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Orville Johnson

Orville Johnson

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Home > Teachers > Orville Johnson
Orville Johnson was born in 1953 in Edwardsville, Illinois and came up on the St. Louis, Missouri music scene, where he was exposed to and participated in a variety of blues, bluegrass and American roots music. He began singing in his Pentecostal church as a young boy, in rock bands in middle school, then took up the guitar at 17,with early influences from Doc Watson, Rev. Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, and Chuck Berry. In the early 1970's, Orville spent several seasons playing bluegrass on the SS Julia Belle Swain, a period-piece Mississippi river steamboat plying the inland waterways, with his group the Steamboat Ramblers.

Orville moved to Seattle, Washington in 1978, where he was a founding member of the much-loved and well-remembered folk/rock group, the Dynamic Logs. Other musical associates include Laura Love, Ranch Romance, File' Gumbo Zydeco Band, Scott Law, and the Twirling Mickeys. Johnson, known for his dobro and slide guitar stylings and vocal acrobatics, has played on over 100 albums. He has appeared on Garrison Keilor's Prairie Home Companion, Jay Leno's Tonight Show and was featured in the 1997 film Georgia with Mare Winningham. His musical expertise can also be heard on the Microsoft CD-ROMs, Musical Instruments of the World and the Complete Encyclopedia of Baseball. He teaches as well at the International Guitar Seminar, Pt. Townsend Country Blues Week and Puget Sound Guitar Workshop.

Orville released 4 recordings in the 1990's: The World According to Orville (1990) Blueprint for the Blues (1998) Slide & Joy (1999) an all-instrumental dobro tour de force and Kings of Mongrel Folk (1997) with Mark Graham. He also appeared on 4 discs with the File' Gumbo Zydeco Band and produced Whose World Is This (1997) for Jim Page and Inner Life (1999) for Mark Graham. In the 21st century, he has released Freehand, a new Kings of Mongrel Folk disc, Still Goin' Strong, and been featured in the soundtracks of PBS' Frontier House and the Peter Fonda flick The Wooly Boys as well as the compilation cd Legends of the Incredible Lap Steel Guitar. (Less)

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Orville's Contributions to JamPlay.com

Orville Johnson has 97 videos at JamPlay, with 15 beginner lessons, 61 intermediate lessons, 6 song lessons and 15 entertainment videos. Use the tabs below to learn more.

Subscribing to JamPlay gives you unlimited access to all of Orville's lessons,
as well as all lessons from our roster of instructors.

  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Songs
  • Entertainment

Beginner Acoustic with Orville

Discover the essentials with Orville Johnson by learning some of the most popular topics and techniques in beginner guitar.

Lesson 1

Overcoming Beginner...

Orville talks about some challenges you will likely face as a beginner and offers some...

Length: 13:05
Lesson 2

Flatpick and Strumming

Orville talks about flatpicks, how to hold them, and how to strum with them.

View This Full Lesson!
Lesson 3

Fingerpicking and Patterns

Orville Johnson introduces some basic fingerpicking patterns.

Length: 6:58
Lesson 4

Metronome and Practicing

Orville Johnson explains why it is important to practice with a metronome. He also covers...

Length: 21:35
Lesson 5

Practical Theory Part...

Orville dives into part 1 of his beginners' guide to practical theory. In this lesson,...

Length: 17:30
Lesson 6

Practical Theory Part...

Orville Johnson takes a look at scales in part 2 of his practical theory mini-series.

Length: 18:40
Lesson 7

Practical Theory Part...

Orville Johnson jumps into part 3 of his practical theory mini-series. This lesson is...

Length: 21:08
Lesson 8

Connecting Chords with...

Orville Johnson demonstrates how simple chord progressions can be spruced up with bass...

Length: 12:04
Lesson 9

Basic Blues Shuffle

Orville Johnson demonstrates a basic blues shuffle. This incredibly easy rhythm piece...

Length: 12:38
Lesson 10

Voice Leading

Orville Johnson talks about the concept of voice leading. This concept will help you...

Length: 10:20
Lesson 11

Major Chords

Orville Johnson teaches the basic major chords in this lesson. He also explains the best...

Length: 19:23
Lesson 12

Note Values

Orville Johnson jumps into some light theory with a lesson on note values.

Length: 7:51
Lesson 13

The CAGED System

Orville Johnson takes a beginner's look at the CAGED system.

Length: 8:14
Lesson 14

Open D Tuning

Orville Johnson introduces open D tuning and encourages exploration of its possibilities....

Length: 24:04
Lesson 15

Open G Tuning

This time, Orville Johnson introduces open G tuning. This tuning is great for a broad...

Length: 21:28

Fingerstyle Blues

Blues

The 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

Alternating Bass

In this lesson, Orville introduces one of the basic fingerstyle techniques - the alternating...

Length: 14:49
Lesson 2

Winin' Boy Blues

Orville Johnson teaches his interpretation of the piano-based song "Winin' Boy Blues"...

Length: 29:33
Lesson 3

Blues Turnarounds

Orville Johnson introduces turnarounds and provides great ideas and techniques.

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Lesson 4

Payday Blues

Orville Johnson teaches the fingerstyle blues song "Payday Blues."

Length: 19:04
Lesson 5

Walking Bassline with...

Orville Johnson demonstrates how to play a walking bass line in conjunction with chordal...

Length: 18:33
Lesson 6

One Dime Blues

Orville Johnson teaches his take on a blues standard entitled "One Dime Blues."

Length: 13:46
Lesson 7

I'll Fly Away - Piedmont...

Orville Johnson teaches the classic gospel tune "I'll Fly Away" in the Piedmont style.

Length: 18:40
Lesson 8

Beulah Land

Orville Johnson teaches the classic gospel song "Beulah Land."

Length: 12:40
Lesson 9

Make Me a Pallet on...

Orville Johnson teaches "Make Me a Pallet on the Floor" in the Piedmont style.

Length: 17:58
Lesson 10

How Long, How Long Blues

Orville teaches the a fingerstyle version of the classic blues number "How Long, How Long."

Length: 23:31
Lesson 11

Common Blues Melody

Orville Johnson teaches a common blues melody that has been used in several classic songs...

Length: 15:09
Lesson 12

St. Johnny

Orville Johnson reviews an original tune he calls "St. Johnny" in this lesson.

Length: 44:09
Lesson 13

Blind Blake Style

In this lesson, Orville Johnson takes a look at the style of Blind Blake with some fun...

Length: 12:50
Lesson 14

Chord Substitutions:...

In this Fingerstyle Blues lesson, Orville Johnson uses the 12 bar blues in C to talk about...

Length: 35:34
Lesson 15

Softly and Tenderly,...

To demonstrate the relationship between gospel and blues, Orville Johnson teaches an arrangement...

Length: 20:22
Lesson 16

Chord Substitutions:...

Orville Johnson is back with another fantastic lesson on chord substitutions, this time...

Length: 19:03
Lesson 17

Mississippi John Hurt...

Orville Johnson demonstrates Mississippi John Hurt's style using an old spiritual song...

Length: 10:18
Lesson 18

Skip James Style Part...

Orville Johnson explores the style of Skip James in open G tuning.

Length: 19:28
Lesson 19

Skip James Style Part...

Orville Johnson takes another look at the style of Skip James, this time in cross-note...

Length: 25:08
Lesson 20

Bo Carter Style

Orville Johnson takes a look at the style of blues artist Bo Carter in this lesson.

Length: 15:35
Lesson 21

Jelly Jelly

Orville Johnson walks through "Jelly Jelly," an original piano blues style song.

Length: 22:14

Blues Bottleneck Slide

Blues

Bottleneck slide guitar is a method of playing the guitar using a slide to mimic the sound of the human voice. The term slide is describes the sliding motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides, which were originally chopped off necks of glass bottles. Using a slide can expand the aural diversity of the guitar and give another avenue for expressiveness.

Lesson 1

Bottleneck Slide Basics

Orville Johnson covers the basics of the bottleneck slide. He talks about the history...

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Lesson 2

You've Got to Move

Orville Johnson uses his version of the traditional blues song, "You've Got to Move,"...

Length: 18:23
Lesson 3

Trouble In Mind

Orville Johnson teaches the classic blues song "Trouble In Mind" using a slide.

Length: 21:37
Lesson 4

Soul of a Man

Orville teaches a beautiful slide guitar arrangement of "Soul of a Man."

Length: 8:52
Lesson 5

Country Blues

Orville Johnson teaches the catchy tune "Country Blues" in a slide guitar style.

Length: 22:13
Lesson 6

John Henry

Orville teaches the song "John Henry" using a slide.

Length: 22:53
Lesson 7

Sitting on Top of the...

Orville Johnson teaches a slide guitar version of the classic blues tune "Sitting on Top...

Length: 23:32
Lesson 8

Guitar Rag

"Guitar Rag" was one of the first blues songs ever recorded. Orville Johnson teaches...

Length: 15:36
Lesson 9

Tampa Red Style

Orville Johnson explores the slide guitar style of Tampa Red.

Length: 18:11
Lesson 10

Mississippi Hill Country...

Orville Johnson takes a look at Mississippi Hill Country style in open G tuning.

Length: 18:37
Lesson 11

Mississippi Hill Country...

Orville Johnson takes another look at Mississippi Hill Country style, this time in Open...

Length: 19:38

Bluegrass Flatpicking

Bluegrass

A sub-genre of country music which blends improvising with folk-like melodies. Pioneered by Bill Monroe in the 1930s in the "bluegrass" state. Learning to flatpick properly is absolutely crucial to the Bluegrass style.

Lesson 1

Alternate Picking

Orville Johnson starts out his Bluegrass Flatpicking Series with a lesson on alternate...

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Lesson 2

John Hardy

Orville teaches a classic song called "John Hardy" in the style of Mother Maybelle Carter.

Length: 15:54
Lesson 3

Bill Cheatum

Orville teaches the classic song "Bill Cheatum" in the bluegrass flatpicking style.

Length: 23:20
Lesson 4

Blackberry Blossom

Orville Johnson explains how to play the classic song "Blackberry Blossom" in the bluegrass...

Length: 26:00
Lesson 5

Whiskey Before Breakfast

Orville Johnson shows how the classic bluegrass fiddle tune "Whiskey Before Breakfast"...

Length: 24:05
Lesson 6

Billy in the Lowground

Orville Johnson teaches how "Billy in the Lowground," a classic fiddle tune, can be adapted...

Length: 20:40
Lesson 7

Salt Creek

Orville Johnson teaches the classic bluegrass song "Salt Creek."

Length: 19:56
Lesson 8

Midnight on the Water

Orville Johnson teaches the classic buegrass song "Midnight on the Water."

Length: 39:42
Lesson 9

The Wayfaring Stranger

Orville Johnson teaches a solo guitar version of the classic song "The Wayfaring Stranger."...

Length: 21:12
Lesson 10

The Eighth of January

Orville Johnson demonstrates the classic bluegrass song "The Eighth of January."

Length: 20:32
Lesson 11

Over the Waterfall

Orville Johnson teaches "Over the Waterfall."

Length: 21:40
Lesson 12

Lester Flatt G Lick

Orville Johnson demonstrates one of the most widely used bluegrass licks. This lick is...

Length: 15:14
Lesson 13

June Apple

Orville Johnson explains how to play the classic song "June Apple."

Length: 21:27
Lesson 14

Soldier's Joy

Orville Johnson teaches a bluegrass guitar version of the classic song "Soldier's Joy."

Length: 13:22
Lesson 15

The Arkansas Traveler

Orville Johnson teaches the "The Arkansas Traveler" in the key of D.

Length: 26:06
Lesson 16

I Don't Love Nobody

Orville Johnson teaches his version of "I Don't Love Nobody."

Length: 19:14
Lesson 17

Old Joe Clark

Orville Johnson covers the classic tune "Old Joe Clark."

Length: 19:27
Lesson 18

The Red-Haired Boy

Orville Johnson continues building your bluegrass fiddle tune repertoire with another...

Length: 27:49
Lesson 19

Black Mountain Rag:...

Orville Johnson teaches "Black Mountain Rag" in the key of E.

Length: 26:25
Lesson 20

Black Mountain Rag:...

In continuation of his previous lesson, Orville Johnson teaches "Black Mountain Rag" in...

Length: 23:31
Lesson 21

St. Anne's Reel

Orville Johnson takes a look at the bluegrass standard "St. Anne's Reel".

Length: 20:43
Lesson 22

Glory in the Meeting...

In this lesson, Orville Johnson teaches a fantastic new tune called "Glory in the Meeting...

Length: 19:00
Lesson 23

Under the Double Eagle

In his latest Flatpicking Bluegrass lesson, Orville Johnson teaches a tune called "Under...

Length: 31:50
Lesson 24

Crossing The Big Sandy...

Orville Johnson continues building your bluegrass flatpicking repertoire with another...

Length: 11:00
Lesson 25

When He Calls Me

Orville Johnson teaches another great bluegrass flatpicking tune called "When He Calls...

Length: 12:45
Lesson 26

Ragtime Annie

Orville Johnson teaches "Ragtime Annie," another bluegrass tune to add to your repertoire.

Length: 15:13
Lesson 27

Bonaparte's Retreat

Orville Johnson continues to build your bluegrass fiddle tune repertoire with a fun tune...

Length: 20:13
Lesson 28

Reuben's Train

Orville Johnson takes a look at another fiddle tune called "Reuben's Train" in this lesson.

Length: 13:57
Lesson 29

Turkey in the Straw

Orville Johnson takes a look at a fun song called "Turkey in the Straw" in this lesson.

Length: 9:54

Songs with Orville Johnson

Orville Johnson teaches a select group of his favorite songs, including a few originals.

"Come Back Baby"Orville Johnson

Orville Johnson teaches his version of the classic blues song "Come Back Baby."

Length: 29:43

"Depot Blues"Son House

Orville Johnson teaches a classic blues song entitled "Depot Blues." This lesson was inspired by the blues great Son House.

Length: 35:31

"Railroad Bill"Traditional

Orville Johnson teaches the traditional blues song "Railroad Bill."

Length: 16:10

"Bye Bye Baby Blues"Little Hat Jones

Orville teaches the classic blues song "Bye Bye Baby Blues" by Little Hat Jones.

Length: 21:48

"Spanish Fandango"Orville Johnson

Orville Johnson teaches the classic "Spanish Fandango."

Length: 32:50

"A Bicycle Built for Two"Harry Dacre

Orville Johnson teaches a classic song entitled "A Bicycle Built for Two." This song is also known as "Daisy Bell."

Length: 23:54

Entertainment - Licks and Riffs

Random licks and riffs contributed by the JamPlay instructors.

Orville Johnson: Come Back Baby

Orville performs the classic blues song "Come Back Baby" using a slide.

Length: 4:27

Orville Johnson: Trouble In Mind

Orville Johnson performs the amazing blues song "Trouble In Mind" using a slide.

Length: 3:43

Orville Johnson: Blueprint for the Blues

Orville Johnson performs his beautiful original tune, "Blueprint for the Blues."

Length: 4:01

Rainy City Blues

Orville Johnson performs his catchy original song, "Rainy City Blues."

Length: 3:42

Orville Johnson: Spanish Fandango

Orville performs the song "Spanish Fandango." Find the song lesson for this under "Phase 3."

Length: 6:15

Last Time Blues

Orville Johnson performs the classic blues tune, "Last Time Blues."

Length: 6:16

Payday Blues

Orville Johnson performs the catchy blues tune, "Payday Blues." Learn this song in Phase 2 Fingerstyle Blues with Orville Johnson.

Length: 4:24

John Hardy

Orville Johnson demonstrates his version of the classic song "John Hardy."

Length: 4:53

The Wayfaring Stranger

Orville Jonson demonstrates his version of the perennial classic, "The Wayfaring Stranger."

Length: 6:54

How Long Blues

Orville Johnson demonstrates his version of the classic Blues number "How Long Blues."

Length: 5:17

I'll Fly Away

Orville Johnson plays his rendition of the classic gospel tune known as "I'll Fly Away."

Length: 3:12

Midnight on the Water

Orville Johnson demonstrates an acoustic version of the classic tune "Midnight on the Water." This is absolutely beautiful!

Length: 5:12

Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad

Orville Johnson plays his rendition of the classic number "Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad."

Length: 5:41

Guitar Rag

Orville Johnson performs the classic tune "Guitar Rag."

Length: 3:57

Sittin' On Top of the World

Orville Johnson performs his version of the classic Blues tune "Sittin' On Top of the World."

Length: 4:51
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