Americana Roots: Origin

Interactive Video Songbook and Guitar Masterclass with Keb' Mo'

Marty FriedmanTommy EmmanuelSteve VaiEric GalesEric Johnson

Get this course and 1,000+ more with All Access

Try 14 days free. Cancel any time.

Purchase Individual Course for $24.99
Americana Roots: Origin

About this course

"Keb' Mo' is a living legend, a master of the blues who has inspired generations of musicians with his powerful voice and impeccable guitar playing.“ - Eric Clapton

Few artists in modern music history have embodied the spirit of the blues as fully and creatively as Keb' Mo'. Five GRAMMY awards, fourteen Blues Foundation Awards, and countless chart-topping recordings attest to Keb’s unrivaled contributions to our musical heritage.

Beyond these impressive accolades, Keb’s unwavering commitment to honor the traditions of blues and roots music, while simultaneously pushing its creative boundaries, has rightfully cemented his place among the greatest artists of all time.

"Keb' Mo' is one of the greatest musicians of our time, with a voice that can move mountains and a guitar style that is second to none." - Buddy Guy

We’re honored to welcome Keb' Mo' into the TrueFire Studios' family with his first-ever interactive video songbook and masterclass series, Americana Roots — 10+ hours of video lessons and exclusive performances!

”I’m excited to have this opportunity to pass on what I’ve learned over the many years that I’ve been playing guitar, songwriting, recording, and performing on stage.

I’m using my songs as the framework for the series — it's the best way to give you a true feel for my guitar playing, songwriting and creative process. Each edition focuses on a key stage of my development as an artist.”


AMERICANA ROOTS | ORIGIN Edition
Features 64 multi-angle videos and 10 song performances from Keb’s first two albums; Keb’ Mo’ and Just Like You.

AMERICANA ROOTS | PROGRESSION Edition
Features 54 multi-angle videos and 9 song performances from Keb’s The Door, Big Wide Grin, and Suitcase albums.

AMERICANA ROOTS | EVOLUTION Edition
Features 55 multi-angle videos and 10 songs from Keb’s The Reflection, BLUESAmericana, Oklahoma, and Good To Be albums.

”I’ll demonstrate all of my guitar playing styles from acoustic finger-picking to electric and hardcore blues. I’ll perform 29 of my songs, talk about the inspiration behind them, and demonstrate how I perform them on guitar.

I hope this Americana Roots series will expand your knowledge of music, help you better understand what you already know, and give you the right tools to push your musical journey forward.”


"Keb' Mo' is one of the most important and influential musicians of our time, a true ambassador of the blues." - John Mayer

All Americana Roots editions include desktop and mobile downloads, PLUS lifetime streaming from any device, anywhere, anytime. Tab is synced to videos with looping, slo-mo, zoom and other learning tools.

Grab your guitar, and let’s make some music with Keb' Mo’!

"Keb' Mo' is a national treasure, a true artist who has enriched our musical heritage with his soulful voice, masterful guitar playing, and powerful songwriting.” - Bonnie Raitt

What you'll learn

  • Execute alternating bass fingerpicking pattern with chord changes
  • Navigate a blues turnaround with chromatic movement
  • Learning why heavier gauge strings work better for alternate tunings
  • Understand how to personalize learned material rather than copying verbatim
  • Understanding the features of a Les Paul-style guitar
Release date: 03/28/2023 • 3h 58m runtime
Start Course
Sample lessons
Maximize What You Know About Chords
Maximize What You Know About Chords
Concept & Demo
Angelina
Angelina
Performance: Director's Cut
Standing at the Station: Lead & Singing
Standing at the Station: Lead & Singing
Performance: Director's Cut
Playing Slide Guitar
Playing Slide Guitar
Concept & Demo

What's included

64 lessons • 14 charts • 6 Jam Tracks

Americana Roots: Origin
Hello, I’m Keb' Mo' — Welcome to the "Origin" Edition of Americana Roots!

I’m excited to have this opportunity to pass on to you what I’ve learned myself over the many years that I’ve been playing guitar, songwriting, recording, and performing on stage.

I’m using my songs as the framework for the entire series — it's the best way to give you a true feel for my guitar playing, songwriting and creative process. Each edition focuses on a key stage of my development as an artist.

For this edition, we're going to explore 10 songs from my first two records, Keb' Mo' and Just Like You.

I'll perform each song, show you how to play them, and share the songwriting approaches I used when creating them. And with the interactive tools provided, you'll be able to practice and play along with me.

So, grab your guitar and join me on this musical journey!
Early Influences & Inspiration
My musical journey began with my Uncle Herman, a guitar-playing family member who got me started. However, after learning a few chords, I didn't know where to go next until I was introduced to David T. Walker, a session guitar player with his own albums who still plays today. He became the starting point for my musical journey.

While I wasn't heavily influenced by other guitar players, I was influenced by music and how the guitar blended with other instruments. I initially shied away from blues music, but it was where I ultimately found myself drawn. Artists like Robert Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller, and Muddy Waters caught my ear, but Tampa Red was the one who captured my attention with his simple yet effective playing and songwriting. I combined everything I learned about music into my own style.

One of my other early inspirations was Mickey Baker's "Jazz Guitar" book, which teaches guitar players about chord substitutions and how they relate to basic chords. Being a part of a band and using the guitar as a member of the group, rather than being a soloist, was where I felt most at home.

Although I loved the guitar and playing songs, I wasn't interested in standing out as a soloist. That's my story, and I'm sticking with it.
Am I Wrong
"Am I Wrong" is a song that was inspired by Mississippi Fred McDowell's slide guitar playing in the Delta Blues genre. The song is a stomping and hollering type of song with a simple one-line melody and no chords, except for a few two-note chords.

The song is played in the key of open G, but with a capo on the second fret, which puts it in the key of A. The song is built on a system of minor thirds and major seconds, which creates the driving rhythm of the song.

There are a few tricks that can be added to the song, such as the Robert Johnson lick, which is often heard in blues music. Additionally, using the C position can create a seventh chord that adds a bit of variation to the song.

The key to playing "Am I Wrong" is to go slow and focus on the system of the song, experimenting with all the notes and options available. Ultimately, it's about learning the system and making it your own, rather than trying to replicate exactly what the original artist played.
Am I Wrong
Director's Cut of Keb’s performance of Am I Wrong
Am I Wrong
Tri-View of Keb’s performance of Am I Wrong
Am I Wrong
Player POV of Keb’s performance of Am I Wrong
Am I Wrong
Keb' shares insight and reflects on his creative process for Am I Wrong

+ 57 more lessons

Start Course

Reviews

7 results

A G.

Verified buyer

02/07/26

Love Keb Mo style and method.

stmhol1

Verified buyer

11/23/25

The high standard we’re used to from truefire

Great curses, well taught and full of ideas and techniques you can incorporate into your playing immediately

julseg22

Verified buyer

08/06/25

everything good as always

writedesigns

Verified buyer

05/12/25

Keb Mo's Origin Course is Fantastic!

I'm really enjoying Keb' Mo's Americana Roots Origin. I especially like the in-depth approach to each song with the Song Story and Overview, various takes on the Performance, and Creative Reflections and Insight. Having the detailed transcriptions of the music is fantastic. I can't wait to dive into the Progression and Evolution courses that follow the Origin's course.

Endure007

Verified buyer

01/23/25

Thank you

Stop searching. Start improving with All Access.

Try 14 days free. Cancel any time.