Stefan Grossman - Guitar Portrait

"Stefan Grossman in particular, has been responsible almost single-handedly for maintaining and enriching the tradition of folk guitar playing. He has made himself master of countless blues, folk and ragtime styles."- Music Week
Stefan Grossman has been recording, performing and writing about acoustic fingerstyle techniques and styles for over forty years. During the period from 1965-1975 he studied and traveled with some of the legendary figures in the story of blues guitar i.e. Rev. Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Fred McDowell, Son House and Skip James. In the last years he has recorded and performed solo as well as with John Renbourn, Paul Simon, Sam Mitchell Jo Ann Kelly, Duck Baker and Mickey Baker.
Tunes performed: Twelve Sticks, I'm Satisfied, You Got The Pocketbook I Got The Key, Special Rider Blues, Blues For The Mann, Just A Closer Walk With Thee and Glory of Love
Check out Stefan's DVD lessons at www.guitarvide...

[@johnfair62]

Can you imagine getting lessons from Rev Davis. Wow!!!!! And to play with John Hurt!!!!! How blessed can one man be? Lucky for us he is passing the knowledge on. Thanks Stefan. I'm a fan of yours and a regular purchaser from your store. I have so many DVDs and books it will take me the rest of my life to even get 1/4 the way through it.

[@Tigrebleau1]

Been playing since I was 12 (68 now) and thought I was doing okay. SG has opened a whole new level of learning to me.

[@rickroberts767]

Thank you, Stephan, because of your efforts the old time Rev. Gary Davis lives on. You've done a lot for guitar players.

[@RattlinJackBlues]

The guru of country blues guitar and an amazing teacher, even on a DVD.

[@guitarkenny]

Stefan and I have been friends since the 70s, when I was working in the village and also taking lessons from him. At that time, he was playing, I believe a BOZO guitar. Or maybe that's what Rev Gary had. Stefan is a wonderful, wonderful guy. The absolute nicest person living on the planet. And he IS singlehandedly, responsible for the resurgence in this type of guitar playing. How he ever remembers so many tunes is beyond me.

[@ilariodelussu4856]

Thank you for what you have been doing for those who love guitar. Personally I learned something from your books about forty years ago and now I'm going back again on those tunes. Thank you a lot from Sardinia!

[@hochbob]

Stefan is a national treasure.

[@Michajeru]

I've just discovered this guitar maestro and he is an inspiration. I love his style, his sound and his personality.

[@Mandoline2007]

An undeniable master and a source of inspiration during my years of learning the guitar. An excellent composer and an outstanding performer.

[@jackp112281]

Great story, and this man is a great teacher he responds to students which is unheard of for a musciain! This is the greatest music to learn !

[@SergeCeyral]

In 1971, a friend of mine (who was a pretty good guitarist) sold me his used copy of "Yazoo basin Boogie". Back then, I was just a beginner with a guitar, but at first listening, I got a huge smack in the face: since that very day, I been trying to play each and every piece of that record (with a limited success for some of them) but I'll never forget that feeling of discovering a new unknown world; thank you so much, sir, for beeing such a faithful inspirational companion

[@fredatric]

A very enjoyable video thank you. I first heard Stefan about 37 years ago and have been a fan ever since. He is an inspiration, and has done so much for music and the guitar. Thank you Stefan.

[@PeteHowlett]

What a warm and great presentation... grew up on Stefan Grossman.

[@staffansvahn]

Great playing and captivating story! Thank you for your dedication and for your great online resource. Best wishes Staffan

[@loremipsum7471]

Back in the 70s, I was learning guitar and would pursue the music stores for books on music. Though I eventually went for classical guitar, I remember seeing a book by Stefan Grossman and his picture stuck in my mind. I never heard him play until this year on KZbin.

[@buzzlightyear1191]

Just found your guitar lessons. Thanks for sharing your talent with us. Many blessings from the uk 🇬🇧

[@perrysar5954]

DIVINE INTERVENTION!! the music Davis taught a young Grossman is literally the American catalog from the 1850s gospel,novelty,ragtime, spirituals,blues,waltzes,minstrel etc...which was then passed on to the boomers,our generation via Grossman,similiar to Alan Lomax and his field recordings in the 1940's!

[@charlespeterson3798]

Skip James carried a vibe that is unmistakable. A great tribute by Mr. Grossman.

[@DavidDorenfeld]

Stefan has helped me a lot, awesome guitar playing and teaching. Very helpful and inspirational :)

[@_VIXIV_]

The stories make the music that much sweeter

[@uaao00i]

Thank you !!! I am very glad to hear that !

[@AcousticMecca]

Bravo Mr. Stefan Grossman...BRAVO and Thanks!

[@iambingojesus]

Stefan is the master. He's the guy that gave me the key, many years ago, to the whole fingerpicking thing. As for 'hiding' that he's only using three fingers, tontokurt, if you've seen any of Stefan's instructional videos he is at always pains to emphasise how many of the great masters (Rev Gary Davis, Merle Travis, Big Bill Broonzy etc etc) use just the thumb and forefinger. So to criticise his 'bad technique' when he uses 'only three' is a little strange. Maybe Rev Gary Davis was doing it all wrong, too?

[@flylippfantom8425]

You helped me to want to play finger style. I had played some finger style tune using pointer finger and thumb. I had to unlearn playing that way into playing with 3 fingers and thumb. I love it

[@korkars]

Thank you very much Mr. Grossman!

[@doctormysterio4247]

back in 1968-9 ish came to watch you play in a pub in battersea london called the nags head one of the best folk clubs in england and the oldest now long gone to the developers. fantastic evening chatted to you in the bar over a pint was brilliant.couldnt believe how you could change guitar tunings by ear as you went through a song quite incredible . you were a fantastic player then nice to see u are still hanging in there getting better all thanks for the music . i learnt buck dancers choice from one of your books still play it now and i'm nearly 70.

[@alexkappeler201]

Thanks from Switzerland

[@wasumyon6147]

My god, that 'Special Rider' blues is haunting.

[@guyluca7361]

This music is so beautiful.

[@rhinowwj]

Thank you so much, Stefan. Your stories and your thoughts about music help me put my own feelings about music in perspective. I really like your comment about Big Bill Broonzy. There are several players like him that just plain knock me down when I hear them. More and more, actually, as I learn more. It is a gift to be able to hear the music to begin with, but also a gift to have some measure of talent to be able to take on the challenge of learning the music, too.

[@PeterHyatt]

Stefan's an American treasure.

[@hyperdiabolical]

Stefan, This is brilliant. I can't play the radio and you show everyone how to do this. You are my hero. See ya, Geoff

[@jeremypruitt4]

I started playing folk a little over a year ago and started with his lessons- love him! Email me if you know of anyone in NYC who gives these kinds of folk lessons.

[@pantoque1]

Gracias Stefan, para un español como yo, que no puede vivir sin el blues, realizas una labor magistral, eres un gran maestro, portentoso músico y fantástico guitarrista, un abrazo

[@TheShotzie]

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful music video and your story with me. I enjoyed it very very much!

[@glenneverett8673]

Amazing just amazing

[@glenneverett8673]

+Josephine Bouge glad you like it

[@glenneverett8673]

+Josephine Bouge hope you have a great weekend Josephine

[@amphitheatre]

I love Glory of Love. His version on the record is timeless. This one is great too.

[@housesmouse]

well music , and a well man .Big Guitar i know this by twenty years , i desire play my guitar like you !!

[@oldvole]

Always been an inspiration to me, and comes across as a really nice bloke.

[@boomboxbadboy]

Such a humble master.

[@TenWilder0]

It's tough being at the top of your game when all your teacher's and mentors are dead and gone... I didn't learn from Mississippi Jon Hurt and Rev. Gary Davis, but the old cowboys and old hippies I did learn from are all dead and gone now that I've built up enough skills to make them proud. I feel kind of bad for Mr. Grosman.

[@vincent5542]

Amazing Story!

[@RussellMcCannIT]

I love the story about Reverend Gary Davis. "Bring your money, honey." :-D

[@GJCoyne]

You got me finger-picking 40 years ago Stefan! It's time you came to the Glastonbury festival. That's an invite.

[@Catman7442]

I'm a Stefan Grossman fan from back in the Happy Traum Oak publication days, and I love and have emulated his playing, but why does the sound person record this wonderful set at such a low volume? It's nearly inaudible. Then throw in a little deafness brought on by age, it IS inaudible. I listened long enough to hear "I'm Satisfied," a great song by John Hurt, and Stephan's playing was wonderful, again , but nearly inaudible. I hate things too loud and I'm in favor of preserving the casual listener's hearing, but at least I can turn it down. There IS a happy medium.

[@palangreros08]

El trabajo de la época de los 60 y 70 fue fantástico en Londes. Extraordinaria fusión entre folk, música antigua, blues, jazz. Un sonido único. Junto con John Renborun o Bert Jansch y otros muchos. De todas formas, compararlo con Andrés Segovia … pues no sé. Quizás tengan poco que ver. Andrés Segovia es otra dimensión.

[@reverendmississippi]

I remember the lp how to play blues guitar by stefan and Rory block never played electric since I got that lp

[@debruddavombabba]

What's the name of the song at 3:57? It's actually pretty similar to Merle Travis' Cannonball Rag!!

[@AbsurdBrane]

(3:55) for guitar start!

[@muhrvis]

I think this might be his Franklin guitar made by Nick Kukich. I think it is a custom version of an OM or 000 Martin, can't remember which.

[@bohemian46]

0000

[@FunkyCrumpet]

his dad bought him a gibson from a second hand shop wow .

[@pclaw10]

Does anyone know the name of the first song played? Thx

[@PeteHowlett]

12 sticks

[@sagideon]

Does anyone know who makes the guitar Stefan has here?

[@scaredypicker]

I think it's a Franklin Guitar

[@roelandvisser]

Dit Gary Davis had guitar lessons?

[@malvarello]

@pantoque1 Oh!! Por fín un español que comparte conmigo inquietudes bluseras. Otro abrazo. Si me contestas hablamos. Está claro que soy otro guitarrista. Contéstame y hablamos. Otro abrazo.

[@davidbusen545]

If this guy would just concentrate a little he might make something of himself

[@tontokurt]

A comment more: Because he uses palms on his right hand, the rythms are delayed by something like a 16/note.

[@91mperez]

Gibson guitar at goodwill? WTF!

[@tontokurt]

This amateur started playing guitar at 9 years of age. Such a waste of time!!

[@abianchi0226]

Blues men don't have New York City accents. Oy vey!

[@tontokurt]

Yeah - and the ridiculous pinky on the deck which is hiding a bad technique and also covers the he plays only with three fingers.

[@bohemian46]

Can't think of a polite reply to your ignorance.

[@areguapiri]

@tontokurt...... Dumbness!!

[@marcbrandes9682]

Clearly you dont like Americana music be cause all the guitsr players played with 2 or 3 fingers muting the base notes with the palm and having the pinkie on the guitar. This of course would be a no no with classical or flamenco but millions of people enjoy this music.