The Blues Guitar Handbook

This latest entry in Backbeat's best-selling handbook series starts by exploring the humble beginnings of blues guitar through the early decades of the 20th century, moving into profiles of such players as Robert Johnson, Charley Patton and Son House.

As the story moves into the 40s and 50s and blues players migrate to major urban centres, author Adam St. James follows the evolution of the music at the hands of such electric blues kingpins as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and B.B. King.

Then it's the blues-rockers of the 60s, 70s, and 80s (including Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Stevie Ray Vaughan) before the story comes up to date, with blues flame-keepers such as Keb Mo' or Duke Robillard, and some not-quite-traditionalists, such as Robben Ford or Derek Trucks.

A comprehensive tutor for mastering electric and acoustic blues follows this historic overview. Starting from the very basics, it leads you into more advanced rhythm and lead techniques, before examining four key styles: acoustic blues, classic electric blues, blues rock, and jazz blues.

The many exercises in the tutor are supported by specially recorded audio tracks on the accompanying CD.