Today I want to share with you a “Folsom Prison Blues” guitar lesson. This song is a great example of a 12-bar blues chord progression. Learning it will help you with both your rhythm and lead guitar playing.

Now for this lesson, I will be using a capo on the 1st fret. With the capo on I will be playing in the key of E. But the concert pitch (the actual key) is F major. But for this lesson, I will be referring to “capo chords”. 

If you don’t have a capo. You can play the same thing without one. You just won’t be able to play along with the recording as all the recordings that I have heard are in F.

Ok! Are you ready? Cool.

Onward.

Who wrote Folsom Prison Blues?

"Folsom Prison Blues" is a renowned country and blues song written and originally recorded by the legendary American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. Released in 1955, the song became one of Cash's signature tunes in his career. 

The lyrics of "Folsom Prison Blues" tell a...

Do you have the courage to play the blues in a 7/4 time signature?

Well, that’s exactly what we are going to do in this “Money” guitar lesson. 

"Money" by Pink Floyd is an iconic masterpiece from the legendary album The Dark Side of the Moon, released in 1973. 

It's got a super catchy bassline and some unique time signature changes that really set it apart for a rock song. Plus the solo sections of the song follow standard blues progressions!

I’m going to break down for you the chords, soloing, time signatures, and even how to capture that iconic Pink Floyd guitar tone. 

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

Who wrote Money? 

The song "Money" by Pink Floyd was written by the band's bassist Roger Waters. It was included on their iconic album "The Dark Side of the Moon," released in 1973. "Money" became one of Pink Floyd's most popular and recognizable songs. Its catchy bass line and thought-provoking lyrics about...

Today I want to share with you how to play “Tuesday’s Gone” by Lynyrd Skynyrd on guitar. This tune is a beloved classic rock ballad in the key of A major. In this post, we’ll dive into the origins of the song, the chord progressions, strumming patterns in a 6/8 time signature, and even some music theory. 

So make sure you’re in tune, and let’s dive into this “Tuesday’s Gone” guitar lesson!

Who wrote Tuesday’s Gone?

"Tuesday's Gone" was written by Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins. Ronnie Van Zant, the lead vocalist of Lynyrd Skynyrd, was known for his songwriting skills and contributed significantly to the band's repertoire. 

Allen Collins, the guitarist of Lynyrd Skynyrd, collaborated with Van Zant on many of their songs, including "Tuesday's Gone." Together, Van Zant and Collins created the heartfelt lyrics and bluesy melodies that have made the song a beloved classic.

What key is Tuesday’s Gone in?

...

Let’s talk about how to play the C major scale on guitar. This scale is a great scale to know whether you are a beginner or an advanced player. 

In this post, I’ll share two different ways to play the C major scale on guitar. How to practice the C major scale. Songs that are in the key of C and use the C major scale. Plus we’ll even cover some music theory and a few other common questions about the C major scale.

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

What is the C major scale on guitar?

The C major scale on guitar is just a series of 7 notes in a row. It is a way of grouping together a specific set of notes. The C major scale serves as a foundation for understanding music theory, chord construction, and melody creation. It’s used as a reference point for establishing keys and building chords and harmonies within the key of C major.

What notes are in the C major scale?

The notes in the C major scale are:

C - D - E - F - G - A...

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....

Today I want to share with you how to play “Johnny B. Goode” on guitar.

This song is iconic and has a number of quintessential Chuck Berry guitar moves in it. We'll unpack rhythm & blues rhythm patterns, early blues rock licks, his signature double-stops, and even how to get a Chuck Berry-style guitar tone.

In this guitar lesson, I am going to highlight specific areas of his playing with the goal of players being able to take some of his guitar style and infuse it into their own music.

So with that said let’s get started!

Who wrote Johnny B. Goode?

"Johnny B. Goode" was written and first recorded by legendary guitarist and singer Chuck Berry. The song was released in 1958 first as a single and it reached #2 on the Billboard charts.

This song is considered one of the most recognizable songs in the history of popular music, and it was even ranked #33 in Rolling Stone Magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

Johnny B. Goode Chords

There are...

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...

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...

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...

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...