EP126 Cool Blues Rhythm ideas.

[Geoff]

Well, i hope you all had a great Christmas and new year 😄.

This is a blues Microlesson but it steps into jazz territory with those diminished chords and the 2 5 4 turnaround idea. I did the lesson verbatim in the beginning and the rest is my own ad lib on this. I did not stick strictly to blues ..
but … oh well . 😄 I really like the way you can slide diminished chords up and down the neck and I had some fun doing that on this lesson. Who knows, maybe one day I will get the hang of 2 5 4 turnarounds 🤣.

[Clarke]

Geoff,

Always enjoy your performances be they Blues, Jazz or classical and this was no exception. You are a man of many styles and talents.

Clarke

[Geoff]

Thanks Clarke, I try. Keeps me from getting bored.

Happy New Year to you.

[John H]

Well done Geoff,
I too enjoyed this immensely. I think you found your “tone” with your Guild. You dial in just enough reverb to make what you play sound very ‘retro’ which I think is hugely important. Your showing and manner were grand! Happy New Year.

John

[Geoff]

Thanks John, as I mentioned to Garry. I don’t use effects much but I think Hall Reverb is essential, at least, for me. I never play without it.

[charjo]

Well played, Geoff, and I agree with John on the tone. Great work on the improv.
Taking a standard blues and tossing in some diminished, a few 6, 2, 5, 1’s, some tritone substitutions and even altered voicings can make your head spin.
All the best in 2026.
John

[Geoff]

Thanks John, I really feel I do not know what I am doing with Diminished Chords but I do like that tension they introduce between chord changes. As for the 6, 2, 5, 1’s and tritone substitutions – still way above my skill level I’m afraid.

[JoeD1]

I thought it sounded great Geoff…whether it was blues or jazz or whatever!

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[Geoff]

Thanks Joe. Happy New Year 🙂

[David L]

There’s a lot packed into this – bluesy, jazzy, sultry. Impressive improvisation. Nice way to start the New Year! Well done, Geoff.

[Geoff]

Happy New Year to you too David. The problem is going to be dreaming up what to do next.

[Dieter]

Hi Geoff,

The addition of jazz chords to the lesson is very creative, interesting, and skillful. The rhythm and sound are also 100% right—what more could you want?

Dieter

[Geoff]

Thank Dieter, I do like jazz chords. If only I truly understood how to use them 🙂

Happy New Year

[Garry]

Jot down your sound settings for this one Geoff because the audio for this is spot on for this lesson. Are you mic-ing an amp or are you using virtual amps and effects? Also kudos again on your impros. You’re reaching new heights of expertise here. Sometimes I can impro reasonably well and other times it’s a mess! Happy 2026. Have a safe, happy and healthy one and thanks for all the inspiring performances over the past year. 😎🎸😎

[Geoff]

I have the same experience with improv as you Garry. Sometimes, it come out great and others not so much – that’s the nature of the creative process I think.

As for the settings. I never use virtual amps and effects – I prefer what I would call a natural sound and I am not really a fan of effects generally. Thought I would be. I mean, I bought a great boss multi-effects pedal but all I use 90% of the time is the Hall Reverb.

I use a focusrite recording interface and I used to think it was necessary to have the recording level set on high so that I would get more volume. The downside of that is it makes the microphone more sensitive to background sounds. I have since learned to set the recording interface at lower volume and use my video editing software to boost the sound as needed – I think I get better sound quality that way.

Happy New Year to you too Garry.

[Laurel C]

That sound setting whether it’s retro or vintage or the Guild makes this ml lesson sparkle. Packed with ideas including your own ad lib. Good start for 2026.🎶

[Geoff]

Thank for listening Laurel. Hall Reverb is the secret – haha 🙂

[Helen Lazaridou]

What a great way to start the new Year Geoff!!!!I love diminished chords!They give a different vibe to every piece and it’s so great that you can improvise too 🥰🥰🥰

[Geoff]

Hi there Helen, thanks for giving this a listen. I have been meaning to write to you and will do soon.

Oh…and Happy New Year. I hope it was a good festive season for you.

[James B]

Nicely done, Geoff. You’re a brave picker to venture out into the woods of improvisation. Way to go for it. Happy New Year!

James

[Geoff]

Happy New Year to you too James.

[Richard G]

Geoff, you’ve started the new year off with a bang. Loved the tone you achieved and the diminished chords always give an interesting twist to the number.

All the very best for 2026.

Richard

[Geoff]

You too Richard. Happy New Year.

[Guido]

Great rendition of the Brian’s original melody and excellent improvisation of your own in the second part, very original and melodic as usual, with many different ideas and intriguing phrases. Happy new year Geoff!

Guido

[Geoff]

Hey, happy New Year to you Guido. I hope it was a good one. Too much food and drink for me but it was great.

Nothing like experimentation when it comes to guitar. Sometimes it works and sometimes not but that is all part of the learning process. Using diminished chords adds a nice flavor but I still haven’t really figured out how to use them.

[Author]

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