886014
04/07/24
A really fun course
This is a great course that's a lot of fun to play. Highly recommend it and hope Mike will consider publishing more Swamp Blues courses
Take 5: Swamp Blues
Louisiana Swamp Blues Essentials for Guitarists
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Mike Zito
Educator
Genres
About this course
Swamp Blues, also referred to as the Excello sound, is a variation of Louisiana blues with zydeco and Cajun influences. Slim Harpo, Lazy Lester, and Lightnin’ Slim are just a few of the legends that made this laid-back, rhythmic dance music so popular in its heyday back in the ’50s and ’60s. Today, dozens of popular bands continue to keep this style of the blues alive.
Mike kicks off the course with a primer where he explains how to dial in your tone along with other key insight for getting an authentic swamp blues sound. He’ll talk about the history of the style, tremolo and reverb, slide and open tunings, and some left and right-hand approaches you’ll need to know.
”In the primer, I’ll give you an overview of the history of Louisiana swamp blues. We'll talk about the players, the style, the guitar techniques needed to play with feel and authenticity, and I'll demonstrate some of the techniques and tunings. I'll also talk about playing electric and acoustic, and using a slide in swamp blues. Then, I'll give you an overview of using effects like tremolo and reverb to capture the vibe. When playing this style, it's important to understand the basic blues changes in a 1-4-5 and 12-bar blues and 8-bar blues. There's also a fair amount of droning on the root for tension and mixing the major and minor scales for dynamics.”
Mike will then guide you through five Swamp Blues performance studies, from basic to more sophisticated approaches. He will first perform the study over a backing track and then break it down emphasizing the key techniques and approaches in play.
Mike will explain and demonstrate all of the key concepts and approaches along the way. You’ll get standard notation and tabs for each of the performance studies. Plus, Mike includes all of the rhythm tracks for you to work with on your own. In addition, you’ll be able to loop or slow down any of the videos so that you can work with the lessons at your own pace.
Grab your guitar and let’s get swampy with Mike Zito!
Mike kicks off the course with a primer where he explains how to dial in your tone along with other key insight for getting an authentic swamp blues sound. He’ll talk about the history of the style, tremolo and reverb, slide and open tunings, and some left and right-hand approaches you’ll need to know.
”In the primer, I’ll give you an overview of the history of Louisiana swamp blues. We'll talk about the players, the style, the guitar techniques needed to play with feel and authenticity, and I'll demonstrate some of the techniques and tunings. I'll also talk about playing electric and acoustic, and using a slide in swamp blues. Then, I'll give you an overview of using effects like tremolo and reverb to capture the vibe. When playing this style, it's important to understand the basic blues changes in a 1-4-5 and 12-bar blues and 8-bar blues. There's also a fair amount of droning on the root for tension and mixing the major and minor scales for dynamics.”
Mike will then guide you through five Swamp Blues performance studies, from basic to more sophisticated approaches. He will first perform the study over a backing track and then break it down emphasizing the key techniques and approaches in play.
Mike will explain and demonstrate all of the key concepts and approaches along the way. You’ll get standard notation and tabs for each of the performance studies. Plus, Mike includes all of the rhythm tracks for you to work with on your own. In addition, you’ll be able to loop or slow down any of the videos so that you can work with the lessons at your own pace.
Grab your guitar and let’s get swampy with Mike Zito!
What you'll learn
- Execute basic slide technique on IV and V chords
- Master slide guitar techniques in open tunings
- Apply open tuning concepts to any guitar (electric or acoustic)
- Understand the laid-back, sparse rhythm of swamp blues
- Learn how to dial in authentic swamp blues tone with tremolo and reverb
Release date: 02/25/2019 • 1h 17m runtime
Sample lessons
Level 5: Swamp Blues
Overview
Level 5: Swamp Blues
Performance
Level 5: Swamp Blues
Breakdown
What's included
18 lessons • 5 charts • 5 Jam Tracks
Take 5: Swamp Blues
Hi, I'm Mike Zito. Welcome to this Swamp Blues edition of Take 5.
Swamp Blues, also referred to as the Excello sound, is a variation of Louisiana blues with zydeco and cajun influences. Slim Harpo, Lazy Lester and Lightnin' Slim are just a few of the legends that made this laid-back, rhythmic dance music so popular in its heyday back in the 50's and 60's. Today, dozens of popular bands continue to keep this style of the blues alive.
We'll start this course with a quick primer where I'll explain how to dial in your tone and some of the fundamentals of the swamp blues sound. We'll talk about the history of the style, tremolo and reverb, slide and open tunings, and some left and right hand approaches you'll need to know.
I'll then guide you through 5 Swamp Blues performance studies, from basic to more sophisticated approaches.
All of the performance studies are tabbed and notated and you'll have the jam tracks to work with on your own. You can loop and slow down the videos so you can work at your own pace.
Grab your guitar and let's get started!
Swamp Blues, also referred to as the Excello sound, is a variation of Louisiana blues with zydeco and cajun influences. Slim Harpo, Lazy Lester and Lightnin' Slim are just a few of the legends that made this laid-back, rhythmic dance music so popular in its heyday back in the 50's and 60's. Today, dozens of popular bands continue to keep this style of the blues alive.
We'll start this course with a quick primer where I'll explain how to dial in your tone and some of the fundamentals of the swamp blues sound. We'll talk about the history of the style, tremolo and reverb, slide and open tunings, and some left and right hand approaches you'll need to know.
I'll then guide you through 5 Swamp Blues performance studies, from basic to more sophisticated approaches.
All of the performance studies are tabbed and notated and you'll have the jam tracks to work with on your own. You can loop and slow down the videos so you can work at your own pace.
Grab your guitar and let's get started!
Swamp Blues Essentials
Here I'll give you an overview of the history of Louisiana swamp blues. We'll talk about the players, the style, the guitar techniques needed to play with feel and authenticity, and I'll demonstrate some of the techniques and tunings. I'll also talk about playing electric and acoustic, and using a slide in swamp blues.
Then, I'll give you an overview of using effects like tremolo and reverb to capture the vibe. When playing this style, it's important to understand the basic blues changes in a 1-4-5 and 12-bar blues and 8-bar blues. There's also a fair amount of droning on the root for tension and mixing the major and minor scales for dynamics.
Then, I'll give you an overview of using effects like tremolo and reverb to capture the vibe. When playing this style, it's important to understand the basic blues changes in a 1-4-5 and 12-bar blues and 8-bar blues. There's also a fair amount of droning on the root for tension and mixing the major and minor scales for dynamics.
Level 1: Swamp Blues
This a great basic swampy rhythm to get you started. It's based on the "Lonesome Sundown" song of the same title. It features a real cool sliding chord pattern that follows the 1-4-5 12-bar blues format. It holds on the 5 when turning around. You'll need to know some basic chords and be able to slide chords on the neck, which I'll show you. With some cool rhythm variation, this one will get you a dance floor full of swamp poppers!
Level 1: Swamp Blues
This a great basic swampy rhythm to get you started. It's based on the "Lonesome Sundown" song of the same title. It features a real cool sliding chord pattern that follows the 1-4-5 12-bar blues format. It holds on the 5 when turning around. You'll need to know some basic chords and be able to slide chords on the neck, which I'll show you. With some cool rhythm variation, this one will get you a dance floor full of swamp poppers!
Level 1: Swamp Blues
The basic chord here is a C major chord. The fingering we are using is that of the basic F chord you know, we're just playing it on the 7th fret.
Level 2: Swamp Blues
This is a basic swamp blues 1-4-5 in E based on the legendary Slim Harpo song. It incorporates a swung groove, easy chord changes and the use of tremolo. It involves one cool hammer-on and tons of vibe.
Level 2: Swamp Blues
This is a basic swamp blues 1-4-5 in E based on the legendary Slim Harpo song. It incorporates a swung groove, easy chord changes and the use of tremolo. It involves one cool hammer-on and tons of vibe.
+ 11 more lessons
Reviews
19 results
dwa79
Verified buyer
10/07/23
Good Intro to Swamp Blues
Basic to sophisticated approaches
Akaczo
05/27/22
Swamp Blues so cool
Mike Zito’s “ Take 5: Swamp Blues” is an all out fun compilation of songs. Mike’s teaching style is layed back but very informative. The selection of “swamp tunes” is a nice variety of both electric and acoustic. Some with slide some using other techniques to get that cool sound. I would recommend this course to learn from or just to enjoy the music. Mike Zito comes across as one of those guitarists you would love to hang out with.
agustinolmoscanto
Verified buyer
10/27/21
Great lesson on a style sadly under appreciated.
Bullit4345
Verified buyer
10/18/21
Swamp Blues
Been listening to Mike Zeto for a while. Love his sound and technique. Now I can see how it's done
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