Description
In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a “Call and response” style blues composition on guitar by yourself (no jam track needed).
Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson
Part 2 - For Premium Members
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Slow Walkthrough
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Video Tablature Breakdown
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Michael W says
Great lesson
San Luis Rey says
Oh yeah. I’m loving this at first listen! Good to see Blackie make an appearance.
Michael Allen says
This definitely keeps me inspired! Thanks Brian
Torquil O says
Sweet! A lotta nice licks; definitely has that West Madison street vibe>
Allan J says
Brilliant..can’t wait to get stuck into this. Thank you.
CHRISTOPHER G says
Thanks so much Brian
I am enjoying working on this as I do with practically every lesson.
Around minute 17 on the first video you talk about how you can use pattern 2 of the key to be pattern 4 of the 5 chord. This is an area which I have been very keen to get my head around and would love it if you could ever find the time to do a lesson on this. i.e. what pattern do I switch to for the 4 chord or 5 chord (or any other chord for that matter). Maybe this is obvious to everyone, but there may be others like me out there who would find this helpful.
Thanks again
William B says
I’d like to see a lesson like he mentioned. Especially the switch between major and minor to follow the different chords even if it’s not in the key of the song.
Georg B says
I am also enjoying working on all these terrific lessons. However, I could not wrap my head around the use of pattern 4 for the 5 chord (first video around minute 17).
Jim M says
Nice Blues Brian.
Garry says
Another classic stand alone Brian! Brilliant. Can’t wait to learn this one. 😎🎸😎
William H says
❤️
ROBERT M says
Brian I just love this one. All of a sudden for some reason things are just flying together. Really helps with the improvisation.
William H says
Great composition. That first riff after the intro reminds me of Hendrix, Hey Joe
Bill B says
Great lesson, Brian! I plan to dissect this into bite size pieces because it touched on some great points in order for me to understand the changes. Thanks as always!!
Michael W says
I’m hearing Tin Pan Alley by SRV in this…..maybe something else that I can’t pin down too. Great lesson though
Jay Guitarman says
Wow, what an King lessons! 2 Kings in one composition and much more… Thé idea of the second Bminor position corresponding to thé forth BB King position of F # when thé forth chord comes intro play is great also … Thanks !
Dennis V says
Fun to play and with no open strings which always seem to slow me down. Good one!
Kevin S says
Thanks Brian, another great lesson. Love the Jerry Garcia shirt:-)
Tim C says
Great lesson, simple but sophisticated blues sound. Anyone that wouldn’t want to learn and play this style is on the wrong website, LOL! Thanks again, Brian!
Raymond P says
A great call and response lesson.
Ken says
A little confused at the end of video one. The pentatonic scale for pattern 4 for f#7 is derived from A M. Pattern 2 pentatonic scale of the Bm is derived from DM.
Is this right?
Thanks for any input.
Wade O says
Good day! Try this. Print F# Minor Pentatonic Scale Pattern 4 and overlay it on a Print of B Minor Pentatonic Scale Pattern 2. See the notes in common. Now take a look at the notes available to you if you move outside the B Minor Pentatonic Scale and play the chord changes, which, at that point you would be working off the F# Chord (5 chord) and using the F# Scale.
For me, I had to actually sit down and write out the scale shapes to visualize the patterns and then it made sense. The best part was it only took about 2 minutes, which was the extra effort I need to put in, and then I saw it in my head as I was playing.
Hope this helps! Enjoy the Music! Wade
Andrew A says
Thanks for this lesson, Brian. I’ve gotten much of my understanding of the guitar and improvising from your Call and Response lessons . One of my problems has been coming up with licks that fit the tempo and expand the depth of the music. In this song ,as in many others, adding in extra example licks really expands my thinking of what and how to play. I’ve gotten many of my ideas from the spontaneous “outtakes “ you do , which are beyond what the song is strictly about. And I guess towards that end , the “asides” that some people seem be critical of, I say keep them coming,,they always contain information and insights that give extra depth and meaning to your lessons.
And as an “aside “ of my own, the Freddy King, Major /Minor lick is also part of Ep279-a blues shuffle, one of my favourite songs of yours I first I learned. Thanks for your hard work. Andrew
Michael J says
G/day Brian,
The Blues is back in town! Love that thing!
M.J., Oz.
Ben R says
Definitely in the SRV Tin Pan Alley ballpark there. Loving this. A great framework to improvise around on and sound good trying out a guitars in a shop
Philippe G says
Brian, another great lesson and i really like these play-by-yourself lessons.
Could you provide more details on the strumming parts? When i look at the very 1st part with the F#7, i am not sure how to approach the strumming correctly. Same in other lessons, when it comes to strumming, I am very slow at picking-up how you approach this. Thanks
slopace says
Holy guacamole Brian! Week after week you keep coming up with these awesome lessons. Your head must be exploding with musical knowledge! You are a gifted guitar instructor sir!
Thanks for all you do.
Peter C says
Thanks Brian, another incredible solo blues lesson… Keep ’em coming!
Malcolm D says
Thanks Brian nice lesson 🙂
Liam C says
I wish I had this website 20 years ago, constantly learning new things that I actually use. Tasteful well written little tunes as well, in a style that I love
Well worth the monthly subscription fee , my only problem is keeping up
Bailey says
Swwwwwwwwwwwweet!
Stephen K says
Not much left to say that hasn’t been said above other than THANK YOU SO MUCH! Great overall blues study, with lots of tasty licks and accents to take away from this lesson! I learn something from every one of your lessons, which is an amazing fact in itself, since I have been playing over 50 years! You are the best, Brian!
David S says
Holy Charmin Brian.You just keep them coming. Another fantastic one. Keep them rolling!!!
daniel M says
i hope you had a great Fathers day!
Gary M says
Awesome jam!
Bradley J B says
Great Lesson! Thanks Brian.
Charles M says
Yay! Stand-alone blues, call & response, no backing track. My favorites!
John M says
I’m just at the stage where I’m trying to relate what position (pentatonic) is close to another in the same key. When you showed how the fifth (F#) chord had the same position as the first chord in terms of positions (first vs fourth), that really helped. It’s taken quite a while but your lessons are really starting to pay off.
I heard John Mayer once comment that if you can hear what you want to play in your head first, figure it out and play it. Because if you just start trying to improv you get caught into the same pattern. That’s true for me. Not sure if there is a viable lesson there or not…
michael f says
yes the F# and the B notes are right there in that same position. The 4 note lick (counting the bend) played when the song changes to the 5 chord, is centered around that root F#, When you hear the chord change, land er target that F#
David H says
Very nice! Thank you. I will steal lots from this lesson.
Clive C says
Man, this is the good stuff! Sounds great on my Gretsch with a bit of crunch. Thanks, Brian
Marc D says
Thanks Brian! Great lesson.Gets my electric guitar finally out of its case
Jean J S says
GREAT GREAT AND GREAT LESSON
Anthony says
Great jam and looking forward to diving into this lesson! I just bought a Boss Katana-50 MkII 1 x 12-inch 50-watt Combo Amp at Brian’s recommendation as I sold my Line6 a while ago and haven’t had any amp for electric playing. Any know what tone setup on the Katana would be best to replicate this sound? Thanks in advance
serge n says
great lesson !
michael f says
I want to take time out from this soulful lesson to highlight a very helpful teaching point on playing lead that you make: “when bending strings, mute the note on its way up. Don’t release the bend before going to the next note.” That comment allowed me to get closer to the note and mor broadly approach bending with a very different technique. Thank you
Max d says
Got to the lesson a little late (grandkids!) … next Friday already, but simple ( now I’ve been following you for over three years)) and beautiful. Repetitive and drives other nuts, but sure relaxing when you need it. Great lesson and adds to our knowledge of the fretboard, thanks Brian
Pierre B says
Hi Brian,
The call & response helps us stay in time. Good stuff!
Pierre
East Coast Bill says
Great stuff. Always greatful.
MARCOS B says
Además de lo que explicas minuciosamente, esos pequeños ejemplos que nos regalas entre medio son geniales, gracias Brian.
Sean H says
Hi Brian, I really Love this latest Lesson Video…between this Lesson & EP549, what a potential Blend awaiting…!! And it seems there is indeed a good way to Practice Vibrato and Bending. I was wondering what would be a good way to do so accordingly 😌 Thanks 😊 as Always Brian!!
Sandra K says
This lesson is chock full of things to learn and sounds great. Will I ever have enough dexterity? 🙂
James B says
Really loved this one Brian – please keep em coming
Raymond T says
Great lesson
dbaldassini@att.net says
Could someone explain to me why I have to reload the soundslice app after it plays through the song about three times. I get a “sad emogii” face and I have to reload the page? It completly interrupts practicing this song. Not sure if the problem is on my end or with the app.
Brian says
that sounds like a browser issue – you might try either clearing your browser cache, or using a different browser altogether (Google Chrome, Firefox) etc.
Ronald S says
Brian,
I really liked learning to used the closed positions! Thanks!
Ron Skertich
Michele S says
Thanks Brian for another great lesson! I like how you breakdown each lick, and show the corresponding tabs. It is very helpful!