The Piedmont style of fingerpicking is characterized by an alternating bass which is played by the thumb, while other fingers on the picking hand simultaneously play a syncopated melody. The result is a full sound that often feels like two guitars are being played at once. This style was beautifully executed by John Cephas and this workshop will explore intermediate arrangements of songs from his vast repertoire. In the context of these arrangements, we will focus on strengthening thumb/finger independence in the Piedmont style of fingerpicking across a variety of keys. Master this technique and you’ll be an entire band all by yourself! This workshop will move at a medium pace with a goal of covering one new song each day and material will be taught by ear. Participants should already have some experience playing guitar and be able to switch easily between all major chords while keeping time. Audio and video recordings are encouraged – with the caveat that such recordings be made for personal use only and do not appear on social media such as YouTube.
Instructor Bio
Valerie Turner is a native New Yorker with southern roots in Virginia and Georgia. She plays finger style Country Blues guitar and specializes in the Piedmont style of fingerpicking. She has taught at major guitar workshops including the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Workshop, Blues & Swing Week, and Blues in the Gorge. A 2018 inductee into the New York Blues Hall of Fame, Valerie is also the author of Piedmont Style Country Blues Guitar Basics, an independently published book acquired by the Library of Congress. Her eclectic repertoire is heavily influenced by the years spent studying with John Cephas (a world-renowned Country Blues musician in the Piedmont style) and Woody Mann (a Juilliard trained student of Rev. Gary Davis). Valerie’s guitar playing is reminiscent of traditional blues greats like Mississippi John Hurt, Etta Baker, and Elizabeth Cotten. Valerie and her husband Benedict perform as the Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo and, in addition to a host of domestic venues and festivals, these tradition bearers have traveled as far as Europe and the Middle East to share their music.
Check out Turner at Augusta in 2013: