Blues in Drop D Guitar Lesson
Blues in Drop D
In this lesson, Mary Flower talks about playing the blues in drop D tuning. She teaches two amazing song examples to get you started.
Taught by Mary Flower in Fingerstyle Blues seriesLength: 21:50Difficulty: 2.5 of 5
First, Mary discusses how to tune to "Drop D" tuning. Though, before you get there she wants to be sure that you know the names of the open strings in standard tuning. She uses the mnemonic device "Every Acid Dealer Gets Busted Eventually" to reference the standard tuning pitches of the open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) from low to high.
She then demonstrates how to tune your guitar to "Drop D" by lowering the pitch of her sixth string one whole step (From E down to D) and matching the pitch to the open fourth string (they should be one octave apart). Mary suggests using your ear to match the pitches instead of using a tuner every time, because ear training is crucial to every musician.
Mary demonstrates another way of checking your tuning by using harmonics. When in "Drop D" the 7th fret harmonic on the sixth string should match the 12th fret harmonic on the fourth string perfectly. Chapter 2: (04:20) Basic Blues in Drop D In this scene, Mary demonstrates a simple 12 bar blues in the key of D using the chords D, D7, G7, and A7.
With the thumb of her right hand, Mary plays what she refers to as the "monotonic bass." This technique keeps a steady rhythmic pulse throughout the example by playing the low D (open 6th) string on each beat. Mary palm mutes the string to give it a percussive sound a la Chet Atkins or Merle Travis. She suggests tapping your foot to "keep your thumb honest" while doing this. It also helps your thumb to avoid losing the beat while playing more syncopated rhythms with your fingers.
Mary then demonstrates various turnarounds to use with this example. Chapter 3: (03:12) Make It Interesting Mary shows how to make your 12 bar blues in D a little more interesting in this scene.
First, during the sections where the I chord (D) is being played Mary takes the D chord form and moves it up to the 5th fret (making it F/D or a Dm7), and alternates between the two positions.
She then demonstrates a "walk-up" to the IV (G7) chord by leading into the bass note (B) playing the notes preceding it (A, Bb).
She also uses the "long" A chord form, in which you barre the second fret (from the 4th string down) and add your 4th finger at the 5th fret on the 1st string.
Chapter 4: (01:19) Alternate Shapes Here Mary demonstrates an alternate fingering for the first chordal embellishment in scene 3. She calls this "the train sound," and demonstrates how it is derived from a D chord. Chapter 5: (00:55) Old Country Rock In Scene 5 Mary discusses the techniques necessary to play the traditional song "Old Country Rock." You'll have to brush up on your alternating thumb technique, because it is used continually throughout the tune. She also utilizes banjo rolls to interesting effect. Chapter 6: (06:37) Learning Old Country Rock Here, Mary takes you through "Old Country Rock" measure by measure. Once you make it to Scene 6, open up the tab in the supplemental content and have at it! Chapter 7: (01:51) Finishing Up the Lesson In this scene, Mary takes you through "Old Country Rock" once more at a slow tempo. She encourages students to take the skills from this lesson and incorporate them into their own style and playing.
Supplemental Learning Material
Fingerstyle Blues
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsThe blues is a distinctly American style of music. Many popular genres such as jazz, rock, and country music draw upon basic blues concepts. Consequently, it is advantageous for any guitarist to study the blues.
Lesson 1
Series Introduction
In this lesson, Mary Flower introduces herself and her playing style. She also discusses essential blues listening.
Length: 11:14 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Blues in Drop D
In this lesson, Mary Flower talks about playing the blues in drop D tuning. She teaches two amazing song examples to get you started.
Length: 21:50 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Playing in the Key of A
In this lesson, Mary plays in the key of A major in drop D tuning.
Length: 8:36 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Eight Bar Blues
In this lesson, Mary Flower talks about the eight bar blues. She demonstrates it in a couple different keys.
Length: 14:29 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
8 Bar Blues Progressions
Mary Flower shows several songs that demonstrate the 8 bar blues.
Length: 11:40 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
How Long and Statesboro Blues
Mary Flower demonstrates two classic songs that feature an 8 bar blues structure. The songs are "How Long" and "Statesboro Blues."
Length: 14:36 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Sounding Like a Piano
Mary Flower discusses various blues guitar techniques that can give your guitar a wonderful piano sound.
Length: 13:41 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Twelve Bar Blues
Mary uses the songs "CC Rider" and "When I Lost My Baby" as examples in her discussion of the 12 bar blues.
Length: 16:31 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Blues Duet
In this lesson, you will learn a blues duet that you can play with someone else. Or, you can record yourself playing one part and play the second part over it.
Length: 16:53 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Blues in the Key of E
Mary is back with another lesson filled with tips on playing the blues in the key of E.
Length: 6:07 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Midnight Hour Blues
Mary talks about the song "Midnight Hour Blues" and gives some great tips on how to play this beautiful tune.
Length: 9:36 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Movable Chord in the Key of E
Mary Flower dives into more blues in the key of E by teaching a movable chord.
Length: 4:30 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Arranging Songs
Mary talks a little bit about arranging songs and uses the song "John Henry" as an example.
Length: 9:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Spike Driver Blues
Mary teaches and discusses the history behind Mississippi John Hurt's song "Spike Driver Blues."
Length: 15:47 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Diminished Chords
Mary talks about diminished chords and looks at various different shapes. You will learn the song "Walking Across the Country" as an example.
Length: 16:35 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Buck Rag
Mary teaches the classic song "Rag Time" by Rev. Gary Davis in this fun Blues lesson.
Length: 23:16 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Mississippi Blues
Mary teaches a song called "Mississippi Blues" by Willie Brown.
Length: 32:03 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Saturday Night Rub
Mary Flower teaches the fun and catchy song "Saturday Night Rub" by Big Bill Broonzy.
Length: 25:52 Difficulty: 3.5 Members OnlyLesson 19
Key of F
Mary talks about the key of F in this fantastic lesson.
Length: 8:20 Difficulty: 3.0 FREE
South Carolina Rag
Mary teaches the song "South Carolina Rag" by Willie Walker.
Length: 12:35 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Open D Tuning
Mary Flower talks about the advantages of open D tuning.
Length: 12:44 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Boogie Woogie Dance
Mary Flower shares her interpretation of a classic blues slide tune called "Boogie Woogie Dance."
Length: 16:44 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Alabama Bound
Mary Flower shares some thoughts on the bass notes found within the song "Alabama Bound" in this lesson.
Length: 6:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Blues in A
Mary Flower talks about improvising a blues in A.
Length: 13:05 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Sugar Babe
Mary Flower teaches her rendition of "Sugar Babe," a Mance Lipscomb tune.
Length: 9:49 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Michigan Water
Mary Flower teaches her rendition of "Michigan Water," a Jelly Roll Morton tune.
Length: 13:18 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Bye Bye Baby Blues
Mary Flower teaches her rendition of "Bye Bye Baby Blues" by Little Hat Jones.
Length: 12:47 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Mary Flower shares her rendition of the spiritual song "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" in this lesson.
Length: 10:33 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
River of Joy
Mary Flower shares an original song called "River of Joy."
Length: 16:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Open D Tuning Song Exercise
Mary Flower shares a song played in open D tuning that features alternating bass and syncopation.
Length: 12:34 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
M & O Blues
Mary Flower teaches her rendition of "M & O Blues," a Willie Brown song.
Length: 15:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Colored Aristocracy
Mary Flower teaches her rendition of the song "Colored Aristocracy."
Length: 13:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Turkey in the Straw
Mary Flower shares her modern rendition of "Turkey in the Straw."
Length: 10:24 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Trouble in Mind
Mary Flower shares her rendition of the catchy blues tune "Trouble in Mind."
Length: 8:22 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Crow Jane
Mary Flower demonstrates Carl Martin's arrangement of the song "Crow Jane."
Length: 15:52 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie
Mary Flower teaches her rendition of the song "Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie" by Elizabeth Cotten.
Length: 11:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About Mary Flower
View Full Biography
Working in both the intricately syncopated Piedmont fingerpicking style and her own deeply bluesy lap-slide guitar, Mary has earned rave reviews from critics and audiences alike for her springwater-clear vocals and mastery of multiple guitar styles as well as her own compositions. Though she can create prewar blues and ragtime with the best of them, Mary draws on traditional, contemporary and original material to create something new: a sound uniquely her own that remains true to the timeless power of the blues.
Flower's elegant, funky and inventive playing on vintage guitars makes her one of a mere handful of women guitarists admired for their instrumental prowess. In 2000 and 2003 respectively, Mary placed in the top three at the National Fingerpicking Championship. Her career as an internationally known performer and teacher has spanned more than three
decades.
A recent transplant to the Northwest, Mary cut her teeth on the Colorado music scene where she played with the likes of Katy Moffatt, Pat Donohue, the Mother Folkers and more. Mary took a detour in the 80s to raise a family, all the time woodshedding and performing locally.
Mary's CD Bywater Dance, recorded pre-Katrina in New Orleans for Yellow Dog Records, has garnered widespread acclaim. An award-winning player with seven solo cds and 5 instructional DVDs to her credit, Flower is in demand for festivals, concerts and guitar workshops on both sides of the Atlantic.
"Unassuming blues heroine Mary Flower proves one again that she's one of
the nation's premier fingerstyle blues guitarists-- her technique is exceptional
throughout, and in the end, serves the highest purpose, the music--unfailingly
sweet, hot and sassy--every track on this album has something about it that will
give you the shivers... This is one of the most satisfying albums of the year."
- All Music Guide to Blues
"Her crisp, fluid fingerpicking sounds deceptively effortless, with flawlessly executed syncopation, the hallmark of a bouncing, upbeat Piedmont style. From casual listeners to devoted blues fans, Flower's music is accessible to everyone"
- Blues Review
"With her immaculate guitar playing and warm contralto, Mary Flower finds the
sweet spot between modern and rootsy in twelve tunes bred of back porches,
parlors, street corners, juke joints and country churches...one of the best blues based
singer songwriters working today."
- Acoustic Guitar Magazine
"Mary is one of those rare artists who manages to create a tincture of the aged
authentic with the freshly original."
- Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine
Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
Pamela Goldsmith
Pamela brings a cap to her first 13 JamPlay lessons with another original etude inspired by the great Leo Brouwer. This is...
Free LessonSeries Details
Mitch Reed
Mitch teaches his interpretation of the classic "Cannonball Rag." This song provides beginning and intermediate guitarists...
Free LessonSeries Details
Danny Voris
Lesson 7 is all about arpeggios. Danny provides discussion and exercises designed to build your right hand skills.
Free LessonSeries Details
Mark Kroos
Free LessonSeries Details
Mark Kailana Nelson
Mark Nelson introduces "'Ulupalakua," a song he will be using to teach different skills and techniques. In this lesson, he...
Free LessonSeries Details
Orville Johnson
Orville Johnson introduces turnarounds and provides great ideas and techniques.
Free LessonSeries Details
Miche Fambro
Miche introduces several new chord concepts that add color and excitement to any progression.
Free LessonSeries Details
Peter Einhorn
In this lesson, Peter discusses the two bar clave that is common to the Brazilian style. You'll put together several patterns...
Free LessonSeries Details
Eve Goldberg
Eve talks about the boom-chuck strum pattern. This strum pattern will completely change the sound of your playing.
Free LessonSeries DetailsElectric Guitar Lesson Samples
Our electric guitar lessons are taught by instructors with an incredible amount of teaching experience.
Chris Liepe
Chris brings his ingenuity to this lesson on the American folk song called "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" Also known as...
Free LessonSeries Details
Brendan Burns
Brendan demonstrates the tiny triad shapes derived from the form 1 barre chord.
Free LessonSeries Details
Emil Werstler
Emil takes you through some techniques that he uses frequently in his style of playing. Topics include neck bending, percussive...
Free LessonSeries Details
Lauren Passarelli
Lauren Passarelli offers up her wisdom on purchasing a guitar. She also includes information regarding proper setup and care....
Free LessonSeries Details
Brad Henecke
Free LessonSeries Details
Michael Ripoll
Michael "Nomad" Ripoll dives deep into the rhythm & blues, funk, and soul genres that were made popular by artists like Earth...
Free LessonSeries Details
Kris Norris
Kris analyzes different pick sizes and their effect on his playing. Using a slow motion camera, he is able to point out the...
Free LessonSeries Details
David Wallimann
This is a crucial lesson that explains tablature, how to read it, and why it's important.
Free LessonSeries Details
Stuart Ziff
Stuart doesn't waste an ytime diving into blues as he starts his series off by demonstrating one of the most iconic and recognizable...
Free LessonSeries Details
James Malone
James explains how to tap arpeggios for extended musical reach.
Free LessonSeries DetailsAdditional Lesson Features Available to Members
While we have attempted to provide you with an accurate rendition of our video lesson experience, there are some features which
require a membership with us!
Custom Progress Reporting
At JamPlay, we give you the ability to monitor your own progress for any lesson! If you watch one of our lessons and feel as though you understand around half of it, mark your progress at 50%. This adds the lesson to your customized Progress Report, and gives you an incredible ability to document what you need to work on, and where you left off.
Progressive Bookmarking
With thousands of lessons at your fingertips, JamPlay can be a touch intimidating to a first-time user. With Progressive Bookmarking, we give you the ability to systematically bookmark sections of any lessons you are working on to quickly access later. After all, what is the point of all this content if it isn't easy to use?
Save Your Notes
JamPlay also gives you the ability to leave notes for yourself on any lesson. Just like in any educational system, taking your own notes while learning gives you the ability to highlight the instruction that is important to you. Leave your notes, and we store them in our database for you to reference each and everytime you come back to the lesson.
Join the Thousands of Members at JamPlay
Signup today to enjoy access to our entire database of video lessons, along with our exclusive set of learning tools and features.
Unlimited Lesson Viewing
A JamPlay membership gives you access to every lesson, from every teacher on our staff. Additionally, there is no restriction on how many times you watch a lesson. Watch as many times as you need.Live Lessons
Exclusive only to JamPlay, we currently broadcast 8-10 hours of steaming lesson services directly to you! Enjoy the benefits of in-person instructors and the conveniences of our community.Interactive Community
Create your own profile, manage your friends list, and contact users with your own JamPlay Mailbox. JamPlay also features live chat with teachers and members, and an active Forum.Chord Library
Each chord in our library contains a full chart, related tablature, and a photograph of how the chord is played. A comprehensive learning resource for any guitarist.Scale Library
Our software allows you to document your progress for any lesson, including notes and percent of the lesson completed. This gives you the ability to document what you need to work on, and where you left off.Custom Chord Sheets
At JamPlay, not only can you reference our Chord Library, but you can also select any variety of chords you need to work on, and generate your own printable chord sheet.Backing Tracks
Jam-along backing tracks give the guitarist a platform for improvising and soloing. Our backing tracks provide a wide variety of tracks from different genres of music, and serves as a great learning tool.Interactive Games
We have teachers covering beginner lessons, rock, classic rock, jazz, bluegrass, fingerstyle, slack key and more. Learn how to play the guitar from experienced players, in a casual environment.Beginners Welcome.. and Up
Unlike a lot of guitar websites and DVDs, we start our Beginner Lessons at the VERY start of the learning process, as if you just picked up a guitar for the first time.Our teaching is structured for all players.
Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.wow thank you so much!!! great lesson great teaching great licks! this is awesome teaching i am learning so much!
Enter your comment here.
This is an excellent guitar lesson, my favorite thus far. Thank you Mary!
Fantastic! I just joined and picked Mary first for the heck of it, and WOW fingerstyle blues- absolutely my favorite. I can't stop! Thank you so much.
I have a question...what are the best plectrums I can buy for this lesson set...abought acouple and dont really like them. Mary, what plectrums do you use?
Mary plays and sings beautifully and she has an excellent teaching style. I wonder about not using the ring finger on the right hand. Mary comments that she is a two finger picker and I notice that a lot of blues players use just the two fingers. Another instructor discusses this point (can't remember his name at the moment, Eric maybe and he teaches the rolling E blues) and he suggests that you won't be able to play the blues well if you use your ring finger. However, it just doesn't make sense to me that if you are able to use the ring finger fairly well to quit using it. Why move your hand around to get the three treble strings when you can assign the three strings to your three fingers??? I would love to hear others thoughts on this topic. Perhaps, I should get into the forums.
Where are the tabs for country rock? I only have lesson excercises 1 thru 4. Thanks...
mary, you and these lessons are awesome. thank you so much. learning so much..........WOW!!!
Wow Mary you are awesome love your sound, and really inspiring to a fellow woman who loves the blues :)
Yes I agree, Mary Flower is worth the price of admission!!!! This is awesome! And thank you Ms. Flower, love the lessons!
I'm lost. this seems to presuppose knowledge I don't have. I went over to Steve's fingerpicking section and it is very clear, and uses things I have learned in the intro. maybe I'll try this at another time.
Great stuff, Mary. But at the end of Scene 7 (Old Country Rock) you say to look at the tab, and the only tab I see is just for a few exercises.
Mary, I wasn't familiar with the type of music you play until today. It's blues alright, but more haunting somehow. My left hand can pretty much do it, but my right needs lots of practice. Lesson 2 was Fab.
That 12-bar blues in scence 3 sounds just great. I am prepared to practice this till my fingers go numb.
Lots of vids on YouTube of various guitarists playing Old Country Rock. Also, the original Willie Moore recording from 1928 to listen to. Intereating!
Great lesson, Mary. Into the Country Rock section now. Finally starting to realize that I'm a much better finger picker than I am a flat picker. Love the way you teach, too. Thanks.
Mary, this lesson is incredible, it's taken me a bit of practise to get that new G shape chord, but the sound of this is amazing. I'm also studying Hawkeye Hermans acoustic blues, you both truly are masters of your trade, but not only that, fantastic instructors too......more...more....more....OB
Mary, thank you for being here, I'm really loving these lessons. ~Cheryl
Thanks Mary these lessons are really hitting home with with me. I look forward to practicing now.
so much stuff in a single lesson, I feel that after mastering this one I'll be a much better blues player... I'm starting at point 0, but still ;)
Thank you Mary. Loved this lesson. Please keep them coming.
Flower Power!!!!! You threw in some really juicy sounding bluesy chords that played nicely off the bass. Do you only use thumb and two fingers?
Hi Mary, welcone and thanks for great lesson. looking forward to more.
Love 'Old Country Rock'. Seems very simple to play and sounds great... when will more lessons be posted, as I'll have this song down in the next day or two??
Early next week we'll have a couple more for you. :)
Hi Mary, just wanted to welcome you aboard as well. We needed a feminine touch here! Take care, Mark
This is wonderful. Mary really has the sound down. She sounds like the Reverend. Are you going to post tab?
Hi everybody! I'll have the tabs up for this lesson later today (6/4).
A woman teaching guitar!? Whatever next!! Just kidding, this is a nice surprise.. not just because its the first woman but because its fingerstyle blues... can't get enough fingerstyle at the moment. Welcome Mary, I look forward to your lessons.
Mary Flower? Now thats worth the price of admission. Looks like I'll be hanging around awhile! Wonderful.
Welcome Mary! I like to see a great woman playing!!
Wow, what a great surprise! Welcome Mary, can't wait to follow your lessons. Not only do we get a woman, but a woman playin' the blues! Fantatic!
I am so excited to see a women teaching us guitar! Gigantic welcome to ya Ms. Mary!
Mary...welcome to Jamplay!..You have a great teaching style, and you play beautifully...a great addition to the staff! Mark Brennan