How to play cigar box guitar ( 3 string) from instructional video CD # 4

[fotiurocks]

I'm seeing that if I want to learn properly I should get CD1 then CD6 from ebay. Is that right? I want to make sure I get the right ones. Got the building part down, now I need to work on the playing part.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@fotiurocks Thank you for your interest and question. Essentially, the whole series so far is a comprehensive study of Open Tuning. Mainly Open D and G. CD 1 - 3 focuses on 6 string guitar. (Although CD 1 does contains some CBG lessons too) CD 4 - 6 focuses on Cigar Box guitar. CD 4 and 6 is for 3 string CBG. CD 5 is for 4 string CBG. I also clarify the relationship between CBG and 6 string. This way your approach to playing will be very versatile. Enjoy.

[Riflescout]

Real cool sonding and great lookin' CBG

what kind of wood did you use for the fretboard?

cool lesson too ;)

Greetings

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@Riflescout Thank you for your comment and question. The neck is made out of mahogany and runs through the box. Happy New Year. Enjoy.

[nextellcup8]

thank you so much. your the only one that says what 3 strings you have on there :)

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@nextellcup8 Thank you for your interest and comment. Glad you found this video informative. Please check out my instructional video CDs on ebay by searching: keni lee Additionally, feel free to write if you have any other questions or if they arise as you work through the lessons. Enjoy your practice, Keni Lee

[cserpico84]

nice guitar

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@cserpico84 Thank you for your comment. I built this guitar with help from my friend Bill Helferich. We used an instructional video on how to build a Cigar Box Guitar by Bill Jehle. Enjoy.

[popebenadict16]

i think thats a little bit to fast for me.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@popebenadict16 Thank you for your comment. Well, just relax and slow it way down. A nice easy walk down the street. Just be careful, not to drag your feet. LOL Enjoy.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@popebenadict16 Thank you for your comment. Well, just relax and slow it way down. A nice easy walk down the street. Just be careful, not to drag your feet. LOL Enjoy.

[KYLYKaHYT]

Great lesson. Thank you.

Cool dog too! :)

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@KYLYKaHYT Thank you for your interest and comment. Enjoy.

[leesbo55]

I love the dog

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@leesbo55 Thank you. I rescued him from a local shelter when he was one. I found him online using petfinder. He is four now. He is a cockapoo. Spaniel Poodle mix. I will send you a little video of him in action. Enjoy.

[tinyosborne]

@leesbo55 Agreed. Dog is awesome.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@tinyosborne Thank you for your comment. My dog, Onyx is extremely friendly and bright. He loves hanging out in the backyard whenever I set my camera up to shoot a video. I don't know if you noticed, but he usually makes it a point to walk into the camera's view on many of my other videos too. A real ham. Happy New Year 2011. Enjoy. 

[strawberryflow]

Hi Keni!

Thanks for your posts about the cigar box guitar. really appreciate your effort to help out with your knowledge. greetinx from germany

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@strawberryflow Thank you for your comment. If you are interested in learning more in greater detail, please consider purchasing my instructional CDs and help to support my efforts. Visit ebay and search: keni lee

I appreciate your interest and support. Please feel free to write if you have any questions. Enjoy.

[cookdadio38]

hi keni, having a great time here in the uk learning to play cbg, using your vcd, i'd advise anyone new to cbg, to give it a go, really helps, keep up the good work.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@cookdadio38 Thank you for your feedback and endorsement. I greatly appreicate that you took the time to post a reponse. Please feel free to write if I can be of further assistance. Enjoy.

[terry10100]

Excellent lesson, Kenilee! I find it hard just to learn by watching, however. Do you have tab for this lesson? Thanks!

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you for your comment. I'm sorry, but I do not have tab for this lesson, but please check out my instructional video CD 4, it contains lessons that include tab. Visit ebay and search: Keni Lee

Enjoy

[hpeter59]

Kenni, your dog certainly is a lovely one. Thank you very much indeed for all the information displayed here on your page. I shall become a regular of cigarboxnation...

Regards

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. Yes, my dog Onyx turned out to be a great dog shelter find. I found him on a web site called petfinder that lists all the dogs currently in the pound. See you at the Nation. Enjoy.

[bisket2003]

ur dog cracks me up!

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. Onyx is a cockapoo. Half poodle, half cocker spaniel. I rescued him from a local shelter. He becomes a regular ham whenever I set up the camera. Enjoy.

[ronhmason]

Keni, I've watched this video at least 8 times over the last couple of days and since I don't have a cgb, I took 3 strings off my acoustic and tuned it like you said. I'm workin' on it and love it but can you tell me a song that you could play that would use that whole run? I can't think of any but am sure you can. I'm not a big blues fan except for the early blues and am lookin' forward to learnin' more. Thanks for offerin' these lessons. Hope to get your cd's soon. Merry Christmas.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you for your interest and comment. Here is an example:

Series 4 Application Example for Walking Bass / Cigar Box Guitar Suppliment Lesson A

Unfortunately, you can't see my hand, but you can clearly hear I using this run. Usually I use parts of the walking bass, 2 note power chord shuffle rhythms, and fills to create a whole progression. Here is another example:

Jimi Hendrix Red House Delta Blues Cover Republic Guitars Parlor & Highway 61 Resonator Guitars

Happy Holidays. Enjoy

[CFFDan]

I have been wanting to build a cigar box electric bass. Is there any tips on what kind of wood to use for the neck and where to get cigar boxes for cheap? I have made alot of home made speakers and I have a whole home made half stack and I want a home made bass to finish it all off.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you for your question. I am a player not a builder. Go to cigarboxnation. There are resources and a whole community of builders there who will share their knowledge with you. Happy Holidays. Enjoy.

[axemanand]

Cool. Great guitar and playing. I just built one myself for slide.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you for your comment. Please feel free to write if you have any questions. Enjoy.

[shyster97]

This is a video of a 3 string cbg and amp I made. I was looking through the web to try to play something on it and I have no musical experience at all and I happened across your video lessons. I noticed you talking about cds to purchase for video lessons and I was wondering what video you would recommend for the absolute beginner. The video I sent is about the extent of my musical talent which I learned from your videos. The guitar is still a work in progress. Any help would be appreciated.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you for your video response. I think you will find my CD1 helpful. Although it is mainly focused on 6 string Bottleneck playing, it does contain CBG lessons. Basically, if you learn some basic music theory and how to apply it, you will begin to understand how to approach playing a three string. In addition, you can feel free to write and ask questions as you work through the lessons. Enjoy.

[tpeter13]

Don't you have tabs of these scales? It would be very useful to write a few, just for easier learning.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you for your question. There is tab for most of the Series 4 How to Play Cigar Box guitar lessons. In addition, there are tab files contained on the Series 1 and 2 Instructional video CDs, that are for sale on ebay if you search: Keni Lee. This lesson is presented so straight forward by me walking you through the walking bass lines, there really is no need for tablature. Enjoy.

[jemar121]

cute dog

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. You should see him (Onyx) now with his winter coat. He looks like a walking carpet with wookie boots. lol. Enjoy.

[WILLARDJ]

it's always a pleasure to watch your vids...very instructional...thanks keni...ps...onyx taught you happiness...

willardj

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you Willard. Please visit my page and watch the featured video. I'm starting a new Series of Cigar Box guitar Lessons.  Enjoy. Yes, Onyx is always living in the present!

[dudeman1823]

this is very informative

thanks for the lesson lol

im now making my first cigar box guitar so i need all the help i can get lol

thanks again

sweet dog too =D

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. Good Luck Building. Have you been to cigarboxnation? Also, please consider purchasing my Series 1 instructional video CD. It contains CBG lessons and will provide you with an approach to learning Bottleneck guitar. Enjoy.

[XRAYNICO]

cool dog! are those acoustic or nylon strings?

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. My dog Onyx, is a cocker spaniel poodle mix, a cockapoo. I got him from a local shelter. The strings are steel from a standard medium set.

[baddogtoo]

Your teaching style is very effective. I will purchase your CD.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. Please feel free to write, if you have any questions as you work through the lessons.

[mitchellsk]

Thanks for making it easier. Why can't other people simply say "play these four and now play this one between them"??? Thanks so much!

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you for your comment. I try to make the lesson as clear as possible. I am currently working on a method to add music tablature to the video to help clearify the lesson. Please consider purchasing my Series 1 instructional CD , if you would like to learn more. Go to ebay and search, Keni Lee Happy New Year!

[resoslideguitar]

Hey Keni Great lesson!! keep up the good work and oh yeah what a cute dog..

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. Ya, my dog Onyx is the best. Happy Holidays! Enjoy.

[felixrockss]

nice canine ... great lesson man thanks... keep it real

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. He certainly is this man's best friend. Happy Holidays! Enjoy. FYI I just uploaded Lesson #2.

[TheWayOuts]

Hi! Great playing!

I just recieved my 3-string CBG guitar (the first in Belgium???) and i really enjoyed your lesson.

The lessons you sell, is it a cd with sound only or image too?

Thanks!!

Ronny

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you Ronny. The CD is both. Video with audio instruction. The CD also contains a tablature music file that you can view on your computer or print out. I will send you some more information. Happy Holidays! Enjoy.

[WichitaSam]

KeniLee,

You certainly catch the spirit of the CigarBoxGuitar by giving back to the community and especially the newcomers. I appreciate this lesson and will head to the woodshed....

thanks again,

Wichita Sam

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you Sam. I will be posting more lessons soon. These lessons are intended to be a continuation of the information taught on my Series 1 instructional video CD. It contains CBG lessons, but more importantly teaches the theory of melody line, two note intervals, and three note chords. If you are interested in understand this style yourself, please consider purchasing it on ebay. Search Keni Lee. Armed with these tools, your ability to figure out and arrange songs will be limitless. Enjoy.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

FYI If you are planning to build your own CBG, you might want to check out Bill Jehle's How to build a Guitar The string, stick, box method video. My friend, Bill and I used it to guide us to build this CBG. I believe you can find it on ebay. Search cigar box guitar Enjoy.

[figbatphrog]

Hey thanks so much for doing this! It is hard to find something that sounds good and is explained well. Thanks again! I'll get on it.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. I'm glad that you are finding this lesson useful. Happy Holidays! Enjoy.

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Wow, who knew you could do so much with three strings! Thanks anyway!

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. Basically, it is the bass half of an open tuned six string guitar. You can also string a CBG to be the treble half. Enjoy.

[gayouj]

Hey, man.

Thanks so much for posting this video. I build CBGs myself but am a really lousy player. I've been picking up tricks here and there but this is the first comprehensive 3 string video I've seen. Do you plan on doing any more of these? I'm going to your page right now to see if you have any more.

Thanks again,

Josh

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you Josh. Yes, I plan to do more CBG videos. Please consider purchasing my Series 1instructional CD that is available on ebay. Search Keni Lee It contains CBG lessons. Although the bulk of the CD is made for six string, the approach to playing will be very useful for CBG. I will write to you personally, and explain further. Enjoy.

[wolfiemo36]

Hi Keni, did you make that guitar yourself? I'd really like to have one of those and have seen instructions on how to make them but I don't think I could make one with frets. Thanks for your videos, love that sound!

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. Yes, I built this guitar, but actually my friend Bill did the bulk of the work. If you are looking for a builder, contact tinyguitars here on Youtube. He will make a nice instrument for you.

[ZEDZOR2]

Cool quite fancy making a cigar box guitar in the future after my parlour guitar project.This guitar fasination is surely an addiction.Like the simplicity of that three string playing and how that relates to other open tunings suppose you got me thinking again good and evil KeniLee.All the best from Scotland.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. This mystery is certainly associated with Robert Johnson. In the legend, the Devil retunes his guitar at the Crossroads giving RJ amazing abilities. Some people don't believe RJ used Open E or A with a capo. Some belive it was a hybrid tuning. Just a retuning of one or two strings, with a capo, he could play any of his songs. Gene Roebuck calls this Secret Devil Tuning, and he believes he cracked the code. Believe it or not! Enjoy.

[marshmelow]

:)loove it.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you.

[latrolatro]

Great video. Do you play fretless? If so, and instructional vid would be great.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. In general, I prefer frets. There are a few songs like Motherless Children and Atlanta Blues, that I refer to as Old School Slide, that I play on six string with the slide, fretting no notes with my fingers. If you want to be traditional, Cigar Box Guitars usually don't have frets, but I find having frets gives the instrument a wider range. Enjoy.

[WILLARDJ]

Hi Keni,,,Just found your'53rd and lex blues'street preformer...Keep it up,,,Thanks!!!

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you WillardJ. The full length documentary is in the works, and should be completed soon. Enjoy.

[WILLARDJ]

Hello KENI,,,You too Onyx,,,great video,thanks...

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Hello Willard J. Good to hear from you my old friend. Enjoy.

[picker38]

Thanks kenni. enjoyed it very much.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you for your comment.

[goyatley]

Thank you very much, Keni. As always I'm looking and learning.

I like the turnaround very much. I had been fiddling around with that bassline as well this week (weird eh?), and had found the first two chords but I just couldn't find a nice way to do the turnaround. But in came Keni!

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. Yes, using that long run is a nice way to walk thru bars 9 thru 12. I failed to mention on the video, you can move the 4 chord C walking bass up 2 frets, to use to walk the 5 chord D for bar 9. If I ever get back to the Series 3 lessons, the next lesson will fill in more ideas. Enjoy.

[bluesmaen]

It´s true . nearly every two days there´s a new "quality" lesson or song !

That´s unbelievable ! You do a great job for everyone who wants to learn or just enjoy oldschoolbluesguitarsound.

Thank you Keni,

take care and say hi to Onyx.

Marc

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you Marc. I had Windows Movie Maker for a while, but I could not figure it out. It is really not that hard to use, but unfortunately, I'm no computer geek. It is really nice to shoot short clips, and be able to edit them together. I'm glad you are enjoying them. I want to try my hand at a little acting next, and mix that into a music video. Enjoy.

[kokoro86]

Yay! Onyx Returns!

Thanks for yet another quality lesson, BTW.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. Another warm autumn day. The perks of globel warming? Couldn't resist to sit out on the back porch, and shoot some video with my best friend.

[Ragpicker81]

your dog is stunning!

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. I had a poodle for 18 years before he got too ill, and I had to put him down. His name was Aiko. There is a web site called petfinder. They list all the dogs that are sheltered. I sat for 3 hours looking for another poodle. I came across Onyx, who is a poodle cocker spaniel mix, and thought he would be a great dog. He is very bright and loves to sit next to me when I play guitar and shot videos.

[JeffBLee]

Another great video, I am holding on buying my first resonator.. The Canadian dollar is worth nothing right now... I will wait till until things change up a bit..

and I also have a pound dog.. She is great..

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. Well, I guess we are all experiencing the fate of a world economy. You know what goes up...must come down. Hopefully better days are on the way. I guess it is really like the 1930 Depression days...don't buy a guitar...build a Cigar Box guitar! Ya, shelter dogs are the way to go. Enjoy.

[bluescollarband]

Do you ever sleep? Everytime I turn around your posting another video. Like always, well done Keni . Your a natural . Love the dog.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Well, I live a pretty simple life. I eat...sleep...practice Tai Chi...and play guitar. I no longer have one of those 40 hours a week kind of a job. The economy slowed down, so I lost my job as a chef. I mainly support myself by playing on the subway platforms, teaching Tai Chi and selling my instructional videos. In general, I rather have time than money any day. Ya, my dog Onyx was a great shelter find. Thanks for your kind words. Enjoy.