Malian Guitar Evolution

Go Back to the Source. Play with Soul.

Can you remember the first riff you ever learned on guitar? Where did it come from? Follow the sound back through Hendrix, through the blues, past rock ‘n’ roll and you’ll arrive in Mali, West Africa, where the DNA of modern guitar music was formed long before it had a name.

This is where rhythm and melody move together as one. Where a single guitar line can drive an entire song. In this course, Vieux Farka Touré takes you inside the traditions that shaped Ali Farka Touré, the Delta blues, and the music that followed. You’ll learn how to build infectious guitar lines, phrase with fluidity, and lock into the deep, looping cycles of Malian rhythm.

This isn’t about scales or licks – it’s about understanding how the music works. If you want to break free from rigid patterns, hear rhythm differently, and tap into the true roots of guitar, this course will take you there.

Key Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Master the Foundations of Malian Blues

Learn essential rhythms and phrasing from North and Central Mali.
Develop right-hand techniques that create hypnotic, groove-driven guitar lines.
Understand the pentatonic language of Malian guitar and how it shapes improvisation.

Explore the Sounds of Mali’s Major Traditions

Study Mandingue kora-inspired guitar licks and the style of Djelimady Tounkara.
Learn Fula (Peul) melodies and tunings, rich in microtonal expression.
Play the Tuareg Desert Blues style, driven by percussive picking and modal phrasing.

Develop a Deep Groove & Improvisational Feel

Lock into Takamba, Diama Diama, and Bwa rhythms using the calabash drum.
Learn traditional Malian ornamentation like triolets and octave techniques.
Develop fluid, expressive solos that mimic the phrasing of griot singers and kora players.

Bring Authentic Malian Techniques Into Your Own Playing

Adapt Malian Blues phrasing to electric and acoustic guitar.
Learn when to leave space, when to repeat, and how to build tension naturally.
Understand the storytelling approach of Malian improvisation—letting your guitar speak.

Sample Lessons

Meet Your Tutor: Vieux Farka Touré

Vieux Farka Touré—often called "The Hendrix of the Sahara"—was born in Niafunké, Northern Mali. The son of legendary guitarist Ali Farka Touré, Vieux was initially expected to become a soldier. But his passion for music was undeniable. He secretly began learning guitar in 2001, and by 2007, he had released his debut album featuring his father and kora virtuoso Toumani Diabaté.

His career took off fast. In 2010, Vieux performed at the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in South Africa, and his next album featured collaborations with John Scofield, Dave Matthews, and Derek Trucks. A passionate advocate for Malian music and culture, he founded Amahrec Sahel, a charity supporting orphans and young musicians.

Now signed to World Circuit Records/BMG, his 2022 album "Les Racines" (Roots) marks a return to the deep Desert Blues sound his father introduced to the world. With this course, Vieux shares his mastery of Malian guitar, offering students a rare opportunity to learn from one of the most authentic voices in modern African music.