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Minor Key Blues (in F#) – Chords, Fill Licks, and Lead – EP142

Description

In this blues guitar lesson, you’ll start by learning how to play the chords fingerstyle (you can use a pick if you’d prefer). In the next video (Level 2), you’ll learn how to integrate fill licks in-between the chords to spice things up a bit.  In the final video (Level 3), you’ll learn the lead part.  All three levels use the same jam track, so you’ll have a lot of material to practice with.  Lots of takeaways in this one!

Level 1: Learn how to play the chords (fingerstyle)

Level 2: Chords with fill licks

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Level 3: Lead Guitar Lesson

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  1. BluGenes says

    March 4, 2016 at 7:28 pm

    Sounding kind of spooky there man.. 😉

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    • jimbostrat says

      March 6, 2016 at 8:42 am

      Literally………….”Spooky Tooth”…………..back a few………….bunch years…………..decades but sounds just like a Spooky Tooth track which is a very cool thing, Brian!!

      Jim C.

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      • BluGenes says

        April 6, 2016 at 12:30 pm

        well, I was inferring to Classics IV or Atlanta Rhythm Section’s remake of Spooky..

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    • Francie B says

      February 18, 2017 at 10:52 pm

      This is a fun one. Please keep these beginner finger style ones coming. By the way, great shirt!!

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  2. Jimmy James says

    March 4, 2016 at 7:45 pm

    Love the new Epiphone Brian its like Robben Ford’s Sheridan. Its makes me miss my old Casino…Love lesson Too!

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  3. gquellet says

    March 4, 2016 at 8:04 pm

    WOW…… Just WOW!!

    Love the lesson Brian

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  4. Bill W2 says

    March 4, 2016 at 8:09 pm

    I really like your new approach to the lessons…a step up with more in depth instruction. Always grateful for you insights. And a beautiful Epiphone!!

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  5. Aussie Rick says

    March 4, 2016 at 8:19 pm

    Great lesson Brian; very cool with new techniques and content. Will be getting stuck into this one straight away. And Epiphone Sheraton 2 sounds and looks great. Cheers,

    Rick

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  6. vicman says

    March 4, 2016 at 8:28 pm

    Tasty. Sweet. Love the jazz feel to the tune. Great stuff!

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  7. Maradonagol says

    March 4, 2016 at 8:32 pm

    Awesome lesson Brian…love this style, requires feel to play well…..very nice lead too.

    New guitar??? Its a beauty!!

    Thanks Brian…

    Roberto

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  8. CliffordLance says

    March 4, 2016 at 8:59 pm

    Love the sound. Can’t name the tune, but an Eagles song has that same progression. It’s really beautiful and love the new axe. Question: are you using some pedals here (lesson 1)?
    Thanks

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    • DerekBlue says

      March 5, 2016 at 11:24 pm

      I think you’re thinking of “I Can’t Tell You Why”. I was thinking the same thing.

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      • Jeffrey J says

        March 11, 2016 at 3:16 pm

        That’s it! Yeah, I was thinking this sounded just like an Eagles song too.

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  9. teletoons says

    March 4, 2016 at 10:19 pm

    Still amazed with every weeks new lesson. Perfect video’s, great audio, Full tabs and backing tracks and the soundslice tabs are as good sounding as Guitar Pro ! And the content and teaching style is awesome. Love this weeks lesson as usual.

    Thanks Brian.

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  10. Jeem says

    March 4, 2016 at 10:55 pm

    A new favorite! Great one Brian.
    This gets moved right to the front.

    Thanks!

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  11. Michael J says

    March 4, 2016 at 11:46 pm

    G/day Brian,
    This is just great. Has that ” Black Magic Woman ” feel to it. I’m still working on EP140, but this is definitely next. Thanks a lot.
    Cheers for now.
    Michael J.

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  12. Norbert says

    March 5, 2016 at 2:33 am

    Hi Brian,

    It’s Saturday morning here in Germany, when I usually take a first look at your new lesson.
    Today the first look took nearly three hours ……;-).
    Have a nice weekend.
    Norbert

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  13. hansell says

    March 5, 2016 at 2:42 am

    Wow Brian! You put a lot into this lesson! Greatly appreciated. That’s why you’re my ‘go to’ guitar site above the others.
    What I especially like about your music is that all the lessons on electric are very much adaptable to acoustic which is my main thing.
    Thanks for everything!
    Stunning new Epiphone by the way.
    Harry

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  14. smilefred says

    March 5, 2016 at 3:32 am

    Hi brian very cool lesson!! I like very much this new format.. Love your epiphone.. What model is it??
    Thanks
    Ale

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  15. harry9000 says

    March 5, 2016 at 5:14 am

    Love this one! Wow! This one really groves!

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  16. Rollover33 says

    March 5, 2016 at 5:18 am

    Brian, le roi du cooooool ! Super !!!

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  17. JohnStrat says

    March 5, 2016 at 7:56 am

    Brian fantastic this is a beauty well done

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  18. Danielle B. says

    March 5, 2016 at 8:03 am

    Thank you Brian! ?
    Just added this lesson to my collection ‘want to learn’ ?

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  19. BIG-AL says

    March 5, 2016 at 10:33 am

    Now THAT’s what I’m talkin about! This is the stuff I wanna learn!! Thanks Brian! 🙂

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  20. Dug says

    March 5, 2016 at 10:46 am

    Little bit of smoooooooth jazz there, Brian.

    NICE!

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  21. Johnny D says

    March 5, 2016 at 1:28 pm

    Great job Brian! You’re knocking so many home runs I can’t keep up with em. I got lessons to work and rework and this one in particular it off the hook. Thanks for all you do! This one is awesome!

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  22. Don D. says

    March 5, 2016 at 4:12 pm

    Great tune, great lesson, thank you!

    Lots of useful moves; using the 3 in the I chord to move to the IV chord, where it’s the 7. Going to try to do that everywhere for a week.

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  23. sunburst says

    March 5, 2016 at 8:35 pm

    guitar sounds great! Nice chord progression,, going to enjoy this lesson!

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  24. DerekBlue says

    March 5, 2016 at 11:29 pm

    I love this one ! I’ve been working on it all day and it’s just fun to play. Level 3 really challenges timing, but if you get right, the emotion just make your face wrinkle up.
    All the support material is amazing. All the lesson are nearly perfect, so don’t hate me for saying this, but the timing on the Level 3 backing track is off at 3:25. Sounds like you slipped in a guest guitarist.

    Thanks Brian!

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    • Brian says

      March 6, 2016 at 9:01 am

      Good catch on the audio issue at 3:25! I have fixed this and re-uploaded. You may need to refresh the browser, but it should be in sync now 🙂

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  25. HarryJoe says

    March 6, 2016 at 3:06 am

    Very cool!!! TOP!!

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  26. MJR1164 says

    March 6, 2016 at 5:13 am

    Lovely groove and a really nice Epiphone. Interesting to see how many comments it’s getting.

    This is one of the best lessons yet.

    Thanks Brian

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  27. magpie says

    March 6, 2016 at 5:54 am

    Thanks for doing this fingerstyle. I really struggle with a pick. Brilliant melody.

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  28. sunburst says

    March 6, 2016 at 9:15 am

    really liked this.. Brian, all your lessons are helping meplay better in many ways ! thanks my friend

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  29. RYLWLF says

    March 6, 2016 at 11:48 am

    Brian this is a great lesson! I got to tell you I love your Epi. Thanks again for the Slice software with the lessons.

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  30. warren james earp says

    March 6, 2016 at 2:46 pm

    ok,,, just done part one… love it… nice new guitar i see.. 😉

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  31. CliffordLance says

    March 6, 2016 at 6:43 pm

    Hey DerekBlue, that’s the Eagles song I was thinking of! Every time Brian does a lesson I think can’t be topped, he puts out another stunner. This is my new favorite! Thanks Brian!

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  32. Tom H says

    March 7, 2016 at 10:56 am

    Now THIS is what I call a SLOW blues. Love it. Would like more. Thanks!

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  33. jalal63@hotmail.co.uk says

    March 7, 2016 at 7:12 pm

    thanks Brian for this excellent lesson , learning a lots from you and thumbs for all you do 🙂

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  34. Bluesman68 says

    March 8, 2016 at 8:44 am

    Fantastic, Brian, where do you get these from? This one is up there with the best and reminds me why my subscription is still the best value on the net.

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  35. cobber says

    March 8, 2016 at 10:47 am

    Maestro, You’re the best. Fits right into my age group and my friends will love this once I master it.
    Thanks so much,
    Eric

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  36. Avinash P says

    March 8, 2016 at 11:54 am

    Hi Brian,

    Thank you for this excellent lesson! I love the way you teach and I have learned a lot since I joined your premium
    subscription. I’m a slow learner but trying to keep up with all of your awesome lessons.

    Thank you so much.
    Avinash

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  37. smake1954 says

    March 8, 2016 at 1:06 pm

    Love it!!!

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  38. Steve W says

    March 8, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    Nice looking Epiphone Brian don’t think I’ve seen that one before is it a new addition?

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  39. Larry H says

    March 8, 2016 at 4:46 pm

    Beginner since last summer and the blues are where my interest lye’s. The recent series sure hit interest spot with this latest EP142 going to the top of my practice list. Being a premium member puts one in the front seat and glad to be here. This will be put on my top of the rock spot to work on, full time. Putting all the past and whats to come in my portfolio for when my ability can comply. These lessons just melt into the sole.

    Thanks lots Brian!!!

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  40. George K says

    March 8, 2016 at 6:28 pm

    Hi Brian, love it as its not too busy for me and breaking down into 3 bite size parts. Great sounding blues melody n licks. I have an Epiphone ES339, not bad for price, nice sounding. Also a Faith naked, Venus cutaway electro acoustic, recent purchase a great all wood guitar can’t stop playing this one, beautiful sound n feel.
    Thanks George

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  41. randybiggers says

    March 8, 2016 at 10:16 pm

    Great lesson Brian. I’m having a hard time putting my guitar down. I just want to play it and play it. Love it.

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  42. tonylolli says

    March 9, 2016 at 9:30 am

    PERFECT! These last two lessons have been especially useful for us “intermediate” players. Lots of online places to get the basics but your lessons are terrific for those of us starting to gig out.

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  43. DKB says

    March 9, 2016 at 11:17 am

    Great lesson love this mood type music. Can jam on this stuff all the time. Some one get a new guitar? never saw that Eppe before, nice sound.

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  44. Sonne says

    March 9, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    Hi Brian,

    Very fine lesson that you have made this week. I really enjoy it.
    You are welcome to make more lessons like this with multiple levels.

    /Peter

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  45. olivier plat says

    March 10, 2016 at 8:00 am

    I love this lesson, great style, thanks Brian

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  46. Bruce H says

    March 10, 2016 at 9:29 pm

    Great teacher and great guitar player. Thank you.

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  47. Peter P says

    March 11, 2016 at 4:52 am

    Yours is the course that has led me into the Blues. Really great to have a “take a breath” catch up for us beginner-intermediate players. I have the same guitar too! Really find the member assets extremely helpful and a great complement to your explanations. A great lesson – thanks!

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  48. Allan says

    March 11, 2016 at 9:59 am

    Hi Brian,
    Great lesson just love the groove iv got most of the parts down but then it goes to another level when you have the jam track on huge smile on my face when you keep it in time.
    Love it
    Cheers mate

    Allan

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  49. wrightclick says

    March 11, 2016 at 12:14 pm

    Great lesson i hate playing with fingers but as you say dig in , stay with it get over the initial barrier and it becomes natural . Great looking Sheraton iv’e got one under the bed my Pride n Joy.

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  50. sunjamr says

    March 22, 2016 at 7:45 pm

    Thanks to these kinds of lessons, I’m getting better and better at connecting licks from one pentatonic position to another. 6 months ago, I had a set of licks for most of the pentatonic positions, but they didn’t overlap much. Lessons like these have solved that problem.

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  51. A.J says

    March 31, 2016 at 4:21 pm

    Love this lesson Brian give me more.

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  52. adarabos@mdlz.com says

    April 13, 2016 at 2:42 pm

    Brilliant. Lots of fun, thanks a lot.

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  53. Chris S says

    May 21, 2016 at 6:34 am

    hey Brian I just signed up, BTW 🙂 I played this and solo’d over it using F# min penta. and my ditto looper. My guitar teacher who is a god BTW said to use B min Penta. within 30 seconds of the start he said you are using the wrong scale. Obviously to use B Min Penta means adding a C# for the V chord. When I asked why B he said the iv to i at the beginning and the way its played sets the iv chord as the key centre. i.e.. B Can you help explain this to me. Both scales sound OK to me. Looking up the Bm scale I can see all the notes we need (based on the chords) are there. B, C#, D,E,F#, G,A,B. (for reference F# Penta has F#, A,B,C#,E)

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    • Brian says

      May 21, 2016 at 9:52 am

      Chris, if your guitar is saying it’s wrong you should ask him? He must know something I don’t.

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      • Jeff H says

        November 25, 2016 at 11:58 am

        Brian-

        Love your reply ;>). Yes, no doubt, his instructor must know something you don’t. To my “untrained” ear, your explanation and version sound just fine. Please, add more lessons like this.

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  54. Zack J says

    June 2, 2016 at 8:35 pm

    What kind of strings are you using?

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  55. micler says

    September 7, 2016 at 9:24 am

    Great song, great lesson, thanks Brian. Just started learning this and I cant wait to play it over the backing track.

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  56. Jeff H says

    November 25, 2016 at 11:54 am

    Have never played electric before, and this lesson looks like it’s going to finally get me to. Can’t wait to try it out. Thanks.

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  57. royce r says

    December 23, 2016 at 6:01 pm

    man that epiphone sounds almost as good as that gibson e85 or better? whatever…what mode; is it?

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  58. Rev Bob says

    February 16, 2017 at 4:31 pm

    Hey Brian, another awesome 😎 lesson, thank you buddy.

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  59. M & N says

    March 25, 2017 at 1:26 am

    ditto to all the comments

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  60. Alan G says

    September 1, 2018 at 5:25 pm

    Hi Brian. I am a beginner and have just discovered your website. So impressed, that I immediately signed up for premium membership. I just love the video tablature, it is a fantastic tool in my opinion. This is a great lesson, something for everyone. Also much appreciate the really simple lessons such as leg022, as they have got me playing something I enjoy. Many thanks.

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  61. Jeff H says

    July 3, 2020 at 9:37 am

    Just discovered this Fantastic Lesson. Definitely one of my favorite.

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  62. Ralph B says

    November 13, 2020 at 6:43 pm

    I’m still new to your website, and still am a beginner player. I found this lesson in the Beginner Guitar category, and when I saw you playing a Sheraton that looks just like my 2017 Sheraton-II Pro I had to stop and watch the video. Now I’m going to jump in and learn this piece. Hopefully I can make my Sheraton sound like yours!

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  63. JoLa says

    January 14, 2024 at 3:27 pm

    I don’t know what took me so long to find this incredible gem!!! 💎❤️

    It’s lessons like this that excite me the most at Active Melody – played fingerstyle, slow tempo and (relatively) easy to learn with a few difficulty levels, and yet sounding like we’ve already known them for years 🎶😊

    BTW, I’m pretty sure the proper name for the “Hendrix” chord is C#7(#9) and not C#9(#9) like noted on the tabs, if anyone cares.

    This lesson came out 8 years ago so I’m not sure if Brian still reads the comments here 😁😊

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    • Brian says

      January 14, 2024 at 9:32 pm

      i do 😉

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      • JoLa says

        January 15, 2024 at 2:46 pm

        😆👍

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