Big Road Blues Discussion Forums

by **Roger17** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:58 pm

any tab or video , gp4 file? , I´m an absolut beginner so any information is welcome. thankzou

by **Mississippi John** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:54 pm

Bob Brozman covers most of the elements of this song when teaching "Walking Blues" on vol. 1 of his DVD instructional materials. Basically, it is Open G w a "Delta Thumb Slap" followed by a slide on the G string, I think. Pretty easy in theory, but difficult to get it right and to maintain the rthym - that is why I think Son House is so fantastic, because he makes it all sound so easy, yet he plays with such vigour.

Anyway, its all there on the Brozman DVD.

by **godinguy** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:17 am

Hi.
Take a look here.
Page 2 has a tab for you.
http://bluestab.skyblog.com/

Cheers.

by **zebloos** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:21 pm

You know, there are some songs that sound easy, but they can never be done right by anyone ever again except the originator.

There are thousands of blues songs that have be redone and sound good.
Death Letter by Son House ain't one of them. I never heard a single version by anyone that comes even close to sounding good.

I think it is impossible to ever do what Son House did, as sloppy drunk as he was toward the end.

It fools people to think it is simple, like looking at a Vincent Van Gogh painting and thinking "ah, I can do this".

How come nobbody can do this song right?

Website · by **ricochet** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:37 am

I agree, I've heard lots of versions of this song, and most of 'em haven't really clicked with me.

by **cas** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 3:42 am

This might blow all respect you may have had for me, but I rather like John Mellenkamp's version. I know, I know, probably not really blues, but I like it anyway.

Carol

Website · by **ricochet** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 1:18 pm

Hey, you like what you like. Can't recall hearing John Mellencamp's version of this song. Maybe I'd like it. I like several of his "John Cougar" rockers, but there's a lot of his stuff that doesn't float my boat, either.

by **cas** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:27 am

It's on his "Trouble No More" cd from a couple years ago. My brother thought it awful, I liked it. Go figure.

Carol

by **steelbody** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:28 am

Check out Derek Trucks' version of Death Letter on his "Out of the Madness" CD (with Warren Haynes sitting in) and see what you think. I love it.

by **musichead** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:07 am

White Stripes do a justifiable version on De Stihl

by **Slim** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:03 pm

I think the same way about alot of songs then again there are some that I like the covers better. Usually I like when the song is changed some way and made into the style of the person coverig it. I mean if you aint son house why play like you want to be??

by **roadkill46** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:48 am

i play DLB pretty well in my opinion but i can't get the thumb snap/slap correct so i just substitute a hard pick for the snap,hey as long as i can sing along with it and it sounds good to the dogs then i'm good!

by **kiwiblues** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:33 am

roadkill46 wrote:i play DLB pretty well in my opinion but i can't get the thumb snap/slap correct so i just substitute a hard pick for the snap,hey as long as i can sing along with it and it sounds good to the dogs then i'm good!

Video clip please! Or elese you as useless as I am. :twisted: