The Blues Guitar Style Of Big Bill Broonzy

Check out this condensed but vital biography of the great Big Bill Broonzy. Follow the links and learn more!

If you're new to fingerstyle blues and ragtime it would be a good idea to try the following exercises. Big Bill's style involved using a thumb and finger independance routine. The thumb would keep a very steady four beat pattern, or alternating pattern, whilst the fingers picked or strummed an independant, syncopated arrangement on the top strings. It takes a bit of practice to do this but is an essential part of his great, stomping style

'Broonzy Blues' is my own tribute to the stomping style of Big Bill Broonzy and is a fairly easy piece to play. It's based around the three chord blues progression in A and uses very typical Broonzy
style chords which differ from the conventional shapes. These chords are played against a constant bass pattern for maximum Broonzy effect.

As with all the study tunes and breakdowns please download the PDF resource file and Powertab file.

Check out these tips for Broonzy Blues.

This popular Broonzy instrumental has had various titles over the years - 'Guitar Rag', 'Guitar Boogie' and 'Shuffle Rag' to name a few. It uses the ragtime progression in the key of C

Check out these highlights for the Guitar Shuffle.

This piece has cropped up in various forms as either a vocal accompaniment or an instrumental. Popularised on the Eric Clapton album 'Unplugged' it's one of the best demonstrations of Broonzy's playing.

Check out these bar breakdowns.

Originally released in 1927 as a B side to Big Bill's first recording 'Big Bill's Blues'. it has also been known as the 'Guitar Shuffle' and 'Guitar Rag' and was a staple tune in his solo performances.

Essential bar breakdowns.

Originally written by Billy Hill and popularised by both Benny Goodman and Big Bill Broonzy, this tune has once again had numerous cover versions, both instrumental and vocal. It was one of Big Bill Broonzy's most well known ragtime blues adaptations and another in the key of C

More highlights.

This is one of the most popular blues tunes of all time. Written by W.C. Handy in 1914 it has been covered using all the main styles of blues, jazz and ragtime. It was played as an instrumental by Big Bill Broonzy at many of his concerts.

Follow these bar highlights.

This tune gives you an idea how Broonzy played great songs with this typical accompaniment.

Last of the bar breakdowns.