Piedmont Blues
In the Piedmont region , which lies between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the Appalachian Mountains from central Georgia to central Virginia, a distinct style of guitar playing comparable in sound to ragtime piano developed. This style is characterized by intricate fingerpicking in which the thumb alternates bass strings in a rhythmic pattern the treble strings. Two significant practitioners of this style of blues were Blind Boy Fuller (born Fulton Allen; c. 1904-1941) and Blind Willie McTell (born William Samuel McTier; 1898-1959). Other notable practitioners include Blind Blake (1896-1934), Josh White (1914-1969), and Buddy Moss (1914-1984).
Learn about other Piedmont Blues musicians here: List of Piedmont Blues Musicians. Selected musical examples of this tradition are listed below.
| Blues Musicians | Listening Examples of Piedmont Blues Tradition |
|---|---|
| Blind Boy Fuller | |
| Blind Willie McTell |
In his discussion of Alabama and Georgia, David Lee Joyner states that "Alabama had an active blues scene in the cities of Birmingham and Montgomery, as well as in rural areas, but was overlooked by recording expeditions from the North. Georgia fared much better in recording and popularizing of its blues" (Joyner 1993, 67-68). Musical practitioners of the style associated with Alabama are "Birmingham" George Conner (1934-2016), the blues singer Vera Hall (1902-1964), and Zebediah "Doc" Reed (1898-1979).
David Lee Joyner mentions that, due to its rapid growth and recording companies coming into town, Atlanta attracted many blues singers from all over the South. "Atlanta blues features a more delicate fingerpicking style on the guitar, as opposed to the more forceful rhythmic feel of Delta blues guitarists. Atlanta singers used more distinct pronunciation and lighter vocal tone quality" (Joyner 1993, 70).