beginner_blues.pdf

FENDER PLAYERS CLUB BLUES FOR BEGINNERS

From the book:

Hal Leonard Guitar Method:

Blues Guitar

by Greg Koch

#HL 697326. Book/CD $12.95 (US).

Read more.. .

The 12-Bar Blues

The blues is a musical form as much as it is a musical style or feeling. The most common blues form

is the 12-bar blues consisting of the I–IV–V progression. And the language can be further embellished

with terms such as “dominant seventh chord,” “quick change,” or “turnaround.” As you might have

guessed, most of these terms have their roots in music theory, though they should not send the

would-be blues enthusiast into pangs of terror. I’ll try to make it simple so as not to give you the blues!

The progression below is a blues in the key of G. It consists of twelve measures, or bars, and the

chords within this blues form are the I (G7), IV (C7), and V (D7) chords in the key of G. This would be

an example of a “quick change,” because after the first bar of the I chord (G7), the harmony shifts

immediately to the IV chord (C7). The last two bars are known as the “turnaround” because chordally, it turns

you around to the I chord at the top of the progression.

Audio Track 1

“QUICK CHANGE”

“TURNAROUND”

Open-Position Shuffle Patterns

The following rhythm patterns are widely used by all blues guitarists, from Jimmy Reed to Stevie Ray Vaughan. Try

alternating between all downstrokes with your strumming hand, and accenting the off-beats with an upstroke.

Shuffle in E

Audio Track 2

Shuffle in A

Audio Track 3

Shuffle in D

Audio Track 4

Stevie Ray's "Look at Little Sister" utilizes the open-position shuffle pattern you just learned. Note that Stevie

uses a variation of the shuffle pattern that has the A string ringing out even when you're on the V (B) chord.

Jimmy Reed and others used to do this to bring the tension to the boiling point. Remember: choke the chords on

the downbeat with your right-hand palm.

Audio Track 5

LOOK AT LITTLE SISTER

B5/A

B6/A

4 fr

1333

Shuffle

B5/A

B6/A

B5/A

B6/A