Learn the scintillating slide licks of Johnson. He started using a pocket knife for a slide to mimic his voice. He had the power to make a religious song sound like the blues and a blues song sound holy. He sang in a “rasping false bass,” and played bottleneck guitar with “uncanny left-handed strength, accuracy and agility.” Blind Willie played mostly in open D tuning using the alternating bass method while using the silde for the melody mainly on the first string.
“Dark Was The Night Cold Was the Ground is the most
transcendent piece in all American music.” Ry Cooder
