Johnny Moore solo on "Sunny Road" (1946)

The Johnny Moore's Three Blazers - Sunny Road (1946)

Interesting guitar solo by Johnny Moore with the legendary no-drums trio featuring Charles Brown on vocals, classic vintage West Coast R&B at his finest. In the key of D, mostly 1st position on the guitar but with some a little fancier chords than usual (DM7, A+). Transcription by Jay Bee Rodríguez, first published on SOLO BLUES magazine (1991).

"Sunny Road", guitar solo in D

"Sunny Road" by The Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (full)

Muddy Waters: Walking Thru The Park

Muddy recorded this tune both in A and G (harmonica "cross-harp" in D or C), interesting riff-tune around the 7b and 3b, 1st and 2nd position on the guitar. Aside the original one (in the key of B) Muddy also recorded a fine cover on the Johnny Winter's album "Nothin' But The Blues", with his full band (1977).

Youtube Muddy Waters "Walking Thru The Park"

WALKING THRU THE PARK (McKinley Morganfield, 1959)

I'm goin' out walkin'
Walking down through the park
I'm goin' out walkin'
Walking down through the park
I'm gonna walk in the moonlight
Wait until the night gets dark.

 

I'm goin' out walkin'
Down the old avenue
I'm goin' out walkin'
Down the old avenue
I'm gonna walk for so long till she
Don't know what to do.

 

I'm goin' out walkin'
Walkin' down on the street
I'm goin' out walkin'
Walkin' down on the street
I'm gonna walk her right beside of me 'cause I
Know she can't be beat.

 

Don't bother my baby
No tellin' what she'll do
Don't you bother my baby
No tellin' what she'll do
Now, the girl she may cut you
She may shoot you too.

Lightnin' Hopkins in the 'E position'

Two way different Lightnin' Hopkins' (1912-1982) tunes, both recorded in 1959 for Tradition Records (Youtube links below): "Long Gone", with his familiar walking basses' line in E, and his cover of the famous "See See Rider", where the Texan master replicates the vocal line with the melody on the two first strings. Actual key on the recordings is F, standard tuning with capo in I, on the 1st, "E" position.

Transcription by Jay Bee Rodríguez, first published on SOLO BLUES magazine (1986).

"Long Gone" and "See See Rider" (excerpt)

Youtube "Long Gone" by Lightnin' Hopkins (1959)

Youtube "See See Rider" by Lightnin' Hopkins (1959)

  

 

 

Mojo Boogie (acoustic)

J.B. Lenoir: Mojo Boogie (acoustic)

This is fine beginner's exercice for independence of strings, and also good for rhythm skills on the breaks. The great J.B. Lenoir (1929-1967) recorded this rare acoustic cover of his biggest hit in 1960, produced by his friend Paul Oliver, one of the main historians/writers on the Blues. Recorded key is E, standard tuning. 

Transcription by Jay Bee Rodríguez, first published on SOLO BLUES magazine (1987).

Youtube: "Mojo Boogie" (1960)
 

 

 

MOJO BOOGIE (J.B. Lenoir, 1960)

 

I been to New Orleans and I sure had a wonderful time
I been to New Orleans and I sure had a wonderful time
I was high, high as a Georgia pine.

My auntie carried me all down on Rampart Street
Seen everybody I wanted to meet
She said, JB, son, stop, look and listen to me
They got something knock you off of your feet
Hey got the mojo boogie
The Mojo boogie
Got that mojo boogie, begin to slide on down.

I thought she was talkin' about over in Algiers
I said, "Auntie, please tell me, what did you say?
They got the Louisiana boogie, and all them other kind of things
They even got the thing they call 'the mojo hand'
They got the mojo boogie
The Mojo boogie
They got the mojo boogie, begin to slide on down.

I got one jack, sure is crazy
My aunt forgot to teach me, just how to operate it
I went to a night club, I was squeezing it tight
I believe that's the 'cause of them people's start to fight
Me and this mojo boogie
I had the mojo boogie
Had that mojo boogie, begin to slide on down.