Choice of Colors: Authentic Guitar TAB

This collection captures the breadth of Curtis Mayfield's songwriting genius across soul, funk, and social commentary, all presented in authentic TAB that respects his actual playing style. Guitar students often learn from simplified versions of soul classics; here they encounter the real thing, with the lyrical phrasing and tasteful dynamics that made Mayfield's guitar work so influential. The 17-song span gives teachers and students a genuine taste of how one musician shaped an era.

These songs move through tenderness and conviction with equal grace. From the gentle introspection of "People Get Ready" to the funky momentum of "Move On Up" and the cinematic weight of "Freddie's Dead," the collection showcases Mayfield's range as both a melodist and a rhythm player. There's an unhurried quality throughout, as though every note has been chosen for its meaning rather than its showiness.

Guitar students from intermediate level upward who want to learn soul and funk standards directly from the source, without simplified arrangements. Teachers seeking authentic repertoire that connects music history to contemporary playing will find genuine teaching material here, and working guitarists looking to deepen their understanding of groove-based, soulful playing will benefit from studying Mayfield's actual technique.

• Study the rhythmic phrasing in the TAB carefully; Mayfield's guitar lines often sit slightly behind the beat, creating a laid-back pocket that's harder to nail than it looks on paper.
• Pay attention to dynamic control across the range of these songs. The contrast between the delicate fingerpicking passages and fuller rhythmic sections defines much of Mayfield's character.
• Use the lyrics as your guide to phrasing. These are songs first, and your guitar playing should follow the vocal melody and emotional arc rather than leading.
• Experiment with your tone and touch. Mayfield's influence extended to Hendrix partly because he showed that gentleness and expressiveness could be as powerful as volume and distortion.

Curate a solo recital or showcase evening around Curtis Mayfield's catalog, allowing students to explore both his intimate ballads and his more rhythmically driving work. These songs also pair well in a broader soul and R&B unit, where students can see how guitar interacts with vocals and rhythm section in classic soul production. Individual songs like "Superfly" and "Pusherman" work perfectly for concert programming when you want to include socially engaged repertoire alongside more traditional selections.

• Reading and executing authentic TAB for soul and funk guitar
• Developing rhythmic feel and pocket playing in a soul/R&B context
• Phrasing melody with the sensitivity of a vocalist rather than a soloist
• Understanding how restraint and taste function as musical expression
• Connecting guitar playing to lyrical content and emotional intent
• Navigating both fingerpicking passages and rhythm guitar patterns in the same body of work