Quote:
Originally Posted by charles Tauber
Having not listened to John Hurt in decades, I randomly pulled up this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fg20kQUMHY
I was immediately struck by the similarity of it to Bruce Cockburn's old tune, one I used to play as a teenager:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrjuriwfPiI
Both are typical I, IV, V blues, both use a similar alternating bass repeated picking pattern. Different keys, though: Cockburn's is in C major shapes, C, F, G (tuned a semi-tone flat), Hurt's probably E major. Once you get the constant bass down, the rest isn't too difficult, fingers picking either on the beat, with the thumb, or off the beat, in-between thumb notes. Fun stuff to play.
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I'd never come across Bruce Cockburn's music before, cool, sounds like he's listened to a lot of Mississippi John Hurt. As for the first song that comes up on on the Mississippi John Hurt link, Frankie, it's in Spanish tuning, open G, but yes, I, IV and V. I don't think any of the ones on that collection are in E, you'd have to listen to the Avalon Blues family of songs to hear how he works there.
I like what Rick Ruskin said in his first reply, do what feels good and sounds good. It may take experimenting and time to find what suits you best, sure, but don't take Stefan Grossman's word as law. It may sound like I'm overstating it, but for me I think the thumb is the most important in this style.
Anyway, glad the OP has got over his hand issues.