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Plucking the Heartstrings: Mastering the Deep River Blues Guitar Lesson with Doc Watson
Introduction
A Legend of American Folk Music: Doc Watson
Doc Watson was an American folk musician, known for his distinctive voice and fingerstyle guitar playing. Born in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, Watson grew up surrounded by music and began playing the guitar at an early age.
He became a pioneer of the flatpicking style and is credited with revitalizing interest in traditional folk music in the United States during the 1960s.
The Song: Deep River Blues
"Deep River Blues" is a classic folk song that has been covered by many musicians over the years, but it's perhaps best known as one of Doc Watson's signature tunes. The song tells the story of a man who's feeling lonely and downtrodden, longing to escape his troubles by traveling down to the river where he can find solace in its soothing waters.
The upbeat tempo and catchy melody make it a popular tune among guitar players who love to play traditional American folk music. In this lesson, we'll break down how to play "Deep River Blues" on guitar, so you can add it to your repertoire and impress your friends with your fingerpicking skills.
Basic Chords and Progression
The Building Blocks of Deep River Blues
Before diving into the intricacies of Doc Watson's masterful fingerpicking, it's important to understand the basic building blocks of the song. The chords used in "Deep River Blues" are fairly simple, but they provide a solid foundation for the fingerstyle embellishments to come. The song is in the key of E and uses three basic chords: E, A, and B7.
If you're not familiar with these chord shapes, don't worry - they're all fairly easy to play. The E chord is played with your first finger on the first fret of the third string, your second finger on the second fret of the fifth string, and your third finger on the second fret of the fourth string.
Strum all six strings for a full E chord sound. The A chord is played with your first finger on the second fret of the fourth string, your second finger on the second fret of the third string, and your third finger on the second fret of the second string.
Strum only from strings five down for a full A chord sound. B7 is played with your first finger on first fret 4th string (D), 2nd Fret 5th String (A), Third Finger 2nd Fret 3rd String (B) and Fourth Finger 2nd Fret High E String or First String (E).
With these three chords under your belt, you can start strumming along to "Deep River Blues." The song follows a simple chord progression: two bars each of E and A followed by one bar each of E and B7. Repeat this sequence twice more before finishing with one bar each again as follows: E - B7 - E - A – repeating until completion.
Fingerpicking Techniques
Exploring the Fingerpicking Technique Used in Deep River Blues
Fingerpicking is an essential technique for any guitar player who wants to make their music more dynamic and interesting. Doc Watson's "Deep River Blues" features a beautiful fingerpicking pattern that is simple but effective.
The basic idea is to use your thumb to pluck the bass notes while your fingers pick out the melody on the higher strings. This creates a full, rich sound that can be used in a variety of musical genres.
The Demonstration of Fingerpicking Patterns
To start fingerpicking, you'll want to practice alternating between your thumb and fingers on the guitar strings. A good way to begin this process is by playing a basic three-chord progression, such as E-A-B7 or C-F-G.
Once you feel comfortable with this technique, you can add some variations by incorporating hammer-ons and pull-offs into your playing. One of the most important aspects of fingerpicking is rhythm.
You need to be able to maintain a steady beat while simultaneously picking out individual notes on the guitar strings. This may take some time to master, but it's worth it once you get the hang of it.
Another key aspect of fingerpicking is dynamic range. You can vary your picking intensity from soft and gentle to loud and aggressive depending on what kind of mood you're aiming for in your playing.
There are endless variations on fingerpicking patterns that can be used in different musical styles and genres - so don't be afraid to experiment! With practice, patience, and persistence, anyone can become proficient at fingerstyle guitar playing like Doc Watson did in his iconic song "Deep River Blues."
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