LESSONS
ADVANCED CONCEPTS
EARLY ELECTRIC BLUES GUITAR (1937-1953)
Guitar Setup & Position | Relaxed Body, Relaxed Blues (Full Lesson)
18:58 • Opens on YouTube
OVERVIEW
Guitar setup and playing position are often overlooked, but they can have as much impact on your feel, timing, touch, and control as almost anything else you practice.
In this lesson, I break down how I position the guitar and body for Early Electric Blues—from chair height, feet, legs, and shoulder position to the right hand, left hand, thumb placement, and economy of movement.
IN THIS LESSON, WE COVER:
► Finding the proper chair height and a balanced seated position
► Positioning the guitar without unnecessary tension
► Keeping the shoulders, arms, and wrists relaxed
► Three points of contact for a stable right hand
► Using rest strokes and thumb angle to shape tone
► Why I generally keep my left thumb over the neck
► Developing quiet, economical hand movements
► Why smaller parlor-sized guitars work so well for this style
The goal isn't simply "correct posture." It's to remove unnecessary movement and tension so the body can stay calm, balanced, and relaxed.
A RELAXED BODY CREATES RELAXED MUSIC
A relaxed body creates relaxed movement.
Relaxed movement creates relaxed timing.
Relaxed timing creates relaxed music.
Early Electric Blues Guitar | Coordinating the Thumb & Fingers (Full Lesson)
9:12 • Opens on YouTube
OVERVIEW
One of the most challenging parts of learning Early Electric Blues guitar is developing the coordination between the thumb and fingers.
Rooted firmly in the Country Blues tradition, this style asks the thumb to maintain the rhythmic foundation and bottom end while the fingers independently add chords, melody, fills, and accents above it. Getting those two parts working together can initially feel like trying to make your hands do two different things at once.
In this introductory lesson, I walk through several simple practice techniques and exercises that I believe can help develop that independence and coordination—starting with the fundamentals and gradually bringing the thumb and fingers together.
The goal isn't speed or complexity. It's developing enough independence that the thumb can become steady and natural, allowing the fingers greater freedom to move around it.
It's a challenging skill and takes time, but once the coordination begins to develop, it opens the door to much of the vocabulary and feel that defines Early Electric Blues guitar.