Check out our newest website for Fender lovers -- TalkFender.com

stranded horse · April 28th, 2011, 05:57 AM

Hello,
I gather there are some other North Mississippi Hill Country enthusiasts and fans of T-Model Ford, R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, etc. on this forum, but there is still so little information available on their playing style, that I thought a place to meet and exchange some songs and playing style tips would be great.
For example I still haven't found a proper instruction on the right hand technique used by these guys.
No formal instruction in this style can be found on the web, so I guess everyone who is able to play this style a bit, apart from the Mississippi Greats must have somehow figured out the technique themselves. There is no website dedicated to teaching this style, and most youtube videos trying to teach some of these songs are obviously wrong.

So I hope many people who like this style come by to talk about the Hill Country Blues.

I start by posting a link (for everyone who hasn't seen it yet) to the must-watch documentary 'You See Me Laughin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPlX2K1vl-Art

and for people that just bumped into the track and haven't got a clue what the hell hill country blues is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8RtayjqqIw

It's all about grabbing a guitar and make people dance. Cheap guitars, hypnotic droney grooves, open tunings.

Yammerman · April 28th, 2011, 06:40 AM

Thanks I love that music and am enjoying those vids.

stranded horse · April 28th, 2011, 06:58 AM

I'd also love to see videos of TDPRI members playing hill country blues

hal · April 28th, 2011, 08:19 AM

And don't forget the North Mississippi Allstars. They are really carrying this forward.

PeteMac · April 30th, 2011, 01:43 AM

Music to dance away your blues !

I love it.
The band I'm in have taken this direction, but with our own "local" take on the idea.

For me, the simpler the better !

JayFreddy · April 30th, 2011, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stranded horse

I start by posting a link (for everyone who hasn't seen it yet) to the must-watch documentary 'You See Me Laughin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPlX2K1vl-Art

Nice! Thanks for that! I noticed lots of Peaveys... No Mesa Boogies!

elihu · April 30th, 2011, 07:04 AM

Yeah, I watched the first two vids of you See Me Laughin'...great stuff, thanks for posting. The thing that bowled me over is the singing...IMO lots of folks can ape the guitar styles Stranded horse. But to sing like R.L. Burnside?

stranded horse · April 30th, 2011, 04:12 PM

can anyone help me figuring out which chords he is playing in the rhythm part?

edit: doesnt seem to work, heres the direct link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_DOnKJ232M

elihu · May 1st, 2011, 07:24 AM

Sounds like E to G Stranded Horse.

Great vid, thanks for posting.

stranded horse · May 1st, 2011, 01:05 PM

I assume his tuning is open G, so you mean 2nd and 5th fret on the 4th string? To me it looks like hes only playing 2nd fret

Beachbum · May 1st, 2011, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayFreddy

Nice! Thanks for that! I noticed lots of Peaveys... No Mesa Boogies!

Ya, no doubt. That stuff is all going on in Peaveys back yard. Not surprised to see those old Peavey combos popping up all over the vids. Once you get South of the Ohio River you're in Peavey Country for sure. I grew up in Alabama. Still love mine.

It's interesting to note. When I watched the movie "Black Snake Moan" I couldn't help thinking that someone had really done their homework because they definitely chose the rite amp for that scene.

stranded horse · May 1st, 2011, 06:27 PM

The biggest question for me at the moment is: does Burnside do this offbeat percussive sound with the strumming hand, or by muting the strings with the fretting hand?

Mike Eskimo · May 1st, 2011, 06:48 PM

Peaveys are cheap and plentiful at Pawn shops.

Rule got himself a metronome in his hand (the definitive version):

Hack-meister Buddy Guy made a record w/ Jimbo Mathus 6 or 8 years ago called Sweet Tea. Blows the hell out of all those celebrity records he's made for 20 yrs now.

Yeah - also check out Jimbo and Alvin Youngblood Hart.

stranded horse · May 2nd, 2011, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Eskimo

Peaveys are cheap and plentiful at Pawn shops.

Rule got himself a metronome in his hand (the definitive version):

Hack-meister Buddy Guy made a record w/ Jimbo Mathus 6 or 8 years ago called Sweet Tea. Blows the hell out of all those celebrity records he's made for 20 yrs now.

Yeah - also check out Jimbo and Alvin Youngblood Hart.

I'm not a native speaker, can anyone explain what he means by "I've got cherry red"

stranded horse · May 3rd, 2011, 12:13 PM

Please criticize and help me to improve! I don't dare do the singing part yet

cheers, s.h.

bigben55 · May 3rd, 2011, 01:15 PM

Hack-meister Buddy Guy made a record w/ Jimbo Mathus 6 or 8 years ago called Sweet Tea. Blows the hell out of all those celebrity records he's made for 20 yrs now.

IMO, Sweet Tea is the best blues album in the last 10 years. They nailed that raw guitar sound. But I love it most because of the backing band. Classic case of sounding like your falling down the stairs but landing on your feet. So loose, but perfect for those songs. As a true Buddy Guy fan, I take offense to "hackmeister," but I do know where you are coming from. On Sweet Tea, I just love his playing because he doesn't overplay like he usually does. But Buddy is 74 years old, and still touring and making records, so he can do whatever the hell he wants to. He's a living legend and has earned that right.

Mike Eskimo · May 4th, 2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

But Buddy is 74 years old, and still touring and making records, so he can do whatever the hell he wants to. He's a living legend and has earned that right.

And I'm sooooo glad I saw him when he was younger.

All the Jimbo records are worth checking out.

This is straight up Mississippi and one of my favorite blues clips of all. I think Jimbo is runnin' 3 or 4 strings by the end :

soultosoul13 · May 4th, 2011, 11:28 AM

love it.

stranded horse · May 5th, 2011, 12:01 PM

Does anyone of you know how to play "Let My Baby Ride"? I love to see a lesson. I cant figure out the tuning. The main riff sounds more like standard but the solo is Open G I guess.

cheers, s.h.

stranded horse · May 7th, 2011, 04:50 PM

I also would love to learn this tune, but it's still hard for me to figure out tunes in open G. Maybe someone could help?

PeteMac · May 9th, 2011, 03:29 AM

Hey Stranded,

My band does both of these songs ^ and we do them in open G tuning.
We kind of do a version of Let My Baby Ride which is closer to the re-mixed version on the "Come On In" album. I do the main riff :- ( 2nd fret, 5th fret, open strings ) in the open G tuning but starting on the 2nd fret it's in A. The slide part is also done in open G, of course.

Shake 'em on Down is similar. Open G. Main riff is:- 3rd fret, 5th fret, 3rd fret, open.

Now, I'm not saying we do a true version of these songs, but we do our version !!!

If you click on the myspace/BoneyArsedBoys link just below my signature, we have versions we recorded at rehearsal one night.
"Let my baby ride" is the video, just below the song player.
Not proper recordings by any means, but we wanted to see how they "grooved".
We were happy.
(BTW: ignore the vocals ! )

stranded horse · May 13th, 2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteMac

Hey Stranded,

My band does both of these songs ^ and we do them in open G tuning.
We kind of do a version of Let My Baby Ride which is closer to the re-mixed version on the "Come On In" album. I do the main riff :- ( 2nd fret, 5th fret, open strings ) in the open G tuning but starting on the 2nd fret it's in A. The slide part is also done in open G, of course.

Shake 'em on Down is similar. Open G. Main riff is:- 3rd fret, 5th fret, 3rd fret, open.

Now, I'm not saying we do a true version of these songs, but we do our version !!!

If you click on the myspace/BoneyArsedBoys link just below my signature, we have versions we recorded at rehearsal one night.
"Let my baby ride" is the video, just below the song player.
Not proper recordings by any means, but we wanted to see how they "grooved".
We were happy.
(BTW: ignore the vocals ! )

awesome! is all night long also in open g?

cheers, s.h.

PeteMac · May 14th, 2011, 02:17 AM

All Night Long is in standard.
We play it in A.

PhilAstles · September 28th, 2011, 02:46 AM

Wow - I haven't posted on this Forum for over 5 years, but this thread just brought me back. This is just an amazing genre of Blues. And there is no instruction anywhere about it. We must keep this Thread going and build up the body of info so others (myself included!) can play and enjoy it also.

Any tips out there for nailing this style?

PeteMac · September 28th, 2011, 04:44 AM

G'day Phil.

Hey, I'm all for keeping this thread somewhere near the top of the page - I've barely even scratched the surface and I'd love to hear/learn more.

Oh . . . and welcome back !!!

.

PhilAstles · September 28th, 2011, 06:25 AM

Kool, and thanks!

PhilAstles · September 28th, 2011, 06:39 AM

I'm lovin the Jelly Roll Kings at the moment. check out Spotify and here too:
http://grooveshark.com/#/artist/Jelly+Roll+Kings/343609

TeleGlider · September 28th, 2011, 10:39 PM

When you talk about this style of music - you have to be aware
of CR Humphrey of Old Gray Mule.
He is one of the best ever in my opinion.
Check'em out ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbjir_otL_M

PhilAstles · October 17th, 2011, 04:16 AM

Bump - nobody got any more to say?!

Fred Garvin · October 17th, 2011, 02:00 PM

Check out Ian Siegal & The Youngest Sons. It's called The Skinny,released back in March.

The "youngest sons" are Rodd Bland,Cody Dickinson,Garry Burnside and Robert Kimbrough. Don't get no mo' Hill Country than that.

Duwayne Burnside and Alvin are on the record too,produced by Cody.

October 7,2011 UK charts.

South Memphis String Band (Jimbo Mathus,Luther Dickinson and Alvin Hart) were at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass a few weeks ago. Jimbo Mathus and the Tri State Coalition have a new album out,Luther,Cody and big Chew are touring now. North Mississippi Allstars.

And oh yeah,Cody and Luthers dad, Jim Dickinson is the piano player on the Rolling Stones song Wild Horses.....and Keef mentions him on the very first page of his book 'Life'.

PeteMac · October 20th, 2011, 01:42 AM

Hey . . . Old Gray Mule are here in town this weekend !

I'm there !

eddiewagner · October 20th, 2011, 10:47 AM

@ stranded horse:
that sounds really good to me. very full. great stuff. just sing, do it!
eddie

Scantron08 · October 20th, 2011, 11:02 AM

As a Mississippian who spent some time in the north Hill country in college, I'm so glad to see this thread. It's also interesting to see how many non-U.S.A. folk are on this thread.

Oldgraymule · January 21st, 2012, 10:31 PM

Thanks TeleGlider!
Hey PeteMac, did you come out while we were in Melbourne? Sure appreciate you if you did!

Here's a vid where I got to sit in with Lightnin Malcolm and Cameron Kimbrough back in August if that's all right. Boy was I nervous! Played with Cameron's dad, but Lightnin is one of my living guitar heroes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAmzVyncaLg

April 28th, 2011, 05:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
stranded horse Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Dresden Posts: 200	Hill Country Blues Thread Hello, I gather there are some other North Mississippi Hill Country enthusiasts and fans of T-Model Ford, R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, etc. on this forum, but there is still so little information available on their playing style, that I thought a place to meet and exchange some songs and playing style tips would be great. For example I still haven't found a proper instruction on the right hand technique used by these guys. No formal instruction in this style can be found on the web, so I guess everyone who is able to play this style a bit, apart from the Mississippi Greats must have somehow figured out the technique themselves. There is no website dedicated to teaching this style, and most youtube videos trying to teach some of these songs are obviously wrong. So I hope many people who like this style come by to talk about the Hill Country Blues. I start by posting a link (for everyone who hasn't seen it yet) to the must-watch documentary 'You See Me Laughin' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPlX2K1vl-Art and for people that just bumped into the track and haven't got a clue what the hell hill country blues is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8RtayjqqIw It's all about grabbing a guitar and make people dance. Cheap guitars, hypnotic droney grooves, open tunings.

April 28th, 2011, 08:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
hal Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,489	And don't forget the North Mississippi Allstars. They are really carrying this forward. __________________ Wherever you go, there you are.

April 30th, 2011, 01:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
PeteMac Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 49 Posts: 2,055 10 Photos	Music to dance away your blues ! I love it. The band I'm in have taken this direction, but with our own "local" take on the idea. For me, the simpler the better ! __________________ "Find what you like . . . and let it kill ya . . ." (Kinky Friedman) www.myspace.com/theboneyarsedboys

May 1st, 2011, 06:48 PM	#13 (permalink)
Mike Eskimo Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Detroit Age: 48 Posts: 4,697	Peaveys are cheap and plentiful at Pawn shops. Rule got himself a metronome in his hand (the definitive version): Hack-meister Buddy Guy made a record w/ Jimbo Mathus 6 or 8 years ago called Sweet Tea. Blows the hell out of all those celebrity records he's made for 20 yrs now. Yeah - also check out Jimbo and Alvin Youngblood Hart. __________________ Geeshie Wiley is my co-pilot

May 4th, 2011, 11:28 AM	#18 (permalink)
soultosoul13 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Des Moines, IA Age: 32 Posts: 286	love it. __________________ www.mattwoodsmusic.com

Sponsored Ads	#
Forum Sponsor Sponsored posting Join Date: March, 2003 Location: Forum HQ Posts: N/A	Sponsored by...

April 28th, 2011, 06:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
Yammerman TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 53	Thanks I love that music and am enjoying those vids.

April 28th, 2011, 06:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
stranded horse Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Dresden Posts: 200	I'd also love to see videos of TDPRI members playing hill country blues

April 30th, 2011, 07:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
elihu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Age: 51 Posts: 3,288	Yeah, I watched the first two vids of you See Me Laughin'...great stuff, thanks for posting. The thing that bowled me over is the singing...IMO lots of folks can ape the guitar styles Stranded horse. But to sing like R.L. Burnside?

April 30th, 2011, 04:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
stranded horse Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Dresden Posts: 200	can anyone help me figuring out which chords he is playing in the rhythm part? edit: doesnt seem to work, heres the direct link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_DOnKJ232M

May 1st, 2011, 07:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
elihu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Age: 51 Posts: 3,288	Sounds like E to G Stranded Horse. Great vid, thanks for posting.

May 1st, 2011, 01:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
stranded horse Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Dresden Posts: 200	I assume his tuning is open G, so you mean 2nd and 5th fret on the 4th string? To me it looks like hes only playing 2nd fret

May 1st, 2011, 06:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
stranded horse Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Dresden Posts: 200	The biggest question for me at the moment is: does Burnside do this offbeat percussive sound with the strumming hand, or by muting the strings with the fretting hand?

May 3rd, 2011, 12:13 PM	#15 (permalink)
stranded horse Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Dresden Posts: 200	Please criticize and help me to improve! I don't dare do the singing part yet cheers, s.h.

May 3rd, 2011, 01:15 PM	#16 (permalink)
bigben55 Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cincinnati, OH Age: 40 Posts: 757	Hack-meister Buddy Guy made a record w/ Jimbo Mathus 6 or 8 years ago called Sweet Tea. Blows the hell out of all those celebrity records he's made for 20 yrs now. IMO, Sweet Tea is the best blues album in the last 10 years. They nailed that raw guitar sound. But I love it most because of the backing band. Classic case of sounding like your falling down the stairs but landing on your feet. So loose, but perfect for those songs. As a true Buddy Guy fan, I take offense to "hackmeister," but I do know where you are coming from. On Sweet Tea, I just love his playing because he doesn't overplay like he usually does. But Buddy is 74 years old, and still touring and making records, so he can do whatever the hell he wants to. He's a living legend and has earned that right.

May 5th, 2011, 12:01 PM	#19 (permalink)
stranded horse Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Dresden Posts: 200	Does anyone of you know how to play "Let My Baby Ride"? I love to see a lesson. I cant figure out the tuning. The main riff sounds more like standard but the solo is Open G I guess. cheers, s.h.

May 7th, 2011, 04:50 PM	#20 (permalink)
stranded horse Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Dresden Posts: 200	I also would love to learn this tune, but it's still hard for me to figure out tunes in open G. Maybe someone could help?

May 9th, 2011, 03:29 AM	#21 (permalink)
PeteMac Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 49 Posts: 2,055 10 Photos	Hey Stranded, My band does both of these songs ^ and we do them in open G tuning. We kind of do a version of Let My Baby Ride which is closer to the re-mixed version on the "Come On In" album. I do the main riff :- ( 2nd fret, 5th fret, open strings ) in the open G tuning but starting on the 2nd fret it's in A. The slide part is also done in open G, of course. Shake 'em on Down is similar. Open G. Main riff is:- 3rd fret, 5th fret, 3rd fret, open. Now, I'm not saying we do a true version of these songs, but we do our version !!! If you click on the myspace/BoneyArsedBoys link just below my signature, we have versions we recorded at rehearsal one night. "Let my baby ride" is the video, just below the song player. Not proper recordings by any means, but we wanted to see how they "grooved". We were happy. (BTW: ignore the vocals ! ) __________________ "Find what you like . . . and let it kill ya . . ." (Kinky Friedman) www.myspace.com/theboneyarsedboys

May 14th, 2011, 02:17 AM	#23 (permalink)
PeteMac Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 49 Posts: 2,055 10 Photos	All Night Long is in standard. We play it in A. __________________ "Find what you like . . . and let it kill ya . . ." (Kinky Friedman) www.myspace.com/theboneyarsedboys

September 28th, 2011, 02:46 AM	#24 (permalink)
PhilAstles TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London Posts: 19	Wow - I haven't posted on this Forum for over 5 years, but this thread just brought me back. This is just an amazing genre of Blues. And there is no instruction anywhere about it. We must keep this Thread going and build up the body of info so others (myself included!) can play and enjoy it also. Any tips out there for nailing this style?

September 28th, 2011, 04:44 AM	#25 (permalink)
PeteMac Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 49 Posts: 2,055 10 Photos	G'day Phil. Hey, I'm all for keeping this thread somewhere near the top of the page - I've barely even scratched the surface and I'd love to hear/learn more. Oh . . . and welcome back !!! . __________________ "Find what you like . . . and let it kill ya . . ." (Kinky Friedman) www.myspace.com/theboneyarsedboys

September 28th, 2011, 06:25 AM	#26 (permalink)
PhilAstles TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London Posts: 19	Kool, and thanks!

September 28th, 2011, 06:39 AM	#27 (permalink)
PhilAstles TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London Posts: 19	I'm lovin the Jelly Roll Kings at the moment. check out Spotify and here too: http://grooveshark.com/#/artist/Jelly+Roll+Kings/343609

September 28th, 2011, 10:39 PM	#28 (permalink)
TeleGlider Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Montana Posts: 327	When you talk about this style of music - you have to be aware of CR Humphrey of Old Gray Mule. He is one of the best ever in my opinion. Check'em out ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbjir_otL_M __________________ " I feel the need--the need for speed " Maverick from Top Gun " I feel the need--the need for tweed " TeleGlider from Montana

October 17th, 2011, 04:16 AM	#29 (permalink)
PhilAstles TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London Posts: 19	Bump - nobody got any more to say?!

Check out our newest website for Fender lovers -- TalkFender.com

IMPORTANT:Treat everyone here with respect, no matter how difficult! No sex, drug, political, religion or hate discussion permitted here.

October 17th, 2011, 02:00 PM	#30 (permalink)
Fred Garvin Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: USA Posts: 249	Check out Ian Siegal & The Youngest Sons. It's called The Skinny,released back in March. The "youngest sons" are Rodd Bland,Cody Dickinson,Garry Burnside and Robert Kimbrough. Don't get no mo' Hill Country than that. Duwayne Burnside and Alvin are on the record too,produced by Cody. October 7,2011 UK charts. South Memphis String Band (Jimbo Mathus,Luther Dickinson and Alvin Hart) were at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass a few weeks ago. Jimbo Mathus and the Tri State Coalition have a new album out,Luther,Cody and big Chew are touring now. North Mississippi Allstars. And oh yeah,Cody and Luthers dad, Jim Dickinson is the piano player on the Rolling Stones song Wild Horses.....and Keef mentions him on the very first page of his book 'Life'. __________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIX480s55qg Last edited by Fred Garvin; October 18th, 2011 at 10:13 AM.

October 20th, 2011, 01:42 AM	#31 (permalink)
PeteMac Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 49 Posts: 2,055 10 Photos	Hey . . . Old Gray Mule are here in town this weekend ! I'm there ! __________________ "Find what you like . . . and let it kill ya . . ." (Kinky Friedman) www.myspace.com/theboneyarsedboys

October 20th, 2011, 10:47 AM	#32 (permalink)
eddiewagner Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ROCK!linghausen/germany Age: 53 Posts: 6,246 27 Photos	@ stranded horse: that sounds really good to me. very full. great stuff. just sing, do it! eddie __________________ My Drum/Guitar-Duo: www.Captain-Twang-and-his-Rhythm-Cat.de

October 20th, 2011, 11:02 AM	#33 (permalink)
Scantron08 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Jackson, MS Age: 37 Posts: 479	As a Mississippian who spent some time in the north Hill country in college, I'm so glad to see this thread. It's also interesting to see how many non-U.S.A. folk are on this thread.

January 21st, 2012, 10:31 PM	#34 (permalink)
Oldgraymule NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lockhart, TX Posts: 1	Thanks TeleGlider! Hey PeteMac, did you come out while we were in Melbourne? Sure appreciate you if you did! Here's a vid where I got to sit in with Lightnin Malcolm and Cameron Kimbrough back in August if that's all right. Boy was I nervous! Played with Cameron's dad, but Lightnin is one of my living guitar heroes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAmzVyncaLg