Chuck recorded this as a live webinar on October 10,2020. Chuck uses three songs from his “Back to the Woods” album to share different approaches to playing the blues. The first song he teaches and discusses is “Vicksburg Blues” recorded in 1930 by Little Brother Montgomery. “Vicksburg Blues” is a more somber, basic I-IV-V blues in the key of E, with a walking bass line. The next tune he teaches is “If You Haven’t Any Hay” in the key of D, also recorded in 1930, by Skip James. “If You Haven’t Any Hay” is a brisk tempo, syncopated blues with almost a calypso rhythm. For the third, song Chuck teaches a minor blues song, “Losing Hand” in the key of G written by Jesse Stone ( aka Charles Calhoun) in 1953 and made popular by Ray Charles.
Throughout the lessons, Chuck fields questions from the participants across a range of subjects; such as playing specific techniques, approaches to playing with the different bands he’s been associated with, and some straight up rock and roll questions. The quality of the videos is not great but throughout this series there are musical goldmines that you can apply to your playing.
This series includes access to videos and transcriptions of the webinar here.
Levels: Intermediate and Advanced (but all levels are welcome)
* “Blues Piano Techniques Webinar with Chuck Leavell” is not included in the Annual Membership and must be purchased separately.