Blues
The root of rock, soul and jazz: shuffles, bends and call and response.
Shuffle and first licks
- Shuffle rhythm in A and E
- Five licks in box 1
- The turnaround
Milestone: Play rhythm and one solo chorus over a 12-bar blues.
Needs: 12-bar blues rhythm, Minor pentatonic, box 1 · about 8 hours
Talk with the guitar
- Mixing major and minor pentatonic
- 9th chords and the quick change
- Slow blues in 12/8
Milestone: Play a three-chorus solo that tells a story.
Needs: Bends & vibrato, CAGED & the blues scale and Level 1 · about 12 hours
Play the changes
- Hitting the 3rd of every chord
- Minor blues and jazz blues
- A classic solo learned by ear
Milestone: Transcribe and perform a complete blues solo.
Needs: Playing the changes, Transcribe licks and Level 2 · about 16 hours
Hear it, try it
A typical blues phrase and a backing track to play along with. Everyone can use these, on any plan.
e|-----12--10--------------------------------| B|-10----------13b15r13--10----------10~-----| G|---------------------------12--11----------| D|-------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------|
Harmony: I7–IV7–V7 in a 12-bar form, quick-change and turnaround variations, minor blues (i–iv–♭VI7–V7).
Scales: Minor pentatonic, blues scale, major pentatonic, Mixolydian. Mix major and minor over dominant chords.
Technique: Expressive bends, wide vibrato, call and response, shuffle and slow 12/8 feels.
B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Gary Clark Jr.
Start freeBlues guitar questions
Do I need music theory first?
No. Level 1 starts with a shuffle rhythm in A and E, five licks in box 1 and the turnaround. Theory comes in as you go, one idea at a time.
Which scale should I learn first?
Start with the minor pentatonic in box 1. It is the first scale the blues path asks for, and the bends and licks are built on it.
How long before I can solo over a 12-bar blues?
The Level 1 path is about 8 hours of practice. The milestone is to play the rhythm and one solo chorus over a 12-bar blues.
Keep reading: All styles Guitar chord library Which style to learn first The first five chords