If you want to become great at playing blues guitar it’s super important to have a strong foundation in rhythm. For example, take a look at Jimi Hendrix, or Stevie Ray Vaughan. Yes, they played amazing blues leads, but when they played rhythm guitar it was just as incredible.

So today I want to share with you a fun blues rhythm guitar lesson. I am going to share 10 AMAZING blues shuffle patterns every guitarist should know.

So grab your guitar, get tuned up, and let’s get started!

Blues Rhythm #1

This rhythm is a foundational rhythm. It’s often one of the first blues shuffle patterns guitarists learn. It uses a root-fifth to root-sixth movement. Let me explain what that means. These patterns are all going to be in the key of E. So E would be the root, the note B on the 2nd fret of the 5th string would be the fifth of the scale. So that is the root-fifth part. 

We’ll strum that twice with 2 downstrums, and then move on the 4th fret on the 5th string. This is the note C# which ...

If you want to become a great blues guitarist one of the things you will have to learn to play is a slow blues. See often times guitarists are so consumed with being able to play FAST. But the truth is, a slow blues can be just as difficult or more than something uptempo.

Today I want to share a classic example of how this is done. In this post, I walk you through how to play "Blue Jean Blues" as recorded by ZZ Top.

This song is a great slow blues guitar lesson in a 6/8 time signature. We’ll unpack the chords, rhythms, bass lines, and even dive into soloing.

So make sure you’re tuned up and let’s get started!

Who wrote Blue Jean Blues?

The song "Blue Jean Blues" was written by the members of ZZ Top: Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard. As a band, ZZ Top has been known for their collaborative songwriting process, with all three members contributing to the creation of their music. 

"Blue Jean Blues" is a great example of their collective talent, and it showcases their abi...

I’ve noticed some of the most unbelievable guitar sounds come from guitarists who play without a pick.

There is just something about fingerstyle that automatically creates a unique tone.

So today I want to share with you an example of that in this Howlin’ Wolf “Killing Floor” guitar lesson.

Plus we’ll also unpack some of Hubert Sumlin's (Wolf’s guitarist) go-to chord shapes, how he used double-stops, and also the blues scale. 

So make sure you’re in tune and let’s dive in! 

Who wrote Killing Floor? 

"Killing Floor" is a classic blues song that has become an influential and widely covered track in the history of blues and rock music. It was written and originally recorded by Howlin' Wolf, the legendary blues singer and guitarist, in 1964. 

The song is a powerful and intense representation of the Chicago blues style, which Wolf was known for.

Wolf's commanding and soulful vocals, combined with his distinctive growling sound, give the song a raw and raspy quality. His powerf...

Today I want to share with you how to play Magic Sam’s version of “Sweet Home Chicago.”

This tune is a blues standard and is one that comes up countless times in blues jams. It’s also great for playing with friends as it follows a standard 12-bar blues chord progression. 

Sam was an influential American blues guitarist and singer. He was born on February 14, 1937, in Grenada, Mississippi, and became known for his distinctive guitar style and soulful vocals. 

It’s incredible how well he could really sing and play guitar! He also played a crucial role in shaping the sound of Chicago blues in the 1950s and 1960s.

Sam began playing the guitar at a young age and was heavily influenced by blues greats such as Muddy Waters, Little Walter, and B.B. King. 

He moved to Chicago in the mid-1950s, where he quickly became part of the vibrant blues scene. Sam's guitar-playing style was characterized by its energetic, innovative, and expressive nature.

See Sam didn’t play with a standard flat...

Today I want to share with you how I play “Cold Shot” as recorded by Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar. This song is a masterclass in how to play high-level blues guitar. It showcases Vaughan’s incredible chops and unwavering blues groove. 

So grab your guitar and let’s dive into this “Cold Shot” guitar lesson.

Who wrote the song Cold Shot?

The song "Cold Shot" was written by Michael Kindred, also known as Michael Kamen, and bluesman W.C. Clark.

It was originally released by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble in 1984 as part of their album Couldn't Stand the Weather.

The song became one of Stevie Ray Vaughan's most popular tracks and a staple in his live performances.

What tuning is Cold Shot in?

Stevie Ray Vaughan often tuned down half a step for many of his songs. This is what he did on “Cold Shot”. The correct tuning is as follows:

Eb - 6th string (tuned down to Eb from E)

Ab - 5th string (tuned down to Ab from A)

Db - 4th string (tuned down to Db from D)

Gb - 3rd ...

Today I want to share with you a guitar lesson on how to play “Deep River Blues”. This song goes back far into the roots of blues music. But it is a timeless classic that audiences have loved for generations. My goal is to peel back the layers on this song and show you how to play this classic blues all by yourself.

I will be taking a fingerstyle approach for this guitar lesson. Following in the footsteps of Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, and Tommy Emmanuel. 

So make sure you’re tuned up and let’s get started!

Who Wrote Deep River Blues?

"Deep River Blues" is a classic traditional blues song that has been covered by a number of great artists over the years. It is a spinoff and essentially the same song as "Big River Blues". It is a traditional blues song that has been recorded and performed by various artists over the years. The origins of the song are unclear, as it has been passed down through oral tradition and adapted by many different musicians.

Here is one of t...

In this post, I want to share with you how to play in the style of “Roadhouse Blues” as recorded by the Doors on guitar. This song is a unique blend of fingerstyle guitar, blues, and rock n roll. You’ll discover how to play the main riff, blues patterns, rock rhythms, and even some soloing using the blues scale. So get tuned up and let’s dive in!

Who wrote Roadhouse Blues:

"Roadhouse Blues" was written by all the members of the American rock band The Doors: Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and John Densmore. It was featured on their 1970 album Morrison Hotel. It was one of the band's most popular and enduring tracks, known for its energetic blues-rock sound and captivating lyrics.

The origin of "Roadhouse Blues" can be traced back to the band's early days of performing live in small clubs and venues. The Doors often played in intimate settings where they experimented with various musical styles, including the blues. The song's title and lyrics reflect the gritty, down-t...

Who else wants to add a great blues standard perfect for jams to their repertoire? 

Today I want to share with you how to play Freddie King’s version of “Sweet Home Chicago.”

This song is so fun to play with friends or call at a blues jam. In this post, I’ll walk you through Freddie King’s version. We’ll cover how to play the chord progression, rhythm patterns, licks, plus we’ll even dive into soloing and a classic King-style blues turnaround. So get tuned up and let’s play!

Who Wrote Sweet Home Chicago?

"Sweet Home Chicago" is a blues standard that has been recorded by a lot of artists over the years. The song is originally credited to Robert Johnson. Johnson was one of the most influential blues musicians of all time from the Mississippi Delta. He first recorded "Sweet Home Chicago" in 1936 during his legendary recording sessions in San Antonio, Texas.

The origins of the song can be traced back to earlier blues compositions. The melody and structure of "Sweet Home Chicago" be...

Hey Friend!

There is nothing quite like John Lennon’s raw and edgy vocals singing a blues tune. So today I want to share with you how I play "Yer Blues" by The Beatles on guitar.

This is a raw and soulful blues-rock guitar tune. And in this blog post, we'll explore the chords you need, 12-bar blues, riffs, and even some time signature changes. So get tuned up and let's dive in!

Who wrote Yer Blues?

"Yer Blues" is a song written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon-McCartney. It was recorded by The Beatles for their self-titled album commonly known as the White Album, released in 1968. The song originated during The Beatles' stay in Rishikesh, India, where they were attending an advanced Transcendental Meditation training course with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

The song's origins can be traced back to a moment of frustration and homesickness experienced by John Lennon during their time in India. Feeling isolated and longing for the blues, Lennon wrote "Yer Blues" as a tongue-in-chee...

Ready to unlock one of the most powerful guitar scales that you can use in millions of songs today?

In this post, I’ll show you how to play the blues scale on guitar step-by-step.

WARNING: About The Blues Scale

Before we get into the meat of this lesson I need to address a concern I see with a lot of other lessons on this topic, and that is the combination of the blues scale with the minor pentatonic scale. 

From a player’s perspective, I completely get the fact that they are almost the same thing, however from a theoretical perspective they are actually two different scales. The pentatonic scale has 5 notes in it while the blues scale has 6.

Also, I want to address another common issue, it is important to know that the majority of the time musicians refer to the blues scale they are actually referring to the minor blues scale.

However, there is a major and a minor blues scale. For this lesson, I’ll be demonstrating an E minor blues scale and this would often be referred to as...