tryIng to plAy true country style Is A chAllengIng tAsk

For the beginner who may want to have a go without the need for a second mortgage there are plenty of decent, quality, entry-level resonators on the market these days – the wooden-bodied Dobro style being especially accessible.

From a Country Blues perspective, have a look and listen to Catfish Keith who is a great current day exponent – especially with the spectacular National baritone version of the resonator.

I have had the pleasure of seeing Keith a number of times and taking part in his workshops for guitarists – highly recommended if he is gigging in your area any time (I believe Keith also retails the National range himself).

Just a few names of blues guitarists past and present worth checking out include: Blind Willie Johnson, Tampa Red, Blind Boy Fuller, Bukka White, Son House, Charlie Patton, Leadbelly, Buddy Woods, Robert Johnson (the best?) Roy Rogers, etc.

For Bluegrass check out Jerry Douglas (The Man!), Josh Graves (father of Bluegrass Dobro), Bashful Brother Oswald (Yes! True), Tut Taylor, Cindy Cashdollar and many more.

For some modern-day players of both lap and conventional slide style checkout Kelly Joe Phelps, Ben Harper and the late RoryGallagher n ow turn to page 90 for eveb more r e S onator magic.

Lots of stuff on You Tube featuring Mike Dowling: official demonstrator for National who is featured alongside Catfish Keith, Doug McLeod and Bob Brozman in a 90 minute 2012 documentary called Resonate 2008.

Have fun trawling some of this stuff, there’s a lot out there. I’m off to debride the skin off my fingertips with my lovely, lovely National Delphi.