
Eric Madis covers a uniquely American style of music, the Blues. In this series he tackles the subject from the acoustic fingerstyle perspective and even throws in a bit of ragtime for good measure.
Lesson 1
Eric Madis introduces his Fingerstyle Blues and Ragtime lesson series. After the introduction, he starts things off with a bang by teaching "The Rolling E Blues".
Length: 14:13 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 2
Eric Madis expands on "The Rolling E Blues," which he taught in the last lesson. This time around he adds information to make the arrangement more complex.
Length: 8:35 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 3
Eric Madis introduces the concept of monotonic bass lines and gives an excellent exercise for practicing the technique.
Length: 7:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 4
Eric Madis returns to the wonderful world of "The Rolling E Blues" and demonstrates how the arrangement can be made a bit more complex.
Length: 6:23 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 5
Eric Madis returns to "The Rolling E Blues" and teaches an even more complex variation.
Length: 5:33 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 6
In this lesson Eric teaches a Robert Johnson style blues.
Length: 9:56 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 7
Eric Madis returns with the second part of his lesson on the Robert Johnson style blues.
Length: 10:51 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 8
In this lesson, Eric Madis talks about the Piedmont blues and the musical stylings of Blind Willie McTell.
Length: 12:54 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 9
Eric Madis returns with the second part of his lesson on the Piedmont style and Blind Willie McTell. This time around he makes the arrangement a bit more complex.
Length: 8:52 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 10
Eric Madis demonstrates some opportunities for improvisation within the Blind Willie McTell/Piedmont style arrangement he taught in previous lessons.
Length: 11:59 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 11
Eric Madis introduces a series of diad patterns he calls "The Memphis Diads" and shows how they can be used as chord substitutions.
Length: 11:06 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 12
This time around, Eric takes the ideas from the past few lessons and ties them together effectively within a blues progression.
Length: 8:23 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 13
In this lesson, Eric Madis begins teaching the style of Mississippi John Hurt. He talks about the signature syncopation technique Mississippi John Hurt used and discusses playing with the G chord.
Length: 12:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 14
Eric Madis takes the ideas taught in the last lesson and expands upon them. He talks about taking these ideas and playing melodies similar to what Mississippi John Hurt would have played.
Length: 9:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 15
Eric Madis begins teaching a common theme in the style of Robert Johnson. This theme will span several lessons. This time, Eric teaches a signature turnaround that gives the theme its flair.
Length: 5:29 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 16
Eric Madis continues with the Robert Johnson theme. This time, he finishes up the first variation of this 12 bar blues arrangement.
Length: 8:20 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 17
In this lesson, Eric teaches a brilliant variation to the Robert Johnson theme taught in the last lesson.
Length: 6:39 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 18
In this lesson Eric talks about improvising using the Robert Johnson theme he has been teaching in the past few lessons.
Length: 11:04 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 19
Eric Madis takes knowledge he has taught in past lessons and applies it to an update of "The Rolling E Blues" that features exciting improvisational variations.
Length: 4:48 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 20
In this lesson, Eric Madis talks about using the 7th and 9th chords in blues progressions. He uses "The Rolling E Blues" to demonstrate these chord options.
Length: 9:12 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 21
Eric teaches a Piedmont blues number inspired by Big Bill Broonzy and the Reverend Gary Davis.
Length: 14:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 22
In this lesson, Eric Madis returns to a piece he calls "Big Bill and the Reverend". This time around, he teaches ways you can embellish the song to make it more interesting.
Length: 9:57 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 23
In this lesson, Eric returns to the tune "Big Bill and the Reverend" and talks about D chord substitutions.
Length: 12:25 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 24
In this lesson, Eric shows several interesting improvisational techniques you can use with the E chord and shows how they can be applied to "Big Bill and the Reverend".
Length: 11:17 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 25
Eric Madis teaches a traditional blues tune entitled "Baby Please Don't Go".
Length: 9:29 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 26
In this lesson Eric discusses variations that can be used when playing "Baby Please Don't Go".
Length: 10:36 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 27
Eric Madis will have you sounding like Robert Johnson in no time with this amazing blues progression entitled "RJ's Lament".
Length: 10:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 28
In this lesson Eric Madis teaches a version of "RJ's Lament" that contains Robert Johnson's signature musical flair.
Length: 8:10 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 29
In this lesson, Eric teaches a 16 bar blues progression that honors blues musician Mississippi John Hurt.
Length: 8:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 30
In the second part of his "Mississippi John Hurt Tribute," Eric Madis teaches several interesting variations on this 16 bar progression.
Length: 9:41 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 31
Eric Madis teaches a traditional blues and ragtime theme he likes to call "The Americana Rag".
Length: 9:35 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 32
Eric Madis returns to "The Americana Rag". He teaches the melody portion of the song and how to add it into the basic arrangement taught in lesson 31.
Length: 7:53 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 33
Eric Madis teaches the concept of walking bass lines within a new blues chord progression.
Length: 11:11 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 34
Eric starts teaching his blues/ragtime rendition of the classic song "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah". This version he teaches is in G6 tuning. He explains this tuning and the first section of the song.
Length: 12:26 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 35
Eric Madis returns to this song and teaches the second part of the melody.
Length: 5:52 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 36
In this lesson, Eric teaches another melody that can be used with this song. This time the melody features a bit of Hawaiian slack key flair.
Length: 8:02 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 37
In this lesson, Eric teaches a version of this tune that is inspired by Mississippi John Hurt. Mixing this variation in with the others will have you sounding like a blues god in no time!
Length: 9:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 38
Eric Madis teaches you how to incorporate some Memphis lead ideas into the arrangement of "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" that he has been teaching.
Length: 6:36 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 39
Eric teaches another way to play this song that includes arpeggio techniques often employed by Chet Atkins.
Length: 5:45 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 40
Eric Madis teaches what he calls the "Blind Blake and Merle Travis" section of the song. Basically this is a version of the song taught in their styles.
Length: 7:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 41
In the final lesson on this song, Eric teaches the ending and then demonstrates the entire song using all of the different arrangements from previous lessons. These may have seemed like small and easy...
Length: 8:35 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 42
Eric Madis teaches a fingerstyle version of the classic ragtime tune "Maple Leaf Rag". He begins with this simple introduction arrangement and moves on to teach more difficult portions in later lessons.
Length: 8:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 43
In the second part of his series on "Maple Leaf Rag," Eric teaches a basic version of the melody for the A section of the song.
Length: 6:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 44
Eric Madis teaches the next major portion of the melody for "Maple Leaf Rag". This melody is a bit more difficult to play, but the sound is worth it.
Length: 11:23 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 45
In this lesson, Eric teaches the third part of the melody to "Maple Leaf Rag". When combined with the intro, these three parts form a nearly complete arrangement of this classic ragtime tune.
Length: 8:53 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 46
Eric wraps up his rendition of "Maple Leaf Rag" by teaching the ending segment of the song. Afterwards, he puts the entire song together and talks about performing it.
Length: 8:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About Eric Madis
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Eric Madis is a guitarist, singer and composer, a versatile artist whose playing and compositions reflect his diverse and thorough background in American music. Whether performing in an ensemble or as a soloist, he exudes a love and a mastery of the blues that have been refined by years of experience in jazz, country, rock, and even Hawaiian music. What results are performances that include authentic renderings of old rural blues, personal interpretations of modern urban blues and jazz standards, and original music that defies strict categorization, but that draws heavily from these traditions.
Eric lives in Seattle where he leads his own ensemble, performs as a solo act and performs in the Seattle Swing Trio. He has released four CDs on Luna Records, and is currently working on a fifth. He is on the faculty of the National Guitar Workshop and Dusty Strings Music and teaches guitar privately.
Eric lived his formative years in Colorado with a family that was musical (his mother was an accomplished opera singer), and began his music study on the piano at the age of nine. He began performing shortly after picking up a guitar at ten years of age. By the age of sixteen, he was performing in Chicago-area coffeehouses. He has accompanied artists as diverse as bluesmen Big Walter Horton, Sunnyland Slim, Deacon Jones, Hawaiian luminaries Irmgaard Aluli, Kekua Fernandez, Emma Sharpe and author/poet Nikki Grimes.
He has led bands in Illinois, Texas, Colorado and Washington. He has opened shows for Robben Ford, James Cotton, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Mem Shannon, Hawkeye Herman and author Sherman Alexie. Eric's four albums have received critical acclaim, including regional airplay and nominations from NAMA and Washington Blues Society (WBS). He has received 16 Best Blues nominations from WBS, was a finalist in the New Folk Awards at the 1981 Kerrville National Folk Festival, a finalist in the 1991 Seattle Guitar Starz competition, and has music featured on five film soundtracks. Eric has taught guitar classes at Denver Free University, University of Washington's Experimental College, Northwest Folklife Festival, National Guitar Workshop, and Canada's Guitar Workshop Plus.
Whether performing in a group or as a soloist, at a concert or a small club, teaching privately or a large workshop, Eric is a dedicated professional, with commitment to the quality of his art and to his audience.
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.I'm having trouble making that stretched out A chord. I can make the span but it's hard to press down hard enough on the fret board. Right now I'm using a capo(3), in order to play the frets that are closer together. I hope this chord gets easier.
Just found your lessons. Love them Thanks
Just rejoined JamPlay and seen these new Eric lessons... very excited!!!
I love this music, sounds like i am in a band with all the picking going on but just me and my guitar fantastic Eric thank you
Eric, you are a wonderful guitarist and I am so impressed and grateful for this series of lessons. I came to appreciate this type of music late in life, but I feel that I'll be able to play a little bit at least. Thank you for making a dream come true.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and kind words!
Hi Eric, I just started on JamPlay and found your stuff on ragtime. it's great ! I have to ask if you have ever had anyone not plant there pinky and still played with just the two fingersand the thumb ? I learned how to finger pick with all four and my thumb.I'm having a hard time planting my pinky and keeping it planted. Should I keep trying to keep it planted ?
It really comes down to how you hold the guitar. If you put the guitar between your legs and shift the neck up a bit (almost like a classical guitarist), then you may not have to plant the little finger. I have seen exceptions, but generally planting the pinky helps to maintain a solid and steady bassline, because the arm is not fighting the force of gravity so much.
Thanks so much Eric. Question though: what string gauge would you normally use to play this style? Sounds like a fairly light set you are using. Wonderful stuff - thank you so much for sharing your skills and knowledge. Glen
Yeah, I usually use a bluegrass gauge set (mediums on the bottom and lights on the top) or a light gauge set, depending on my mood and/or on which guitar I am playing fingerstyle.
Hey Eric. I just finished Randall Williams series and haven't really found the right followup series for me until I've found yours. Randall's finger style doesn't really break step away what your would do if you were strumming in terms of hand rhythm. which make it easier for me coming from strumming. I can see yours are similar if I imagine all the thumb is down ward stroke (same timing if I were strumming), and the finger pull is mostly equivalent to up stroke. But I only worked that out after I realized that this is a shuffle beat..(i.e is 1 and 2, and 3, and 4, and 1..not the standard straight 12341234 pattern) Am I right there? So the only thing I will add is to perhaps put in a bit teaching on the timing and some tips for us to keep our fingering in time. I always struggle with that. I am excited about starting this series!
You're right about a shuffle beat underlying that rolling E blues. Thanks for tuning in and for your kind words.
nice to see your lessons back! love fingerstyle blues!
Thank you!
I was wondering why you use 2 fingers for plucking versus 3. Is it just a preference or is there a technical reason? I see different instructors using 2 or 3. Should I learn both methods?
The 3-finger style is a great way to learn. There are artists who use 4, but very few of those people play the ragtime/blues style, which requires a consistent, rhythmically-strong bass. I have taught hundreds of students this style and I have never known anyone who uses the ring (3rd) finger who was successful at the style. However, I knew a great guitarist back in Chicago in the 70s who used that finger and made it work without losing the bass. Two of the greatest, Merle Travis and Reverend Gary Davis, just used thumb and index finger and were amazing. My feeling is this: if a student wants to use a four finger approach, then I let him/her do it. However, I have never seen one of them progress past the basics. On the other hand, I have seen quite a number of those using the 3-finger approach excel at the style. I am in no position to say what will be right for you. Try it however you want, and if it does not work for you, you may have to reconsider your strategy. In any case, I look forward to hearing about your great progress. Thanks for writing!
Excellent lesson, great teaching style, and you can't beat the material. Please keep them coming.
I appreciate that!
Eric, you did it again !!! Another outstanding series on jamplay. Already lovin' it. Can't wait for more! Thanks for all your great work. Wolf
Wow, thanks a lot!
This is just what I joined jamplay for! Great music, Eric. This is going to be fun.
Thanks very much! Glad to be of service.
Yes!!! I've been missing new acoustic blues lessons for quite some time. Some 40+ lessons sounds great too. Just a few more to be in the same league as HawkEye. :) I'm really looking forward to it.
That's great, and thanks for tuning into these.
Thank you. Finally a fingerstyle blues lesson where they explain what they are doing with all of there fingers. Please keep them coming with songs that people want to play.
Thanks! Yes, a lot of times we are crediting the originators and not mentioning the songs, but all of these lessons are built upon the classic tunes of the originators.
great lesson, will there be tabs
Thank you, and yes, I need to send my info into Jamplay to make it easier for them to get that up sooner than later.
Yes sir :) With Guitar Pro and PDF files to boot!
Great lesson Eric! Looking forward to all in the series.
Thank you!
Your the man Eric, this is going to be a fun series. Incorporate a little Delta slide maybe?
Thank you! Well, you will have to go to my slide lesson series for that!
Wow, I joined hoping some ragtime would show up on here, I love it! Thanks jamplay!
Cool, thanks for being here!
I like it, keep it coming..............
Thanks!
Wow, thank you Eric and thank you jamplay, hope this turns into a 50 lessons series. Really hope the sup content has gpx files. I have just started your slide lessons last week Eric, just love your teaching style. Fantastic camera work and the sound quality is superb, can understand everything you say and have a great clear view of what you are doing. Perfect setup, well done and looking forward to more.
Thanks a lot, Blinky! Good to have you dropping into the Monday live session also. Nice to know who you are now....
Yep, these will feature guitar pro files when they are completed.
Also there are (roughly) ~40 lessons in this series :)
REALLY looking forward to this series, just what I've been looking for. Great start.
Good to hear! I was hoping that this would connect with people looking for that Piedmont, Delta and Ragtime guitar.
Really looking forward to this series, thanks!
Thank you!
Ha! And just stepped into the first pothole: I learned "The Great River Road" lesson from Hawkeye (lesson #27 there), and he pinches the G string and the low E string *before* the hammer-on to G#. Since it's so similar, there's something to un-learn and learn it anew the other way to get it right. Jepp, this is pain, and it's fun! However, Hawkeye's version is great, too.
Yeah, it is all good. The big thing is to find what helps you to accomplish your goals (what is in your head). We are just speeding up the process, that's all.
Hey Eric great to see you back! this is gonna be a great series.
Thanks!
"good to see you again" - you couldn't have said it any better :)
Thanks, bro!
Cool!
SodaPop....good to see you in here!
Great stuff!
Thank you!