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  This is a cigar box guitar Blues music CD.  In these recordings I set out to recreate the 1920's and 30's era. I wanted to capture that vintage sound and tone from long ago. 
 Without singing or using words, these songs tell a story all of their own, Juke Joints, old ghost towns, glass bottleneck slide guitar...and there's a few modern electrifying 'Chicago' style twist too. It will keep you on your toes like those old school two tone leather shoes.

 Here's a short video clip, this video will open in another window

 

1920's Saint Louis Blues - Slide Guitar with a Glass Slide on a 3 String Guitar

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Here is another song recored with a homemade resonator guitar,




1930's Box Guitar Blues

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  This music is only recordings of cigar box guitars. There is no regular guitars and no band or singing.

 This album was recorded in my garage with vintage microphones and recording gear. I like to find and use aged and older analog gear that I can bring back to life.  Thanks for taking the time to read this and listening to the videos. I also have many other clips on Youtube, that's my favorite website, check them out sometime. Thanks again, John
What kind of music do you like? 

If you're here reading this, I bet it's probably that Old School Blues!  

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 Some might ask, what exactly is a cigar box guitar?

    Since the mid 1860's, it's been common for poor people to make their own guitar or stringed instrument out of old and used cigar boxes and scavenged or found wood. If you wanted to play guitar and didn't have any money, you'd have to build a guitar yourself.  

  In small towns in the southern United States, you can still hear stories about those old school Bluesmen of the past such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Scrapper Blackwell, Little Freddie King and many others who got their start in music by building their own homemade guitar.  
 One reason early American Blues music has such a distinctive sound is because it has an origin based on these simple homemade instruments. From Muddy Waters to Elmore James, many great blues guitarist were influenced by them in their slide guitar playing. This long forgotten part of history is an important chapter in the story of early "Delta Blues" and its roots of slide guitar from the Southern Delta. 

Even though this tradition has faded into the past, it's not completely gone. The art of making and playing homemade guitars still continues today and many musicians record with them. These guitars have a naturally vintage and authentic tone. Their unique and raspy voice can spark to life a new creativity that many musicians desire for in their playing. Blues guitarist in particular, really enjoy playing cigar box guitars in the search of hearing Delta Blues in its purest form.

 Here is another video that has a vintage style recording. Anyone can learn to play one of these guitars with just a little practice.

 

1930's Slide Blues Box Guitar

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If you are interested in learning more about the hobby of cigar box guitars, 

I have 5 different disc for sale on eBay. I also have a book on the subject.


1. Understanding 3 string guitar - How to Play lessons DVD

2. How To Build - 3 & 4 String Cigar Box Guitars DVD

3. Dust Bowl Blues  - music CD

4. Cigar Box Americana - CD

5. Cigar Box Blues - CD

and a book titled "Box Guitar Blues" The story of the cigar box guitar and the history of the Blues.

 The 3 string Lessons DVD - Understanding 3 string guitar - covers all the playing styles heard in Blues guitar playing, both slide and finger fretting styles. Slide guitar is basically just one finger guitar. If you've never played guitar before, it's never to late to learn... even if you're 70! 

 The How to Build DVD covers in-depth how to build 3 & 4 string cigar box guitars and Homemade Resonator guitars. These guitars are just as much fun to build as they are to play. Anyone can build a great guitar, even if it's your first time. You only need a few common hand tools that most people already have.

- the best way to learn how to play guitar, is to listen to guitar music. All of the music and videos I have recorded is only played on homemade guitars.

  You can see the DVDs and Cigar Box Music CDs - Click Here  

Email me anytime if you have any questions