Week 1
Cajun/Creole Week
Guitar/Vocals
Jane Vidrine

Dear Augusta Cajun Guitarists,

I am really looking forward to working with you at Augusta this coming summer.  The Cajun guitar styles class has evolved over the years as the musicianship of Augusta’s students improves. 

Strong, unbridled, hard-driving rhythm playing is the hallmark of a good Cajun guitar player.  We will spend a good deal of energy on rhythm and chording techniques in an effort to get a true Cajun sound.  Since the guitar is primarily a back up instrument in most Cajun music, we will also concentrate on lyrics, vocals and ways to enhance one’s playing so it is useful even when there is no band around.  Within the course of 4 days, we will cover about 12 tunes in the morning session.

As a special treat this year, Jane Vidrine and I will be collaborating in our afternoon classes to work on vocals and historical styles of playing. We will begin in the 1920s & 30s, work up through the String Band and Post-War Eras, and finish off with 60s dancehall and Cajun Renaissance styles.  Along the way, we will also explore some of the soulful syncopated Creole songs.  There will be a small materials fee for this part of the class.  We’ll let you know about that soon.

Skills to be covered in the guitar class:

• Open & choke style chords for dancehall playing

• Transitional runs and “transportation” tricks

• Intermediate lead/chord accompaniment

• Beginning open tunings

Skills you should have to be in your playing “comfort zone”:

• Know the principal chords (I, IV, V) in G, C, A, & D major – in any guitar book

• Have fluid chord changes – practice  chord progressions until you are blue in the face

• Have control of a flatpick and play basic rhythm patterns – 4/4 & 3/4 time

• Be able to hear where chords change within a tune (and which chord it changes to) – listen to LOTS of recordings you like and try to play along.  Keep trying.

What you should bring:

• A steel string acoustic guitar, capo, and a bunch of picks

• A gig bag might be helpful and an extra set of strings

•  A notebook or notepad

•  Recording device if you wish – bring extra batteries

•  Your song books or lyrics for songs you would like to learn

In addition to my class, there will be multitudes of opportunities to jam with great musicians ‘til all hours of the morning.  And this is where you really learn.  Just jump in there and do it.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns – jgvidrine@cox.net.

Sincerely,

Jane Vidrine