Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Fingerstyle Blues Rhythm and Lead Guitar Lesson – EP202

Description

This is really 2 lesson rolled into one. You’ll learn a very cool blues fingerstyle rhythm (similar to something you’d hear Chet Atkins play). I’ll show you how to palm mute the bottom 3 strings and use your thumb as your “bass player”. There is a lifetime of fingerpicking in this one lesson! In addition to the rhythm, I’ve included a lead that is played with a pick (for those of you that aren’t into fingerstyle playing). So there’s something for everyone in this lesson.

Part 1 - Fingerstyle Rhythm (1st Half)

Part 2 - Fingerstyle Rhythm (2nd Half)

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Lead Lesson

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Slow Walkthrough (Rhythm)

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Slow Walkthrough (Lead)

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  14. Geoff White says

    That’s a great guitar, Brian. What gauge strings do you use to be able to bend the “e” string on the 3rd fret with your little finger?
    Also a great lesson. I’m getting more proficient with fingerstyle after your lessons.

  19. JohnStrat says

    Brian

    That’ s a great lesson it looks pretty complex to me but having got 177 on the way I think I can see this on the to do list .
    Which Model of Martin is that, the tone is superb? A long time back, a friend who lived at
    Fort Washington PA just outside Philly back in 1974 took me to look round the factory at Nazareth PA.. He has a D28 which I found rather a large model. I had and still have an Epiphone Parlor but sadly the top has lifted slightly and so the action is in need of sorting.

    JohnStrat

  20. jimbostrat says

    Just as a friendly piece of constructive advice………..tackled Brian’s very nice and informative EP037 lesson………I believe it’s about 3 years old but this one compliments his latest EP202 very well and acts like a very nice primer into this latest lesson!! Very sweet!! I’m a HUGE Martin guitar fan and this CEO model is definitely not exception!! It’s funny how two grand can seem like a lot to drop on an acoustic guitar until you play one and realize what’s been missing from your sound!! Plus………..now we can see the fret markers as well!!

    :>)

    Jim C.

  21. JohnStrat says

    I’m with you Jim thanks for the tips. I will be getting a Martin when the funds allow not too far away I hope. I love Wilfried’s model John Mayer Signature electric acoustic my size and as for tone mmmmm JohnStrat

    • Alex says

      I live less than 20 miles from where Etta Baker lived. I have played guitar with her Grandson a few times. I also live close by to where Doc Watson lived. Doc was known for his legendary flatpicking but he always loved to fingerpick too, even though he never became know for fingerpicking like Chet and Etta. I read a story one time that Chet and Doc, long before they were famous or knew each other, listened to Merle Travis records when they were young. Doc made the correct assumption that Merle was using only his thumb and index finger on his picking hand to produce that wonderful Merle Travis sound. Chet made the wrong assumption that Travis had to be using his thumb + 3 or possibly 4 fingers. So Doc became a really good fingerpicker, but Chet who made the wrong assumption became a fingerpicking legend. So it’s a good thing Doc made the wrong assumption, so he could channel all his energy into flatpicking, influencing Clarence White, Tony Rice, Brian Sutton. Then you have someone like Tommy Emmanuel who is able to play in any style! I seriously think Tommy is the greatest guitar player on earth.

      • Andy L says

        I just found this lesson recently and it sure sounds a lot like Doc’s Deep River Blues, especially the distinctive E7 using the B7 shape on the 6th fret. Brian just turned the tune around a bit, and did it very well.

  31. Johan L says

    That switch from E to B7.. not the thumb pattern, but the actual chord change.. this is the hardest part yet for me! Strange, but those hammer-ons destroy the whole chord change and I’m left with a whole mess of ringing strings! Oh well let’s continue to practice and see!

    Great lesson though Brian! I asked for one of these a while back!

    Oh well more practice then! I’m going to do this justice in the end!

  32. moosie says

    Hey Brian,

    Great lesson, and another thumbs-up for the Martin. I play a OM28-V on all these acoustic lessons. Love it.

    That CEO model… is it just the looks? Tonality seems to be leaning towards Gibson… A bit ‘warmer’, I guess.

    And while we’re on the topic, even though I usually don’t find $300 acoustics to be that pleasing, your little Alvarez has always blown me away. I’ve nearly pulled the trigger on one several times, just because of your videos.

    Cheers.

  34. Richard S says

    My fingers ache! I have never had callouses like I have now from all this Chicken lickin finger pickin.
    It’s new to me and now that I am getting the hang of it it is really wild.
    Thanks for turning me on to a new technique Brian.
    This lesson is going to take time.

    Richard

  35. timothy9 says

    Brian, you Nashville Cat!
    I have a theory that learning to play this style is easier, relatively speaking, when you focus on the melody rather than the pattern.. Deep River Blues, for me, is a classic example. I’ve listened to Doc Watson play that song a million times. Somehow, when I learned the chords and the basic boom chick bass, I was able to break through to that ah-ha moment. A dig part of getting there was really, really knowing and hearing the song in my head.
    Thank you for the excellent lessons, week after week. Amazing.

  37. Andy N says

    Hey Brian, great lesson. Been working on EP117 and EP57 recently so this has turned up bang on cue for me! I hear a touch of Steve Howe in there, though maybe it’s Steve being influenced by Chet 🤔

  43. timk says

    Great piece Brian! I have been working on this for 4 or 5 days and am finally getting it. You are 100% right when you say to stick with it. Progress has been painfully slow but every time I come back to it, I can play it a little better. For me, the key seems to be repetition . – Working through one measure at a time and then connecting the measures.

    Thanks for taking the time and effort to put this lesson together!

  44. sunburst says

    love the tone of that Martin CE0-7.. I just looked it up ,, that little short scale be pricey! lol but hey, you saved and obviously will hold it’s value..i want to try that model.. what made you get it,, did you compare that with the other Martin models?

    • Brian says

      It was sort of an impulse buy. I picked it up to strum on it and check it out and fell in love with it. It reminds me a lot of the Alvarez AP70 – a little brighter, but plays very similar. I’ve played several Martins and like this one the best.

      • sunburst says

        I believe you, I also agree the AP 70 is terrific quality made for 350.00 .. i think that Martin sounds warmer and brighter too just by listening to you play it. I really like my Martin D 35 i bought used for 800.00 it plays and feels tunes so well ,, I a firm believer you can’t go wrong with a Martin! enjoyed EP117 this morning again!!,, ty for reminding me in description ,,very cool another added to my favorites! going to rendition these both on the D35!!! please do keep these coming! best regards!

  45. Daniel F says

    Hey Brian, love the fingerpicking lessons. Funny how the first attempt you practice practice can’t get it the next day your brain puts it all together and there it is ,music. Help me out if you would. I’ve learned 177 and relied on video and tab. For this lesson 202 I’m just starting to go through. Is tab correct at the end of the first B7? Thank, Dan

  49. Adam M says

    Awesome bit of brain to finger pain to get locked into. I too am finding it a little hard around bar 10 (rhythm part) as I think in the part 2 lesson video doesn’t show the pinch of 3 and 4 strings (E fingering), not a biggy as I can here what needs to happen.
    Also I find it a little painful on my left hand trying to get the A# dim7 section down (nut seems to bite my first finger a little) and that part also testing with the 3rd 4th pinch bit which is taking some repetition to get embedded – I’m sure once its locked in and I’m not concentrating so hard it will become less awkward.
    Trying to just master the first rhythm half first as it has what seems like a lot of intricate bits before getting onto the Chet parts

  52. Rich B says

    At 62 years old i can honestly tell you …Been working on fingerpicking style for a long time…..The way your able to break it down is by far the best ive ever found….Your a very special person with a great gift !!!!!…This is my third piece im learning from you…Thank you……

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