with heavy rock, shred guitar, and glam rock. In a totally unique way, he combined the core elements of the blues with these very different genres. In doing so, Moore...
Delta blues is one of the most famous sub genres of blues music. It is one of the earliest forms of the blues and one that remains popular to this day. Forged in the Mississippi Delta in the American Deep South, early Delta blues music has shaped the genre as...
In the history of blues and blues-rock music, the tube amp...
Record producer Mike Vernon once described Peter Green as...
In recent years, the Analog Man King Of Tone pedal has...
I think there are very few blues guitarists out there who...
Playing the guitar quickly has never been a natural strength...
John Mayall’s Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton is an...
The Klon Centaur is one of the most famous guitar pedals of...
Gary Moore is one of most gifted and technically skilled...
The Klon Centaur ‘Professional Overdrive’ is...
It is difficult to think of an album that has had a greater...
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