Customer Reviews

Buddy Guy: Teachin' the Blues

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Review is about Buddy Guy: Teachin' the Blues

I almost didn't get this DVD because of the negative review on this site.

Man! I am SO glad I didn't listen to that review and bought it anyway!
I figured it would be worth the price to watch Buddy Guy, even if it wasn't such a good teaching tool, so I ordered it. I was very pleasantly surprised.

First, It DOES come with a booklet of tablature that's tucked right in the clips of the front half of the case.

Now about the DVD; It has a "play" function that lets you just watch it like any other DVD, which may be all that some do. AND, it has a lesson function that lets you play each lesson individually - in either real time or slow motion and still have the right tone and sound to the notes played. In this mode there is also a box on the upper right of the lesson screen that says "loop" for repeating the lessons.

It also has a "tuning" function for getting your guitar tuned properly.

There is more that I haven't explored yet (some of the "special features") But I've seen enough already to know that this will be a very useful learning tool, as well as being good for watching Buddy play.

If you will listen to what he is doing and follow his instruction, there is a ton of useful stuff in this DVD to learn. You just need to stay with it like you would any lesson material. And Buddy tries to encourage you all through the video. He leaves a very good impression.

If I could contact him somehow, I'd say great job Buddy!!

Of course, if you just want to watch it and not take the time to learn, then you can do that too with the "play" function.

This kind of thing is one of the really good things about living in this age. I can watch Buddy Guy tell me how he plays the blues any time I want. I even get guitar tabs! I will enjoy this DVD for as long as I play the guitar.

The simple fact that you have Buddy Guy sitting down a talking and teachin' the Blues is worth 4 Stars. There IS tab in the booklet that comes with the DVD. Slo Mo feature gives you the chance to learn new licks along with Buddy. I thought it was great. Great chord section. I recommend it highly if you love the Blues and Buddy Guy

If you're expecting a "how to get started on the blues" video, looks elsewhere. You should at least know the basics of blues soloing and rhythm to be able to play the stuff in this DVD. I would recommend this for mid-level players who want to expand their blues vocabulary in a way similar to the raw, pure sound of Buddy Guy.

As Buddy himself says on the video, you learn other people's stuff and eventually put in your own things, making them unique. This DVD is great for sparking ideas. It also has a lot of fingerpicking blues, something I'd like to get into.

The slow-motion section of the examples are very helpful, and Buddy's comments are spot-on and even inspiring.

Buy it!

I have this Hot Licks video on VHS, and I really like it. It's true he isn't playing his licks from his records, but he's teaching the blues, going back to Muddy Waters and Lightning Hopkins all the way to the I guess the 90s, by way of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. It's like blues music appreciation lessons... aren't you supposed to slow down records to learn licks like the pros?

It does repeat itself, maybe Arlen Roth could of fixed the continuity, and it could put you into a trance with it's slow pace, but that's what you want music to do anyways, isn't it?

The is a fantastic DVD a must have for all guitarists. It gives you the nuts and bolts to play authentic vintage blues. Buddy lays it in your lap. The slow motion section (which does not alter pitch) is outstanding. How anyone can say anything else is beyond me, do not delay, if you want to play the blues, GET THIS DVD NOW!

If you want to see and learn the best in blues, you've to check out this DVD

The product description for this "instructional" DVD is very deceiving. I am an avid blues guitarist and HUGE fan of Buddy Guy, so I was very excited to discover this DVD. The product description says that there is tablature, there is none. There are no instructional parts of this DVD, Buddy is playing just like he does on stage. I did not nor could not learn anything from this DVD. To watch him play and see his right hand and left hand techniques is really cool, but to try to learn from and follow him in this DVD is virtually impossible unless you are a total professional. The product description makes it sound MUCH easier than it is. I am very disappointed.

This dvd is not for the beginning guitarist; you need to know how to figure out what key Buddy's playing in to make sense of it. At least, that was an issue for me since I didn't have any printed tabs to go by.

Other than that though, it's basic blues that has never sounded better. What a treat to have Buddy Guy show you all of his, and some of his mentors', favorite licks. Enjoy!

I've only gotten through the first example so far, but Buddy's explanations are positive and encouraging. And just going through the first example has helped me rework a number of other songs I've been working on, so that is good times.