You've Got To Move... on cigar box guitar

Mississippi Fred McDowell's classic, transposed to 3 string. It not an exact repro, it's just intended to convey the basics of the original. One thing I hope this shows is that playing slide on the cigar box guitar is about more than just sliding a bottleneck up and down the strings. Essential to the piece is the bass part, on the bottom and middle strings, which repeats throughout the tune, with the slide weaving in and out. To play in this style you will need your guitar set up with a reasonably low action and fairly heavy strings to get a decently high tension in order to use the slide cleanly. I'm playing one of my own guitars, with a ChickenboneJohn Signature Sapphire slide. The amp is a Roland MicroCube, no distortion, with a little mild reverb. I get fed up of seeing and hearing stuff with hugely overdriven sound and loads of effects, when you can't hear the guitar itself.

[sagecreekwitt]

Brilliant comments about the action. I believe a huge percentage of people give up learning the guitar because of the insanely high action on most stock guitars. Love the tone you've got with that.

[sagecreekwitt]

Great playing! I've come to the right place, no negative comments. Cigar box guitars attract the best people.

[VictorWeiner]

Great film John! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!

[MsGeoffers]

That's lovely. As it happens I've been working on that tune myself on my CBG, but I haven't got such a consistent bass as that. I shall try to use some of your pointers.Thank you.

[RedDogGuitars]

you are one of my most favorite guitar players ever! I just love your tone

[SquidPartyGames]

I swear with every knew video, you become more of a bluesman. 

[RecoveryLife]

happened upon this video by chance and you solved my big issue with that comment about the action, thanks chickenbone

[ricknewton]

Good stuff. Comments on the rhythmical aspect cannot be stressed enough with the music style here. Great lesson.

[SuperElkjer]

First thing I'm going to learn to play when I get my cbg. So good :-)

[uncleboogie]

needless to say i always love the little tricks in your bag brother:)  always love learning new picking style aswell as the pickups.... keep playing chickenbone:)
Cheers ...Melodeeman

[therealsi-b]

That's brilliant man, you sound great & I love your 'de mystifying' down to earth style of teaching it really grants some access to a person wanting to learn to do this kind of stuff well & inmo is helping to keep the art of an incredible folk story & tradition alive in doing so. And in the way it was always intended to be done too, ie passed down directly from skilled individuals by showing & telling how it is in their view. Thanks I really enjoyed this & found the content very nutritious as a person who at times attempts to play guitar & sing.

[dwaynecurfman]

Great lesson John! What size strings do you use on your CBG's?

[TheBluesJunkey]

Hi John. Great Vid as usual when you say heavy strings what would you suggest & what tuning are you in.
PS keep the video's coming.

[paulterl]

Cool vid and lesson.
Liked and subscribed.
What gauges do you use? the thin g unwounded?
What cbg is this?
What cbg do you raccomend? I mean which manifacturer.
Thank you

[eddiexblue]

Great song! Thanks! You mention it's easy to play! Not for me! I don't suppose you could put a tab for the song on hear as, try as I might, I can't seem to follow the video exactly! Many thanks.

[doggylv]

Hey Chickenbone John how about a tab for

[arbonac]

My version must be played with the slide, and sounds as good. It also sounds a lot like the Keith Richards version.

[claytonmoss]

Do these GTR's have a truss rod, for the heavy strings?

[williamvandervalk]

I just cant get this one ..0.4.5.7.-9 ??, therefore, I REFUSE to Move .