Learning Blues Guitar
Learning Blues Guitar
“Learning blues guitar is not just about learning another style of guitar. Blues is a feeling”
Robert Johnson 1938
Blues has become one of the most popular techniques in rock n roll music. Many greats (including Elvis Presley) built the foundation of rock n roll from learning blues guitar. We won’t be getting into the origins of blues guitar here. (See The History Of Blues Guitar for more information) Learning blues guitar is not just learning another style of guitar. Blues is a feeling. It can be an upbeat feeling or a sad feeling. One of the things you will enjoy the most about learning blues guitar is how you will really truly be able to express your mood through the blues. Robert Johnson is the best example of how blues guitar was played with feeling.
12 Bar Blues Example
“Learning Blues Guitar Is Not That Difficult”
Blues guitar is for the most part build around 12 bars & 4/4 timing. Let’s take a look at this for example in the key of A. The chords we will be working with are, A, D & E in the open postion since it’s the easiest. However, this can be played in any key with a I, IV, I,V, IV, I chord progression (See Key Chord Progressions on this page). If you don’t know these chords? You can find a sample of how to play the chords here. The following is a 12 bar blues chord progression:
Learning Blues Guitar | The Pentatonic Blues Scale
“Try recording the above 12 bar blues chord progression and practice the following scale for fun!”
The scale most commonly used in learning blues guitar is the pentatonic blues scale. If you are unfamiliar with Pentatonic Scales you can find them here. However, we will be addressing the Pentatonic Blues Scale below. This is the same 5 note scale with an added “blues note”. Here is the most commonly used pentatonic blues scale in the fifth position (starting on the 5th fret). Try recording the above 12 bar blues chord progression and practice the following scale for fun! Don’t know how to play scales? Go here to learn about Lead Guitar & Scales.
This was a very basic overview of how blues guitar is played. If you’re interested in learning blues guitar? The following resource comes with the highest recommendation from GuitarZonline:
Jamplay – Learn to play Blues with Hawkeye Herman.
About The Author:
John Sizemore has been playing and teaching guitar for over 20 years and operates a guitar resources site specializing in Guitar Lessons For Beginners.
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