Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Rock Blues in the Key of A- Learn to Play Rhythm and Lead – EP018

Description

This is a new 4 part mini series that will show you how to play a driving blues lead guitar and up-tempo rhythm guitar. This lead lesson was influenced by several different artists, namely Eric Clapton, Dickey Betts, and B.B. King… with some various country pedal steel licks thrown in for good measure. Hopefully there are enough out there that share my love of this style of playing to make lessons like this worth while. I will be releasing the 4 videos for this mini-series over the next few days, so be sure to check back. As always, I’ve included the tablature and jam tracks with this lesson to help you practice.

Part 1 - Lead Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - Lead Guitar Lesson

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Part 3 - Lead Guitar Lesson

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Part 4 - Rhythm Guitar Lesson

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Comments

  1. MikeG60 says

    Hi Brian,

    Love this lesson. It’s really cool sounding & looks complicated. Yet is something ‘fairly simple’ the way you break it down. And I liked your comment on Eric Clapton—you can stop in the middle of a lesson anytime to talk about his playing style. :-)

    Now I have to just build up my calluses again. Haven’t played since Feb. [on the upside, my Fender Strat (Flyod Rose) was still in tune :-)]

    Can’t wait for Part 2.

  2. MJR1164 says

    Love this lesson, Brian and can’t wait for the others…on the down side it’s made me miss the first bit of half-decent weather we’ve had in the UK for months (not quite warm enough for playin’ on the porch yet).

    Great job! Keep ‘em coming!

  3. demmykro says

    Stop picking on Brian!  He gives and gives to us. Stop and be thankful :-)
    And thank you Brian, you are the bomb and Eric Clapton is a God.

  5. MikeG60 says

    Wow! Part 2 is GREAT. I was still setting my gear up and played the video while not watching. Swore it was Clapton playing at the beginning, no kidding.

    And loved your “Pinky Fanatics” comment as Eric Clapton doesn’t use his Pinky either when he solos. I’ve read criticisms of EC’s playing from ‘purest experts’ that because of that: “Clapton plays wrong” (They’d be lucky to be 1/4 as good). Anywho, you’re in good company by ‘playing wrong’ :-).

    So now…. Awaiting Part 3 ;-)

  6. demmykro says

    I just love the way you say these patterns and play are easy.  It’s a mind set sent that I can do it. I like that; Great psychology Brian, I just think your methods of teaching are among the very best.
    Over the last 1.5 yrs you have taught me some of the best ever rhythms and lead.
    About 7-8 months ago I took you Hendricks course and it took me about 3 wks to get it. The 6 lesson slow blues course took me 3 days. I think willingness to be taught and an open mind without all this right and wrong ego centered comments block the “key to the highway” Brainiacs often have a tendency to throw left handed monkey wrench’s into the mix thus muddling the topic or course.

  7. MJR1164 says

    Hi Brian,

    In the lesson you mention about distortion and so on.  One of the things I really like about your lessons is the beautiful tone you get whether it’s on the Gibson or the Strat.  Could you please do a post about what settings you use and what (if any) effects pedals you are using?

    Thanks

    MIKE

  10. bluesjohn says

    Great lesson Brian,I have managed the first part but it’s going to take some practice to sound like yourself!I too love the Eric Clapton comments-my favourite blues guitarist of all time.Recently saw him play at the Royal Albert Hall in London,at 68 years old,still brilliant! Many thanks for your time,regards John Harley from UK.

  12. buzzard says

    Brian, thanks very much.  You are transforming me from a house bound strummer into some sort of guitarist.  (slowly but surely)I have for a couple of years been using an Aldi Electric guitar with and old amp but recently purhased a Suzuki Guitar Les Paul Style and a Peavey Rage 258 amp and really love both.  I will get stuck into to your latest lesson.  Jon from Australia. 
    ps I like Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler (although I will stick to the pick)  I think Knopler and his band are currently performing gigs at the aforementioned Royal Albert Hall.

  13. Craig35 says

    Another great lesson and video Brian, thanks.  I keep salvaging licks and phrases from these videos and using them in other keys at different tempos etc and it helps the library grow.
    One tip that may be of help, at least it works for me. Start with the rhythm video first. It really helps me get the timing and “groove” if you will down which helps a lot when I move on to the lead part. I know we tend to like to jump in there and get the lead notes screaming but it you are finding you are having trouble this may be a big help. 
    Thanks again for putting this out.

  14. Philip Naert says

    Hi Brian ,this is really great music,like this style of lesson very much.
    I am a very late starter on the guitar.Always regret I didn’t do it when I was younger but anyway since we never give up we just continue to play.My problem is the speed and the rythm.find it hard of difficult to o fit the solos in the rythm,like the 4 notes in one beat especcially at high speed.
    Also damping of the strings(I hope I use the correct word)is difficult.
    Somtimes all kind of strings are sounding that shouldn’t.
    Can you may be give me some advice?
    Thanks already for the great lessons

    Philip from belgium

  15. ShivaShambo says

    Brian,
    Man, I love this solo. Some really wonderful elements of the Stones and Clapton. Love the signature Cream lick in the first lesson, I have always wanted that in my arsenal of licks. It has such a great flow to it, maj and min scales. I have always struggled with integrating these two elements in my soloing and you do it wonderfully. My trouble is speed. I have come to realize that I am not an especially fast player. It has taken me awhile to realize this as a player. For me it has really come down to feel and playing smart, avoiding auto pilot.  Would you be willing to do some speed building lessons? Keep up the great work Brian. I have been a member for a couple of years now and always get something out of your lessons.

    Rock On…

  18. bluesjohn says

    Hi Brian,
          I am really enjoying these lessons.I have been working my way through them for two weeks and have got the bends and licks sounding reasonably good.Problem is,I am having trouble increasing the speed,and it does not sound good played slowly! Would you expect a lot of practice to play this as you do? Anyway this is great music and it is the first time in years that I feel I might be getting to grips with my Stratocaster
                      Many thanks, bluesjohn UK

  21. dustymars says

    Hi Brian,
    After not playing guitar for a year and from 60 years on the instrument, I surfed the Net for some good Blues licks and ran into your site.  Your style is pleasant and informative.  Just into a month or so of practicing now it is time to learn this lesson totally so to get back some of the Cognitive and Psychomotor Domain lost in some years of complete disgust in playing guitar alone! Then your neat playing and teaching videos are helping me back.  Even old dogs learn new tricks, thanks.

    Jeff

  22. wbwill says

    Brian, this is worth way more than five bucks. You are skilled, imaginative and a TEACHER.  Some people can do certain things, very well, but in no way does that mean they can teach. 

    I think Griff Hamlen is a Teacher, and until now some were instructors not TEACHERS.

    Five bucks just doesn’t seem enough, did I miss something?  The blues in A with lead,  big time deal for anyone out here learning.

    People will say play me a song,  they expect something like that a piano player might do,  now I know hybrid picking is possible, but I have arthritis bad at times, and some days I cannot hold a pick PERIOD or open a jar,  but so it goes, 

    However keeping up with the guitar is exercise for my hands,  they say it works,  I was taught if you hurt your body is telling you something but maybe working through it is the way to go, 

    I love this jam,  this is about as close to someone playing a SONG on a guitar as I have seen.

    I mean how do you play AMY by the Stones on guitar? OR name the song, I mean some songs you can get the chords down,  and if strummed correctly sort of sounds like the song,  but it is not like a piano where you can play the rhythm on one hand, and lead on the other, plus you have pedals so it is not the same.

    That 2-3 slide is NOT CORNY,  at all,  cool you made it up.

    I am going to learn this if it is the last thing I do, and at 59 it might be.

    Love the site,  I do like Griff,  you both TEACH,  break things out, have patience and you have to be a TEACHER to relate,  an instructor can follow a set of instructions and show some one how to copy the instructions,  but teaching is something different

    ANd I don’t mind you talking when some lick reminds you or inspires you to talk about it,  that is how we learn,  we listen,  what is critical to you, is a path for us learning.

    Camera angles and all that,  hey you are the teacher,  I have no problem following you,  or seeing you,  so do it your way.

    Appreciate your skills and ability to and WILLINGNESS TO TEACH. 

    I will be following you too,  nice job. Any time you can show us an entire song,  please do,  so many want to play and or hear a song from ONE GUITAR<  NOT EASY  

    If a person can sing, it sure helps   I sorta kinda can,  I did in High School,  but that was after a hard day hunting Saber Tooth tigers, we had a four-five piece copy band,  of all the things I regret are selling the 1950 something SILVERTONE DUAL Twelves amp,  very portable with a boom truck but it was freaking loud,  the cloth cover looked like crap but who cared,  we didn’t.

    I forget what guitar I had, back then I was so stupid,  I seem smart now,  hell it could have been a 20K telecaster.

    Spent a ton of money on them, used downtown from Macy’s I think,  weird.

    I have got rid of so much stuff over the years, if I had kept half   I would be a millionaire,  but who knew?

    Appreciate you,  my requests are just exactly this,  and any song that can be played on a single guitar without a singer,  of course I am a Clapton, 70’s classic rock, CCR, so this riff is perfect,  very cool,  and impressive you designed it.

    I have asked this before, and I know there is no

  26. zborgnine says

    Brian: I have a question regarding part 1. You said this is in the A minor pentatonic scale. My question is in the opening riff you hammer on a F# ( 7th fret, 2nd string) and then pick a C# (6th fret, 3rd string). Is this normal to do since they are not in the scale. They sound good. Your teaching is great and I’ve learned a lot. Keep the lessons coming.

  27. JukeJointJoe says

    Love it. For the cost of $5, I’m playing better and learning more than all the $$$ spent on private lessons over the years. Not to mention the hours spent scouring YouTube. Can’t wait to see a slide lesson. Maybe Clapton style (461 Ocean Blvd)

  28. rmincin says

    Hi Brian I have mention a few time how great this site is and your style is just how I want to play. Just great…

    Question on theory. This piece is in the key of A, right? How does the cord progression use all major cords A D C? Shouldn’t the c be a c minor?

    And you use both the major and minor scales for soloing I get that.

    A Major A B C# D E F# G#
    A Minor A B C D E F G

    Funny it is starting to make make sense…

    Thanks Rick

  31. ochomarvo says

    You like Clapton huh ? Lol, I see his influence in a lot of your lessons…this is a cool one, doubt I can do it. Cool none the less..rock on !

  33. Robotman says

    Hmmm… I posted a comment/request last night, but it did not get posted.

    I noticed the jam tracks for this lesson are almost identical, without the lead + rhythm version, and I asked if you could upload that version. I use tracks with lead to play along with it, slowing down with my Riffstation till I get the licks and the timing right.

    Could you upload that version, Brian?

    Thanks.

  34. jnewman says

    Hey Brian,
    you said that you didn’t know where that little slide motif came from – to me it sounds a little like the start of Tumbling Dice. Anyway, no doubt you’ve heard that a zillion times since you posted this lesson, but just in case you hadn’t.

    Cheers,
    John

  35. Rob p says

    Hey Brian just wanted to say how much I love this lesson. Clapton and Dickey Betts are two of my favorites. I hope there are more of this style of lessons. Thanks so much!!

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