"(These videos) feature picking of the highest order."- Guitar Player

On this 60-minute DVD Martin Simpson explains how he arrives at the distinctive settings and harmonizations which are the trademarks of his complex arrangements of Celtic and traditional American material.

Working in alternate tunings, Martin covers a broad spectrum of songs and instrumentals so that learning guitarists can begin to build their own arrangements. He plays, sings, and analyzes Jock O'Hazeldine , a Celtic air in dropped-D tuning, showing how to find the basic melody and then fill out the arrangement to make the tune more "elegant". Banks of the Bann has its melody in the bass, and you'll learn how to embellish it and then move it into the higher octaves. He finishes with a complex and beautiful carol, In the Bleak Midwinter , again in dropped-D.

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Region-free DVD Price:..$24.95

"Simpson will save you years of trial and error. This video series features great camera work, sound, and tab to help you dramatically expand your repertoire."- Fingerstyle Guitar

In this 60-minute DVD you can dig into more of Martin Simpson's distinctive arrangements in alternate tunings. He begins with Donal Og .and My Generous Lover which highlight the richness of Gsus.4 tuning. Martin sings Betsy the Serving Maid unaccompanied, then teaches the basic melody on guitar. He gradually adds bass notes, harmonies, chordal structure and percussive accents, finishing with a full performance of the tune.

One of Martin's show-stoppers is his spectacular rendition of The Cuckoo Bird, featuring a "mountain minor" banjo tuning. He slows down this driving Appalachian tune to analyze his unusual and dynamic right-hand picking style. This one song is guaranteed to keep you busy for months! Finally, Martin turns his discussion to the popular DADGAD, using the Irish fiddle tune Miss McCloud's Reel to illustrate this lovely tuning.
This video, along with the others in this three-video set, will open up a world of possibilities for all guitarists who want to develop their solo repertoire.

Fourteen performances by the world's most reknown masters of the of the slide guitar.
Bob Brozman's mastery of vintage acoustic Hawaiin guitar styles offers a lively history lesson in sounds popularized after World War I and influential for decades thereafter. Debashish Bhattacharya showcases the relatively recent integration of slide guitar into Indian classical and folk music. Mike Auldridge, accompanied by his band, Chesapeake, drives his Dobro everywhere from East Coast bluegrass to Western Swing. Martin Simpson demonstrates the style's blues roots as well as its adaptability to Anglo-Celtic music in his performances of "Greenfields of Canada, "Great Changes Since I've Been Born", and "Masco Blues". And finally premier "American Primitive" guitarist John Fahey shows the simple strength in slide-driven blues and old-time country.

Region-Free DVD only.