This is a challenging set of three lessons presenting a variety of tunes from string band rags to classic rags to novelty instrumentals. The three audio CDs give 3 full hours of note-by-note, phrase-by-phrase instruction. LESSON ONE: Two New Orleans standards are presented in this lesson. Both are played in the key of C with a style that combines an alternating bass with single-string runs and counterpoint lines. Mabel's Dream was popularized by the King Oliver Band. High Society is a well known Mardi Gras instrumental. LESSON TWO: Two rags are presented in this lesson. We begin in a dropped D tuning with the classic rag Powder Rag. This is followed by an arrangement of the 1928 Dallas String Band recording of Dallas Rag. This combines alternating bass with counterpoint techniques and single-string runs. LESSON THREE: One of Rev. Davis's most popular show instrumentals was Soldier's March. It has sections played in the keys of F and C and is a challenging guitar solo that takes the listener from early morning to lights out in the day of a soldier.
