Basic Jazz Guitar Chord Chart

These are some of the basic Jazz guitar chords used in Jazz music. This basic Jazz guitar chord chart is the stepping stone to Jazz music, as you progress there are many more intricate guitar chords to learn. 

By George Luker (C) 2011 Krule Music

Top Ten Greatest Guitarist of All time: Blues Musicians

This top ten list of the Greatest Guitarists of all time comes from The Rolling Stone magazine. The interesting thing about this top ten list is, the majority of the guitar greats, are blues guitarists.

 

Here is the top ten list of the Greatest Guitarists of all time.

 

1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Duane Allman
3. B.B. King
4. Eric Clapton
5. Robert Johnson
6. Chuck Berry
7. Stevie Ray Vaughan
8. Ry Cooder
9. Jimmy Page
10. Keith Richards

Jimi Hendrix we all know is the greatest guitarist of all time. Hendrix had just recently broke a new record, for the only artist to be in the top five, with a new release decades  years) his death. Only Elvis Presley comes close with a top five release twenty six years after his death.

 

Front Stage had made a post about Jimi Hendrix’s “Valleys of Neptune” that post is here (Jimi Hendrix: 2010 Valleys of Neptune) Where Front Stage mentioned it would be an historic and amazing release for 2010. This was in January.

 

The top ten list of guitarists are truly deserving of their ranks., we will go more into details on another post of each guitarist.

 

In our previous post on Stevie Ray Vaughan, which is here (Blues Guitar Lesson from Stevie Ray Vaughan). You can see the sheer perfection, and confidence he displays and has in his playing. On the video guitar lesson, Stevie is playing his award winning instrumental “Rude Mood”.

 

So for the top ten guitarists of all time, it is clear to see that three of these guitarists are true Blues guitar players, the next four are mixed Blues and rock guitarists, but all guitarists are Blues based guitar players.

 

© Copyright 2010 Krule Music Group

Muddy Waters, The Father of Chicago Blues

Muddy Waters, “The Father of Chicago Blues” is one of the most influential blues guitarists of the golden era. Born on April 13, 1913 Muddy’s real name is McKinley Morganfield.

 

McKinley earned his nick name at a young age, for his joy of playing and Rollin’ in the mud, which gave him is stage name of Muddy Waters.

He started out playing the harmonica when he was a boy, but by age seventeen he was playing the guitar at parties imitating two blues artists who were extremely popular in the south, Son House and Robert Johnson. 

 

Muddy moved to Chicago in 1940, he played guitar with Silas Green a year later, and then returned to Mississippi. In the early 40’s he ran a juke joint, complete with gambling, moonshine and a jukebox; he also performed music there himself.

In the summer of 1941 Alan Lomax went to Stovall, Mississippi, on behalf of the Library of Congress to record various country blues musicians.

 

Alan brought his recording equipment to Muddy’s house and recorded him there on the front porch. After the recording was done, Alan played back the recording to Muddy. It was the first time Muddy had heard his voice and guitar on a record, and was totally amazed at how he sounded, and the fact that he did sound just like the best blues guitarists around. This was the beginning of the Chicago blues, and the legend of Muddy Waters. Alan then sent Muddy two copies of the record and a check for twenty dollars.

 

In 1943, Muddy went back to Chicago hopping to becoming a full-time professional musician. He stayed with a relative for a short time while driving a truck and working in a factory by day and performing at night. Big Bill Broonzy, one of the most popular bluesmen in Chicago at the time, helped Muddy break into the very competitive market by allowing him to open for his shows in the rowdy clubs. In 1945, his uncle Joe gave him his first electric guitar which enabled him to be heard above the noisy crowds.

 

In 1946, he recorded some songs for Mayo Williams at Columbia but they weren't released at the time. Later on that year he was signed and began recording for Aristocrat, a new record label run by two brothers, Leonard and Phil Chess.

 

In 1947, he played guitar with Sunnyland Slim on piano on the cuts "Gypsy Woman" and "Little Anna Mae." These were also shelved, but in 1948 "I Can't Be Satisfied" and "I Feel Like Going Home" became big hits and his popularity in clubs began to take off. Soon after, Aristocrat changed their label name to Chess Records and Muddy's signature tune "Rollin' Stone" also became a smash hit.

 

In the begging, the Chess brothers would not allow Muddy to use his own musicians in the recording studio; instead he was provided with a backing bass by Ernest "Big" Crawford, and musicians picked specifically for the recording session, including "Baby Face" Leroy Foster and Johnny Jones. Eventually Chess let Muddy pick his own member, and by September 1953 he was recording with arguably the best blues group ever: Little Walter Jacobs on harmonica; Jimmy Rogers on guitar; Elga Edmonds (a.k.a. Elgin Evans) on drums; Otis Spann on piano. The band recorded a series of blues classics during the early 1950s, some with the help of bassist/songwriter Willie Dixon, including "Hoochie Coochie Man" (Number 8 on the R&B charts), "I Just Want to Make Love to You" (Number 4), and "I'm Ready".

 

Spinning Blues into Gold: The Chess Brothers and the Legendary Chess Records This is a great book on the Chess Brothers, and Chess Records. Gives a great historic account of the legendary Chess Records. The movie “Cadillac Records” was written based on Chess Records, and all its recording artists. A great read about a record company, that spawned many legendary careers, in Blues music.

 

Muddy, along with his former harmonica player Little Walter Jacobs and recent southern new comer Howlin' Wolf, were on top of the early 1950s Chicago blues scene, his band becoming a proving ground for some of the city's best blues talent. While Little Walter continued a collaborative relationship long after he left Muddy's band in 1952, appearing on most of Muddy's classic recordings throughout the 1950s, Muddy developed a long-running but usually good-natured rivalry with Wolf. Wolf's band, like Muddy's, featured an all-star lineup, including the now-legendary guitarist Hubert Sumlin. Wolf also competed with Waters for the songwriting attention of Willie Dixon and recorded a number of Dixon’s songs.

 

In 1954 at the height of his career, the success of Muddy Waters band paved the way for others in his group to break away and enjoy their own solo careers. In 1952 Little Walter left the band when his single "Juke" became a hit, and in 1955 Rogers quit to work exclusively with his own band, which had been a sidelined until that time. Although he continued working with Muddy's band, Otis Spann enjoyed a solo career and many releases under his own name beginning in the mid-1950s

.

In 1958 Muddy went overseas to England, where he shocked audiences, with his guitar playing and songs. At the time English blues fans were exposed mostly to acoustic folk and blues music. Muddy ripped up the places he played, with his electric guitar, and tremendous deep thumping beats. Muddy’s concert at the Newport Jazz Festival, was recorded, and released as his first live album “At Newport 1960”. This historic concert and album influenced some the best guitarists and bands we know today.

Muddy Waters sound is more or less the Delta Blues electrified, modified with his own unique signature of tones in his voice, and slide guitar playing. It was also difficult for other guitarists to imitate his sound and style.

 

It’s been said that Muddy’s sound also has a touch of country or honky tonk. Although his sound may sound simple, it is also very difficult to replicate. It is all in the guitar playing.

Muddy Waters dies on April 30, 1983, but left a legacy of music, and influenced many bands and musicians today.

 

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards named their band The Rolling Stones, after Muddy’s song “Rollin’ Stone”. Led Zeppelin also was influenced by Muddy in many of their songs, such as “Whole lotta Love”. Jimi Hendrix covered Rollin’ Stone, as did many other bands. Eric Clapton was also influenced by Muddy’s playing and songs.

 

Muddy Waters was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and earned a Grammy Life Time Achievement award in 1992.

 

Can't be Satisfied: he Life and Times of Muddy Waters This is a great book, that goes into more details on Muddy waters, his life, career, and music.  With all the biographies written on Muddy Waters, “Can’t Be Satisfied” is one of the best written. We recommend this book highly, if you want to know more about The Father of Chicago Blues.

 

By George Luker Copyright © 2010 Krule Music Group

Les Paul, A Legendary Innovator of popular music

Les Paul, a legendary innovator of popular music as we know it today, had passed away on August 13 2009.

For those who only know him because of the Gibson Les Paul, have much more to learn about the Jazz musician. A pioneer from the beginning, not only as a guitar player and songwriter, but as an innovative inventory, that changed music as we know it today.

les Paul, had designed the Gibson Les Paul, the guitar we know today. Les Paul invented multi track recording, a technique that allows the recording of multiple instruments. Back then he had invented the 4 track multi recorder. Les Paul had also invented other use full inventions.

Please see Krule Music Group blog, as they will post a complete biography on Les Paul, all he contributions and innovative inventions that has changed popular music.

Les Paul died on Aug. 13 2009 at the age of 94

Les Paul, the father of electric guitar. RIP

Robert Johnson: King of the Delta Blues

Robert Johnson, "King of the Delta Blues Singers", was born in Hazlehurst, MS in Copiah County, on May 8, 1911. Crystal Springs, MS is the sister city and host of the Robert Johnson Blues Foundation Spring Festival which commemorates the birth of the Mississippi blues legend. Robert and his mother did not stay long in Hazlehurst. After working as migrant labor, his mother moved the family to Memphis where he lived for several years.

Early in life Robert developed an interest in music. He played Jews Harp and harmonica for the next few years until he became interested in guitar in the 1920's. Robert was a good looking boy and he became very popular with the girls. Eventually he became serious and married a young Virginia Travis in 1929. She and Robert's first child died during childbirth in 1930.After this early tragic experience, Robert became absorbed in his music.

 

While living in Robinsonville, Robert met other blues singers who influenced his early style. Among these are Son House and Willie Brown. Bluesman and preacher Son House particularly influenced Robert with his 'raw and intensely pure emotional music. 'Robert went back to his birthplace Hazlehurst searching for his real father, and became more serious about his music. Though during the depression, there was ample work and cash being made from the railroad and WPA highways being built, enough for people to live and have a good time. Bluesman Ike Zinnerman, became Robert's coach and mentor, and began to teach Robert.

 

Robert's understanding of women deepened and he began to understand that they could provide everything he needed. He met a kind and loving woman more than 10 years his senior with three small children. Robert and Calletta Craft were married her in 1931. She totally loved and took care of Robert. Robert wasn't particularly respected at the time because he was not a hard laborer like many people at the time, his work seemed too easy to many people. He had beautiful hands, wavy hair and looked younger than his age.

 

No one knew he was married, and thought he was being kept by an older woman.

This trip to Mississippi in the 30's was really important to Robert. During this stay, Johnson's personality developed into the man he would be. Also of great importance was the musical talent and ability that blossomed while he was in Hazlehurst. He would spend time alone practicing songs until they were just as he liked them. When he felt ready for more learning, he packed up his family and moved to the Delta.

 

When Robert returned to Robinsonville, he had surpassed his friends Son House and Willie Brown. He played in bars and on street corners for a new months and then would move on. Robert began to spend time on the Arkansas side of the river, across the river from Memphis in a town called Helena. All the great musicians of that time passed through Helena and west Helena, and many were influenced by Robert.

 

There was a special young man to whom Robert took a liking named Robert Lockwood, Jr. Robert Johnson lived with young Robert's mother, Estella Coleman. Robert J. tutored the young man who had an admirable musical talent. He shared much of what he knew with Robert Jr over the next four or five years. His style took on many of the characteristics of Robert Johnson's. Estella was good to Robert, she took good care of him. Robert stayed in Helena with Estella and Robert Jr, and from this base traveled to play all Rover Mississippi and the Arkansas Delta. Robert had the opportunity to meet and play with all the great blues contemporaries.

 

Robert guarded his musical style well. If he felt someone wanted to be like him, play like him, he would leave in the middle of a performance. He loved traveling and seemed always on the move. Robert could play most anything requested of him. He had an ability to learn music and lyrics quickly, after only hearing a song once, he could play and sing it, not only the blues, but pop, ballads, and other styles as well.

 

By the mid-thirties, Johnson was well known through the Delta, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and began to think about recording his music. He contacted H. C. Spier in Jackson, MS, who connected him with someone who could help him. In 1936 he began to record his songs, among them his most popular Terraplane Blues. He made eleven records which increased his fame.

 

Johnson is one of the most admired and influential Delta blues artists despite his short life and the small number of recordings that he left. His songs, such as "Sweet Home Chicago", "Come on in My Kitchen", and "Crossroad Blues", are blues classics -- played by thousands of blues artists and adapted by rock 'n' roll artists such as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton. His life and work would later influence the growth and talent of such famous musicians as Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Bonnie Raitt, the Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and yes, Elvis.

 

Robert Johnson was a gifted singer, guitarist and songwriter whose life story is wrapped in mystery and legend. Only two photographs are known to exist of him and he recorded only 29 songs before his death in 1938 at the age of 27.

 

Many of his contemporaries believed that he met the Devil at a lonely crossroads at midnight and made a deal to sell his soul in return for becoming the greatest blues musician of all time. More likely, he was blessed with enormous talent and spent a lot of time learning from other blues masters and honing his skills. He achieved some success and fame from recordings and performances during his life and was scheduled to perform at the first "Spirituals to Swing" concert at Carnegie Hall when he died.

 

Read the full article here. Source: Robert Johnson Blues Foundation