In lesson 142, Hawkeye dives into the style of Son House. House pioneered an innovative style featuring strong, repetitive rhythms often played with a slide.
Taught by Hawkeye Herman in Blues Guitar with Hawkeye seriesLength: 14:32Difficulty: 3.5 of 5
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
Hawkeye Herman introduces the blues. He explains the 12 bar blues chords and the poetic format that blues lyrics typically follow.
Length: 19:25 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 2
Hawkeye explains how the I, IV, and V chords are used in a 12 bar blues progression.
Length: 12:12 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 3
Hawkeye demonstrates common strumming patterns used in blues music. He also explains how country music evolved from the blues.
Length: 19:42 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 4
The shuffle is one of the most common rhythms used in blues music. Hawkeye introduces the most basic shuffle rhythm pattern.
Length: 18:12 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 5
Hawkeye covers the blues shuffle in greater depth.
Length: 13:13 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 6
Hawkeye introduces and explains a common blues turnaround.
Length: 7:45 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 7
Hawkeye demonstrates various ways of arpeggiating the blues turnaround from the previous lesson.
Length: 8:08 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 8
Hawkeye explains how the turnaround from the previous lesson can be transposed to all 12 keys.
Length: 5:57 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 9
Hawkeye explains how the blues turnaround can be played on the bass strings.
Length: 11:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 10
Hawkeye provides some tips regarding how to integrate turnarounds into the context of the 12 bar blues form.
Length: 3:58 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 11
In this lesson Hawkeye will explain how you can use turnarounds as a way to play basic lead.
Length: 0:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 12
Hawkeye demonstrates how subtle changes made to the blues shuffle can have a profound impact on the overall sound of the 12 bar form.
Length: 7:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 13
Hawkeye demonstrates more blues shuffle variations. He discusses playing individual notes and palm muting.
Length: 7:23 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 14
In this lesson, Hawkeye teaches a bass version of the blues shuffle that mimics a common left-hand piano pattern.
Length: 10:49 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 15
Hawkeye presents an exercise that will enable you to play a turnaround over the blues form in all twelve keys.
Length: 10:44 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 16
Hawkeye teaches a Delta blues turnaround in the key of A. This turnaround is played in the style of Robert Johnson.
Length: 10:45 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 17
Hawkeye Herman teaches a new Delta blues turnaround. This lick was inspired by Robert Johnson.
Length: 7:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 18
Hawkeye Herman teaches more components of Robert Johnson's signature sound.
Length: 27:38 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 19
Hawkeye introduces some common, movable chord shapes.
Length: 17:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 20
Hawkeye reviews movable chords in this lesson. He explains how these chord voicings can be used in a practical blues context.
Length: 5:41 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 21
Hawkeye Herman introduces the minor pentatonic scale in this lesson, the most commonly used scale in blues lead guitar.
Length: 23:54 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 22
Hawkeye builds on the pentatonic scale. He introduces "blue" notes, which transform the pentatonic scale into the minor blues scale.
Length: 12:50 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 23
Hawkeye explains how to transpose the minor pentatonic and minor blues scales to different keys.
Length: 21:18 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 24
Hawkeye Herman explains how to determine the key of a blues song. This information is essential if you wish to play lead over a song.
Length: 15:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 25
In this lesson, Hawkeye will bring together much of what he has taught in this lesson series and apply it to the style of Lightnin' Hopkins.
Length: 16:36 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 26
Hawkeye explains how to play the blues shuffle on the treble strings.
Length: 9:22 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 27
Hawkeye Herman teaches you how to play his original song, "The Great River Road," in this phenomenal lesson.
Length: 16:39 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 28
Hawkeye covers the guitar style of Mississippi John Hurt. This style makes heavy use of alternating bass lines.
Length: 14:48 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 29
Hawkeye teaches an original piece called "Piano Blues." He teaches this song to further demonstrate the alternating bass line.
Length: 13:20 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 30
Hawkeye Herman teaches a beautiful blues accompaniment pattern.
Length: 10:11 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 31
Hawkeye introduces the stop-time blues rhythm.
Length: 17:21 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 32
Hawkeye Herman explains how to play Robert Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago."
Length: 16:17 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 33
Hawkeye introduces the eight bar blues progression.
Length: 22:28 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 34
Hawkeye takes the 8 bar blues material from the last lesson and explains how to transpose it to different keys.
Length: 6:39 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 35
Hawkeye teaches a classic 8 bar blues tune in the style of Brownie McGhee and Big Bill Broonzy.
Length: 25:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 36
In this lesson Hawkeye revisits the blues/pentatonic scale and talks about playing multiple notes at the same time.
Length: 9:42 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 37
Hawkeye Herman teaches a classic blues song ending. He also explains how it can be played in different keys.
Length: 9:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 38
Hawkeye Herman covers the basics of slide technique and provides exercises to demonstrate them.
Length: 25:49 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 39
Hawkeye Herman introduces open D tuning. He explains how to play a 12 bar blues progression with a slide in this tuning.
Length: 14:56 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 40
Hawkeye Herman demonstrates the classic Robert Johnson song, "Ramblin' On My Mind" in open D tuning.
Length: 8:41 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 41
Hawkeye explains how to play the blues shuffle in open D tuning.
Length: 0:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 42
Hawkeye teaches the "harmony" version of the shuffle in open D tuning.
Length: 5:15 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 43
Hawkeye teaches a simple blues turnaround in open D tuning.
Length: 9:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 44
Hawkeye Herman teaches some open D slide guitar licks. These licks are inspired by the song "Ramblin' On My Mind" by Robert Johnson.
Length: 8:14 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 45
Hawkeye Herman explains how to play the D minor pentatonic scale in Open D tuning.
Length: 4:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 46
Hawkeye challenges you to play "Ramblin' On My Mind" using the techniques from the past couple of lessons.
Length: 4:03 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 47
Hawkeye shows that open D tuning and slide guitar are not exclusive to the blues. He provides an exercise that demonstrates how this tuning can be used in rock music.
Length: 15:55 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 48
Hawkeye returns to the world of open D tuning. He introduces various chord voicings and explains how they can be used in the blues.
Length: 10:00 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 49
In this lesson, Hawkeye teaches a classic blues song by Mississippi Fred McDowell - "You Got To Move".
Length: 9:03 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 50
Hawkeye Herman demonstrates how to play the melody of "You Got to Move" with a slide.
Length: 6:51 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 51
Hawkeye Herman talks about playing and creating blues licks with the slide.
Length: 9:53 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 52
Hawkeye Herman breaks down important aspects of Elmore James' style.
Length: 23:11 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 53
Hawkeye teaches some versatile blues licks and riffs that can be used in open D tuning.
Length: 11:15 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 54
Hawkeye Herman teaches the basics of open G tuning.
Length: 7:28 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 55
Hawkeye gives a brief overview of chords and how they are played in open G tuning.
Length: 6:11 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 56
Hawkeye gives a brief rundown of how the blues / minor pentatonic scale can be played in open G tuning.
Length: 4:48 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 57
Hawkeye talks about playing accompaniment using open G tuning.
Length: 7:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 58
Improvisation using the minor pentatonic / blues scale is discussed in open G tuning. Hawkeye also touches on Robert Johnson's song, "Walkin' Blues."
Length: 7:26 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 59
In this lesson, Hawkeye Herman talks about playing the blues shuffle in open G tuning. He also shows some basic turnarounds.
Length: 10:37 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 60
Hawkeye reviews the blues shuffle in open G tuning. He demonstrates shuffle variations as well as a few licks, turnarounds, and other tidbits.
Length: 15:45 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 61
Hawkeye teaches several Robert Johnson licks in this lesson. These licks are played with a slide in open G tuning.
Length: 14:40 Difficulty: 2.5 FREELesson 62
Hawkeye introduces the capo and explains how it can be used. This lesson is still in the context of G tuning.
Length: 10:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 63
Hawkeye Herman showcases the power of slide guitar by demonstrating the classic Robert Johnson song, "Come On In My Kitchen."
Length: 6:33 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 64
Hawkeye Herman gives a brief rundown of Skip James' blues guitar style. This lesson also focuses on playing in open tunings without a slide.
Length: 19:15 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 65
Hawkeye demonstrates how to take a song from open D tuning and play it in open G. He uses the song "No Expectations" by the Rolling Stones as an example.
Length: 10:26 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 66
Hawkeye shows you the wonders of drop D tuning and teaches his rendition of "Big Road Blues."
Length: 30:30 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 67
Hawkeye goes over the fantastic song "Statesboro Blues" by Blind Willie McTell in Drop D tuning.
Length: 27:12 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 68
Hawkeye discusses some history behind the great blues guitarist Blind Lemon Jefferson. He covers the song "Matchbox Blues" to provide an example of his style.
Length: 19:40 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 69
Hawkeye explains the chord changes used in a minor blues progression.
Length: 12:53 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 70
Hawkeye talks about the capo and its many uses.
Length: 22:32 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 71
By user request, Hawkeye shares ideas on how to end songs in this lesson.
Length: 21:26 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 72
In this lesson, Hawkeye Herman returns to the wonderful world of stop-time blues. He teaches a few more ways to play in this glorious style.
Length: 17:53 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 73
Hawkeye talks about the eight bar blues and uses some classic blues songs as examples.
Length: 26:19 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 74
Hawkeye talks all about the blues mambo in this lesson.
Length: 16:09 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 75
Hawkeye explains how all the endings you've learned up to this point can be transposed to any key.
Length: 31:53 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 76
Hawkeye talks about transposing the minor pentatonic scale to various keys.
Length: 16:58 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 77
Hawkeye explains how the blues scale can be used to play lead in any song.
Length: 30:57 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 78
Hawkeye explains how the blues scale can span the neck in any key.
Length: 22:09 Difficulty: 3.5 Members OnlyLesson 79
Hawkeye talks about the background of rock 'n roll and how it is connected to blues.
Length: 21:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 80
This lesson is filled with fun licks and lick techniques.
Length: 17:32 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 81
Hawkeye brings more blues wisdom to you in this lesson about spanning the neck.
Length: 18:18 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 82
Hawkeye provides a few useful tips on playing barre chords.
Length: 13:18 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 83
Hawkeye discusses how the visual shapes of chords relate to one another on the fretboard.
Length: 15:06 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 84
Hawkeye explains how to find the I, IV, and V chords in all 12 major keys.
Length: 8:43 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 85
Hawkeye answers member questions on the shuffle rhythm.
Length: 16:19 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 86
Hawkeye shares an idea in the key of A that you can apply to your blues playing.
Length: 18:15 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 87
Thumbpick Vs. Flatpick: A most common question asked among guitarists is discussed in this lesson.
Length: 15:13 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 88
Hawkeye shares his ideas on the capo and explains why he thinks it is important for every guitarist to own one.
Length: 18:34 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 89
Hawkeye reiterates that everything is movable on the guitar and provides some fresh new ideas.
Length: 12:27 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 90
Hawkeye explains how to add variety to the shuffle pattern by transferring the bass notes to the treble register and by adding palm muting. He also explains how you can create your own shuffle variations.
Length: 21:21 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 91
Hawkeye provides more amazing tips and tricks on moving your shuffle rhythm to the treble for a unique sound.
Length: 16:50 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 92
Hawkeye revisits the techniques learned in the last few lessons and explains how to tie tie them together to create solos.
Length: 9:46 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 93
Hawkeye provides some great tips for transposing any song you want to learn to a different key.
Length: 17:31 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 94
This exciting lesson dives into some of the earliest history of blues music and how it has shaped popular music today.
Length: 13:52 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 95
Hawkeye Herman explains why "blues is the roots, and everything else is the fruits."
Length: 8:41 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 96
Hawkeye discusses the history and style of Hank Williams.
Length: 17:07 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 97
Hawkeye demonstrates some key aspects of Jimmie Rodgers' style.
Length: 12:30 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 98
Hawkeye demonstrates the "boom-chicka" strum and explains various ways you can incorporate it into your playing.
Length: 22:44 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 99
Hawkeye Herman explains how to spice up your rhythm playing by incorporating bass runs between chord changes.
Length: 16:20 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 100
Hawkeye Herman celebrates lesson 100 with a short but sweet review of what you've learned in the past couple of lessons.
Length: 6:51 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 101
Hawkeye Herman demonstrates rhythmic concepts from earlier lessons by playing a fun medley.
Length: 13:08 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 102
Hawkeye shares some of his favorite licks in this lesson.
Length: 22:35 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 103
Hawkeye teaches more fun licks to add to your blues bag of tricks.
Length: 31:20 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 104
Hawkeye Herman is back with some more classic blues licks that span the length of the fretboard.
Length: 26:20 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 105
Hawkeye explains the importance of playing licks over the entire neck of the guitar.
Length: 21:33 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 106
Hawkeye Herman shares a lick that is commonly known as the "Rock Me Baby" Lick. He explains how this lick can be incorporated into a performance of this classic B.B. King song.
Length: 19:09 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 107
Hawkeye discusses how ideas derived from turnarounds can be incorporated into blues solos.
Length: 8:19 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 108
Hawkeye Herman talks about instrumental themes and how you can add lead fills to them.
Length: 18:03 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 109
Hawkeye continues his discussion on instrumental themes and blues.
Length: 23:42 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 110
Hawkeye Herman explains how dominant 9th chords are formed and how they can be used in blues music.
Length: 15:16 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 111
Hawkeye Herman continues his discussion on 9th chords.
Length: 26:52 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 112
Hawkeye Herman shares more eight bar blues knowledge in this fun and information-packed lesson.
Length: 23:57 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 113
Hawkeye shares his thoughts on tuners in this lesson.
Length: 6:38 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 114
In the 114th installment of his Blues Series, Hawkeye introduces the capo. He demonstrates how this valuable tool allows you to transpose chord voicings to various keys.
Length: 23:21 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 115
Having trouble getting those fingers to form barre chords? In lesson #115 of his Blues Series, Hawkeye covers some tips and techniques to help with these problematic chord shapes. Any beginner can master...
Length: 10:03 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 116
Hawkeye explains why the adjacent strings on the guitar are tuned in perfect fourths and how this relates to left hand fingering.
Length: 18:44 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 117
Hawkeye continues where he left off in lesson 116 and explains how the tuning of the guitar relates to commonly used chord shapes.
Length: 16:43 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 118
Hawkeye Herman reviews important transposition concepts. Here he demonstrates how to change the key of a song so that it is appropriate for your vocal range.
Length: 20:31 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 119
Hawkeye takes a look at this important right hand technique.
Length: 20:54 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 120
Hawkeye provides a history lesson on Bo Diddley. He also demonstrates how to play the classic "Bo Diddley Beat." This rhythmic pattern appears in countless blues and rock songs.
Length: 20:15 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 121
Hawkeye teaches some blues bass lines that can be applied to the twelve bar blues form.
Length: 19:04 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 122
Hawkeye continues on from his 121st lesson with more examples of blues bass lines for guitar.
Length: 7:14 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 123
Hawkeye dives into some lead bass ideas. He demonstrates how a classic Eric Clapton riff can be used over the twelve bar blues form in any key.
Length: 12:57 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 124
Hawkeye teaches the bass line riff to his song "Willie's Bounce."
Length: 16:31 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 125
Hawkeye continues his discussion on finger picking.
Length: 12:27 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 126
Hawkeye Herman teaches a version of the A chord that he calls "The Texas A."
Length: 13:59 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 127
Hawkeye breaks down the blues scale and demonstrates how to appropriately add the major 3rd.
Length: 26:16 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 128
As demonstrated in previous lessons, Hawkeye opens up the world of double stops. Hawkeye teaches some classic Chuck Berry licks to demonstrate how double stops can be used effectively.
Length: 11:53 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 129
Hawkeye introduces the guitar stye of Scrapper Blackwell. He uses the song Scrapper called "E Blues" as a starting point.
Length: 20:46 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 130
History flows deep in blues music. Hawkeye discusses the influence of Blind Lemon Jefferson. This lesson is one for the history books.
Length: 22:43 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 131
Hawkeye opens up some ideas on how to "plan ahead" in your playing. Similar to riding a bike, you need to look forward to see where your going. Humming what you want to play allows you to anticipate the...
Length: 18:49 Difficulty: 4.0 Members OnlyLesson 132
Inspired by the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, Hawkeye was commissioned by the BBC to write a song about Katrina. Hawkeye demonstrates this song and recalls his thought process in writing this song.
Length: 29:53 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 133
Hawkeye demonstrates how a hammer-on can be used to open up doors in your playing. Hawkeye shows you how to achieve this technique and use it successfully in your playing.
Length: 24:07 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 134
Hawkeye covers the pull-off, best friend of the hammer on. This technique is used to achieve the same goal as the hammer-on, yet with a completely different finger movement.
Length: 15:02 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 135
Hawkeye combines lessons 133 and 134 and demonstrates some examples of how to utilize the hammer-on and pull-off techniques together to enhance your overall blues guitar skills.
Length: 10:27 Difficulty: 3.5 Members OnlyLesson 136
The 12 bar form is a staple in the world of blues music. However, there are plenty of different ways to arrange it. This lesson covers what is commonly called "The Quick Change."
Length: 15:15 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 137
Hawkeye demonstrates how to change up a traditional 12 bar blues progression by starting on the IV chord.
Length: 16:51 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 138
Hawkeye demonstrates yet another form of blues known as the "Talking Blues." This style is indicative of its name. It features a talking vocal style played over a I, IV, V chord progression.
Length: 24:43 Difficulty: 4.0 Members OnlyLesson 139
Need a slightly different voicing to spice up your playing? 9th chords will give your blues playing a colorful, urban sound.
Length: 24:53 Difficulty: 3.5 Members OnlyLesson 140
Hawkeye breaks out his slide and demonstrates how chord progressions in major keys can be played in open minor tunings.
Length: 4:43 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 141
Hawkeye offers up some tricks and techniques that Elmore James utilized in his style of playing.
Length: 25:52 Difficulty: 3.5 Members OnlyLesson 142
In lesson 142, Hawkeye dives into the style of Son House. House pioneered an innovative style featuring strong, repetitive rhythms often played with a slide.
Length: 14:32 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
About Hawkeye Herman
View Full Biography
""One of America's finest acoustic guitarists and blues educators."
Cascade Blues Association
"Herman plays with a sensitive, reflective touch that continually draws
attention to his vocals, which are effectively understated and free of
affectation... Herman can rock with the best of them. A solid choice for fans of
traditional acoustic blues."
Living Blues Magazine
" ...plays haunting music on a mournful guitar."
Los Angeles Times
"The only thing better than hearing this live album is seeing Hawkeye Herman
in the flesh. Whether adding his own spin to blues classics or offering his
own songs, Herman is a one-man history of blues, noteworthy guitar player and
inimitable communicator. Miss him at your peril."
Blues Access
With over 40 years of performing experience, Michael "Hawkeye" Herman
personifies the range of possibilities in blues and folk music. His dynamic blues
guitar playing and vocal abilities have won him a faithful following and he leads
a very active touring schedule of performances at festivals, concerts, school
programs and educational workshops throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
His original music has been included in video dramas and documentaries and in
four hit theatrical productions.
In 2000, Hawkeye was awarded Philadelphia's
Barrymore Award for Excellence in Theatre for best original music in a
theatrical production. "Everyday Living," Hawkeye's first nationally released album
from 1987, now reissued on CD, features the late blues giants Charles Brown and
"Cool Papa" Sadler, and established the demand for his now long-standing
festival and concert touring. His latest CDs and DVD, "Blues Alive!" (CD), "It's
All Blues To Me" (CD), and "Hawkeye Live In Concert" (DVD) have been greeted
with rave reviews. Hawkeye's journalistic efforts have been published in numerous
national and regional blues and music-related periodicals.
In 1998 he was the
recipient of the Blues Foundation's "Keeping The Blues Alive" award for
achievement in education. He served on the Board of Directors of the Blues
Foundation for six years. Hawkeye was inducted into the Iowa Blues Hall of fame in
2004. In September of 2005, Hawkeye composed, at the request of the British
Broadcasting Company (BBC), "Katrina, Oh Katrina (Hurricane Blues)," detailing the
hurricane disaster on the Gulf Coast. The song was aired to over 7 million
listeners on the popular "BBC Today" program. He is the cofounder of the Rogue
Valley Blues Festival, Ashland, OR.
This musician has definitely carved out a
spot for himself in the contemporary acoustic blues/folk field, and has earned a
reputation as one of the most accomplished artists in the genre, and
audiences throughout the US/Canada/Europe have come to know and appreciate Hawkeye's
talent, dedication, and captivating performances.
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
In lesson 6, Kaki discusses how the left and right hands can work together or independently of each other to create different...
Free LessonSeries DetailsNick explains how to play some of the most commonly used chords in the bluegrass genre.
Free LessonSeries DetailsJim discusses the importance of setting goals. He provides some tips that will help steer your practicing in the right direction.
Free LessonSeries DetailsJessica kindly introduces herself, her background, and her approach to this series.
Free LessonSeries DetailsLearn a simple mini song that illustrates just how intertwined scales and chords really are. Dave uses a G chord paired...
Free LessonSeries DetailsMark Nelson introduces "'Ulupalakua," a song he will be using to teach different skills and techniques. In this lesson, he...
Free LessonSeries DetailsJamPlay welcomes bassist and founding member of Godsmack, Robbie Merrill. In this short introduction lesson, Robbie showcases...
Free LessonSeries DetailsHawkeye teaches several Robert Johnson licks in this lesson. These licks are played with a slide in open G tuning.
Free LessonSeries DetailsIn this lesson Randall introduces the partial capo (using a short-cut capo by Kyser) and talks about how it can make the...
Free LessonSeries DetailsOur electric guitar lessons are taught by instructors with an incredible amount of teaching experience.
Michael kicks off his course and explains what to expect from the course, as well as who this course is designed for.
Free LessonSeries DetailsLesson 6 is all about the major mode. As with the other lessons you'll be taking a look at the individual notes on the strings...
Free LessonSeries DetailsBryan Beller of the Aristocrats, Dethklok, and Steve Vai takes you inside his six step method to learning any song by ear....
Free LessonSeries DetailsNick explains how to use scales and modes effectively when soloing over a chord progression.
Free LessonSeries DetailsDo you want to play more musical sounding solos? Do you want to play solos with more emotion behind them? Maybe you're the...
Free LessonSeries DetailsJD teaches the pentatonic and blues scales and explains where and when you can apply them.
Free LessonSeries DetailsJames explains how to tap arpeggios for extended musical reach.
Free LessonSeries DetailsLearn Nashville style country guitar from one of the most recorded guitarists in history. Check out rhythm grooves, solos,...
Free LessonSeries DetailsKnown around the world for his inspirational approach to guitar instruction, Musician's Institute veteran Daniel Gilbert...
Free LessonSeries DetailsLauren Passarelli offers up her wisdom on purchasing a guitar. She also includes information regarding proper setup and care....
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Take a minute to compare JamPlay to other traditional and new methods of learning guitar. Our estimates for "In-Person" lessons below are based on a weekly face-to-face lesson for $40 per hour.
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Learn Any Style | Sorta | |||
Track Progress | ||||
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Mike H.
"I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar!"
I am 66 years young and I still got it! I would have never known this if it had not been for Jamplay! I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar! Ha! I cannot express enough how great you're website is! It is for beginners and advanced pickers! I am an advanced picker and thought I had lost it but thanks to you all, I found it again! Even though I only play by ear, I have been a member a whopping whole two weeks now and have already got Brent's country shuffle and country blues down and of course with embellishments. Thank you all for your wonderful program!
Greg J.
"With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace"
I'm a fifty eight year old newbie who owns a guitar which has been sitting untouched in a corner for about seven years now. Last weekend I got inspired to pick it up and finally learn how to play after watching an amazing Spanish guitarist on TV. So, here I am. I'm starting at the beginning with Steve Eulberg and I couldn't be happier (except for the sore fingers :) Some day I'm going to play like Steve! I'm self employed with a hectic schedule. With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace, rewinding and replaying the videos until I get it. This is a very enjoyable diversion from my work yet I still feel like I'm accomplishing something worthwhile. Thanks a lot, Greg
Bill
"I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students."
I am commenting here to tell you and everyone at JamPlay that I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students. I truly enjoy learning to play the guitar on JamPlay.com. Yes, I said the words, ""enjoy learning."" It is by far the best deal for the money.
Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Just jumped forward from lesson 29 to have a look. I can't wait to get here! Looks like I need a guitar with more Mojo though.
Take your time and enjoy the process of learning, practicing, and playing, while improving your skills and understanding of blues guitar. Thanks so mjch for your comments.
Greetings Hawkeye!! As I now type from my new floating home (narrowboat) moored up in the English countryside, on the outskirts of London. I figured I’m way overdue to leave a comment… These lessons have laid the foundation for, what I hope to be, a lifetime adventure into this music. It’s been 3 years now, 142 lessons later and, with your countless words of wisdom and boundless enthusiasm, I have progressed from being barely able to fret an open chord to shuffling, bending, fingerpicking, barring, sliding, and generally having an fantastic time whenever I pick up my guitar!! It’s been a lot of hard work, frustration, breakthroughs and the odd celebration to make it this far. I know I’ve hardly begun. But for now - I’m very grateful for this wealth of knowledge you’ve handed down, and I promise to play my part (no matter how seemingly insignificant!!!) in keeping this blues alive. Looking forward to all that lies ahead on the highway. Thanks again. Dan
Dan, I apoligize for not responding to your message sooenr. All I can say is thank you so much for your kind words and for 'traveling' with me on the 'blues highway.' It's most gratifying for me to read your thoughtful and appreciative words. I very much appreciate your foollowing my lessons patiently and realizing such wonderful and satisfying results. Do visit my web site for more freee lessons ... hawkeyehherman.com ... I hope you'll take the time to read some of the "Ortingal Articles" I've written on blues hsitory and the iconic masters I met and learned from directly, and don't forget to watch the "Videos" and play along with me, it's good practice, try to 'lift' my licks/riffs/ideas. ;-) . and you'll also see how I use the rechniques I teach in these lessons when performing in concert and at blues music festivals. I have video-taped many more lessons for JamPlay that will be imcrementally posted here in Phase Three and as 'stad alone' lessons. Please check for those 'new' lessons. Again, thanks so much for your kind words, patience, perserverenace, and new found skills and joy in playing blues guitar and keeping the tradition alive. "Carry on the blues!" my friend. ;-)
Hawkeye, just got word on the forum that Jamplay is "looking at hopefully bringing you back later this year". That would be great.
I've vilmed many more hours of lessons yet to be posted on a variety of blues guitar related subjects. I hope you'll check them out. It will take all of 2015 + for jamplay to incrementally post the new lessons. I hope you stick around to enjoy them. Thanks again for your message.
It's been a great ride hawkeye... I've learned so much over the course of 6 months. you are a superb teacher...can't wait to see you in concert. I'll be visiting the states next year, perhaps i can see you then. till then take care and most of all stay healthy and always keep smiling^^
I apologize for the very long delay in my responding to your message. By now, mid 2015, there are many more of my lessons appearing on jamplay, and many more to cone. Don't forget to explore my web site hawkeyeherman.com ... and the free guitar lessons, articles, and videos. THere are many more hours of my lessons yet to be posted. I hope you're around to enjoy them.. ;-)
well it's been just under a year and i have come to the end of the road in terms of your lesson set. Thank you , it's been great. While i anxiously await new lessons from you , i thought i would ask your opinion of what to do next here on jamplay. Obviooulsy i have a great deal more to learn. Appreciate your thoughts on this. I do enjoy the Jamplay format just not sure where to turn next. Thanks for everything.
Thanks so much for enjoying my lesson series. THere are many more lessons of mine being posted in Phase Three and as 'stand alone' lessons ... many more hours of my lessons to come. Don't forget to explore my web site hawkeyeherman.omc, the free guitar lessons, articles, and videos. THere are many more hours of my lessons, on a variety of blues guitar relatted subjects yet to be posted at JamPlay, so please keep an eye out for them. Again, thanks so much for allowing me to share myt love and passion for the guitar and the music with you.
It has taken this old man 1 year and 5 months to go thru all your lessons. I am a much better player than I was before, thanks to you and your teaching methods. It is with a little sadness that have finished. I know I can go back and replay lessons, but it is kind of like finishing a great dessert, you always want more. I feel like a friend has taught me and watched over my lessons. I will visit your site often and wish you good health and happiness. If ever in the Atlanta area, well, you know.
Thanks so much for your kind comments in regard to my lessons and your improved skills on the guitar as a result of your diligent study. I think it's obvious that I love what I do, and I hope my enthusiasm and the information I've shared with you continues to serve you for the rest of your life. I have many more lessson planned for Jamplay.com, in both the Phase Two and Phase Three areas ... it's just a matter of the JamPlay.com administrators finding the time to schedule the taping of those lessons ... I've been waiting to extend my lesson series for over 2 years! Perhaps a message to the admin folks might hasten that process. I hope you've watched some of the many song/videos I have posted at youtube .... http://www.youtube.com/user/HawkeyeH ... please watch these videos to see how I use the skills I teach in my lessons when I'm performing in concert and at festivals ... try to play along with me, try to 'steal' my licks/riffs/ideas ;-) I do hope to perform and give workshop(s) in the Atlanta area ... someday. If there are blues festivals in your area, it would be helpful and apprecaited if you contacted them by email and referred them to me for a possible performance/workshop spot in the future ... there's nothing like a message/request from the 'ticket buying public' to help 'leverage' the possibility of my being in the Atlanta area. Again, thanks so much for taking the time to let me know that you've found my lessons helpful and 'tasty' in guiding your path on the 'blues highway.'
hey hawkeye! really enjoying your lessons! just wondering if your just revisiting slide temporarily but i really really love slide. i personally like open D myself but i dip into G as well. i was listening to some blues guys like Blind Willie Johnson's dark was the night and lightin' Hopkins sail on little girl sail on and was wondering how these musicians come up with all these awesome licks!?!?! they really bring out the soul do they just use the slide on pentatonic scales higher on the neck? would love to get your take. and if you are putting out more slide videos i cant wait! Cheers!
Thanks for the kind comments, Christian. Much appreciated. I answer all of the questions you asked me throughout my lesson series. Please be sure not to skip around/'cherry pick' these lessons. I have given a lot of thought and planning as to the order and content of these lessons. Start with lesson #1 and patiently progress for one lesson to the next, not moving on to the next lesson until you can accomplish what is in the current lesson. This is not a 'race to finish line' ... there is no 'race' and there is no 'finish line/' All of your questions are answered within my lesson series. I will, hopefully, when the JamPlay admin. team is ready, be videotaping more lessons on slide guitar. In the meantime, please follow my lessons in the order they are presented, please be patient with yourself and progress at your own speed, and don't skip over any lessons or take the lessons out of the order they are presented ... and you will see that everything you have asked me is revealed to you in these lessons. ;-) Thanks so much for enjoying these lessons and for taking the time to write to me.
sorry hawkeye my question lacked elaboration. I meant like as far as tone how do artists achieve that real dirty, melancholy tone that is synonymous with delta blues. never the less your lessons have helped me tremendously in playing blues so thank you. Btw youve met lighting Hopkins and son house?? U lucky son of a gun.
'Real dirty and melancholy tone are individual choices that are not to be generalized about from one artist to the next, I would not qualify and generalize about many regional aspects of blues music as 'having a 'dirty' tone' ... I suggest you listen to much more blues music, your opinion about tone seems 'narrow' to me, and I don't agree with it, so I'm not going to expound on what I don't believe in as a generalized statement about blues music ... perhaps Charley Patton, Son House and Big Joe Williams had a bit of a 'dirty tone' ... Memphis Minnie, Lonnie Johnson, Bukka White, John Hurt, Fred McDowell, Willie Brown, Robert Johnson and many, many others had a clean/clear tone. The 'melancholy' tone aspect is due to the use of the pentatonic scale ... and these choices are covered in/throughout my lesson series. It is impossible for me to explain/answer your generalized abstract question with a short answer that would cover the artistic choices of all artists and all regional aspects of blues guitar playing ... that's why there are over 140 of my lessons for you to discover, progressing patiently, in the order they are presented, so you can see/learn the choices that are available and make your own artistic decisions about tone and melancholy, as an individual, just as every blues artist does. Yes, I met and learned directly from many of the iconic old blues legends: Son House, Bukka White, Lightnin' Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb, Furry Lewis, Sam Chatmon, and others ... you can read about those encounters and other interesting historical and personal background(s) here: http://hawkeyeherman.com/articles.htm ... Thanks so much for enjoying my lessons. I hope you continue to enjoy 'traveling' with me on the 'blues highway' here at JamPlay.com.
We ALL need to/should listen to more blues music. ;-)
Hi Hawkey, I just wanted to say thank you for being such a great and inspiring teacher. I've gone through every one of your lessons. The reason in stopped taking lessons as a kid was a bad teacher but you changed that for me. Keep teaching, its a gift....
Thanks so much for the message and kind words about these lessons, Maurice. Very much appreciated. There will be more of my lessons to come in both the Phase Two and Phase Three areas ... as the JamPlay.com admin. plans to schedule videotaping more of my lessons in the year to come ... I sure hope it happens .. I have a lot more information to share with y'all ... so, keep an eye out for more 'new' lessons beyond this 'last' one (#142) ... it was never my intention to end this Phase Two blues lesson series at this point ... or at any point! ;-) ... there's always more to share. Thanks again for taking the time to let me know that these lessons and my personal 'skills' as a guitar instructor have made a difference in your playing the guitar (and your attitude ;-) ... 'the blues highway never ends' ... thanks for 'traveling' on it with me here at JamPlay.com.
thanks for the great lesson..I have learned so much as a result of your patient teaching style...this seems to be the last one..are there more coming
thanks hawkeye I will be sending an email today and I hope others that read this post make the request as well....quite frankly most of the value in the site is from your lessons eric madis
Thanks so much for the support and kind comments. Eric Madis is a fine player/teacher and a longtime friend of mine, and I'm happy to say that it was I who recommended Eric to JamPlay.com as an instructor a few years ago. ;-)
Yes, #142 is the "last lesson" ... so far. ;-) I have many more lessons planned for both the Phase Two and Phase Three area. I am patiently awaiting for the JamPlay admin. to schedule me for the videotaping of more lessons ... if you want to 'hurry' the process, you might send the JamPlay admin a message requesting more of my lessons sooner than later, as I've been ready with a lot more lessons in both Phase Two and Three for over a year. I believe there are a few of my lessons in the Phase Three area. In the meantime, you can go to my web site, HawkeyeHerman.com, and click on the 'guitar lessons' navigation bar on the lesft hand side of the page for more FREE lessons that can be viewed and downloaded in the .pdf format. Also, it's a good idea to click on the 'videos' navigation bar at my web site which will take you to my videos that are posted on youtube.com ... watch me perform many blues tunes in concert so that you can see how I use the techniques I teach here at jamplay when I'm performing in concerts and at festivals, and try to play along with me, and also, try to 'lift'/'steal' some of my licks/riffs/ideas. Thanks so much for enjoying these lessons and for your support. I hope jamplay will schedule me for the videotaping of more lessons soon. ;-)
Hey Hawkeye, my ol' friend, back with you again on jamplay, tony sullivan on facebook, one of your friends, good to be back jamming along with you. I have seen son house on youtube, he's amazing, he uses his hand a lot hitting the body of the guitar, just phenominal, great lesson mate. OB
Hi Tony. Welcome back to jamplay. Yes, I saw Son House perform, met him, and learned a bit of slide from him ... he also influenced the great Robert Johnson ... Johnson reworked a number of Son House's songs to his own satisfaction. I hope you continue to enjoy these lessons.
"I HAD A JOB ON THE LEVEE, yeah I had a good looking woman..." Couldn't help singing along to your playing hawkeye. Great lesson, beautiful guitar. I'd love to hear a bit more about son house the man, though, my curiosity is piqued by your statement "he wasn't the sort of person you asked a lot of questions to...". :)
Thanks for "Levee Camp Blues" ... ;-). My guitar is a 1934 wood body National 'Trojan' model. Note the special inlay I had done on the neck. It is not necessary to play a National guitar, metal body or wood body, to play this style of blues. Blues guitar can be played on just about any type of guitar, even classical/nylon stringed guitars. You might be interested in reading about Son House here: http://hawkeyeherman.com/pdf/tale_feathers.pdf ... and don't forget that I have some free guitar lessons, including on slide guitar, here: http://hawkeyeherman.com/guitar-lessons.htm ... Thanks again for enjoying these lessons.