The Guitar of Robert Johnson

For my first post I thought I'd share the back cover description I wrote for the Robert Johnson lesson that will be available shortly through Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop.  Cover design by Frederick Carlson. 

When I started teaching lessons for SGGW in 2011 I was a bit nervous to find out that I'd be writing the lesson descriptions.  My conversation with Stefan went something like, Me: "who will be writing the back cover?", Stefan: "you", Me: "me?", Stefan: "of course!".  It has proven to be one the most enjoyable parts of the process and one more way that this whole experience has stretched me.  The challenging part is to come up with something that hasn't been said over and over, which is becoming harder and harder.  You can focus on just the history of the style or artist your covering, or you can simply focus on what's being taught in the lesson.  I like to do a little of both and always ask myself, "does this description get me excited about this lesson?"  If the answer is yes, we have a winner.


Robert Johnson is arguably the most well known figure in the history of the blues. Though the 29 songs Johnson recorded from 1936-1937 had little impact during his lifetime, a collection of his singles, entitled King of the Delta Blues Singers was released in 1961 and found wide- spread recognition. Then, 30 years later, The Complete Recordings of Robert Johnson was released selling over one million copies. the first blues recording to do so, winning a Grammy in the process.

Since that 1961 LP, players from all different musical backgrounds have sought to learn Robert Johnson's techniques and in this 3 DVD set Tom Feldmann covers every aspect of Johnson's playing. Each song is performed by Feldmann before he dissects the arrangement verse-by- verse and ends with a split screen segment where the song is played slowly with close up shots of both the left and right hands. This is the most expansive look into the guitar playing of Robert Johnson produced in video form.

DVD One: Standard Tuning: Kind Hearted Woman, Phonograph Blues, 32-20 Blues, A Blues Variations (Dead Shrimp Blues, Little Queen of Spades, Honeymoon Blues), I'm A Steady Rolling Man, Sweet Home Chicago, Love in Vain Blues, From Four Til Late, Drop D Tuning: Malted Milk, Crossnote Tuning: Hellhound on my Trail

DVD Two: Spanish Tuning: Stop Breakin' Down Blues, Walking Blues, Come On In My Kitchen, Last Fair Deal Gone Down, Stones In My Passway, Cross Road Blues, Traveling Riverside Blues

DVD Three: Spanish Tuning: If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day, Vestapol Tuning: Rambling on my Mind, I Believe I'll Dust My Broom, Preaching Blues, Standard Tuning: They're Red Hot