John Hammond
John Hammond is regarded as one of the most prolific and outstanding solo acoustic blues guitarists on the scene today. His career has spanned more than four decades, and he has recorded and appeared on nearly 50 albums. In this classic, in-depth interview taped in 1991, you'll get an inside glimpse of John's aspirations, his style, and techniques that distinguish him as a unique and inspiring solo blues guitarist.
Videos
• Tuning (00:44) - Guidance on tuning your guitar for optimal blues sound.
• Song 1 (03:54) - John Hammond gives a solo acoustic Blues performance.
• Early Influences (01:53) - A discussion on the musicians and styles that influenced John Hammond.
• Lightning Hopkins (01:45) - Exploration of techniques and styles used by Lightning Hopkins.
• Blues Turnarounds (00:38) - Instruction on playing classic blues turnaround phrases.
• Slide Guitar: Intro (01:55) - Introduction to slide guitar playing.
• Slide Guitar: Open D Tuning (01:05) - Techniques for playing slide guitar in open D tuning.
• Song 2 (04:28) - John gives another performance.
• Slide Guitar: Elmore James (01:24) - Techniques and styles used by Elmore James.
• Slide Guitar: A Tuning (02:02) - Techniques for playing slide guitar in open A tuning.
• Slide Guitar: Robert Johnson (02:12) - Techniques and styles used by Robert Johnson.
• Slide Guitar: String Damping (01:02) - Instruction on string damping techniques for slide guitar.
• Picking Technique (02:14) - Guidance on effective picking techniques for blues guitar.
• Beyond 12-Bar Blues (01:28) - Exploration of blues structures beyond the traditional 12-bar format.
• Blind Lemon Jefferson (01:06) - Techniques and styles used by Blind Lemon Jefferson.
• Song 3 (06:26) - John gives another performance.
• 12-String Guitar (03:33) - Techniques specific to playing the 12-string guitar.
• Harmonica Technique (04:23) - Instruction on harmonica playing techniques for blues.
• Adding Vocals (01:59) - Tips and techniques for integrating vocals with guitar playing.
• Working with Musicians (02:49) - Advice on collaborating with other musicians.
• Working Solo (00:49) - Tips and techniques for performing solo.
• Washboard Percussion (01:05) - Instruction on incorporating washboard percussion into your music.
• "Little Big Man" Soundtrack (01:58) - Discussion on John Hammond's contribution to the "Little Big Man" soundtrack.
• Repertoire (01:16) - Building and managing a blues repertoire.
• Advice for Solo Musicians (02:03) - Final tips and advice for solo musicians.
• Song 4 (06:46) - John gives his final performance.