Blues Guitar Lessons in Brisbane

Learning To Play The Blues 

When you think of the blues, you just have to think of the guitar as well! The two are really made for each other and blues guitar lessons can reveal just how fun and expressive the blues form of guitar playing really is. Learning to play the blues teaches you the fundamentals that underly so many other genres, even including rock and pop which have actually evolved over time from the Blues. I have taught people all forms of blues playing, from beginners through to advanced levels in both technique and theory and on both acoustic and electric guitar. While there is much overlap between rock and blues styles of playing there are also key differences.

 

Learning to play the blues is fundamentally the same process, whether it’s acoustic blues (Muddy Waters, Keb Mo, Eric Clapton etc) or the electric guitar (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Gary Clark Jr etc). In Blues Lessons we start by learning the basic forms found in blues and all of the related theory. Then it’s about expressiveness, groove and creativity.

 

Electric Blues Guitar 

…has a strong emphasis on solos involving string bending and vibrato. You can learn how to solo like your favourite blues musicians! For example, many students inquire about playing like a favourite guitarist like Jimi Hendrix or Eric Johnson. My lessons are focused on what your particular desires and goals are so if your goal is to sound like Jimi, then that’s what your lessons will be structured towards.

With Acoustic Blues 

…you’ll need to pay more attention to keeping the rhythm and groove strong, either with finger style playing or by using  a pick. Acoustic blues is really fun and not difficult to learn. With acoustic blues lessons you can learn to simply play along with any 12-bar blues songs (think Elvis, classic rock’n’roll) through to sophisticated finger-style blues. You can even learn how to use a stomp box for that classic blues sound.

 

So  What Will You Learn In Blues Guitar Lessons?

• All foundations on either acoustic and electric guitar- strumming techniques, soloing and technique development
• Fingerstyle playing
• Blues chords all over the fretboard and an understanding of how and when to use them
• Improvisation and jamming
• Understand music theory- from the basics all the way up to everything you need to know to have complete freedom on the fretboard!
• How to bend notes properly
• Proper blues vibrato
• Blues phrasing and licks
• Any blues songs that you like
• Playing in the style of: Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, BB King, John Mayer Trio, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Johnson, Joe Bonamassa, Larry Carlton, Muddy Waters, Tommy Emmanuel, Derek Trucks… and many others!

 

to arrange a free 30-minute Blues Guitar lesson

 

Demonstrations of Blues styles, Techniques and Songs 

Stevie Ray Vaughan – Pride and Joy

 

This is an example of pretty typical acoustic blues shuffle which uses open chords, a solid groove (with a stomp box) and bass notes. Any melodic notes are played as a temporary departure from the groove which make a statement and then bring it back home. This was played on a Cole Clark FL2.

 

John Mayer Trio – Come When I Call

An example of a standard 12-bar blues in G, played on electric guitar using a John Mayer custom strat into a fender twin reverb preset on the Axe Fx 2. It is improvised over dominant 9th chords which have a jazzy feel. You my want your Blues Guitar lessons to cover this style of soloing which is very smooth and nuanced.

 

Eric Clapton – Hey Hey  

 

This is an acoustic blues guitar song that demonstrates playing the bass notes with the thumb while the fingers play the melodic and chordal parts on top. It also sounds particularly strong when accompanied by a stomp-box or kick drum sound. Acoustic Blues Guitar lessons will cover how to develop thumb independence and stomp box skills for the ultimate solo rhythm section!

 

 

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