Roots and Blues Fingerstyle Guitar Explorations: The Tool Box

“Blues is the truth!” This sophistry is often posited by people who obviously haven’t gotten to know many blues guitar players—and certainly have never lent them any money. Another common saying, “The blues is just a feeling,” is also only true in a metaphorical sense. All music (we should hope) expresses feelings, and blues, like all music, has specific structural and harmonic components. A few of these will be put to use in the following examples and song arrangements, starting with the construction of some essential chords.