Happy Monday, everybody, & time for the Monday Morning Blues here on Robert Frost’s Banjo. As you can see, yours truly has sprung for a new guitar, a Gold Tone Paul Beard resophonic guitar—basically, a roundneck Dobro, tho strictly speaking these days only Gibson & its Epiphone subsidiary have legal rights to use the "Dobro" name.
As regular readers probably assume, I got this instrument for the blues & specifically for slide playing. For people who are interested in such things, it’s tuned to open D, which fits better with my voice (such as it is) than open G (the latter was a bit more popular overall with the old blues folks)—in other words, the 6 unfretted strings sound a D major chord. I’m using a Dunlop brass slide—I prefer brass over glass slides, but had to use glass when I recorded with the cigar box resonator guitar as a metal slide on that instrument caused the webcam mic to distort. This didn’t seem to be a problem with the Gold Tone.
“Rainy Day Blues” is by Sam “Lightnin’” Hopkins, a long-time personal favorite. Tho Lightnin’ Hopkins didn’t play slide himself—he perfected a very recognizable boogie guitar style that he played both on acoustics & electrics—I felt this song would adapt readily for slide style playing.
It actually was a beautiful sunny day yesterday when I recorded this—hope your Monday also is nice & that you enjoy the song. I am recovered from all the driving late last week, & I will be around visiting blogs today—honest!
fantastic, I love the resophonic. Earnie Ball makes them in my area.
ReplyDeleteYou sound sweet. I am a BIG fan of Dorian Michael here.
Thank you for the music today!
Hi Dianne: Thanks so much! Interesting--I didn't know E. Ball made resos, but it makes sense as I know they make slides. Will check out Dorian Michael--not familiar. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteSmooth, John!! It's a beautiful sunny Monday here in Ohio. Thanks for the great start to my week.
ReplyDelete(nice haircut, btw)
Hi Willow: Thanks! & glad you like the haircut--I'd been getting pretty shaggy!
ReplyDeleteYes - thank you for the music, John. I love the slide. (and thanks for the help with my totally non-musical video upload).
ReplyDeleteHi Sandra: So glad you liked it, & glad to be of help!
ReplyDeleteThanks,I needed that! That is one honey of a guitar. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteKat
Hi Kat: & thanks! Glad it hit the spot.
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about the stats but it sure has a wonderful sound. It is a beauty to look at also.
ReplyDeleteGeez, John, that sounds good on my laptop speakers!
ReplyDeleteHi John
ReplyDeleteAs it rains here this dark Tuesday evening I have enjoyed the accompaniment of your Rainy Blues...
happy days
Hi LD, K & Delwyn
ReplyDeleteLD: Glad you enjoyed it--it's fun to play.
K: Wow, that is something! Nothing sounds good on my laptop speakers!
Delwyn: Sounds like the right setting for the song. It rained here yesterday, too! Glad you liked it.
Mellow and melancholy; I like it.
ReplyDeleteRecently I heard another Hopkins song, Bluebird Bluebird, that I also stopped what I was doing to listen to. I'm making a note to look up more of his music.
Hi HKatz: I love the song "Bluebird, Bluebird"! It's related to another of his songs, one called "Miss Glory Be." Glad you enjoyed this.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the music. sorry for late comment, as i said in my last post, wife is cracking whip on diy i've just been too busy to go on line. anyway keep up the good work love your blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Bob: Thanks for stopping by! Sometimes it goes that way--I'm behind on blog visits myself. Glad you liked the music.
ReplyDelete