Song Rig
Walking Blues
Son House · Father of Folk Blues · 1965
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Deeply blues and heavy with emotion — House's version of this Robert Johnson song stamps it with his own identity. The resonator groan under the slide is heavier than Johnson's, the tempo more deliberate, the anguish more explicit.
Signal Chain
- 1National resonator guitar (open A or open D tuning)
- 2Metal slide
Amp Settings
Acoustic only. The metal slide produces a brighter, more cutting tone than glass — House preferred metal for its sustain on the lower strings.
Technique
How to Play It
Alternate thumb bass with slide melody — the thumb maintains a steady bass pattern while the slide creates the melodic crying above. A one-man-band approach.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Any resonator guitar → metal slide (Dunlop 215 or 220 brass) → microphone. The technique of keeping bass and slide going simultaneously takes years to develop.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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