Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Blues lead over a Texas shuffle rhythm – Blues guitar lesson EP376

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, we’re going back to the pentatonic scales! You’ll learn how to combine both major and minor pentatonic scales to create a blues lead that you can play over the included Texas shuffle rhythm jam track. This one is super fun to play!

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walkthrough

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

    • Mark M says

      I’ve been a member of your community for a few years. You really bring things into focus. You’ve helped me improve my playing 500% . Keep these great lessons coming. Perhaps a Stevie Ray Vaughn series someday?

    • garry p says

      I’ve been with you a couple of years now…I’ve been playing for about 20 years and I have always enjoyed it, with bands and just writing songs,,, BUT i have come to the realization that I am never going to be able to bar the first 2 strings (F) cowboy chord shape up and down the neck for partial chord voicings. And the embellishments you get off that technic I love. I don’t seem to be able to do it and keep the rest of the chord clean enough to do any of the other things you teach. I have had this challenge my entire life, starting with trying to make the F chord as a beginner… I know I know…you’re gonna say..” yes you can but you have to work at it” But I’m telling you I have tried for years, one teacher said it was the joint in my pointer finger…So I tried other ways..It’s not happening…I Wonder if I’m the only one?? Cause it’s frustrating when trying to learn a different technic and it comes back down to the same ol position that I’m not managing well…Am I the only one who has never been able to get it…??? Thought you might have been thru it with someone before…

      • Brian says

        I believe you – it may be that you just can’t do it… there are things I’ve realized I just CAN NOT do no matter how many times I try. It may be worth accepting defeat and finding a way around it. Not the end of the world… it’ll just give you your unique sound!

      • Dylan H says

        Another thing you can try is larger frets. I own two guitars and tried a barre chord that I found in one of Brian’s videos and I just couldn’t do it without it buzzing. When I switched to my newer guitar with larger frets, it sounded super clear.

      • Geoffrey B says

        Raise the action on the top strings. I know it’s counterintuitive, but it worked for me. I had the same problem. “Yes you can but you have to work at it.” Haha sorry! Seriously, you can lower the action once you get it. And you will…

        Also, do it on your number one so you get it under your fingers you can play it on anything.

    • C.R. G says

      Hey Brian, great lesson but some of these licks where you use your index and middle finger to stretch two frets instead of using your ring finger are tough, I dont have the biggest hands so maybe include alternate fingering in your lessons if it doesnt take up a bunch of time, or not, either way I’m learning a lot!

  9. JoLa says

    Great advice at the very end of the Premium instructional video, Brian! Instead of memorizing every lesson, I more often just steal the takeaways and try to apply them. Since I like about 99% of all your lessons, I figured that was the only way to go through them in my lifetime. And yes, you got the neurons right 😉

  12. Guillermo L says

    Hi Brian,

    thank you so much for sharing your amazing knowledge with us ! I was waiting long time for such SRV / Texas shuffle type of lesson and this one surpasses all my expectations.
    Not enough that you are a great guitarist, you also have the gift to write an arrangement covering all important issues for a style in record time, without the need to use any original
    piece. If this is not brilliant, tell me what it is…
    By the way, sorry for being so curious, but is this a Sansui 771 on your shelf in the background ?

  17. Tremelow says

    There are some great licks in this lesson I can’t wait to make my own. At least some of them, cause there is a lot of substance in this lessen (ie lots to learn). But just the backing track is a real gem! Impossible to not want to grab your guitar and jam along to it.

  18. Lyn C says

    Wow Brian– that one is actually not as hard to play as it sounds. I have been practicing lots since signing up with Active Melody about 3 years ago, and got right into this one. I only have a pickup installed on an acoustic guitar,and a small amp but it sounds okay too with slides and bends.
    Thanks Brian, for making it fun to play guitar while practicing.

  19. Biker13 says

    THANK YOU BRIAN!!! I’ve waited WEEKS for this! Back to good ole pentatonic joy! I love that you expand my horizons but its always such a comfort to come back home, kick back and relax 🙂 LOVE THIS LESSON!!

  21. Gary W says

    Thank you Brian, fantastic as always. I appreciate your comments in vid 2 about ‘data dump’ – I sometimes worry that I do a lot of this with your lessons – that is – I find the elements that appeal to me most and take those with the aim of using them in some other context. Great – thanks again.

  23. Cardo says

    Sweet! I echo a lot of the other comments about being happy to get back to Blues 101 after burning up brain cells understanding modal playing. The major and minor pentatonics are so fundamental to modern music that they deserve the attention you give them. Also, I’d like you to do something, maybe a micro-lesson, on amps in general – how to get desired tone and effects without a bunch of pedals, etc.

  32. Randy H says

    Brain:
    Great lesson and I love the reference of the Universal OX. I would be very interested in learning how you use it with what ever amp you decide to set it up with. I use mine with a Marshall 100 amp head and it makes it tolerable so not to piss off the neighbors. As with the addition of modes to the pallet, this OX box added some more flavor to the soup………….
    Looking forward to hear your comments on the Universal OX .

    Thanks again,
    Randy

  38. timothy9 says

    I started with Active Melody’ wayyyy back in the beginning and the first thing I began to notice was that I started to use the whole neck of my guitar. No more cowboy chords for this cowboy…occasionally maybe. Brian never lets you get bogged down in the theory. This lesson is typical. You’re playing music.
    Many thanks for another beauty.

  41. Bruce G says

    Have to echo everything said. Love these lessons! It’s so easy to get lost in practicing these and look up and see 2 hours gone!

    I’m only beginning to get into playing lead and I find the analogy to learning a different language makes sense to me. Since I’ve never been very good at learning a new language, any advice on how to compile these cool licks in a way that you can recall and apply them? I’m also trying to take your Instagram suggestion on “noodling” on 2 chords and just wish I could put some of the licks you’ve shown us into my 2 chord noodling… I’m finding that to be a real challenge!

    I’m fearful that I get buried in following the TAB and not really thinking “vocabulary”…

    Thanks again!

  42. Francois M says

    Brian, I hear the Texas sound but what give it that Texas sound instead of a Memphis or Chicago sound? Just curious. I had heard that Texas blues uses a 6 count instead of a 4 count but that can’t be the answer.

  43. George P says

    Hi Brian from a very damp Cornwall GB. Youre latest lesson is as usual brilliant. I would like to ask can you still play 7th and 9th chords etc with this piece. Iknow you dont play any chords but i have a mate who plays rhythm to acompany me. Keep up the good work. George.

    • cunningr says

      Hopefully Brian can add more info. Not sure how much you played around with your Jr. I think he mentioned he was running the main and pre levels around 5 and guitar volume max, I noticed he was using center setting on his strat too. Anyway at that setting the jr will be pretty loud probably too loud for bedroom.

      The main and pre kind work together, for clean tone you use the main set up higher and the pre to control overall volume, for more distortion turn down main and turn up the pre in, basically they work together along with you guitars volume level.

      As you mentioned i never found that nice tone he is getting, and I use a variac to control my volume so I can run hot. I did put in a 5751 tube to clean up the sound some.

      • Geoffrey B says

        Hola! signal chain overdrive>compressor>overdrive>boost reverb into clean channel low volume. Oh yeah…you’ll also want a very nice vintage Strat and Fender amp. You’re welcome . Haha…seriousy, this totally works. I’m using an EJ Strat into ’65 DRRI and I’m at volume 2. I can get all the classic tones….minus the volume, of course. check it out!

  45. David M says

    I love this – only problem is the jam tracks are way too fast and the slow one way too slow. I wish there was one mid-way. I thought the jam tracks were in ‘multiple tempos’? Seems it’s just very fast or very slow. If anyone has found a way of slowing down the MP3 minus guitar please advise how to do it.

    • Andrew F says

      You could put it into a DAW and change the tempo (such as Audacity), or get a speed changing app or convert online using one of the tools 🙂 There are tons out there that will allow you to speed up or slow down without changing the key. Google mp3 speed change maybe ! Andrew.

  46. Gareth D says

    I was about to post about the jam track being too fast and the slow one being too slow, I could really do with one in between, then I say Davids post up above. Please could a mid tempo one be added ? I might be able to work up to the fast one in about 5 years time 🙂

  47. Andrew F says

    Love this lesson – its challenging in some parts and plain fun in others…at speed that first run is tricky for me, so its a good workout for the pinky and picking techniques. Just enjoying learning all these new technqiues so much – for the first time in ages I can never wait to play! Thanks mate.

  48. drlknstein says

    the first lick in part 2 is pure gold .love when you give us one like that and explain where it is. in relation to a chord and a scale so we find pattern 4 and fine the lick from the a chord..so easily transferable to another chord using the caged a shape..as you like to say if you learn nothing else..learn this..to me its the one i will not forget from this lesson

    nice one hombre

  49. Michael M says

    Hi Brian- Great lesson. BUT….. Your full speed version of this (and other) lessons is not the 100% speed of the interactive player. I realize tempo can be increased beyond 100%, however if you could possibly just mention the BPM of the full speed version and what percent the full version would be played at would be helpful. I do like the interactive element of the lesson as its so easy to stop and repractice a section there. So…just a thought. Thanks again for the great lessons you provide.

    Michael M

  50. Canada Moose says

    I thought I saw you wearing shorts in that video!
    You know, Brian, that’s totally against the rules for 2 types of people: mob bosses, and blues guitar players.
    But you play so well I’ll give you a pass.
    Just sayin’

  59. Anthony G says

    Brian, of all your lesson and you have many good ones, this is my favorite. I play other stuff but have to play this one a couple of times everyday. Lately I have been just grabbing the acoustic and fingerpick through it. I am retired and just needed to say that this song helps fill my days and brings me so joy and such fun to play. Thanks!

  60. Guido says

    I’m currently studying this piece and there is a small error in the tab (in fact I found it because it was very difficult to play and I reviewed many times your execution in this place).
    At measure 19, instead of playing E note at 9th fret of the 3rd string, as written in the tab, you played at the 5th fret of 2nd string. As you play actually it’s also much easier.

  64. David K says

    Thanks for the great lesson – yet another one. These lessons are great for me – an early-ish Intermediate with strong theory.

    It would be great if you offered Guitar Pro files. Is there some issue with you using their format? Like wanting a fee? I would volunteer to send you the transcription, which I could turn around in less than a couple of days.

    And … how about some slide tunes? Acoustic or electric.

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