How To Play Like Seasick Steve

Steven Gene Wold (born 1940/1941), commonly known as Seasick Steve, is an American blues musician. Wold has lived all over the world while composing, playing, and recording blues music. He tends to play very unique, modified guitars (see a few of the example below). His lyrics are often about his early life doing casual work.

His major-label debut was, I Started Out with Nothin and I Still Got Most of It Left, released in 2008, but he has  deep discography and has performed in festivals around the world alongsides the likes of KT Tunstall and in venues like the Royal Albert Hall.

He was nominated for a Brit Award as the International Solo Male Artists of the Year twice and even appeared in an episode of the popular car show, Top Gear.

If you're getting the sense that Seasick Steve is talented, colorful, and a tad eccentric, then....you're right.

If you're a fan of his playing, check out the resources below. Most importantly, check out the YouTube for a free lesson (see below), courtesy of acoustic blues man Jim Bruce.


Seasick Steve Guitar:

Harmony Bobkat Electric Guitar

The general offset template with one (H14) or two (H15) DeArmond gold foil pickups made by Harmony was first called the Silhouette model from its debut in 1963 until 1968, when it was renamed the Bobkat.

GHI Hollow Body

GHI Hollow Body

Small size GHI Hollow body, made in Japan in the 60's. Probably Teisco offshoot. Referred to as his 'Three-String Trance Wonder', tuned to Open G with all the D strings removed, so G, G, B.


Seasick Steve Amplifiers:

Roland Cube-30X Guitar Amplifier

Roland Cube-30X Guitar Amplifier

Roland’s famous CUBE amp lineup expands with the hot new CUBE 30X. With great new features such as Power Squeezer for maximum sustain without maximum volume, a fully equipped guitar tuner, a mini-jack aux in for playing along to MP3 and CD players, and of course that incredible CUBE sound, this amp is built to rock!

Check Price on Roland.com


Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp

Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp

For those who crave more power, the AC30 expands on the captivating sound of its little brother by doubling the wattage. Employing a quartet of EL84 power tubes, the AC30 Custom pumps 30 watts of remarkable tone through a pair of 12” Celestion Greenback or Alnico Blue speakers.

Check Price on Amazon


Seasick Steve  Guitar Lessons:

Acoustic Blues Guitar Lessons - Free Tab - Seasick Steve - Lonesome

Get more acoustic blues lessons from Jim Bruce, he's got a bunch of great stuff from Delta to Swing to Ragtime.

Get More Jim Bruce Lessons


Seasick Steve  Discography

  • Cheap (2004)
  • Dog House Music (2006)
  • I Started Out with Nothin and I Still Got Most of It Left (2008)
  • Man from Another Time (2009)
  • You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks (2011)
  • Hubcap Music (2013)
  • Sonic Soul Surfer (2015)
  • Keepin' the Horse Between Me and the Ground (2016)
  • Can U Cook? (2018)

The Best of Seasick Steve Playlist