Blues Guitar Lessons

My knowledge of how to play the blues on guitar was very limited. I only knew how to hold a guitar and play a few 12-bars in E and A. What kind of guitar to use for blues is best? A fender telecaster, fender stratocaster, dobro, slide etc I knew all that, but actually playing? How to play the blues on guitar, well it wasn't until Big Joe Turner, BB Kings bassist for 5 years, recommended Mizarolli that I realised what blues was about. I'd had a few lessons on guitar playing, but generally I learnt how to play guitar myself. In almost all my artistic interests I was self taught, a learner by curiosity. I was not experienced or specialised in playing guitar, but I knew enough for me to be able to play for my friends. They asked me to play some blues on my acoustic guitar. This started at parties when it became a regular event to jam and start playing guitar in our hostel on the weekends.

I was given the ideal present when my musician friends bought me a new guitar for my 14th birthday. My old guitar was damaged and I didn't like the guitar for blues as it was a classical guitar and you couldn't get that led belly type of twang from nylon strings. I spent many evenings playing, jamming with friends and listening to BB King and the like. Such was my new found guitar – I was able to play the blues on the guitar they gave me. It had a glossy blue and green hue. I felt this guitar was somehow created and invented specifically for my hands. I have a great memory for those student days. Beginning my journey on the road to fame? It was then and only then that I learnt to feel and to play the blues on guitar.

Miz was rated in terms of pure feel and technique as the best blues guitar player in the UK by BB Kings bassist, Big Joe Turner and the legendary blues singer John L Watson. After I heard the way he would bend strings and express blues in a new way, I was a fan of his for life. He taught me how to deliver blues lines like Hendrix, BB King, Albert King, Gary Moore and Eric Clapton not to ignore Peter Green. John is truly a blues expert, and his backdrop jazz theory that he applies in blues is very inspirational.

In 1995 Mizarolli was introduced to the amazing legendary Mississippi blues singer John L Watson and the chemistry was totally explosive. They recorded an historic blues album called 'A Long Way From Mississippi' which was naturally ignored by the racist british blues music industry who have never allowed any home-grown ethnic or black musicians on their precious blues scene ever! Sad that the UK scene is in this state. John played a fusion of black, gypsy and greek blues - a first in blues history!

John L Watson then introduced Mizarolli to Big Joe Turner who himself was a legendary blues bassist. Joe was BB Kings bassist for 5 years! Mizarolli and Joe proceeded to recorded Big Joe's debut blues album 'Memphis Blues Caravan' which had reference to John's Gypsy roots. Joe also produced Mizarolli's debut blues album 'Blues Gypsy' Big Joe Turner stated in his last years that in his opinion Mizarolli is the best blues guitarist in the Uk!

Big Joe Turner's debut blues album actually won the British Blues Album of the Year Award, but the acolade was taken away! The feeble excuse was that Big Joe Turner used a drum machine on the recordings! Like he was the first to use it! Learn blues guitar with an expert guitarist and highly experienced guitar teacher. Mizarolli supported Peter Green at London's Bumpers Club way back in the day with his band called Buzz!

If your speakers are on, you can hear the blues ballad 'Changes' sang and played by John Mizarolli and with Big Joe on bass. This track was produced by Big Joe Turner. If you like the vibe phone John 07958 427 236 - You won't be dissapointed!