Rev E W Clayborn

[Chris Kendall]

I have just discovered Rev Clayborn. OK it gets to be a bit samey, but i like it.

Obviously opne tuning, alternating bass and simple slide runs.

Is he playing in open g or open d?

I think g but i would welcome any advice.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Chris,

The Guitar Evangelist - Rev Clayborn. He was a unique musician.

You have said - 'obviously open tuning with alternating bass & simple slide runs' - but you are not sure what tuning he was using.

I agree about the alternating bass and open tuning, but 'simple slide runs' .....I am not so sure about that!

I would recommend you spend time with the recordings and your guitar and work out what tuning you think he is using. Then come back and talk more about the Reverend Clayborn's music. I am happy to help & advise, but the more you discover & find out for yourself, the better it is for you. I know what tuning the reverend is using. When I first heard his music I sat with the recordings until I got it and was able to mimic some of his style. At first I thought he was in one tuning, but later discovered I was wrong. This is the best way to learn about and understand this music.

The Reverend Edward Clayborn's recording of 'Gospel Train Is Coming', recorded in 1926, was a best seller for Vocalion Records in 1927 and prompted Columbia Records, the rival of Vocalion, to sign & record the legendary preacher & singer Blind Willie Johnson. There are many similarities in their music.

I am happy to communicate with you as a guest of this forum, but I would prefer it if you join as a member.

Shine On
Michael

[chriskendall]

Michael.

Thanks for replying.

I have now signed up.

I only got the CD on Friday and have only been through it a couple of times. There is very little about him on the internet. The sleeve notes on the Document CD dont say a lot.

I also admit to being lazy and somewhat overworked at the moment.

Did BWJ know of him or were they just two, probably of many, with similar styles doing similar material?

At least the hint that there is more than one tuning helps. As far as i know BWJ was open D (or up or down from it) and normal, with or without a capo.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for becoming a member. You are very welcome and I am sure if you are learning to play country blues and gospel slide guitar, that you will find this forum as very useful place to meet and talk about our passion for slide guitar & roots music.

I don't know about all the Reverend Clayborn's repetoire, but Gospel Train is in G tuning. This in itself is unusual, because the style he plays is usually associated with open D. When I first started opening his box of tricks I assumed he was in D tuning and capoed up to G. Like Willie Johnson, he had an amazing smooth slide technique (probably a pocket knife or cut-throat razor) and a very powerful hipnotic rhythm style. I am still unsure of whether he played in a regular Spanish position, or with the guitar on his lap Hawaiian style.

Shine On
Michael

[chriskendall]

You are right. On a fourth listening and with a bit more volume, there is a lot more going on than I first thought.