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My knowledge of how to play the blues on guitar was very limited. I only knew how to keep a guitar in my hands and play a few 12-bar in E and A. What kinds of guitar to use? 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 recommended John Mizarolli that I realised what blues was about. I had had a few lessons on guitar playing, but generally I learnt how to play guitar myself. In almost all my science subjects 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 college present when all my student friends bought me a new guitar for my 21st birthday. My old guitar was already damaged and I did not like this kind of 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, stoned, a cool atmosphere playing for my 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 and get laid every night too. It had a glossy blue and green hue. I felt this guitar was somehow created and invented specifically for my hands. I really have a special memory for those student days and I count my blessings for that lovely present and the beginning of 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.
John Mizarolli was rated in terms of pure feel and technique as the best blues guitar player in the UK by BB Kings Bassist 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.
I recommend a blues course with Mizarolli as an essential part of your guitar development if you are serious about blues guitar playing and improvisation.
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