by Dave Rubin
First published 2010
Dave Rubin opens the world of B.B. King's guitar mastery to aspiring musicians. The book dissects twelve iconic songs that built King's legendary status. Rubin teaches the specific techniques behind classics like "Lucille," "Everyday I Have the Blues," and "How Blue Can You Get." Each lesson reveals the finger work and phrasing that made King the undisputed master of his craft. Students learn "B.B.'s Boogie," "Blue Shadows," and "Help the Poor" alongside newer material like "Just like a Woman." The instruction covers both uptempo numbers like "Shake It Up and Go" and slower pieces like "Please Accept My Love." Rubin's approach makes King's sophisticated style accessible to guitarists ready to expand their blues vocabulary. The book transforms complex musical ideas into learnable steps, giving players the tools to capture King's emotional expression and technical precision.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, african-american, music
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: educational, instructional
Period: 20th-century
48 pages · Paperback · Hal Leonard