| ratman writes When it came to recording or performing, Hopkins often improvised with humor. He made up verses as he went along, or else altered lyrics as he saw fit. Hopkins was, in the end, a tremendously important blues figure one of the most influential country blues artists of the post-World War II era. In Texas only Blind Lemon Jefferson and T-Bone Walker has had as much impact on the state's blues legacy.
It is very important to learn the history of the blues guitarist as it is to learn his or her style. As far as Lightnin' Hopkins goes this says it all. He was a simple blues man that loved to improvise licks,chords on the spot. Really that's what the style of blues is all about. Hopkins often played in the key of E since this is one of the most popular keys in the style of blues and the most simple. Open string blues licks was his niche. Hopkins almost never used alternating bass lines but he sometimes made use of his thumb on the low notes.
Note: The attached example features several of Lightnin Hopkins touches taken from various songs, so you won't find it on any single recording, but you're sure to recognize a lot of it if you listen to Lightnin' playing standard 12-bar blues. The intro is from a song called "Bring Me My Shotgun."
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