The Total Blues Guitarist: Guitar Book & CD

McCumber structures this book to move from foundational blues concepts to authentic licks pulled from the playing styles of canonical figures like Stevie Ray Vaughan and B.B. King. The inclusion of backing tracks transforms what could be a static reference book into an active practice tool where students hear themselves in real musical context immediately.

The journey through these pages mirrors the evolution of blues guitar itself, moving from raw simplicity to sophisticated lick work. Each style section carries the swagger and soul of its tradition, inviting players to inhabit the voices of masters while building their own vocabulary.

This book serves guitarists from beginner to intermediate levels who want a structured path into blues playing. It works equally well for self-taught players seeking a roadmap and for students in group settings who need organized, style-specific material to practice between lessons.

• Use the backing tracks to lock into the groove before attempting licks at tempo. Play along at a comfortable speed first, then gradually increase as your muscle memory develops.
• Focus on the context for each lick, not just the notes. Understanding which blues style (funk, jazz, or modal) shapes the phrasing will deepen your ability to adapt and improvise.
• Record yourself playing over the backing tracks. Listening back reveals timing issues and intonation challenges that feel invisible in the moment.
• Study the scales and chord progressions as the foundation for the licks. Many students jump to flashy techniques without anchoring to the harmonic and melodic structures underneath.

Assign sections based on your student's current focus rather than working straight through. A student interested in electric funk blues can jump to that chapter and use the backing tracks for immediate gratification, while another might work systematically through scales and chords to build a comprehensive foundation.

• Blues progression recognition and harmonic navigation (12-bar form and variations)
• Scale application across different blues styles (pentatonic, major, minor, modal)
• Lick transcription and style-specific phrasing (Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Bonnie Raitt approaches)
• Rhythm and timing within funk blues, jazz blues, and modal blues contexts
• Call-and-response playing and soloing over backing tracks
• Chord-melody integration and riff construction