Description
In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play an up-tempo bluesy sounding rhythm in the key of A. This is a great lesson for practicing strumming and timing, complete with up-strokes, down-strokes and muted strums. This lesson works on acoustic or electric guitar, no effects are needed. There are 2 versions of the MP3 jam track provided, one at normal tempo, and one that’s at a much slower tempo for those of you that are new to this style of strumming.
Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson
Part 2 - For Premium Members
Only available to premium members.
Register for premium access
Register for premium access
Slow Walk-Through Video
Only available to premium members.
Register for premium access
Register for premium access
Video Tablature Breakdown
Only available to premium members.
Register for premium access
Register for premium access
You need to be logged in as a premium member to access the tab, MP3 jam tracks, and other assets.
Learn MoreAdd to "My Favorites"
You need to login or register to bookmark/favorite this content.
Live
This is such an awesome idea!!! I look forward to hearing all the responses. Let’s hear what you got AM community! See you on the forum.
Love the funk!! Thanks Brian
these slower licks are more fun, you can really own them with slight changes to rhythms these are just a blast. Brian I still get a kick out the fact your studio is a corner in the kids room, I can see them waiting for you to finish a lesson “come on dad finish already we want to play hockey’
Hi All
This is a great lesson. Brian you have done something here which would be very helpful in most of your lessons. I am now about 7 months from my re start after about a thirty year break. Your site inspired me to have another go at learning to play. I hit a basic ceiling thirty years back and never progressed. I think that there are a good many folk here who have had the same problem. On seeing lesson 69 by stroke of luck I thought I would just about be able to play that as of 30 years back and loved the sound. Last year My middle left hand finger had been fractured about Febuary and would hardly bend beyond about 20 degrees. I had started trying to exercise it back into full use when I found Active Melody. I Decide that guitar would be a great incentive and Brian you could smash those barriers for me.. Too good to miss so here I am now with about 95 % use of my finger recovered. I can just about play lesson 69 & 70 to the jam track and the bb tribute at 102b . What this lesson provides is the full slow player help by having the jam track at slow with and without guitar that for me is fantastically helpful and Brian I was going to email you about this hoping you might make it a feature. For those who like me lack speed and need to build it, the ability to jam with the jam track is a bit of a vicious circle so a full slow version is the step needed. Great and many thanks.
This reminds me of Robert Cray getting funky!! Brian has definitely dished out very carefully…..once again….so many secrets of this so important style of playing………….makes me want to get up and dance even whilst playing. I just hope everybody gets the blood, sweat and tears Brian goes through to always provide us with super detailed, descriptive lessons of great guitar pieces we can always use to stand out and jam with the best of them!! It is Brian’s Mission Statement along with keeping it all so affordable………..I hate to sound like some annoying commercial but it’s always creative over-the-top distinct cool lessons and theory at the monthly price that rivals a single drink order at a movie premiere!! What a bargain!!
Jim C.
Hi Brian.
I am just on my 2nd month as premium member. Just like John Strat above I strarted to play again after a 30 year gap. I played in the late 70s to early 80s. Life, work and family got in the way. Only when I retired did I get a hankering to learn again. Your lessons have helped me a lot. I am really looking forward to having a go with this one.
Great lesson Brian. Love the funky groove. Playing it acoustic… sweet!!
Funktionality? Good stuff but difficult for me. I am determined and will try slowing it down and gradually pick up speed. Love this site!
Brilliant lesson! I can’t wait to get to it. Still practicing, learning from a couple older ones.
Brian,
I think the tab is a bit adrift to the narrative I would be grateful if you could check it out some when. Youve sure been busy with the new site which offers a much improved function well done!!
you’re right! Glad I’m not the only one to notice. The slow walk thru and the video tab are correct to the tab download.
Brian,
What are the root notes of the two 13th chords?
I like them but trying to figure out where/how else to use them.
Thanks!
I probably should have referred to those 2 chords as 9 chords instead of 13 – makes it less confusing. So think of the first one as a Cm9 and the 2nd one as an Am9 – the 9 is just a different way of playing that Am chord to give it a different flavor. So the Cm9 is just something I stumbled across accidentally and thought it sounds good to slide up to that position. The way to remember these and apply them to other things are to look at those 2 shapes and where they are relative to that Am7 chord, that way you can experiment with playing them over any minor chord to give a nice jazzy feel to whatever you’re playing.
Thank you, Brain. That makes sense. Sometimes these little chord discoveries are a lot of fun!!!
hi Brian
i am a new member , i am french ( so ,excuse my english) and i play guitar and saxophone
until 30 years ; i am very happy to find your site and i improve a lot
in the style of blues and funk with yours lessons.
thank you very much.
I have worked until the beginning about 30 lessons: it is very well made .
I have just a comment to do about the tabs:
i am working this lesson of funk ep112.
You don’t put on the tabs the “up and down of the pick ” , and for the funk it’s quite important.
i am on the pattern number 13 and 14 in Am which are different from the others
i have seen every times your lesson , but i have a lot of problems for knowing exactly what to do for these 2 patterns….
cordialement
Phil
“I hope nobody is sick of strumming” haha
Brian, to the people like me that LOVE and study Hendrix, would be much than appreciated to have some lessons teaching us how to improve that communication throught the rhythm guitar!
Thanks a lot for another great lesson, I am improving a lot since I got the membership 🙂
some days i just pick a random number and go to that lesson. today 112 was a good choice. makes me want to listen to Alan Parson’s project “Wouldn’t want to be like you”