Song Rig
Keep On Pushing
Curtis Mayfield · Keep On Pushing · 1964
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Bright and optimistic — early Impressions guitar work is lighter and more upbeat than the Superfly era. The Stratocaster tone is bright and clean, with Mayfield's fingerstyle giving the rhythm a buoyant quality that perfectly matches the lyrical content.
Signal Chain
- 1Fender Stratocaster (open tuning)
- 2Clean Fender amp
Amp Settings
Bright and clean — earlier than the wah-heavy Superfly era. The brighter setting suits the gospel-pop character of the civil rights era Impressions material.
Technique
How to Play It
Fingerstyle strumming in open tuning — Mayfield's right-hand fingers produced a softer, more vocal attack than a plectrum, essential to the warmth of his early Impressions recordings.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Stratocaster (tune to open Ab: Ab Eb Ab C Eb Ab) → Fender Blues Junior at bedroom volume → no pedals needed.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
More from Curtis Mayfield
Other Song Rigs
Freddie's Dead
Superfly · 1972
Curtis Mayfield's most commercially successful track from the Superfly soundtrac…
View rig →Pusherman
Superfly · 1972
The Superfly soundtrack's most hypnotic track — a slow, menacing groove where Ma…
View rig →Move On Up
Curtis · 1970
Mayfield's most celebratory guitar performance — the uplifting counterpart to th…
View rig →Superfly
Superfly · 1972
Wah-filtered and falsetto — the Superfly title track is Mayfield's guitar playin…
View rig →People Get Ready
People Get Ready · 1965
Gospel-tinged soul — Mayfield's clean Stratocaster in open tuning with his uniqu…
View rig →