by Brian Autumn

Part I

Who it’s for: Guitarists that need to know how to play long sets
Prerequisites: Know your I IV and V chords

Lots of musicians out there are missing out on a large portion of the demand in musicians simply because they just might not know what is out there, and how to get in on it. There are a lot of bands that play constantly at bars and clubs night after night with blues, top 40, rock, oldies, metal or whatever. They thing is, they need to entertain audiences with really long sets. This series is going to show you how to get the most out of what you already know how to play. One of the most widely used musical forms here in the states is the Blues, because it is easy to follow along.

Playing the Blues

Playing the blues is actually pretty simple, and is designed to not be taxing on the musician. This allows for soloing freedom (which fills up time), and it is easy to repeat and add more choruses. There is one basic blues form which most people agree on, as well as a whole slew of off shoots of it. Here is the basic form in the picture below. Each block represents one bar. The reason it is easy is because you just play this over and over again. There is one tricky thing about this though.

Contrary to popular belief, the blues scale technically is an incorrect scale to use over this. Also another huge misunderstanding with the blues is that there are two kinds of blues. There is a diatonic blues, and a chromatic blues. The first one, the diatonic blues is easier to understand. Since the chords I, VI, and V, all come from the major scale, simply interpret this as a key.

Let’s try G for example. Here are the chords for a blues in G. Then you can easily just use any G major scale you already know to solo over this, and there should be no discrepancy on notes. There are tons of songs that can be played using just this. In the next series I will go a little more in depth on how the blues works, how to use the blues scale, what it is, and how to play on a chromatic blues.

Feel free to drop a comment or ask any questions! Up next … Part II.

by Brian Autumn
BrianAutumn.com
Brian on YouTube



G-Man Productions and Cherry Lane Music have collaborated to develop “Blues Masters”, a free iPad app teaching you how to play 10 riff from blues great like Clapton, Vaughan, King, and Haynes.

This app includes:

• Audio with text commentary for each riff
• Video instruction for 1 video
• Slow down each riff to 3/4 or 1/2 speed to help you learn it
• Notes and tab, with animation, shows you what to play for each riff
• Add your favorite licks to your “Hot List” for convenient retrieval
• See a Bio page for each artist with the ability to listen to each of their licks, sorted by its place in the 12-bar progression; if you like a riff, tap on it to go straight from the Bio page to the Music page to learn it
• A Hot List page for assembling your own 12-bar Hot List solo; choose six 2-bar licks sorted by lick number or artist to create a 12-bar solo and then play it as if the greats were trading licks with each other
• Animate the whole progression while playing one of two backing tracks so you can play them with your own rhythm section (you can slow this down too!)
• Everything is included; no Wi-Fi streaming is required
• The ability to purchase all of the content in the paid version and/or more instruction videos
• Licks from Duane Allman – Dickey Betts – Eric Clapton – Warren Haynes – Albert King – B.B. King – Stevie Ray Vaughan – Leslie West

There is a paid version available that inclued 109 additional riffs and video instruction.

Get it at iTunes.

via APPMODO

Eric Clapton just released his 19th, yes … 19th studio album. I have yet to hear the entire but from the audio clips I’ve heard, I have agree with a lot of reviews … that this work is definitely off the beaten bath. Check it out on the Amazon link below. To celebrate this new release, Fender is giving away a EC Stratocaster along with the sold-out Clapton Deluxe Limited Edition Bundle, which includes an exclusive bonus track, “You Better Watch Yourself,” all on a collectible 24-karat-gold CD. Place your entry to win at Fender.com