David Holt Interview: George Higgs Piedmont Blues

[usmcboltaction]

I don't think his fingers are much longer than mine. The trick is to just keep tryin til your hand hurts, wait til mornin, and try some more. The same is true for using your thumb on the low strings and doin those old Rev. Davis impossible chords. It's all about the work. Just remember, if your fingers hurt, you have more to be blue about. ;-)

[31416yatoula]

3146yatoula(continued) IMPORTANT as it's getting difficult:

Playing the guitar is TWO-HANDS(-a jigsawpuzzle)! (remember the connexion between one's elbow and one's lap,-side of one's fretting hand ). SUGGESTIONS:1= practice,( Please, slowly & regularily, but 'means: PLAYING!) first with one axe, smaller-shaped than a dreadnought, but not a solid-body. _2: first period in time throw away longnails, thumb-pick, finger-picks, or flat-pick, & the capo. _3:aSoon as poss' get friends t play with.

[madFlam1]

@31416yatoula what's wrong with capos dickhead?

[31416yatoula]

@madFlam1 Mon gland si t'es grand tu sais à quoi ça sert un capo?!?/// Nothing's wrong with capos, but it'ain't no use to improve basically, either you're a first-learner, or "second-hand"/ re-learner theguitar. Capos are good-helping enough for chording along(-& save an arrangement with "open"strings) the pitch of a singing voice, also good help in case of Open-Tuning. But one key-one sound and it's a good challenge to avoid capos in Standard-Tuning. So don't cheat yourself longer with capos!.

[madFlam1]

@31416yatoula you clearly have no idea what you're talking about., capos let you do alot more. Brownie McGhee used a capo alot and he was on of the best, alot better than you son

[31416yatoula]

@madFlam1OK,OK,Ok ! And plenty of famous others, like McGhee! And as far as I'm concerned, so do I "can alot more" with a(good) capo. Occasionally. It sure is something to keep at hand, along with other gear a guitar player should use with experience. Well I guess you'll be agree with me as I am with you when I say it can puzzle! First I am not saying that you should not get some capo the lucky day you get your axe. but I know what i'm talking about_ Learning_ Please dig the ReverendGaryDavis

[31416yatoula]

@madFlam1OK,OK,Ok ! And plenty of famous others, like McGhee! And as far as I'm concerned, so do I "can alot more" with a(good) capo. Occasionally. It sure is something to keep at hand, along with other gear a guitar player should use with experience. Well I guess you'll be agree with me as I am with you when I say it can puzzle! First I am not saying that you should not get some capo the lucky day you get your axe. but I know what I'm talking about_ Learning_ Please dig the ReverendGaryDavis

[madFlam1]

@31416yatoula so what's your point, i can barely understand your english.

Everyone uses them including Muddy Waters, a capo and a slide are the only essentials in my opinion

[31416yatoula]

@madFlam1 My point?=_1: About what has been written by NeilFraudstrong/_2 : About piedmont / Thanks banjofolk for having posted Georges Higgs, a bluesman & a strong example for piedmont style, awsome to achieve, and get a proper and genuine sound as well; piedmont was not enough taken for granted in my own country( ' was considered somewhat like a style for beginners_Okay!!! Maybe time was for electric blues bands only_) Sorry for my english: Axe=guitar;capos may puzzle your playing>check first

[madFlam1]

@31416yatoula check what? and that quote has nothing to do with the use of capos

[31416yatoula]

@madFlam1 Don't you think it is relevant if you're not yet as advanced a guitar player: in that case you 'd better to check twice at least intervals and chords change of what you know to play without a capo if you decide to play it the same way higher with a capo; or if you 've got something played with a capo and decide to finger it just the same way higher or lower. Don't you mind these players (often in Bluegrass) whose guitar necks are without marks..!

[31416yatoula]

@madFlam1 you want to talk about capos=as long as you're having trouble with your playing, either fingering or picking and striking notes, as long as you don't get comfortable&easy holding your guitar the way you try or are able to, capos are helpless, 'cause playing the guitar is a2-hands process, right with/against left! & Don't you think you'd better to check twice what you decide now to play just the same way moving lower or higher your capo? Oh, but you might be such an advanced player!

[madFlam1]

@31416yatoula i'm not having any trouble with my playing, i play all over it and it's perfectly comfortable, and it obviously takes two hands to play a guitar, don't talk down to me. you've never heard me play so stop acting like you know more about it and like your doing me a favour.

and who's to say what is advanced, RL Burnside used only one chord all the time and he was amazing. so if you want to talk about intervals and theory then you're on the wrong video son.

[31416yatoula]

Yes but: no & no: one has to find out for him/herself the best way , casuallike , or as the natural blues for oneself. One has to developpe, to improve and succeed in terms of sounds and styles. The basics: one's thumb and one's pointer( l'index en français) and that's all for finger-picking a guitar/ youtube= a lotta' videos of original traditional bluesmen, and Etta Baker, Elizabeth Cotten , Precious Bryant... First thing: all what one's thumb can achieve=awsome; watch carefully Mr.Higgs...

[31416yatoula]

@31416yatoula (continued_an answer for NeilFraudstrong_)thinks it is not a matter of size, or race, but Hear in order to decipher and choice how you can get them sounds, these blues and oldiestyles. Relaxing & getting comfort: Time and practice yield(strengh, precision, easiness). Let's find out how one's two-finger can pick n'strike, first, out of one's forearm & wrist, or shoulder. One can not be too stiff or clamped putting fingers on the face of the axe_ Loose "in direction"_

[anglinthemtns]

Love 'if you mistreat me baby' but a man never loves a woman unless she mistreats him (once in awhile)!

[resonatorplate]

At the start of the video what type of Pickup system is that on the guitar? Anyone know?

[mobilechief]

No that's a tune!!!!

[raw1335]

One of the reasons I plan on relocating to the Triangle area! The blues!!

[dasilvaec]

Good God! He's got some finger reach.

[NeilFraudstrong]

I hope that this doesn't make me sound racist and I do not intend for this to be taken wrong at all whatsoever, but a lot of the great African American blues artists had very long fingers. George Higgs reminds me of a Robert Johnson type. The same semi-sloppy yet amazing technique with the very long fingers. I mean, I can only begin to wonder how much tone he gets out of those long fingers. I could never make those reaches in my entire life.

[NeilFraudstrong]

Also, Mr. Higgs is from TARBORO, not Carrboro.

[TracyFClark]

Now THAT"S the blues! :)

[kwolek420]

you got that right!

[bostonteabagger71739]

banjofolk, thanks for posting this great vid. George Higgs is actually from Tarborro NC. He even says it at 1:26 dont worry though haha there is a carborro and a tarborro in NC so I can see how that could easily be confused. :)

[Choclongleggz]

this is actually my dads uncle and he still lives in Tarboro.... he is a wonderful man and he loves his music. Tarboro is in Edgecombe County, about 15 mins from Rocky Mount NC.... also near Pinetops NC

He looks great!

[Flashback7256]

This is so great!

I really want to learn how to play the blues, but I don't know any songs :(

I really like Baby You Don't Have to Go :) Who's the artist? I tried looking for tabs online, but I got nothing.

Any help with the artist or any other great blues songs would be greatly appreciated :)

Again, Awesome video ! :)

[TheBrowndawg]

dont know who the original singer of 'baby you dont have to go' but jimmy reed does a great version

[doctorpep1]

Awesome comment, razorblade!

[mario4prez]

jesus, that guy had enormous hands

[fiffel456]

Hey! If you want a piedmont blues expeience, check out the group Piedmont Project. There you get the stringband alternative. They have been said to "keep it real".

[razorbladethorax]

It's sad when an awesome video like this gets only 200 views while Avril Lavigne gets 2billion.

[doctorpep1]

The last track was originally done by the great Memphis Minnie.