Jorma Kaukonen - I Am The Light Of This World

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TGNeil
Posts: 963
Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2010 1:09 pm
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Thu Apr 07, 2022 12:04 am

Hey Gang,
I know many of you probably gave up on me ever getting to this lesson, and I admit it has taken too, too long. I am finally happy with it and think it is ready for prime time. I hope you enjoy tackling I Am The Light Of This World.

I Am The Light Of This World is Jorma Kaukonen's take on a classic Rev. Gary Davis Ragtime/Gospel tune. Davis' version appeared on his 1960 album Harlem Street Singer and Jorma's was from his 1974 album Quah. Jorma is great at refining and polishing up old blues tunes and this is a great example.

His version is done in the key of C Major with a capo at the 4th fret, keeps a steady alternating bass pattern going, and incorporates some tricky melodies into the mix, even while singing. He also uses the left hand thumb wrap technique on his F chords, but the lesson includes alternate ways of fingering those passages. His original is quite fast, but as the years have passed he tends to play it slower so don't be dissuaded by listening to the original.