Mel Bay John Miller - Hillbilly Fingerstyle Blues Guitar

Summary of This Method

Hillbilly Fingerstyle Blues Guitar, by John Miller, explores an exciting facet of guitar history: the adoption of the Blues in the early 20th century by "hillbilly" (country/old-time) musicians who, far from merely imitating, forged a personal expression based on what they heard and observed. The book offers 28 precisely transcribed pieces, in tablature and standard notation, from recordings made between 1926 and 1970. It features well-known names such as Sam McGee, Frank Hutchison, Maybelle Carter, Hobart Smith, and Roscoe Holcomb, as well as rarer guitarists (Debs Mays, Lake Howard, Lester McFarland), whose pieces often prove spectacular.

Designed as a practical method, this publication guides you through learning the pieces, interpreting fingerings, and reading tablature before diving into the repertoire. The selection emphasizes a diversity of harmonic colors and fingerpicking techniques: alternating basses, singing phrasing, rhythmic accents, and that very direct way of "making the acoustic guitar sound" in a Blues context. Thanks to access to the original recordings, you can lock in your rhythmic placement, understand nuances of touch, and absorb the spirit of the style, then develop your own guitarist's voice.

Technical specifications

Musical Genre

Pop

Publication

Sheet music

Arranger	John Miller	Genre	Guitar method, Blues fingerstyle tablatures
Artist	Various (transcriptions from performers such as Sam McGee, Frank Hutchison, Maybelle Carter, Hobart Smith, Roscoe Holcomb, and others)	Language	English
Instrumentation	Guitar