In the style of... Blind Blake

Arthur “Blind” Blake (c. 1896 – 1 December 1934) was an American blues and ragtime guitarist and singer who recorded prolifically for Paramount Records from 1926 to 1932. Although promotional materials listed his birthplace as Jacksonville, Florida, his 1934 death certificate indicates he was born in Newport News, Virginia, to Winter and Alice Blake (Wikipedia).  Little is known about his early years, but in the mid‐1920s he emerged as one of Paramount’s star artists, and his debut solo record “Early Morning Blues” / “West Coast Blues” demonstrated his unique guitar style (Blues Foundation)

Blake is celebrated for his extraordinarily intricate finger-picking technique, which emulated the sound of ragtime piano and helped define the Piedmont blues style (Tim.Blackcat).  Among his best‐known works are “Diddie Wah Diddie”, “Police Dog Blues” and “Southern Rag”.  After Paramount collapsed in 1932, Blake disappeared from the recording scene and is believed to have spent his final years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 1 December 1934 (Milwaukee Record). 

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10 Licks

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Lick 1. Blind Blake - ‘Georgia Bound’

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Lick 2. Blind Blake - ‘West Coast Blues’

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Lick 3. Blind Blake - ‘Tampa Bound’

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Lick 4. Blind Blake - ‘One Time Blues’

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Lick 5. Blind Blake - Sea Board Stomp

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Lick 6. Blind Blake - He's In The Jailhouse Now

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Lick 7. Blind Blake - ‘Leavin' Gal Blues’

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Lick 8. Leadbelly - ‘Kansas City Papa’

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Lick 9. Blind Blake - ‘Detroit Bound Blues’

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Lick 10. Blind Blake - ‘Diddie Wah Diddie’

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Licks Transposed

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Lick 1. Blind Blake - Key of C, G and E

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Lick 2. Blind Blake - Key of C, G and E

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Lick 3. Blind Blake - Key of C, G and E

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Lick 4. Blind Blake - Key of C, G and E

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Lick 5. Blind Blake - Key of C, G and E

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Lick 6. Blind Blake - Key of C, G and E

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Lick 7. Blind Blake - Key of C, G and E

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Lick 8. Blind Blake - Key of C, G and E

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Lick 9. Blind Blake - Key of C, G and E

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Lick 10. Blind Blake - Key of C, G and E

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Solo Using Blind Blake Licks

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Backing Track

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Blind Blake Backing Track - Key of C

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Essential Listening

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Album cover: Spotify

Blind Blake - The Very Best of

Released in 2007 (originally in 1925).

Features songs such as Police Dog Blues, Hastings Street, Diddie Wah Diddie and more.

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In the style of... Lead Belly

Famed musician Lead Belly was born in Mooringsport, Louisiana, in the late 1880s. Lead Belly was imprisoned in Texas for murder in 1918. According to tradition, he won his early release in 1925 by singing a song for the governor of Texas. Lead Belly was imprisoned again, for attempted murder, in 1930. There, he was "discovered" by folklorists John Lomax and Alan Lomax, who were collecting songs for the Library of Congress. Subsequently, he published 48 songs. (Biography, 2018)

He is renowned for his songs—the best known of which include “Rock Island Line,” “Goodnight, Irene,” “The Midnight Special” and “Cotton Fields”—as well as his prowess on the twelve-string guitar. In his sixty-plus years, he essentially lived two distinct lives: first, as a field worker, blues singer, rambling man and prisoner in the rural South; second, as a city-dwelling folksinger, performer and recording artist in the urban North. It was, however, not until shortly after Lead Belly’s death that a broader public came to know his songs and the mythic outline of his life. (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 2018)

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10 Licks

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Lick 1. Leadbelly - ‘The Bourgeois Blues’

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Lick 2. Leadbelly - ‘The Gallis Pole’

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Lick 3. Leadbelly - ‘In New Orleans’

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Lick 4. Leadbelly - ‘Pretty Flowers In My Backyard’

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Lick 5. Leadbelly - ‘The Boll Weevil’

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Lick 6. Leadbelly - ‘De Kalb Blues’

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Lick 7. Leadbelly - ‘Roberta’

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Lick 8. Leadbelly - ‘Kansas City Papa’

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Lick 9. Leadbelly - ‘Death Letter Blues’

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Lick 10. Leadbelly - ‘My Baby Quit Me’

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Licks Transposed

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Lick 1. Lead Belly - Key of D

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Lick 2. Lead Belly - Key of D

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Lick 3. Lead Belly - Key of D

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Lick 4. Lead Belly - Key of D

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Lick 5. Lead Belly - Key of D

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Lick 6. Lead Belly - Key of D

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Lick 7. Lead Belly - Key of D

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Lick 8. Lead Belly - Key of D

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Lick 9. Lead Belly - Key of D

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Lick 10. Lead Belly - Key of D

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Backing Track

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Lead Belly Backing Track - Key of D

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Essential Listening

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Album cover: Apple Music

Leadbelly - King of the 12-String Guitar

Released in 1991.

Features songs such as Packin’ Trunk, Becky Deem, She Was a Gamblin’ Girl, Roberta and Kansas City Papa.

Album cover: Apple Music

Leadbelly - The Best of Leadbelly

Released in 2003.

Features songs such as Where Did You Sleep Last Night?, The Gallis Pole, Borrow Love and Go and Line ‘Em.

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🎸 Monday Lick Fix: Rod Stewart’s “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” Full Solo! 🎸

This week’s Monday Lick Fix is something special — the entire solo from Rod Stewart’s timeless ballad “I Don’t Want to Talk About It.” 💔🎶

It’s simple, soulful, and overflowing with emotion — the kind of solo that proves you don’t need a flurry of notes to make a lasting impact. Perfect for anyone wanting to add feel, taste, and expression to their playing.

Take your time with it, soak in the phrasing, and let every note sing.

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🎸 Monday Lick Fix: Glen Campbell’s “Gentle on My Mind” Guitar Break

This week we’re diving into the guitar break from Glen Campbell’s live performance of “Gentle on My Mind.”

His smooth country phrasing and technical mastery make this a must-learn for any guitarist looking to level up their soloing skills.

Watch the live version here:

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🎸 Monday Lick Fix: Jeff Becks - Cause We've Ended As Lovers

This week’s featured lick is a fiery blues phrase with expressive bends from Jeff Beck’s “Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers.” It’s perfect for sharpening your speed and bending technique while soaking up Beck’s unmistakable style.

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🎸 Monday Lick Fix: Fast Chromatic Lick from John Scofield 🎸

This week’s Monday Lick Fix dives into a fiery chromatic lick from one of my favourite guitarists, John Scofield, taken from his incredible track “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely.” His phrasing and creativity never fail to amaze me, and this lick is a perfect snapshot of his unique genius.

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🎸 Monday Lick Fix - Sweet Little Angel🎸

This week we’re diving into a soulful blues lick from B.B. King’s iconic “Sweet Little Angel,” recorded live at the Regal Theatre in Chicago in 1964. Often hailed as one of the greatest live blues performances ever captured, Live at the Regal showcases B.B.’s unmatched ability to blend heartfelt emotion with masterful technique.

The lick we’re exploring—heard at 2:59 in the performance—is a perfect example of his expressive phrasing and economy of notes, proving that sometimes less really is more. It’s a brilliant way to study his signature bends, vibrato, and melodic storytelling on the guitar.

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🎸 Monday Lick Fix - Red House🎸

This week, we’re diving into a legendary blues lick from Jimi Hendrix’s “Red House”. Recorded in 1966 and featured on his debut album, Are You Experienced (released in 1967), this track is a masterclass in blending traditional blues with Hendrix’s innovative guitar style.

This lick, found at 1:27 in the song, is based on the minor pentatonic scale and can be easily adapted to any key—just slide it up or down the neck to fit your playing!

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