Building a Guitar Rag taught by Clinton Davis

This lesson is structured around three forms commonly used by country, ragtime and blues pickers. Each is introduced in a simple arrangement for beginners. Then we will add techniques and music theory concepts that can help us build a sophisticated and challenging ragtime piece in the mold of players like Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller, and Rev. Gary Davis.

Circle of 5ths Progression This one chord progression more than any other characterizes the ragtime style. Let’s understand what it is and how to make a tune out of this powerful concept.

Hokum Form A folk-rag form that can be heard in the music of Blind Boy Fuller, Blind Blake, Jelly Roll Morton and even to Arlo Guthrie.

Classic Rag Form A folk-rag form that can be heard in its simplest forms in tunes of Charley Patton, as well as the music of Rev. Gary Davis or Jelly Roll Morton in its more sophisticated forms.

A PDF booklet has all the arrangements written out in tab, music and chord grids and can be found on the DVD.