If you love the Delta Blues then the riff songs in open G are a must

to play. In this workshop I will be showing the riffs and giving tabs for

songs in open G. I will also present alternate riffs and comps for anyone

who wants to stay in standard tuning. (just be ready for the key of G!)

All this so we can jam on more great songs. I haven’t got the final cut

yet but I have been working on: Terraplane Blues, Roll and Tumble, I Feel

Like Going Home, Walking Blues, Travelling Riverside Blues, When the Levee

Breaks and more. That’s Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and of course

many artists that covered these songs. And of course we’ll jam any

requests from our blues books. See you there!

Let me or Lonny or me know if you’re coming, we sometimes have a

waiting list.

www.southislandstudio.com or contact page this website

Songwriter, guitarist, bass player, singer and composer,  Willie Dixon has a great record called “I am the Blues”.   Few could make such a claim but to my mind he has the  right.  I always think I’m hearing what makes me love  the blues when I hear his songs.  Besides the fact that he wrote hits for Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf,  Sonny Boy  Williamson, Bo Diddley, Otis Rush and others, all  evidence (his songs, his autobiography, his interviews)   indicates Willie Dixon was a wonderful thoughtful man  with a love of life and a strong social conscience.  

Here’s a list of songs we will draw from:  Spoonful, My Babe, I Can’t Quit You, Back Door Man, I’m Ready,  Weak Brain and Narrow Mind, Little Red Rooster, Pretty Thing, I Ain’t Superstitious, Bring it On Home, Evil, You Can’t Judge a Book by Looking at It’s Cover,  You Shook Me.  

We’ve already got Help Me, Down in the Bottom, and  Hoochie Coochie Man in the jamming book.   

Willie Dixon Songs,  our blues jamming book just got a  lot bigger!  

Hope to see you there, let me or Lonny know if you plan to come.  We have to stop at 5 or 6 participants to keep  the jam manageable. 

Usual location.   $40.    www.southislandstudio.com  or email me for more info.

   We had great success playing various blues grooves,  especially when we had the chord progression in  front of us and listened closely to the song on youtube  first. Can we do the same with a blues solo?  If we have a tab of the solo, can watch someone play it and  above all, hear it,  how then do we add it to our  repertoire? (or learn some of the good things to add  to our toolbox?)  

    I would like to do just that with a specific solo I have  chosen.  I’ll bring the tab, play it, and we can listen to  the youtube version as well.  I think this will allow us  to discuss and demonstrate the individual ways we  would approach learning from the solo. The way we  approach it and the words and understanding we bring is music theory.The doing of it is the application and  practice. We all have our own path, insights, and love  of music. Let’s put it together!

Lots of jamming as usual!

Same location:  let me know if you’re coming or Lonny at www.southislandstudio.com  

$40.      Let’s shake out those winter blues! 

Sidney location   Workshop with Paul Mowbray

With the generous offer of a friend’s music space in Sidney I have

decided to run some Acoustic Delta Blues workshops.  In each workshop

the focus will be on acquiring some new skills that are specific to Delta

Blues style.  I want to go way back to the roots:  Charlie Patton, Son House,

and leading to Skip James, Robert Johnson.   Muddy gets a big yes

with his acoustic country blues and there are too many more players to

mention.  I’m relying on participants to bring some cool insights too.

Although the focus will be on skills from specific songs it is of course

not realistic to try to learn the songs in the group time.  So I will also

bring a basic chord chart so we can jam on the tunes with simple blues

chords in blues keys.  Some songs will have been originally done in

open tunings and there will be tips for that.  But I will always look to

a way to play in standard tuning for those folks who want to stay there.

It’s the blues and making the music is what it’s all about in my view.

First session:  Robert Johnson.  Admittedly not as far back as Charlie

Patton but a fantastic player who distilled so much of the Delta Blues

and also was recorded fairly well. Songs:  Kind Hearted Woman,

Come on in My Kitchen,  (San Antonio recordings).  Stones in My

Passway, Love in Vain (Dallas recordings).

Only 4 participants for each session.  Sign up with Lonny

or me to hold a spot.  www.southislandstudio.com   

Last session was powerful, we listened to the grooves of several songs

and translated that into playing.  This session I have titled “Fundamental

Blues Grooves”.  We will use the same approach, close listening.  I will

select several  songs which I think each embody a fundamental

blues groove.  Some questions we will try to answer:  What do we hear?

How do we grab the groove?  What defines it?  Then we will play and

look at how we each can fit into an overall band texture.  This is of

course the main skill required for jamming.  Chord charts and lyrics

provided as always, you bring the ears!  And of course let’s get loose

and jam from our songbook or anything you bring.  Your contributions

of song and insight always welcome!

Usual location, hope you can make it.  Let us know if you can!  contact

me or Lonny at  www.southislandstudio.com   

Session presented by Paul Mowbray,www.paulmowbray.com

Usual location.  Ask Paul or Lonny if you don’t know it!

Reach Lonny at:  www.southislandstudio.com.

We continue our study of the pentatonic scale and 3 string

chord comping.  Our focus will be:  placing the lick

or the comp in time.   Key of A 12 bar.   My goal is to provide

you with some clear exercises to try that I hope will be helpful

both at home and in the jam sessions.

So glad to have dobro, blues harp and drums along

with all the good guitar last session.  Getting bass happening

as well is a focus for the group.  And for those interested I

will be floating a performance opportunity.

Some song suggestions:  Anyway the Wind Blows,  (E)

Help Me  (Em),   Walking Blues  (G),  Love Changing Blues (D),

Rambling on My Mind (D).  We’ll jam in standard tuning but

for those who want to a few tunes in D that were originally

written in open D.  Still got the Skip James in open D minor

for those who are interested.

I will present some exercises and thoughts on how

to deepen knowledge of the pentatonic scale.  Open

discussion is encouraged so we can all benefit from

each other’s insights.  For the rhythm players I will

present on 3 string blues comping chords.  Coffee

break time?  If anyone wants to learn “Hard Time Killing

Floor” by Skip James I will have a tab and be happy to

dive into it a bit.  I think it is a stunning song and it’s use

of guitar riffs is great.

Most of all, let’s jam the blues!  Whether we’re playing

songs and working on the presentation skills, or just

playing songs from our song list, making music is what

it’s all about.  Blues music.

Usual location.  $40.  Let Paul or Lonny know if you plan

to come!           www.southislandstudio.com  

So much popular music influence came to us from the Mississippi

Delta region.  Besides the still remembered artists we accept as a

matter of common musical language the shuffle rhythms, blue notes, 

and song forms like 12 bar blues. I’ve got several favourite songs to jam

on;  Catfish, Kind Hearted Woman, Death Letter, Crossroads, and more.

 I’m going to bring a couple of acoustic guitars to accommodate alternate

tunings.  As I so often say though, it’s just the blues.  Songs are in

common keys and all that’s required is some good feel and 7 chords.

Acoustic or electric.  Variety is good.

 Look forward to seeing you.  Our last session of this season.

Contact Lonny or Paul if you can make it:  www.southislandstudio.com

What do these two have in common?  Well we’ll be looking at

some licks from these guys.  My focus will be:  how do we

best learn this new material?  What skills and ways of under=

standing do we apply as we advance our playing?  Does

theory give you the blues?  Is it all about putting in the hours

playing?  How Do we best learn new material?

Of course discussion will be tempered with real licks, real

examples and lots of playing.  We’ll jam lots of tunes from

our songbook and hopefully we can get some new Albert

King and JJ Cale sounds into the jam!

Usual Location,  $40.  Contact Lonny at

           www.southislandstudio.com 

Open G Tuning and the key of G. 

Open G tuning is a fundamental tuning for Delta blues.  There are so many 

great riffs and songs which are built on the riffs;  “Roll and Tumble”, “Walk-

ing Blues”, “I Can’t Be Satisfied”, “Death Letter”, to mention a few.  And the

artists using this tuning are legendary;  Muddy Waters, Son House, Robert

Johnson, Keith Richards.  We’ll look at the rhythm and riffs with both demos

and tabs.  Remember, if you want to just practice playing the blues in

standard tuning that’s great too!  Warm yourself by practicing blues in the

key of G.  It’s all the blues, come on out and play.

Usual location, let me know in advance if you’re coming, $40.00.

Okay, unusual title.  This workshop is about knowing where

you are in relation to the rhythmic pulse that is our measure

when we play in measured time.  When you know where you

are you know where you are in relationship to chord changes

and lyrics.  And you are ready to phrase for a solo line or

provide a little improvisatory rhythm statement.  In other words

you are not lost.  How to achieve a good sense of time is the

subject and I’m sorry I don’t know all the answers.  Let’s

explore!  

This workshop is free to students of South Island Studio and

$30 to others.   For info contact:  www.southislandstudio.com

I’m going to bring licks from great blues players and we’ll learn them,

get them into our vocabulary, and discuss why they work. Albert King,

Eric Clapton, BB King… just some of the players we can learn from.

For the rhythm players I will focus on partial chords and comping with

them. This is huge for soloing too because knowing where those chord

tones are really allows you to add structure to a solo.

Please email me in advance with your favourite lick, blues solo, or

new song you’ve been wanting us to play. Cheers, Paul

Usual location… let me know if you’re coming! And coming in March,

Open G tuning. So many classics!

First session for 2019 and there’s music to be made!  Here’s a short jam

list for this session:

        Trouble in Mind, Guilty, (our new Bonnie Raitt tune via Randy

Newman) Travelling Riverside Blues,  Serves Me Right to Suffer, (ouch)

Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out, Still Got the Blues

For You, From 4 Til Late, and Blind Will McTell. (for our minor blues

selection)

Come on out and play!

I will be focusing on phrasing of guitar licks and the call and

answer that gets going with the vocal. (or between soloists)  We can

apply this in our playing.

Cheers,   Paul

playing.    Cheers,   Paul

contact South Island Studio for ino:  www.southislandstudio.com 

I will be providing a focus on some of Bonnie Raitt’s great

blues work.  I think it will be fun to continue our grabbing

the groove work with these great Bonnie Raitt covers:

Kokomo Blues  (Fred McDowell), Guilty (Randy Newman),

Sweet Home Chicago (Robert Johnson), Devil Got Your

Woman (Skip James), and The Road’s My Middle Name

(original).

I’ll bring the blues books too, it was great to add Catfish

Blues, Crazy Momma, and Pallet last session.  Come on out!

$40.  Let Lonny or Paul know if you’re coming.

This workshop is designed for guitarists who are players and

want strategies to learn  the unknown parts of the fretboard and

get musical all over the guitar neck.  No small order!  I think a

strategy is necessary, one that is enjoyable and always involves

playing music.  It also should take advantage of what we know

and the musical path we are on.  This

individuality is important, it shapes the musician we are. 

This workshop is free to students of South Island studios.

$30 for others.  But let me know if you’re coming!  I will stop

at six participants.  Contact me or Lonny at South Island Studio.

www.southislandstudio.com   

Lot of jamming, lots of study.  Am currently taking input from

the group on songs and artists that we should shine a light on!

Paul

       Here’s a new season of our monthly blues study group and

it seems to me that starting with the grooves that keeps the

blues alive is a good beginning.  I’ll give a general presentation

but then it all comes down to the comping and the energy.  Let’s

play music and share tips!

      I’ll also do a short presentation on Big Bill Broonzy’s “Key to

the Highway”.  Acoustic, standard tuning.  Check out this link to

see and here Big Bill in action:

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-pShRISHnQ

     So please come out!  Same deal, same location, check with me

or Lonny if you don’t know the deal.

 In this workshop we look at Mark

Knopfler’s great fingerstyle acoustic

guitar playing.  From fairly easy strummers

to “oh my goodness how does he do that”

a good time is promised for all.  For those

not familiar with Knopfler's output over the

years check it out online... it's a goldmine

of great songs.  Knopfler fan Richard Burns

will co-present.

This is a freebie for my clients.    Email

me if you're coming or contact Lonny,

250 592-3501   www.southislandstudio.com

We’ll look at strategies for playing something

complimentary and fun in jamming situations. 

Our goal will be to learn by having specific

strategies and applying them to songs we do

in the session. 

$35.  Email me or contact Lonny, 250 592-3501

www.southislandstudio.com  

We’ll look at strategies to learn the neck.

This is beneficial to being able to find up

the neck chord voicings, solo on chord tones,

and generally venture into zones we don’t

usually play in.  It takes time to learn the neck

but with a strategy and consistent practice

it is as doable as learning your first chords.

$35.  email me or contact Lonny, 250 592-3501,

www.southislandstudio.com

 A fun look at John’s new book “Beyond

Words” which I just purchased.  It has 

lyrics and chords for vintage Prine.

We’ll spend the time playing and studying

this great songwriter and guitarist.

$35.     email me or contact Lonny at

South Island Studio.  250 592-3501

www.southislandstudio.com   

Focus for this session is soloing over chord changes that move

outside of the usual blues 12 bar.  We'll look at comping possibilities

as well.  Songs selected for a look are:  "Still Got the Blues for You",

"Nobody Wants You When You're Down and Out", "From 4 Until

Late", and "Momma Just Wants to Barrelhouse".  

We'll also continue to expand our blues book repertoire.  Same

location, if you don't know it call South Island Studio,

250 592-3501 or email.

With great anticipation of lots of great playing and

fun we'll shine a light on BB King again.  "Sweet Little

Angel" will be our starting point and we can add some

of his other classics to our blues book as well.  As usual

we'll jam other blues standards.  Look forward to

seeing you there.  Spring blooms and the blues!

$40.  Usual location.  Let Lonny know you're coming,

250 592-3501.

I will present on open G riffs and songs in the Delta bluesslide style.

I think that if we separate the riffs from the rhythm parts and

listen for the "call and answer" nature of blues songs we can learn

to play them more easily and with more authority.  Of course it's

all about great songs and great artists.  I've chosen Johnny Winter's

"Dallas" and Muddy Water's "Train Fare Blues"  to get us started.

If you don't play slide come out and give it a shot,  I'll bring extra

slides.  And there will be lots of songs to jam to any tuning, and mostly

in the key of G and A. 

Usual location, contact Lonny;  250 592-3501.   $40.

     I’ll present some material on what I can dig up on Steve Cropper

blueswise.  What are those subtle licks on "Green Onions"?  And

then there's the Blues Brothers.  Personally, though it's not the blues,

I've always been fascinated with "Dock of the Bay" 's use of G, B,

C, A, F, D, and E...  all major chords!

       Also a look at BB King’s melodic soloing string bends.  I got hooked

again seeing a video where he plays with John Mayer on youtube.  What

a master!  Do I need lighter strings!

Lots of jamming with our ever growing song list!  Bring any guitar, always

good to hear other tunings and we can translate licks into the different

tuning.  Good learning! Usual location, if you don't know it contact Lonny.  

$40.

We've got so many great tunes to jam on.  Bring the guitar

you've been playing most, electric or acoustic.  I'll have

chord lyric sheets ready for St. James Infirmary, Stormy

Monday, Shake Your Money Maker, and many more from

our songlist.

My short presentation will be on Deep Blues in E standard

tuning.  I've chosen three songs to represent what I consider

to be almost a genre;  Catfish Blues, (Rolling Stone), It

Serves Me Right to Suffer, and Voodoo Child.  All these songs

are almost one chord songs in E with a driving slow beat and

copious use of first position riffs in E.  A must for all blues

players in my opinion.  

See you there!  Register / let Lonny know if you're coming:

250 592-3501,  South Island Studios, $40, he'll confirm location.