White people get nervous and speed things up. You don't have to be in a hurry because you ain't got nothing to gain and you ain't got nothin' to lose. And that's where the groove lies.

It's a real uphill challenge to battle the white-guyness.

A blown-out tube ripped some of the grind from the amplifier, throwing us into a momentary tizzy. The unusual sound led me to play unusually, and the recorded take turned out to be a keeper. Insriration can come from the most unlikely places ... keep your head on and your ears open.

Did Muddy Waters play an acoustic? Well of course he did. But did he turn his back on being able to plug it in and play louder? No, he plugged in and turned it up and got miles and miles ahead of the game in one fateful act of just plugging in.

If you're really looking for something in particular, it helps to take your time.

Each guitar has its own character and personality, which can be magnified once the player engages in beatin' it up

The blues is a mighty long road. Or it could be a river, one that twists and turns and flows into a sea of limitless musical potential.