Description
In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a blues shuffle by yourself on guitar. I’ll start by showing you how to play a classic blues shuffle rhythm, and then layer in the lead licks in a “call & response” style. No accompaniment is needed when playing this composition.
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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Can’t wait to rip this up! Awesome Brian.
You’re an endless source of inspiration to us, Brian. Brilliant! Can’t keep up with all the amazing lessons. Still, missing those micro lessons…?
You are full of musical inspiration! Thank you Brian.
Brian like that little sister tone! I want to start this shuffle tonight! really cool licks as always!
sounds great! been waiting for one of these!
This is really nice! Thanks Brian! It feels like I can do this.
I’ve got it down through the first D9, then I get distracted somehow, and lose my concentration (going to have to work on the lick coming back to the A, when I get that, I’ll bring it to the Forum for advice on the next thing).
I notice the difference between just playing a clipped chord and playing it with a muted strum on either side of it (which is much crisper, sharper), but trying to play the 3 strums accurately, I end up messing up the flow, so it’s yet another shortcut to get there (and I know shortcuts are not what I want).
Thank you again, Brian. It’s another inspiring lesson, makes me want to get it right.
Love these solo lessons Brian! Your playing sounds incredible on the Little Sister. Thanks for this one.
Oh boy do I like this one! Worth every penny to be a member here.
Yeah, crazy value for all that we get!!!!
I don’t know how you do it, week in and week out. Masterpiece to masterpiece. I’m glad to be along for the ride. I’m a much better guitar player since joining your site, and I have learned a lot from you. And though I will never be a great guitar player, I have enjoyed an accelerated growth on this website. When someone says,” You play guitar, can you play something”, I very well can, and be proud of it. It’s all due to you. Thank you , and thanks for another great lesson.
I couldn’t have said it better. Totally agree.
I love this lesson. I did not care for last weeks lesson, and this is a mighty refreshment. I love the blues solo compositions – especially since I’m housebound.
I would really like to see a “Jump Swing Blues”, or my favorite – The “Tramp Groove” – from Otis Redding and Carla Thomas’ hit song “Tramp” on Stax Records, circa 1969?
Would love to see a rendition of the Tramp Groove.
Thanks Brian for all your hard work.
My favorite day of the week is Friday – when I wait for your lessons.
Hi Brian,
Love this one, just got a little sister guitar myself.
Any hints on the tone settings. Looks like your on the middle position on the pickups.
Great work
Brendan.
That middle pickup position is the best, tone all the way up
Thanks
Keep em coming! I love it! Thanks BRIAN
Love this one Brian, can’t wait to find the time to dig in and practice, cheers
That’s a fantastic lesson, it went right into my to-do-soon list! Since I never play with other people, I love these rhythm and lead style, or “call and response” play-by-yourself compositions you come up with. Thank you again, Brian, and – oh yeah, thanks for showing off that handsome Little Sister again, it looks and sounds so good 😍
Thanks Brian, this one stands out and is superb. Can be played with both electric and acoustic and is too good not to learn. I’ve just ‘grabbed my guitar’
Richard
Thanks Brian a very nice lesson and a great one to practice. All the best John Strat
Thanks for another great lesson Brian,
Ray P
just got thru part one.. will have to revisit it – thers a ton of good stuff in there- I finally took the time to learn the fredddy king lick..I have seen it befor in other lessons but as usual it takes me a while and i gotta see things afew times before I realize its worth it to take the time and learn–been that way- always been that way.since the git go…like billy joe shaver says….
.so keep hamering on us–we will get it sooner or later..i really like this lesson.thansk
Fantastic!!! I love the swing beat. You’re amazing. Thanks
Best teacher in the world! Thanks Brian, can’t wait to find te time to practice, ciao
….the time, sorry
just another nugget to work on…wish I had a clone so I could get through these faster…can never say I’m bored with nothing to do. keep them coming !
Love it Brian! Once I got the feel for that rhythm it started getting so natural and fun to play. Some very useful stuff here!
This is great, Brian. I’ve been subscribed to Active Melody for a few years now and your lessons have helped me a lot.
Awesome website Brian. Like many of us, I’ve looked at and used heaps of them. Yours is my absolute favourite – no question. Quick question. That Little Sister guitar. Is it the Crossroads model? Or one of the expensive Private Build ones. There’s a big difference in price and I’d be delighted if the beautiful tone you are getting was from the cheaper model!
It’s just the stock “Crossroads” version
in french : pfffiu! it means nothing only : wow ! brian, it’s exactly the sound i thought i could never play ; it was a dream and now it s a reality : i can! thanks Brian, sincerely.
Thanks Brian.
Great one… I am looking for this kind of things to play by myself these days while I try to get back in shape on guitar.
I took a small break… that lasted many years in the end. And I need all the motivation I can get to practice and play again.
Thanks for your fridays.
If we could transport you back in time, you’d be playing in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band doing material just like this. Traditional but with a twist of something totally new.
A great lesson and some of my favourite playing from you!
Fabulous.
Many thanks.
Hello Brian … This is insanely sweet. This is good material. What attracts me most is the timing … 🙂 The timing to me causes the thrill in this composition ….
Another great lesson – thanks. I enjoyed the reference to Jimmie Vaughn. Jimmie is one of my favorite guitarist. His style is so distinct and soulful. I have made some attempts at trying to imitate it in the past and it is deceptively difficult. I would love it if you would do a lesson on Jimmie’s style. Something in the vain of “Flamingo Dancer” or “Just Like Putty”. Thanks again Brian for the great inspiration.
Thoroughly enjoying this one and i like the groove took a bit of time to lock into the feel and timing . I just wondered do you jot things down as you go along or ever get lost writing like where am i at the moment in relation to the 4 chord or 5 chord changes (like what bar am i in ) as there is no backing track to guide you if you follow . Fab lesson and a big thumbs up .
for me – this was one of the best in awhile…just had a great deal of stuff that i like..I have been thru both parts twice and still workin on it – alot of stuff to use
Thanks again, Great Lesson!
As I get into the second half of this lesson Im amazed.
Thanks so Much!!
just saw that tony joe white died..I know you did a lesson last year inspired by him- I just reviewed it- maybe u can add a little alligator swamp fox groove to an upcoming lesson in his memory
– he was apparently transplanted and living in your neck of the woods..Tenn. but he s from my parts..Louisiana .
.chomp..chomp..gator got yo granny…
Brian, you should be the norm not the exception. But that is not the case. You are exceptional. I just played 2-1/2 hours and don’t want to quit and I owe it all to you.
Thxs ! This is one of my fave !
Cool to notice that the nicest to hear is not the hardest to play. Great compo !
This one… is just THE BEST!!!
I was in Nashville a few months ago and stopped into Carrier Guitars, great place!
Do you play regularly in town, if so I’ll look you up when I go back.
Thanks for all you do.
Jim
Favorite video so far. If you covered effects or amp settings I missed it. Sounds like some reverb and maybe something else? I can’t get the guitar tone quite the same. Thanks
Speaking of tone Brian. I just installed the brass bridge on my B&G Little Sister Crossroads. I love it. The all brass bridge adds to the tonal quality of my crossroads. You should give it a try. And it’s not expensive. And thank you for introducing these Little Sister guitars. It’s my go to guitar plus I have another B&G guitar coming. My Gibson and Fender guitars are now just collecting dust.
Hi Brian. Thanks sooo much for helping me to get registered. WOW what a great lesson. You have such an easy way to simplify the lesson so we can understand it and we can start play right away.
LUV the little sister. Wish I could afford one. Looking forward to study and play with you.
Peter
I’m liking this one. Especially with the Tab Viewer screen. I can drill down on the chords. Thx so much.
This is a good one. Very cool.
Brian,
Another winner! Just so much technique and timing to learn here. This is outstanding. Thank You.
Regards,
Jim K
It’s great that this is a shuffle you can play by yourself but I put on a backing track to get the timing correct. It’s a lot of fun to find different backing tracks at different tempo and style. Thank you!
Man oh, man!!!!! This is such a great piece. I just finished the first video and am now tackling the second one. I particularly enjoy the mixing of minor and major pentatonic scales. That concept is more clear to me as a result of studying this tune. I can’t wait to post a video to show the results. Keep up the awesome work Brian!!!!