Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Acoustic Blues Guitar Lesson – Play Acoustic Blues Guitar By Yourself – EP315

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play an acoustic blues composition that requires no accompaniment. This composition uses the classic blues “call and response” technique, allowing you to first establish a simple blues rhythm, and then create fill licks in-between the rhythm phrases. Grab an acoustic (or electric) guitar and follow along.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  9. OldVet says

    Evidence the rockers from later years took directly from the old Delta bluesmen is in this lesson.

    The repeating lick in E with the trill can be heard as the opening guitar by Stevie Mariott in the Humble Pie song, “Rolling Stone.”

    When switching to the 4th Pentatonic, the little slide down is heard in ZZ Top’s LaGrange in the first lead. Different strings, but the very same sliding in the 4th.

    In the Crossroads Guitar Festival in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas 2004, Clapton’s voice over during the opening of ZZ Top, who wrapped up the event says it all. Wait for it. He talks about ZZ Top as archivists of the blues.

    As a side note, Frank Beard is such an under rated drummer.

    So put some delta in your blues.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euZm1TfO9xY

  10. Alex says

    Last week I wished for something in d minor, and this week I wanted acoustic blues!

    I’ll bet that’s a Hanna Hat from Donegal Ireland, looks almost the same as mine.

  11. jimbostrat says

    Watch out Lightnin’ Hopkins!! Nice and swampy funky and down home Bayou!! I suggest making this one a favorite right next door to EP213 & EP214 and studying and drilling this all together into second nature………..great basis for blues and exploring improvisation!! Jim C.

  14. Glenn says

    OK, I’m going back to the buffet again. I love this stuff, and this was was a confidence builder for me. I had most of it in about an hour, and learned a bunch. More similar to this and the unplugged lessons, but I also have enjoyed your country lessons. I don’t know how you do it. Say, if you won’t name your compositions, how about a contest? The lesson numbers are confusing in conversation.
    Glenn

  23. Edward L says

    Another great composition. But I noted that it was easier to play when the second note in the first “call” started on a G (third fret E string) with a bend rather than the second fret. Then I noticed that you played it with a bend starting on the G, but the tab shows F#. I like the way you played it better. Thanks.

  30. Treblemaker says

    These are so good. I really wish you would show us how to play a simple rhythm as a micro lesson to go with each one. This one could be microlesson STR 315. That rhythm you played in this one was way cool but it doesn’t even need to be that complex. Just a 5 to 8 minute video kind of thing. Pleeeez and thank you.

  31. Alexandre F says

    Wow! This is the kind of blues that makes you thrill from the beginning through the end of the song always smoothly over the course with hammer on , pull off strings , bendings, hybrid picking …all the great stuff from blues and even a jazzy feeling on it … I really enjoy this kind of clapton style and in my opinion some muddy waters too

  33. East Coast Bill says

    Brian thank you. I have been working on some of the Legacy and Micro Lesson files. Enjoy them tremendously. I especially enjoy the lessons like EP315. They permit you to sit down and ply. Can’t beat it.

    Thanks

    East Coast Bill

  35. jerry L says

    Once you get going on this take a listen Bonnie Raitts Blender Blues on You Tube to expand your licks. Brian takes it easy on all of us so our heads don’t explode, good job my brother, tasty licks as always!

  36. sunjamr says

    After 3+ years as an ActiveMelody member, I can take the “call” part of this lesson and sit around for hours crafting different “responses”. No matter how new a player you are, you should try it. But first learn the lesson.

  38. JohnStrat says

    I just returned home from Portugal and so I will pick on this wonderful lesson to get refreshed as it’s been listening only. Re running this for me it has to rate as one of the top lessons it’s such a classic bluesy hook of a rhythm it has to be perfected and improvised on. What a goody.
    JohnStrat

  39. Qi H says

    Hi Brian,
    Thanks so much, Such a nice piece! A quick question, when you finished the 1st round 12 bars, did you add two extra bars to do the turnaround? Not that matters, but I realised it’s not a strict 12 bar, it would be great to know that we are allowed to mess around with a 12 bar.

  44. Darren K says

    Really enjoy your lessons and site, I generally support the on line instructors but you are a cut above, I listen to some others and get bored quickly I like your approach and style.!! I will be traveling and its nice to login no matter where I am to squeeze in a lesson and some playing time….Cheers

  47. REYES F says

    Hi Brian,
    Nice blues, I really love it.
    To be honest I have been waiting for a long time for this type of blues.
    Relatively easy to play and extremely gratifying for a novice player.
    Is it possible to have something more sophisticated with similar
    rythme in the key of E in the next weeks ?

    Francis
    from Paris (France)

    EP 214 EP 214 (part 2)

  50. James F says

    My favorite lesson so-far; I really like delta blues and/or Chicago. Really like this, thank you.
    Two other comments:
    1) We’re all envious of the many guitars you play.. but beautiful to see! (Q: how many guitars does a guitar player need? A: One more)
    2) I vote for more videos with Otis in the background

    jim

  53. Deuan says

    Man, you provide value – over delivery every time. This one is worth my year’s subscription. I just love jamming this vibe! That’s what I ‘m talking about!!

    You are serving humanity !

  59. Sailorman500 says

    Hi Brian, been away for a couple of months, glad to be back! This lesson is the 1st of many reasons; even my wife likes it. If I heard it coming from the bushes while canoeing down a lazy river, my hairs would stand on end!

  66. RIFF DIGGER says

    Two things, and yes I really like this particular lesson.
    I learned the opening section of Hendrix’s Catfish Blues (which of course, is a take-off on a Muddy Waters song) note for note and it took forever but I loved it. I had to unlearn that, so as to not get mixed up memorizing and sussing out this lesson by Brian. Took a while as I am not an advanced player. (formerly trained as a bassist). But I stuck to it and I really like this lesson for the information and style.
    2. For some reason and this may help others: I could not get the G string to ring out on the hammer to the first fret, when hitting the E chord. Frustrating and tore up my index finger trying. I kept at it or a period of time and realized that my strum hand on the right, was hitting down more on the bass strings and not nailing the G-string. I further realized that if I make a conscious effort to even accent the G string with my Pick on the sweep, I will surely get that G# to ring out in the hammer, a nano second after the E chord. Well, you get the idea.
    Back to practice. Love this lesson. It’s a classic. And you can always add on to the fills once you learn the Time and the beats. Thx, Brian.

  70. ROD H says

    Brian, I really enjoyed this lesson particularly because of the options and variety of riffs you have built in. Could you tell me what pick you use for acoustic guitar ? Best wishes Rod

  73. Paul N says

    I stumbled onto this lesson on YouTube. I have been looking for this for a long time. It inspired me to get my guitar back out and join for a year. Just this one lesson I would gladly pay the year for.

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