Which lesson is your favorite?

[Fitna]

I’ve had so much fun learning to play the boogiewoogie blues (284)!
And it makes me think; which lesson is your personal favorite? And why?
I’m learning to play 2 or 3 lessons a week now and I can use your help to make a good selection, because the amount of content is overwhelming 🙂

[brian-belsey]

There are so many! There’s one in particular from years ago that I keep meaning to learn really thoroughly: EP141. I think this will be huge fun to play and improvise from when it’s really under the fingers. It would really rock. But others too. EP155 is so cool. My problem is I get part way through things and then get distracted by another lesson or piece!

[Anonymous]

EP125 EP106 EP161

[snakechisler]

My all time favourite is EP106 and is the 1 St lesson that really drew me into AM.

Current working favourites are many but EP266 stands out.

[Fitna]

Thanks for the tips, I will look into it!

brian-belsey wrote:

My problem is I get part way through things and then get distracted by another lesson or piece!

Yes me too, but I don’t want to learn to play it perfect. It doesn’t bother me when I still struggle with a vast lick or something. For me it takes away the ‘magic’ of the song when I play it to often. So my goal is to learn as much new material as I can handle and the imperfections will solve by the time.

[sunjamr]

For me, some of the first lessons I learned several years ago are still my favorites. Like these ones:

EP065 – Acoustic Blues + EP066 & EP037 (delta blues)
EP069 – Slow Cm Groove + EP184
EP078 – BB King – The Thrill Is Gone
EP080 – Allman Brothers
EP097 – Jimmy Rogers
EP102 – BB King

But maybe that’s just because I’ve played them more than the newer lessons.

Sunjamr Steve

[JoLa]

Yeah, there’s so many, I have a hard time staying focused on one at a time! I also try to learn a few at the same time, although they are usually at different stages of learning, so it gives me a good break going from one to another to keep it interesting.
The lesson that tipped the scale for me to join in and stole my heart forever is EP187 – Percussive Fingerstyle Blues! It still gives me the chills whenever I listen to it 🙂 I play it almost every time I pick up a guitar. Not far behind would be EP282, EP261, EP283, EP205, EP224, EP112/113 …. and the list gets really long here because I love so many lessons!

🎸JoLa

[Don D.]

Great question, and I’m looking forward to reading the replies.

There are many, but one has insinuated itself into just about everything I play, EP090, Funk Blues in F# minor with Hubert Sumlin-Style Lead. Both the concepts and the actual notes/chords are useful.

Another one that I’ve used in many circumstances is Vintage Guitar Rhythm Lesson, EP083 in G. What a great foundation.

There are other blues in E that I’ve taken pieces from, EP065 – EP066 are probably the most used (link goes to 066, there’s a link in that to 065).

The one I like best for how it sounds is Blues Guitar With a Tempo Change – Rhythm and Lead, EP182. It reminds me of “Green Onions,” it has a really cool mood/attitude, but I can’t play it. Going to come back to it someday.

Two recent ones that I like a lot and am working on are EP284 Boogie Woogie in E and Minor Key, R&B Style Composition – Using Call & Response Technique – Solo Guitar Lesson EP293. Even though the last one says “minor key,” you can easily make it major.

This one has some riffs that are similar to EP284.

And EP251, the 4-note one used in February’s Challenge.

Don D.

[Maradonagol]

That boogie is one of my favorites Don….

Roberto

[Don D.]

It’s so good. If I take really good care of myself I should be able to play it by the time I’m 150.

Don D.

[Don D.]

Some people mentioned lessons in B and it reminded me of this Freddie King lesson, EP050, using a descending box pattern, essential blues building block.

Don D.

[Maradonagol]

Great question, but for we early subscribers there are just too many, I don’t remember which was the first that drew me in to AM and Brian’ style, but in general my favorites are the more driven blues/rock edgy ones…..

Roberto

[brian-belsey]

The more you think about this the more you come up with. Brian seems to quite like the key of B. There are two slow blues played with a pick from years ago that seem particularly worth looking at carefully: EP017 and EP094.

[Fitna]

sunjamr wrote:

EP065 – Acoustic Blues + EP066 & EP037 (delta blues)

Love this one! I’m gonna grab my guitar and dig into it.

[Fitna]

brian-belsey wrote:

The more you think about this the more you come up with.

So let’s keep m coming 🙂
Brian is doing this for years, there is so much. Does anyone know how he creates the compositions? Does he gets help? I’m exhausted by only thinking off coming up with a new tune every week haha

[JoLa]

Yes, Fitna, Brian is absolutely amazing and he not only comes up with a new fabulous composition every week but also creates his own jam tracks, if needed, from scratch, all by himself. He’s that talented!

If you’re interested in learning more and how he does it, it’s probably the best to hear from Brian himself:
my-recording-setup-how-i-create-jam-tracks

Also here Brian answers some questions from members: if-you-could-ask-brian-one-question

🎸JoLa

[Doug T]

Yes, Fitna, Brian is absolutely amazing and he not only comes up with a new fabulous composition every week but also creates his own jam tracks, if needed, from scratch, all by himself. He’s that talented!

If you’re interested in learning more and how he does it, it’s probably the best to hear from Brian himself:
my-recording-setup-how-i-create-jam-tracks

Also here Brian answers some questions from members: if-you-could-ask-brian-one-question

Thanks for the links JoLo, I was wondering how Brain is able to make such great backing tracks.

[JohnStrat]

Well EP069 was the lesson that brought me to Active Melody. I had thought about learning to play via the internet and came across 69 which I really liked. So I joined up at that time. Vintage sound EP083 is a classic. Then EP041,50,74,75,94,97,122,125,
145,177,214,238,245 and so many more. There is just so much great stuff here…..
All the best JohnStrat

[JohnStrat]

JohnStrat wrote:

Well EP069 was the lesson that brought me to Active Melody. I had thought about learning to play via the internet and came across 69 which I really liked. So I joined up at that time. Vintage sound EP083 is a classic. Then EP041,50,74,75,94,97,122,125,
145,177,214,238,244 and so many more. There is just so much great stuff here…..
All the best JohnStrat

[Klickitat Jim]

144

[Billy]

Loads of great lessons make it difficult to pick one or two, Too many lessons on AM, possibly.
Like yourself I find I flit quickly between one lesson to Another, like a bee collecting nectar..hahaha

..Billy..

[richard t]

Learning two to three lessons a week amazes me. It takes me two weeks to a month to learn one lesson.
But I am just a hobbyist having fun, so I don’t work very hard at it.
Hard to pick a favorite out of so many great lessons. I only learn the lessons that move me somehow.
256 was a popular lesson I heard in the last challenge. It has a wonderful weeping lead guitar part. I really liked it, so I would say it is my current favorite. It exceeds my skill level, but I might try to learn it and post it.
Others I really liked and learned were, 069,173,210, and 225.
One other thing, I remember trying to learn 121. Brian said it was easy and even beginners should try to play it. Well I had to laugh because it took me all of a month before I could play it. But it is also a fun little song to play.

[Nick Z]

#302. The learn “control” melody. Nice little tune that combines open chords with melody.
Great way to work on your technique forcing you to move hands correctly. Hard to pull off easily
that’s for sure. Great site w/ lots of content. You can learn a little of everything here, blues, jazz, country etc. Best part you don’t have to play in a band anymore!

[Rob H]

Hi Fitna, all,
Great question and I have enjoyed reading all the replies as it’s given me a few ideas for lessons to check out.
I really enjoyed one of the jazz lessons which split into three EP004/5/6 covering the rhythm and lead parts. EP19 and EP184 I play all the time and mix and match the licks as they both have the same chords (Blues in Am resolving with the Hendricks chord) Cheers

[sunburst]

Greetings Fitna, too many favorites but I’ve been very busy having fun with both 303 and 305 .. (part 1 & 2 of unplugged Clapton(Robert Johnson) style blues.. I think this style is home bass for Brian’s Active Melody lessons but as you mentioned, how does he come up with these different genres and so tight and right?.. tis why I’m still here enjoying his teachings! enjoy , look foward to watching/listening to a showcase too!

[Nigel M]

That’s amazing Fita, learning 2 or 3 lessons a week. It typically takes me about a month to learn one of Brian’s compositions. I guess you get faster the more experience you have.
I have just found EP248 (gospel style blues) in my opinion one of the best pieces on the site. I’ll be very happy if when somebody asks me to play something on guitar, I can play this perfectly.

[Roger]

sunjamr wrote:

For me, some of the first lessons I learned several years ago are still my favorites. Like these ones:

EP065 – Acoustic Blues + EP066 & EP037 (delta blues)

Those look like a great way to keep my resonator busy

[Neil]

My learning is slow (I’m 60 so I have time but I’m still slow!) but for me EP 314 is just great. It sounds beautiful and the theory side is very interesting. My second favourite is EP 282, which was the first one I learned here. I just love it!!

I’m not a premium member yet, but after many online tutors, I feel like I’m learning what I want to learn in a way that I can understand, and so premium membership will be my Christmas present!!!

Thanks go to Brian….I’m enjoying my playing more and more now…..

Doing what you like is Freedom. Liking what you do is Happiness.

[Usernameinvalid]

Thanks to everyone for listing your favorites.
There is so much info on this site it’s hard to know
where to start. This helps a lot.

[Author]

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