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Stevie Ray Vaughan's First Guitar Lesson (From A Rare Stevie Ray Vaughan Interview)

blues Dec 09, 2023

Stevie Ray Vaughan was one hell of a player!

Trying to play some of his music can be FRUSTRATING…

In fact, anytime I’ve actually come close to getting it right.  

I’ve only been able to maintain playing for about 30 seconds before my hand feels like it’s gonna fall off…

From the outside, the majority of people place a wall around such levels of mastery… 

Chalk it up to natural talent or being born an innate genius…

They typically think of it as inaccessible…

But this isn’t true…

There is actually latent power within us all…

The right process and the right effort bring it out… 

That’s what SRV did… 

In fact, he didn’t start much different than you and I…

Today, I want to show you an example of this…

Ever wondered how SRV got started? 

What did he practice?

What was his first lesson?...

Was it the riff to Scuttle Buttin’?

Nope…

He...

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EASY 12 Bar Blues Guitar Lesson

blues Dec 07, 2023

Congratulations on checking out this post!

Today I want to share with you a 12 bar blues guitar lesson. You’ll discover how to build it from the ground up.

And if you are a guitarist or musician who would like to…

  • Learn to play your favorite songs faster
  • Jam with other musicians
  • Start soloing and have a TON of fun

Then you have just stumbled upon one of the most important pages you will ever read.

Taking the time to really internalize and master this progression is not only a life-long journey, but it is also a mark of a seasoned musician.

So tune up, and let’s dive into this 12 bar blues guitar lesson!

What are the 3 chords used in the 12 bar blues?

For this lesson, we will be looking at a 12 bar blues in the key of A major.

Now typically a blues in the key of A is going to use 3 primary chords: A, D, and E. 

These chords are often referred to using Roman numerals in the context of music theory, with A as the I chord, D as the IV chord, and E as the V...

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The ULTIMATE Sunshine Of Your Love Guitar Lesson (Cream, Jimi Hendrix)

blues Nov 15, 2023

Today I want to share with you a classic song that is perfect for beginners and even advanced players as well.

The riff is iconic and immediately recognizable. Your friends will love it.

PLUS it’s a great example of how the blues shaped rock n roll.

So grab your guitar, tune-up, and let’s get started with this Sunshine Of Your Love guitar lesson!

Who wrote Sunshine Of Your Love?

"Sunshine of Your Love" was written by the British rock band Cream with lyrics from (Pete Brown). Cream was a psychedelic blues rock trio consisting of Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton, and this track was released on their second album Disraeli Gears in November 1967. 

The song is considered one of Cream's most popular and influential tunes. It has also been covered by many other artists.  

The song is notable for its distinctive bass riff, which was written by Jack Bruce. Eric Clapton later added the guitar solo, and Ginger Baker's drumming provides a polyrhythmic...

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Let's Dance Guitar Lesson (David Bowie)

blues Nov 11, 2023

 

Hey Friend, 

I’m a big fan of blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Did you know Stevie collaborated with David Bowie on an album produced by another legendary guitarist Nile Rodgers?

Well, the story I’m about to tell you is the honest truth.

And it involves this track, they all made together. 

But first, if you’re new here, you may not know that years ago my wife worked at Fender guitars…

So that’s how this came about… 

Alright, let’s go back in time…

…to the height of the 2020 pandemic 

People were scared and thought the world was going to end.

This was when overnight jumping on Zoom or a video call became the norm…

My wife was working from home and we hadn’t set up an office for her yet…

She was taking calls right from the living room… 

Early one morning I was fixing some breakfast in the kitchen… 

Just spreading some peanut butter on an English muffin...

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Little Wing Guitar Lesson (Jimi Hendrix)

blues Oct 07, 2023

After learning thousands of songs. I’ve seen first-hand the influence of Jimi Hendrix’s guitar style on the history of music. And to be frank, it’s REMARKABLE.

Now to be fair. Hendrix wasn’t the first. In fact, his style was heavily influenced by a few key players that came before him. But he did take it to another level.

Today I want to share with you an iconic song of his. A fantastic song that proves the many intricacies of not only his LEAD playing but also his RHYTHM.

So make sure you’re tuned up and let’s dive into this “Little Wing” guitar lesson.

Who first wrote Little Wing? 

"Little Wing" was written by legendary musician Jimi Hendrix. It was first recorded by the Jimi Hendrix Experience and was released on their 1967 album Axis: Bold as Love. The song is known for its beautiful and atmospheric guitar work, and it has become one of Hendrix's most celebrated and memorable compositions. "Little Wing" showcases Hendrix's...

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When My Train Pulls In Guitar Lesson (Gary Clark Jr)

blues Oct 05, 2023

Gary Clark Jr. is widely regarded as one of the most prominent contemporary blues artists. He is playing a vital role in continuing the blues lineage into the modern era. So today I want to share with you a guitar lesson on his hit song “When My Train Pulls In”. 

This epic jam is a 12-bar blues in the key of Em. In this post, we’ll cover the chords, riffs, and rhythms you need to know to get playing in this blues guitar style today.

So make sure you’re in tune and let’s dive into this “When My Train Pulls In” guitar lesson.

Who wrote "When My Train Pulls In"

The song "When My Train Pulls In" was written by American musician Gary Clark Jr. It is one of his original compositions and showcases his exceptional talent as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. The song was featured on his major-label debut album Blak and Blu, released in 2012. "When My Train Pulls In" has become one of Gary Clark Jr.'s most popular and critically acclaimed...

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Bad Moon Rising Guitar Lesson (CCR)

blues Oct 04, 2023

Few songwriters have been able to write as many extremely catchy riffs and melodies with very simple ideas as John Fogerty. 

You see, so many of the classic CCR tunes are all based around just a few chords and very basic musical concepts. Yet at the same time are so incredibly SATISFYING to play for any level of guitar player. 

Look, I’ve studied my share of fancy and complex music. But there’s just something about playing these iconic CCR songs and chord progressions that is just so fun!

And when it comes to timeless anthems, few can match the energetic vibe of "Bad Moon Rising". 

So in this guitar lesson, I’m going to break down its catchy rhythm and groove so you can get playing it today.

PLUS this song is actually rooted in the blues. You will see the influence and I will point it out in the guitar part I explain. 

The chord progression also uses only the I, IV, and V. Just like what we see in countless blues songs. 

So grab your...

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Messin' With The Kid Guitar Lesson (Buddy Guy & Junior Wells)

blues Sep 18, 2023

 

"Messin' with the Kid" is a blues song originally recorded by Junior Wells in 1960. It is an up-tempo twelve-bar blues that alternates between Afro-Cuban- and Little Richard-style rhythmic accompaniment. The song is considered a blues standard and has been recorded by a variety of artists, including The Blues Brothers.

In this blog post, we will take a closer look at how to play "Messin' with the Kid" on guitar. We will learn the basic chords and progression, as well as some of the more advanced techniques licks too.

So grab your guitar and let’s get started!

Messin' with the Kid Chords

The basic chords in "Messin' with the Kid" are C7, F7, and G7. 

All three of these chords can use the same chord grip, just shifted around the neck.

Here is how I would play each chord.

For C7 I would play this:

F7 can be played the same way just shifted higher up the neck like this:

And finally, G7 is again the same shape. However this time I shifted the entire chord grip to...

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How to Play Happy Birthday on Guitar (With Bluesy Ending)

blues Sep 17, 2023

Today I want to share with you how to play “Happy Birthday” on guitar. Plus as a bonus at the end I will also share how to add a cool bluesy ending to it.

Playing “Happy Birthday” for your friends and family can mean a lot to them. Therefore, it’s a great one to know. You want to be able to pull it off at the drop of a hat.

So in this lesson, I am going to cover everything you need to know to do exactly that. 

So get tuned up, and let’s get started!

What are the chords for Happy Birthday?

To play “Happy Birthday” on guitar you will only need to know 3 chords. The chords we are going to play are G, C, and D. Here is how I would play each shape. 

For G, I would play all 6 strings and use 4 fingers in the fretting hand like this: 

D is the next chord we will move to in the progression, and this one is played from the 4th string down like this:

And finally, C is the last we will use and this one is played from the 5th...

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The ULTIMATE Before You Accuse Me Guitar Lesson

blues Sep 16, 2023

Today I want to share with you the ULTIMATE “Before You Accuse Me” guitar lesson. 

This song is a classic blues guitar tune and I’m going to break down a number of iconic versions, from the Bob Diddley original version from 1957 to later cover versions as well. 

You’ll learn the chords, theory, and even how to play epic blues solos over this classic blues jam. 

So grab your guitar and let’s get started!

Who wrote Before You Accuse Me?

"Before You Accuse Me" is a classic blues song written and originally recorded by Bo Diddley. "Before You Accuse Me" was recorded in 1957, and released as a single by Checker Records, a subsidiary of Chess Records

The song was part of Bo Diddley's self-titled debut album, which is often referred to as "Bo Diddley."

This groovy tune is considered a blues standard and has been covered by numerous artists over the years, demonstrating its lasting popularity and influence in the world of blues and rock...

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