Blues in 12 Keys

[Hiker]

After spending time studying and practicing rock, country, and other styles, I'm feelin' the blues. Maybe, with my life experience, I can play with real feeling!

First, I jumped into Justin's lesson with 12 Bar Blues in 12 keys-Blues Rhythm Guitar (Lesson BL 201). As an intermediate-level theory player, the blues is calling me now!

Blues players, what first steps to get a good blues foundation from here? Looking to make some waves with good practice...

 

[Axis29]

Lots of listening. Listen to the classics or at least the artists you want to sound like.

Take your time, breath, think in vocal terms and phrasing.


There is a difference between sounding kinda bluesy and playing Blues. It takes time and an ear for the subtleties.

And try not to play too many notes.... Let one hang for a while... wring every last bit of feeling out of it and make a sad face while doing it.

 

[AndyLowry]

Having a teacher has helped me quite a bit. If you don't want to do that, there are numerous video lessons available-- Griff Hamlin, Anthony Stauffer, Greg Koch, et. al.

What style of blues are you interested in? What really turns you on when you hear it?

 

[Hiker]

I just checked out a couple of Griff's lessons before work on Y**tube.
1. Acoustic Blues Guitar Beginner, etc.
2. Blue Rhythm Guitar Lesson: Easy Two Note Chords, etc.

Axis29, thanks!

Andy, I'll check out those teachers-lessons!

 

[screamin eagle]

Forget the boxes. Only see the chords. Let the 'color tones' come through. You're playing a feeling. Do it convincingly. Play like you would sing it.

Study horn players! This keeps things sounding natural, cause, well, they have to take a breathe. Do the same with your playing.

Check out the sax solo in "Kidney Stew Blues." Very basic straight blues solo (with the slight exception of the fantastic IV chord lick (which uses the raised V of the IV chord (and you would do yourself a favor by realizing that that note is also the b9 of the tonic))), but it is done naturally and with authority. (It's in Bb if you want to learn it).

 

[Hiker]

Forget the boxes. Only see the chords. Let the 'color tones' come through. You're playing a feeling. Do it convincingly. Play like you would sing it.

Study horn players! This keeps things sounding natural, cause, well, they have to take a breathe. Do the same with your playing.

Check out the sax solo in "Kidney Stew Blues." Very basic straight blues solo (with the slight exception of the fantastic IV chord lick (which uses the raised V of the IV chord (and you would do yourself a favor by realizing that that note is also the b9 of the tonic))), but it is done naturally and with authority. (It's in Bb if you want to learn it).

Thanks for the suggestion, I was a decent jazz sax player on alto, and tenor.

 

[McGlamRock]

My guitar teacher from way back shared this awesome vid, you dig?

 

[screamin eagle]

Thanks for the suggestion, I was a decent jazz sax player on alto, and tenor.

Perfect....you're already there.

If you make your guitar do what Lester Young did with his sax, then you will be doing what Charlie Christian's main musical goal was--to play the guitar like "The Pres" plays the sax.