Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Slow, Dark Blues Lead Played on Acoustic Guitar – Blues Guitar Lesson EP282

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson you’ll learn to play a slow, dark lead on acoustic guitar (although this could be played on electric as well). I’ll show you a few easy ways to connect notes to chord shapes so that you can start improvising in this style. You’ll also hear several classic Mark Knopfler style blues licks in this.

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Comments

    • Henry G says

      Another great presentation Brian. Thanks again. Haven’t yet watched and listened through the entire lesson yet, so my apologies if you have answered this question in your comments on line. Specifically, can you comment on your tone? It’s always very good, and just perfect, IMO, for this current piece. I’m guessing that’s a mahogany top Martin; I suspect that’s a good part of it, but what kind of amp and what settings/effects might be involved as well”

      Thanks for your feedback.

    • Chuck L says

      I think you know Brian I have been a pretty long term fan. I am 80 and never have time to practice. But this is inspiring, as I like to play similar but more Spanish style. BUT i will be playing this very soon, it is right up my alley. I have 2 martins, 1 regular and one small martin for travel. Anyway I love this style and what you played. I am playing this on my Cordoba. Sounds great to me and my lady loves it, thanks, I am a hero again. . . . . Our large boat is in Ensenada and you are invited whenever ? Just let me know and have some fun. P.S. I hope you come up with more things like this, thanks again. Captain Chuck

  2. JoLa says

    What better therapy after a stressful week than hearing Brian’s new lesson on Friday . . . . I think this is one of the most beautiful melodies you have come up with, Brian, absolutely intoxicating! And I love that it is also easier for beginners (well, I take your word for it, we’ll see about that 😉 ) Love the Mark Knopfler flavor and that dark mysterious mood… Your song writing talent is undeniable, thank you for this soulful music and for teaching us how to play like that. ❤️

  3. frankie05 says

    Can’t wait to start working on this , I love how as I’m listening for the first time, and I’m thinking the melody should go one way and you take it totally different direction. Another great song/lesson.

  9. Brent C says

    I love the process of tryng to write/play solo’s & fills. I know better but seems like I so often end up playing fast licks or just feeling like I need to fill every half-beat with “something” and its usually just too much. What an excellent lesson to remind me how less can be so much more. Slow down, hold a note before you jump to the next one, smooth out that vibrato, feel the tone improvement, ALL things I need to work on. Dude-you’re an amazing talent & an even better instructor. Thanks so much for sharing!!!

  15. Jim M says

    Nice arrangement to add chord punches, arpeggios or fingerpicking patterns over the rest areas thru out the arrangement. Brings out the rhythm of the piece.

    As Always Thank You Brian.

  18. Cardo says

    Great lesson and composition. Mark Knopfler and Dave Rawlings are two of my favorite guitarists partly because of their unexpected note choices, as you point out. You are doing a great job helping me evolve from a strummer to playing lead fills. The slow tempo made this lesson very accessible and it sounds great. Thanks!

  28. Rich F says

    Hi Brian,

    Just started watching this Brilliant lesson! Love it!

    Just thought I’d break off from watching it and report my excitement ‘live’! I am at the 6.44 minute, learning playing around the B minor chord shape and the extension on the bass strings etc.. I am a pattern/ scale player, so I was just thinking, I wonder how this fits in with the B minor Pentatonic, and, as I thought that, you said that, if you are thinking B minor Pentatonic, this’s is pattern 4! You read my mind!

    Can’t wait to watch the rest of the lesson: always exciting to see how your lessons unfold!

    Brilliant stuff!

    Rich F

  30. RFY1760 says

    Given that Mark Knopfler is my biggest inspiration, I am really excited about digging into this lesson. Before I even read the description, I knew I was going to plug in my compressor and get out my Strat! Great job with, as always, Brian!

  33. sunjamr says

    Excellent! This is going to go down as one of my favorite lessons. I can just hear Mark Knopfler’s gravelly voice singing over it. If I were a wordsmith, I would try to write some words for it.

  38. sunburst says

    Jola mentioned the word therapy.. I just started this tonight on electric and played along and than decided with a smile to comment .. it really is a terrific light /easy and lot of classic bluesy pentatonic licks to improvise on ,, slow and easy yet enriched for fun practicing! Great lesson at any skill level but will certainly benefit beginners!

  40. timothy9 says

    Another nice composition and lesson, I have to say that as someone who’s subscribed since day 1, all of this stuff is sinking in. It’s not second nature or anything that dramatic, but the logic of the guitar makes more sense than it used to.
    Many thanks as always.
    Tim
    Toronto

  41. jaystrings2@aol.com says

    Brian – been with ya a coupla years now. Gotta say: Tops – by a mile. Such a dreamy, intoxicating piece. Too many things about it I love to detail out here. Just know it invites, inspire, makes me want to learn it, makes me want to work on with my jazzbox AND my partscaster and everything in between. Also makes me want to hide in my basement with it till I’ve written lyrics to fit it.

    Okay, my friend. The bar is now higher than ever. I’m hearing a soundtrack to a old timey western; a sultry, smokey blues; and a jazz club closer all rolled into one.

    You ARE da man. More like this. And….. Thanks

  43. Crazy Mama says

    Best teacher by a country mile.

    The gift of communication is a wonderful thing and comes in large part from empathy.
    Brian, you have that in spades.

    I love this lesson, so powerful yet very accessible and great example of what brings people to your door.

    Brilliant contribution as always, always motivating. More like this please. Moody, dark and slow!!

    Many thanks
    Ps Any chance of some Tony Joe White swamp style?

  46. Joseph B says

    Hi Brian …. Thanks for Lesson 282 … Simple, but a great melody. Best of all I have a chance of mastering this one in a week. I’m a 75 year old Aussie Battler who after 40 years of poor tuition is about 1/20th as skilled as you are. I have learned more in 6 months on Active Melody than the prior 40 years. Your weekly lessons are fantastic, however they take me about 6 weeks to get to a reasonable level with them . Memorising, techniques and building the muscle memory . Way behind now with my homework . Be so great if every 4th lesson was a simple one like 282 so I could catch up . However , maybe I’m just slow. Anyway Brian, be proud of what you are doing . You are streets ahead of any other teacher/course in skills but mainly in your ability to demystify and impart knowledge . All happening too late in life but loving it . Thanks Buddy .

  48. Kurt P says

    Hello Brian. I’ve gained so much from your free lessons online . You’ve helped me gain a lot of confidence thinking that I can actually do this.
    I will be joining as a premium member soon for I have requested membership as a Christmas gift this year from my wife.
    Thank you for your descriptive lessons

  49. Lee S says

    Yes please. As many of these types of lessons as you like.

    A hauntingly beautiful piece that sounds good on acoustic or electric and that doesn’t require the dislocation of fingers to achieve the necessary notes/chords. Genuinely looking forward to mastering this one.

  54. Rick B says

    Love this haunting dark minor tune, one of my all time favorites. I use to be a member but work overload gave me little time to practice. I have more time now but was procrastinating becoming a member again until I heard this tune. Brian you won me over with this one.
    Thanks, Rick

  56. Neil says

    This is perfect for me at my stage of playing (and age!!) and I just love it. This is exactly the type of music I want to play…..thank you so much. I will definitely become a premium member once we get the Christmas stuff out of the way. If you decide to expand on this type of playing, I will never be able to put my guitar down!!!

  57. Rich F says

    Hi Brian, Hi Sam,

    Just re-visiting this brilliant lesson for next Weekend’s challenge.

    Sam, you have introduced me to T Bone Burnett (always learning new info around the Blues from AM!)… I have just looked him up, and have just listened to my first T Bine Burnett song: River of Love… it very much reminds me of EP182! Same slow, dark, laid-back cool style. I love it!

    It must have been great, playing with him, Sam. Do you have any recordings/video clips?

    Many thanks,

    Rich F.

  58. sunburst says

    Okay , been here done it returned done it,, still returned doing it better! ,, The lesson here is basically how to keep count,, come in on the two.. and keep the foot working,, if you don’t get the count which in my opinion is the most important emphasis of this lesson.. you’ll not learn what this lesson is about.. and man it does look easier than it is,, okay! back to this lesson.. i rather do this lesson right before improvising,,not to throw anybody else off and really for nobody but for myself.. great timing lesson Brian,, smart for a challenge too!

  59. Peter P says

    I’ll just pile onto the previous complimentary comments and thank you for your hard work and great music. I’m not a great guitar player, self taught with all the mistakes that self-taught players can make. Spent so much time trying to find a site that works with my level and challenges me without overwhelming me, and ActiveMelody is the best by far. It’s so satisfying to be able to play through this lesson, not that skillfully but with some work, perhaps, I’ll keep improving.

    Thanks again for what you do and for sharing your music, your teaching, and your time.

    Peter

  64. Gary T says

    Hi Brian,
    Love this lesson and learnt it with great satisfaction ,
    I was wondering , can we do a stand alone on this lesson ,
    Just sounds a little empty without the backing track,
    Just thought you could work your magic on this great piece
    Regards Gary (AUS)

  65. Neil says

    I’m still working my way through this lesson…I’m a 60 year old slow learner….but this is such a great lesson and a pleasing piece of music to play. It’s just great!! Thank you 🙂

  66. Marty T says

    Hi Brian,

    New to your site. First song and loving it. I can download the pdf but cannot download the mp3. The mp3 opens and plays but doesn’t download. What am I doing wrong? Thanks.
    Marty

  67. M G says

    I must say 282 blew me away, that Beautiful minor sound is just so ear pleasing and melodic notes. Put together and very nice! You are da man. Thanks so much, Mike G.

  69. Alex D says

    I just spent my ENTIRE DAY, literally hours upon hours practicing this. I finally got it down, now I’m just working on my tone and fluidity. Thank you so much for such wonderful lessons. Who needs to do chores when you’re practicing guitar, right…

  72. isaac e says

    This is great . Sometime s I think I do not Know enough. Especially trying to make sure my fingers do not get in the way when I am fretting. eg 9D7G,7B,7G,9D towards the end of Ep282 .
    The Alphabets are the strings and numbertsare the frets.

  75. Benedikt says

    What I find nice about that lesson is that it focus on the minor pentatonic and put an emphasis on the blue note, but it show how to play these notes with different phrases for a different scenario than the typical bright B.B. king type of blues.
    Very cool.

  77. Joe C says

    Great lesson Brian. Somebody mentioned T-Bone Burnett but I think this has a bit of a Mark Knopfler feel (think “Bluebird” from the Privateering album). Definitely going to try this out.

  80. Jerry G says

    I only subscribed because of this song, it sounded so cool I had to see the tab for it, and I learned it on my acoustic in 2 days. Now I have to see how it will sound on my electric guitar. Thanks for the easy to learn song. On to the blues now!

  81. GERALD Q says

    Another awesome lesson, probably my favorite. Is there a lesson on how the chords underneath are played. I can get the first half playing a B minor but having a hard time figuring out how the G is played. Keep em coming Brian, you’re the best on here bar none.

  82. Mark F says

    Just getting into this one . But planning a trip to Big Bend National Park and this arrangement seems like the perfect vibe. I look forward to playing this song at my campsite while there! Thanks Brian!

  92. Michael M says

    can anyone give me the chords, strumming , or tabs for the background? its fun to play along with a jam track but if I could know the how to do it myself and make a lop of it, it would be even more fun! Thank you:)

  94. Walter S says

    I recognize Mark Knopfler’s “Sailing To Philadelphia” and a bit of “Down To The Waterline” in this lesson.

    Although “Waterline” is faster but some of the chords are the same.

    Nice Lesson!

  102. Nigel M says

    Lovely.

    Is this in D? It feels like the start of a vi-IV-I-V progression. If so, do you regard the ‘blue note” on a chord-by-chord basis (F#as the 6th of Bm) as opposed to a ‘scale of the song’ when it’d be Ab?

    I suspect that the knack will be in the timing – I think that’s going to be tricky. I’ve only just joined and I’ve never played to a backing track before. I think it’ll be harder than it appears.

    Hope this is a sensible starting point – slow and short.

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