Hard Time Killing Floor Blues by Skip James has influenced generations of musicians and has been covered by numerous blues and rock artists.  James was an American Delta blues singer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter. His guitar playing is noted for its dark, minor-key sound, played in an open D-minor tuning with intricate fingerpicking technique.

All the versions of this song I’ve heard differ slightly. So, while I was influenced by Logan Moore and Cindy Cashdollar’s versions, this arrangement should be considered a rough blueprint for your own improvisations and variations on the song’s themes. 

D Minor tuning is identical to the popular Open D tuning. The only difference is we are flatting the third string one half step - from F#, down to F. This tiny alteration really changes the mood of the tuning and makes it ideal for this tune.

OPEN D MINOR TUNING

STRING # 6   5  4    3  2    1

NOTES: D A D F A D 

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