Blues guitar is one of the most artistically expressive forms of guitar that exists today. Not many guitarists know this but the blues is the foundation for a variety of different genres that are extremely popular today, including rock, hard rock, metal, and even some hip hop music. There is a lot involved in completely masting blues guitar playing, and it takes a lot of time and dedication to be able to pull it off.

In order to be able to master blues guitar you have to be very familiar with the basic principle of blues music itself. Blues music is one of the only styles of music to actually have a scale named after it. Learning and dominating the blues scale is one of the first key steps to completely mastering blues guitar playing. The blues scale is used in more than blues music. There is a lot of rock music that uses this scale too. So whether you plan on being a blues guitarist or not, this scale is definitely very beneficial to learn and master.

So What Is The 12 Bar Blues?

The 12-bar blues progression is the main foundation and cornerstone of the vast majority of blues tunes out there. As such, to start playing blues, you will need to understand what a 12-bar blues progression is.

The underlying concept of the 12-bar blues is the I-IV-V progression, where I, IV and V represent the chords or notes that you will be using. To this, you will no doubt have two questions that spring to mind immediately, "what is I-IV-V," and how do I use it?"

Let me explain what I-IV-V is all about When you play a blues progression, you will only be required to use 3 chords. The main principle of I-IV-V let you know what are the chords to use, as follows: a slightly oversimplified approach, which happens to work for the keys of A,C,D,E and G, which is enough for right now, is to simply count out the letters of the alphabet starting with the key you're playing in. The first, fourth and fifth letter you count represent the chords that you will be using in your blues progression.

For the key of A we count: A-b-c-D-E-f-g

Thus, for the key of A, we will be using A-D-E as our I-IV-V progression. Similarly if you count out starting with E, you will find that for the key of E we will use E-A-B as our I-IV-V.

Music theory students refer to the I as the "tonic", the IV as the "subdominant", and the V as the "dominant". I will not use these terms in this lesson, but knowing that may help you understand what other people are talking about sometimes.

Chords and Progressions

Another key element to blues is to learn the chords and chord progressions that are commonly used in blues guitar. Learning these will help you to create your own blues progressions and melodies. It's important to remember that not all blues music is played at fast speeds. Some blues music is played slowly and soulfully. It's as if you can see inside of the guitarist's soul as he tells a story with his music. Accuracy is the foundation of playing solid, soul-bearing blues music, and not just raw speed.

An integral part of playing and mastering blues guitar is learning how to improvise. After you master the scales and chords, it's time to put them into practice. Improvising is where your creativity and knowledge come together to create passionate blues music. There are a variety of different improvisation techniques that you should practice along with learning your chords and scales.

One of the best ways to fully master blues music is to practice with guitar backing tracks. These backing tracks can improve the productivity of your practice time immensely. It's like practicing with an entire blues band, which will help you develop your improvisation as you put to use your knowledge and solo over the backing tracks. These will produce good, solid structure and timing as you learn to play along with other musicians, and learn to play over key changes. Guitar backing tracks are the secret to success in mastering blues guitar.

Zack Roberts is the founder of 50 Blues Music Studios. He is a professional full time musician and guitar instructor, specializing in classic blues and rock music. He also runs a recording studio in Jersey City, NJ

Together with his band, he has recorded over 50 of the best Blues Backing Tracks for professional musicians. In under 3 minutes, you'll uncover the #1 proven method of improving your blues playing.

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See how these blues backing tracks will fuel your creativity and passion to inspire you to play killer blues riffs and licks.

Just imagine having the best acoustic and electric blues bands to jam with you, anytime, anywhere! Its the #1 secret weapon for blues guitarists, harmonica and harp musicians.

Take Your Blues Guitar Music To Greater Heights!

Blues Guitar Theory

Blues and blues-based rock songs break away from traditional guitar theory by apply the minor pentatonic scale over a major based chord. Specifically, this occurs over a dominant seven chord (written as simply 7), or at least a chord functioning as a dominant seven. The only chord in a key that produces a dominant seventh is V (5). This is because the fifth scale degree is a major triad, and it has a flat 7th interval. Mixolydian Mode stems from the fifth degree.

Blues Guitar Scales

Playing the minor pentatonic scale over a major based chord produces the follow intervals:

Root, b3, 4, 5, b7 (and possibly the b5 ala the "blues scale.")

So you nearly have all the intervals necessary to build a dominant seven chord, minus the major third. Playing a minor third over a major third produces some dissonance, but in a blues-based context this clash of notes creates an edgy sound that we've grown to like (it's called rock 'n' roll). Often times players will also add in the major third to minor pentatonic scale patterns, or use a combination of both major and minor pentatonic (which is actually combining two different keys).

So, blues-based rock songs can include Mixolydian Mode (a.k.a. the Dominant scale) and/or minor pentatonic. And you don't always have to break the rules. Blues-based players also use the major pentatonic scale over major chords as traditional guitar theory would normally teach.When you combine all these scale choices you end up with lots of notes to include in your melodies, riffs and lead guitar solos.


Play Until Your Fingers Bleed!

Mr. Desi Serna (Google Me!)

Author of Fretboard Theory

http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com

Scales, Chords, Progressions, Modes

The most important aspect of any blues guitar lesson is increasing your ability to make everything you do on the guitar sound completely "organic". This not only goes for your song writing, but also and especially for your soloing. Improvisation is the heart and soul of blues guitar playing. But the last thing in the world that you want is to sound anything less than tight and professional when you solo. Needless to say, this means that it's a fine line to walk between sounding like an organically-grown blues master professional, and sounding like a second-rate pop star's session guitar man.

For this blues guitar lesson, think of someone like Stevie Ray Vaughn. Maybe the greatest electric blues guitar player in history, Stevie Ray always sounded totally professional and in control--never sloppy. But, that man snorted soul from his nostrils! Every note he played, he caused to come screaming and writhing out of that FenderStrat. Whether he was playing rhythm, riffs, or solos, he made you feel the joyful pain of the blues guitar. And how did he accomplish this incredible feat? He did it by always making it seem as if whatever song he was playing had just been made up on the spot and had never been played before--even though everyone in the audience knew otherwise, every time he played it felt totally spontaneous to them.

That is what "organic" means. That is what blues guitar playing is all about.

There is always method behind the madness, however. You can rest assured that when Stevie Ray gave himself a blues guitar lesson, he was not fooling around. He was deadly serious about mastering certain techniques--techniques which he practiced over and over and over again until his fingers were doing the moves over an imaginary fretboard in his sleep.

So...what's in this blues guitar lesson for you?

*Never try to impress your listeners or other musicians with your sheer note-playing ability. Don't be a speed demon and don't be a juggler. Listen to the bass player, listen to the lead melody of the song, and craft your solo in relation to those elements. So you know all those notes? So what? All that matters, in the end, is the feel of the song. Technique is there to facilitate that. However, that does not mean that "you can express it all in four notes". It simply means that you must put taste before pyrotechnics.

*Play major pentatonic scales over the I chord, but minor pentatonic over the IV and V chords. If you don't understand what this means, study more music theory.

*Use some double-stops and chords in your soloing. This is the blues. You can throw in "chunky stuff" and sound great. You want plenty of meat on your musical bones.

*Don't be afraid of "accidentals". This means, if the sound is going to be right, hit a note that is outside of the scale or even the key that you are presently playing in. This will make you sound totally "wild" and "exotic".

*Use plenty of slurs on the guitar--hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides. Make your guitar speak, not just sound off.

Hopefully, this has been a good basic blues guitar lesson for you. Apply these ideas and you will rapidly progress in your blues guitar playing!

Interested in another blues guitar lesson? Then be sure to stop by my website for details of the most complete and affordable blues guitar instruction available online!

If you're a guitar player who has always wanted to learn the blues, or a beginning guitarist that wants to focus on playing blues guitar - there are some things you can do to prepare for your journey.

By laying out the groundwork for a course of study in advance - rather than bouncing around grabbing bits and pieces of information here and there - you will find that your progress toward becoming a blues guitarist proceeds much more quickly.

With that in mind, here are some ideas to get you going. Some of these are specific to guitar techniques - while others relate more to conceptual approaches.

1. Treat the blues as a unique genre of music - The blues is considered to be the granddaddy of rock and roll. The origins of rock music can be traced back to the early blues of the Mississippi Delta, and although many similarities in blues music have evolved into today's rock, it's important to approach blues guitar lessons as a separate and unique entity.

2. Learn the basic blues chord progression - The meat and bones of the blues is the I, IV, V chord progression. The "one", "four", "five" chord progression is based simply on the first, fourth and fifth steps of the major scale, and is the basis for a majority of blues song structures.

3. Learn the basic blues scale - Many blues solos are based loosely on the notes in the minor pentatonic scale. Although there are several variations and additional notes that can be added to the scale when playing blues leads - getting familiar with the minor pentatonic scale is a great place to start with your blues guitar lessons.

4. Learn the various blues time signatures - There are several common tempos relating to the blues including shuffles, straight 4/4 beats, and slow 12/8 or 6/8 beats. These various tempos play a large part in giving a song that distinct blues feel.

5. Learn to "hear" the blues - Once the I, IV, V chord progression is learned and understood, you will develop an ear for hearing that progression and be able to instantly recognize it, even in more modern blues related songs like "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Pride and Joy".

6. Learn blues licks and riffs - Many of the licks you hear in today's rock solos can be traced back to the blues. Chuck Berry was famous for taking old blues riffs and applying them to early rock and roll. Subsequently, guitarists of later generations took Chuck Berry licks and incorporated them into more modern rock. So it stands to reason that learning the nuances and subtleties of blues licks and riffs, as they were originally played, will take you a long way in your soloing abilities across a number of genres.

7. Learn slide guitar - The old bottle neck slide guitar technique is another cornerstone of blues music that has evolved over the years into modern compositions. The early slide riffs of Elmore James, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters inspired a whole new generation of slide guitarists such as Duane Allman, Rory Gallagher, Bonnie Raitt and Derek Trucks. Any aspiring blues guitarist would be well served to include slide guitar in their blues guitar lessons program.

8. Listen to the blues greats - Immerse yourself, and your senses, in the early blues recordings, as well as those from the more modern artists. Pay close attention to the pioneers like T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson and Elmore James - as well as the later generations including B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton and Robert Cray.

9. "Steal" licks - As you're listening to the greats, pick up your guitar and steal a lick or two. This can be a challenge to begin with, but you will find that as you learn blues scales and patterns, the process will become much easier. You will be amazed at how many of the licks you "steal" from the blues greats will slowly become incorporated into your own style of playing.

10. "Feel" the blues - Blues music is all about the "feel" and emotion. From the early African-American songs lamenting the trials and tribulations of slave life in the south - to the more modern blues renditions of lost love and fortune - playing blues guitar is only complete when it is played with feeling.

This is arguably the most important tip of all and, unfortunately, no amount of blues guitar lessons can teach a guitarist to play with emotion.

Once the techniques are learned, and the mechanics of playing blues guitar are mastered until they become second nature, the aspiring blues guitarist can then tap into the emotional side of the blues by "letting go" of the thought process, and playing guitar from the heart.

It's the one essential element necessary to playing the blues authentically and to be taken seriously as a blues guitar player. And although it's something that can be learned, it's not something that can be taught.

As you begin your blues guitar lessons program, keep in mind these tips to keep you on the right path. By focusing time, practice and effort on the technical side - as well as the "feel" and emotional side - you will be rewarded with the joys of playing the blues for years to come!


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Keith Dean is founder of http://www.AdultGuitarLessons.com and a 30 veteran of stage and studio. He toured extensively as a road musician throughout the US and Europe, was a former lead guitarist for country artist Jason Aldean and blues artist EG Kight, and has shared stages with Little Big Town, Wild Rose, Winger, Confederate Railroad, The Tams, The Drifters and more. He is a published songwriter, owned and operated a successful music store, and has instructed numerous students in guitar.

For beginning blues guitar students, one of the best ways to learn is to expose yourself to the very same genre that you are trying to learn. It is therefore recommended that you check out some blues music festivals held throughout the year. Some of the most popular music festivals are listed below.

Chicago Blues Weekend

This festival is typically held between 14th to 16th of January in Chicago, Illinois. The festival is intended to gather some of the best blues and jazz artists in Chicago wherein fans of the genre are invited to attend such that they can get a glimpse of the history and evolution of blues music in the city.

For this year, there are three west side venues chosen for the January 14 event wherein fans can listen to sounds of funk, soul, and blues. On January 15, you can join the Chicago Blues History Tour with guides walking participants around famous spots in the city that helped the genre flourish and grow. On the 16th, fans of Buddy Guy can witness him perform live in a show called 'Voices of Chicago Blues' and is one of the most anticipated part of the festival.

Juke Joint Festival

This festival is scheduled for April 14 to 17, 2011 wherein this year's event is aimed to commemorate the life of the late Foster Wiley. He is recognized as the music maker of Clarksdale and has been a part of previous Juke Joint Festivals until he died last year. This event is open for all interested individuals but is recommended for tourists, musicians, and fans of blues music. There are a series of performances scheduled for the event, as well as exhibits and various kind of presentations related to the genre.

Calgary Mid-Winter Blues Festival

This year's event scheduled for February 21 to 26, 2011 is the fifth edition of this annual event. It is held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada wherein the following artists are expected to attend the event: Debbie Davis Band, Donald Ray Johnson Band, Robbie Laws Band, Mark Hummel & the Blues Survivors with Rusty Zinn, and Earl MacAuley. There is also a bigger event scheduled for this year, which is related to this organization. It is the Calgary International Blues Festival due to take place August 1 to 7, 2011 with more artists expected to be part of the event.

Phuket International Blues Rock Festival

This festival set to happen on February 25-26, 2011 in Phuket, Thailand is one of the biggest in Asia and will feature some of the biggest names in the blues industry. Some of the main artists featured in the event include John Belushi and Mr. Curtis Salgado, who was recognized by the Blues Foundation Awards in Memphis as the highly coveted male artist in 2010.

Mississippi Blues Fest

On March 5, 2011, some of the biggest names in the blues music scene in Mississippi is set to take the stage during the Mississippi Blues Fest in what is the most anticipated events in the state. The event will be held in the Leflore Country Civic Center in Greenwood, Mississippi featuring T.K. Soul, J. Blackfoot Narvel, Terry Wright, Spanky E, Chitchy, and Tre Williams.

If you are a beginning blues guitar artist, then make sure to drop by any of these major blues festivals scheduled for this year. It will be a fun learning process!

Want to become a legendary blues guitarist?

Becoming a great blues guitar player is not an easy ordeal. It takes time and patience! When beginning blues guitar there are many methods to help you learn. Learn the tricks and techniques used by the classic bluesmen.

If you'd like to play like the old masters read on at http://TheBeginningBluesGuitar.com.

What is known as blues today has its origins in the Mississippi Delta region of the United States. It was a style of music played by the slaves at the beginning of the 20th century - and people gave it different names, such as plantation songs, sorrow songs, cabin songs, or workday songs. It came to be known as "blues" only around 1925. It has significantly influenced other contemporary music genres like rock, pop, jazz, folk, and country. If you are planning to teach yourself blues guitar, you have several online options depending upon your convenience.

Online resources offer you a variety of choices for guitar lessons; you can select suitable options depending upon your requirements. Most people prefer to go for video lessons because it is easy to understand by seeing things than reading descriptions. They are significantly cheaper compared to private guitar lessons and you can learn at your pace and time. Moreover, you can choose from lessons of expert guitar instructors who understand students' needs better and design their lessons more effectively.

Your efforts to teach yourself blues guitar will be greatly facilitated if you can read music, although you can learn guitar without knowing it. The reason is simple - it helps you understand other musicians and their music better. It also helps you communicate with others and share your ideas more effectively. Fortunately, guitar has its own simple tabular notation; learning it will give you a significant advantage.

The quality of the music produced by your guitar depends on how well it is tuned and how well you can strum and apply rhythm. Getting an electronic guitar tuner and a metronome will take care of these issues. While the farmer will take care of the sound of your instrument, the later will speed up your learning. Although you can manage without these devices, but having them will streamline your learning process.

Finally, the most important factor that decides how well you can learn guitar is you! It all depends on how strong willed you are towards mastering the lessons. In fact, the lessons have no value if you cannot put yourself together and practice regularly. Good blues lessons come with a variety of backing tracks and other auxiliary material that keep your practice and learning interesting. They also motivate you to explore further. If you can wisely utilize all the supporting resources, there is no reason why you will not succeed in your goal.

Find Out More About Teach Yourself Blues Guitar? Learn How to Play Blues Guitar Here.

Blues music is one of the earliest forms of music and it has remained to be popular even after several decades. Aside from the popularity of the genre itself, they have made a huge impact on the music scene. To learn what big of an impact it has on today's music and to help beginning blues guitar students, read more below to find out.

Introduction of Scream to Rock N Roll

Rock music of today is characterized by its use of screaming vocals. But little do most people know that it was actually a technique adapted from blues songs. This is one reason why rock music has been the choice of genre for most kids these days and there are several variations to this genre, including punk, hard core, metal, and modern rock. The harshness in the vocals and the voice displayed through the song is inspired by raw emotion. The use of such emotions was inspired by blues music and history even supports the idea that it served as the blueprint for the blues genre, allowing it to sustain its success throughout the years.

Chromatic Bending of Notes

The process of bending notes chromatically is a distinctive style found in blues music. Over the years, this style was adapted as a tactic for mainstream guitar music. This particular technique begins with a consonant low note until it reaches the highest point and starts to bend the note. This particular feature in a music helps to fill the music with more energy. Aside from blues, this style is also evident in jazz music, which is a kinship of the blues. It was first popularized by blues vocal artists until it became commonplace in funk, rock, and soul vocals.

Emotionally Powered Performance

Blues singers are best known for delivering emotionally fueled performance, mainly due to the theme and lyrics of the song itself. Today, people can enjoy more emotionally driven performances and is something that modern music should give blues some credit for. Early 20th century blues artists look like possessed individuals once they go up on stage as they feel every bit of emotion in a song. Whatever that emotion is - rage, happiness, depression, anxiety - helps to tell that emotion via a story, which uses the song as its medium.

Blues & Soul

Blues is one of the most fascinating genres of music in the industry. Aside from its rich history, this is the choice of music for people who wanted to express their feelings through music. The essence of this music is to share the experiences and diversity of human life. The use of raw and uncensored emotion makes it an avenue for expanding your creativity. The contemporary music produced by some of today's artists now have more soul element into them than ever before. This also helps to provide more longevity into your music and make it easier for people to relate to, which is really what music is all about.

Remember these important points when you undergo beginning blues guitar lessons. It will help your music achieve longevity and create more impact with your listeners.

Want to become a legendary blues guitarist?

Becoming a great blues guitar player is not an easy ordeal. It takes time and patience! When beginning blues guitar there are many methods to help you learn. Learn the tricks and techniques used by the classic bluesmen.

If you'd like to play like the old masters read on at http://TheBeginningBluesGuitar.com.