Learning Blues Guitar: A Beginner's Guide

Blues music is more than just a genre; it's the foundation upon which much of contemporary Western music is built. From jazz and rock to pop, soul, funk, and R&B, the blues' influence is undeniable. If you've ever felt the urge to express yourself through the soulful sounds of the blues, this guide is designed to help you embark on your journey to becoming a blues guitarist. Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced player looking to delve into this iconic style, learning the blues has never been more accessible.

Getting Started with Blues Guitar

The Essence of Blues

The essence of blues isn't just about the notes you play, but the notes you don't play. It's about the space, the feel, and the emotion you convey. It's about telling a story through your instrument.

Essential Equipment

For these lessons, you can use either an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar.

Rhythm Guitar Techniques

Mastering Blues Rhythm

The first step in learning blues guitar is understanding rhythm. Blues rhythm playing involves a variety of patterns, each with its own distinct feel.

Medium Shuffle: A foundational blues rhythm that creates a driving, danceable groove.
Uptown Blues: A more sophisticated rhythm, often used in urban blues styles.
Slow Blues: Emphasizes feeling and expression with a slower tempo.
Blues-Rock: Combines blues rhythms with the energy and intensity of rock music.
Mambo: Infuses a Latin flavor into the blues.

12-Bar Blues

The First Law of the Blues is the 12 Bar Blues Form. This is a fundamental structure in blues music. Understanding how to play the 12-bar blues is crucial for any aspiring blues guitarist.

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Barre Chords

Need a refresher on the fundamentals? In this tutorial we'll learn how to play 12 bar blues using barre chords. Barre chords are essential for playing blues in different keys. We'll get plenty of practice changing chords in time along with a 12 Bar Blues backing track while using barre chords. We'll also learn our 5th and 6th string root major and dominant 7th barre chord shapes, and learn how to lock into a bluesy rhythm by strumming with a shuffle feel.

Open Dominant 7th Chords

In this tutorial we'll learn how to use some open dominant 7th chords to play 12 bar blues in a few different keys. We're trying to get familiar with the sound of a I-IV-V chord progression over the basic blues form of 12 measure or bars. We also want to get more comfortable with strumming in an 1/8th note triplet rhythm.

Blues in E

In this set of beginner blues lessons, I'll teach you how to play a simple blues in E. I'll start off with the riff and the triplet shuffle rhythm in E, then move it to A. Next I'll show you how to change those chords in time, then we'll learn the B7 chord. I'll go over the 12 bar form before I show you some fills you can play to spice things up.

Dominant 7th Chords

In this tutorial we'll boost your blues rhythm playing by exploring a handful of extremely useful dominant 7 chords and combine those with a simple but powerful right hand approach. The dominant 7 chords are the ones we write out by simply adding the number 7 after the letter name. They hold a lot of bluesy tension and they're some of the most common chord type used in this style of music.

Shell Voicings

In this tutorial we'll level up our blues rhythm playing by exploring some extremely precise and punchy voicings of our dominant 7 and 9 chords. These chords are stripped down to a minimum number of notes for a maximum impact, and they're often referred to as shell voicings. In this tutorial we'll explore some more stripped down, precision chords that use a minimum number of notes for a maximum impact or shell voicings as they're often called. Not only are the chords boiled down to the essence, the movement between the I, IV and V chord voicings is also optimized, so each of the notes within the chords move as little as possible. This gives our rhythm playing a very deliberate and mature sound.

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Diad Riffs

In this tutorial we'll learn a classic bluesy diad riff that's a solid part of every blues player's vocabulary. We'll break the riff down step by step and learn to apply it to a 12 bar blues form with some rhythmic and phrasing variations to get more mileage out of it.

Solo Guitar Blues Arrangement

Christopher will show you a new way to play a blues arrangement for solo guitar. This involves combining a bass line with middle chord tones as well as upper chord tones. In this way we get a very full sound and suggest three separate voices or things happening at once! Christopher will show a new way to play a blues type arrangement for solo guitar. Christopher will show you how to move the familiar pattern of the earlier solo guitar blues orchestration tutorials to any fretboard position by barring with the index finger and using it as a sort of movable capo. Christopher will show you new ways to play a blues type arrangement for solo guitar. To orchestrate means to put many parts together. In this tutorial we'll combine a walking bass line with upper chord tones. The end result is two parts playing together at the same time. We'll also add a variety of classic blues walking bass lines. Christopher will show you new ways to play a blues type arrangement for solo guitar. To orchestrate means to put many parts together. In this tutorial we'll combine a walking bass line with upper chord tones. The end result is two parts playing together at the same time. Christopher will show you how to play a blues type arrangement for solo guitar. To orchestrate means to put many parts together. In this tutorial we'll combine a walking bass line with upper chord tones. The following sections is all about how to play lead Blues guitar.

Lead Guitar Techniques

Soloing Techniques

The second part covers blues lead guitar. Start with learning basic soloing techniques. Mastering lead guitar involves learning to express yourself through solos and fills. Key techniques include:

Slides: Smooth transitions between notes.
Hammer-ons: Striking a note by bringing a finger down sharply on the fretboard.
Pull-offs: Plucking a string by pulling a finger off a fret.
Bending: Altering the pitch of a note by pushing or pulling the string.
Vibrato: Adding a slight, rhythmic variation in pitch to create a sustained, expressive sound.
Rakes: A technique where the player drags the pick across several strings in quick succession.

Blues Licks

Christopher will show you some basic blues licks that form the foundation of blues soloing vocabulary. This includes the following characteristics of blues lead playing: using the blues scale (minor pentatonic scale with flat 5th "blue note"), triplet swing phrasing, dynamics and articulations like sliding and bending. Christopher will show you some basic blues licks that form the foundation of blues soloing vocabulary. This includes the following characteristics of blues lead playing: using the blues scale (minor pentatonic scale with flat 5th "blue note"), triplet swing phrasing, dynamics and articulations like sliding and bending. Christopher will show you some basic blues licks that form the foundation of blues soloing vocabulary. This includes the following characteristics of blues lead playing: using the blues scale (minor pentatonic scale with flat 5th "blue note"), triplet swing phrasing, dynamics and articulations like sliding and bending.

Switching Between Rhythm and Lead

Learning to switch between the wide strumming of a whole chord and the smaller motions of playing one string or note at a time is an important skill to develop. Learning to switch between the wide strumming of a whole chord and the smaller motions of playing one string or note at a time is an important skill to develop.

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Double Stops

In this tutorial we will learn to play a lead fill that uses double stops in a basic 12 bar blues in C major.

Chord Progressions and Licks

Christopher will show you how to really spice up your blues rhythm and lead playing with some interesting chord progressions, chord voicings and lead licks! First we'll look at a chord progression that's not the standard 12 bar form. Next we'll add some extended chord voicings. Next, we'll add some licks that are more chord tone based than standard pentatonic.

Bread and Butter Blues Licks

In this set of lessons, I'll teach you a "bread and butter" blues lick that you can use in almost any blues solo. I'll start with an introduction to the lick, then how to do the tricking picking and bending. The we'll play the lick using the IV and V chords, then we'll review the whole 12 bar form before we do two play alongs in different tempos. In this next set of lessons on bread and butter blues licks, I'll teach you a major pentatonic lick. I'll introduce you to the concepts and lessons and show you the basis of the lick, then how to apply the picking and bending. We'll then play the lick over the IV and V chords, then add some variation. We'll do play alongs in two different tempos before we examine the lick in a straight 8th rhythm. Bread & butter means the central or fundamental part of a thing. It also means how you earning a living; how you earn you bread to pay for your bread & butter!

Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales

In this set of lessons, Ry Kihn will teaching you how to play major and minor pentatonic scales in a solo. Ry will introduce you to the tutorial, then examine major pentatonic licks. In the next lesson, we'll be learning how to switch between these scales; then Ry will take a look at the extended major scale with the flat third, making things bluesy.

Combining Rhythm and Lead

In this tutorial we will learn to play a basic 12 bar blues in G major in a style that combines and alternates between a blues rhythm riff and a lead fill. Christopher will show you how to really spice up your blues rhythm and lead playing with some interesting chord progressions and lead licks! We'll take a complex blues chord progression and learn some next level licks that build on the previous tutorial in this series. Christopher will show you how to really spice up your blues rhythm and lead playing with some interesting chord progressions, chord voicings and lead licks! This time we're going to use the 12 bar blues form as a standard, but add more chords to the progression. Next, we'll add some lead licks to play over our new chord progression.

Targeting Chord Tones

In this third tutorial of the series we will focus only on targeting chord tones in order to learn more ways to spice up the minor pentatonic "box" blues shape with notes from the major scales. The lessons in this series are based on a lot of the ideas we already learned in the previous tutorials from the series on "Major Notes in Pentatonic Minor". In this tutorial we will learn to spice up the minor pentatonic "box" blues shape with notes from the major scale. For these example exercises we will use the A minor pentatonic scale and a 12 bar blues form in A major. The central idea is to use the pentatonic box as a visual reference while targeting chord tones. Christopher will show you how to really spice up your blues lead playing with these advanced licks! First we'll look at the basic pentatonic minor box as scale degrees. Then we'll do the same for the mixolydian mode. In this tutorial I've created a 12 bar blues backing track in every key and at two tempos (80 BPM and 120 BPM). I play each blues with a different rhythm guitar and lead guitar approach to show how much variation is possible within the 12 bar blues form. This is a valuable way to get used to playing in every key and comfortable with playing anywhere on the fretboard. In this tutorial we will learn to spice up the minor pentatonic "box" blues shape with notes from the major scale. For these example exercises we will use the A minor pentatonic scale and a 12 bar blues form in A major. The central idea is to use the pentatonic box as a visual reference while targeting chord tones. Christopher will show you how to spice up your blues licks by adding major scales notes to the minor pentatonic "box" blues shapes. For these example exercises we will use the A minor pentatonic scale and a 12 bar blues form in A major. The central idea is to use the pentatonic box as a visual reference while targeting chord tones.

Musicianship

In Blues music there are âintangiblesâ that arenât written on sheet music. Things like feel and groove or musicianship and playing with others will be best developed through real-world experience. In this tutorial we'll zoom out and look at the big picture of blues musicianship: improvisation, using backing tracks, playing live, and writing music. These aren't playing lessons per se, although we use a couple of backing tracks for demonstration; these lessons are intended for you to step backk and take a look at the big picture, and put your playing into a context.

Building a Blues Arrangement

Christopher will show you how to build a blues arrangement. We'll use various rhythm and lead guitar techniques and combine them in a dramatic way to build and release tension over the course of many repeated passes at a 12 bar blues form. In this tutorial we will learn to build another blues guitar arrangement. We'll use various rhythm and lead guitar techniques and combine them in a dramatic way to build and release tension over the course of many repeated passes at a 12 bar blues form.

8 Bar Blues

In this tutorial we will learn and play an 8 bar blues. We'll use a classic ascending chord progression, then add some circle of fifths motion to give it a slightly R&B or jazzy sound.

16 Bar Blues

In this tutorial we'll learn a 16 bar blues in C. We'll play rhythm and lead guitar parts.

Orchestral Slow Blues

In these lessons you'll learn some ideas about how to play an orchestral slow blues and solo licks in the key of E. We'll work on some rhythm ideas, talk about timing, sound and feeling, and good combinations of solo licks.

Minor Blues with Rock Elements

In this tutorial you'll learn to play a minor blues with some rock elements, and you'll learn to play dynamically by using specific sound settings and playing techniques to create feeling. We'll talk about sound and tone, then look at the chords.

Arizona Blues

In this set of lessons I'll teach you a short simple original song, "Arizona Blues". I'll introduce the tune to you, then show you how to play the two main parts. Next I'll put the two parts together for you, then get into the hammer-on and bluesy licks. I'll play the song through for you, then finish by explaining a bit of my philosophy behind it.

Bad Blues

In "Bad Blues 2", I'll teach you to play a theme I composed. I'll talk a bit about the theme, then show you a vibrato exercise. In lesson 3 I'll show you the first part, using the vibrato. In the next lessons I'll show you parts 2 and 3 and how you can create variations. "Bad Blues" will give you some ideas on how to play blues in a rubato style - without real timing. This gives you freedom to play blues with full expression and dynamics. I'll teach picking technique, then show you several licks to play.

Drop D Tuning and Bottleneck

In this set of lessons I'll give you some ideas for playing the blues with a drop D tuning and a bottleneck. I'll cover the drop D tuning, talk about the basic technique, then get into some chords. Then I'll teach some melodic ideas and groove examples, and give you a summary of ideas to create an entire tune.

Fingerstyle Blues

Jorma Kaukonen started here. Taj Mahal, and Keb' Mo' too, plus dozens of other acoustic blues masters. Even if you're new to fingerpicking, this tutorial will walk you step-by-step through learning to play the fingerstyle blues, and load you up with an impressive collection of tricks and riffs you can toss in at any time.

Joe Bonamassa Style

The best way to learn how to play Blues guitar is by studying the greats. In this tutorial we'll explore a practice tune written in the signature high energy blues-rock style of Joe Bonamassa. This is a fun style to play because it draws from a variety of different blues sounds and combines it with high gain and rock elements. We'll start out with a slow blues, then break into a super fun rock riff and in the middle we'll have an intense and epic solo section.

Buddy Guy Style

Tome will show you essential aspects of Guy's playing style and music across many decades has inspired players to learn about the blues of the past, bring those traditions to the present and expand on them into the future! Through his playing and showmanship, he directly influenced the early rock legends of the 60s.

John Mayer Style

In this tutorial we'll study the electric guitar playing style made famous by John Mayer. soulful feel, and expressive playing. articulation.

Amplifiers

There are many different kinds of amplifiers to choose from. These are 3 primary amp styles on which most models are based, and here we'll look at 2 tube amps and a solid state amp.

Fingers vs. Pick, Bottleneck Slide, and Capo

In this tutorial we'll answer questions about the tonal differences between using your fingers instead of a pick. We'll also look at the bottleneck slide, then how to use a capo.

Popular Guitars

In this tutorial we'll walk you through the sounds and electronic configurations available on the most popular guitars in the market: semi-hollow body, Les Paul, SG, Telecaster, and more. T…

Understanding Blues Soloing

Minor Blues as a Starting Point

I would skip B.B. King at first. He is an odd one when it comes to the blues in that he plays in a lot of major keys. Minor blues is where one should start. Albert King is a minor blues player and so are most other blues players.

An Exercise

Here is an exercise based on a Am, Dm, Em, i-iv-v, minor blues progression. Strike the Am chord, now lead the solo with the seventh fret of the A string. That note is E, which is the 5th of the Am chord. You then play the 5th fret on the D string (the note G) followed by the 7th fret on the D string (the note A) followed 5th fret the of the G string (the note C) while apply vibrato (hold for a second) before finally landing back on the 7th fret of the D string (the note A). What you have just played in note form is the chord Am7 (A,C,E,G), which you have played over the i (minor 1) chord, Am(A,C,E), in the progression. Now, we need to make a transition to the Dm chord (D,F,A). We do that in a blues way by fingering the 8th fret on the B string and bending it up a full step to the note A while applying vibrato. This note is the 5th of the Dm chord. We cannot play an arpeggiated version of the Dm chord because the minor pentatonic scale is missing the 3rd (F) from the Dm chord, so what we are going to do is release the bend and strike the unbent note (G) before walking down the minor pentatonic scale to the 7th fret on the D string (A note), which sets us up to go back to Am (this walk down includes the note D). It will probably sound awkward at first, but as you learn how to put feeling into these two phrases, you will start to recognize them as staples in blues guitar. That's the blues in a nutshell. It is about playing phrases over the chords that contain the notes in the chords. The ending note in each phase leads the chord that follows.

The Importance of Feel and Groove

People tend to over think the blues. It is about playing phrases over the chords that contain the notes in the chords. The ending note in each phase leads the chord that follows. The blues is not about the notes a person plays. It is about the notes a person does not play. It's about conveying emotion and connecting with your audience.

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