Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Acoustic Blues Guitar Lesson – No Accompaniment – EP111

Description

This is an acoustic blues guitar lesson that shows how to play an up-tempo blues in the key of E with no accompaniment. No jam tracks or other musicians are required to play this, all you need is a guitar and a pick. This works on acoustic or electric guitar.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through Video

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

    • barb h says

      Thanks Brian. What is the guitar that you switched to? I have learned so much theory listening to your videos and really enjoy that. It is slowly making more sense to me every song that I’ve learned from your videos..I realize that learning to play the guitar is a never ending journey!!

  3. madams says

    Great lesson, as always.

    Per your question, I would love for you to do a mini series on theory. It’s also very helpful for me when you work it into your lessons.

    Thank you.

  5. Tom Van Bladel says

    Another thank you! These lessons are the reason I subscribed. And no, you don’t talk too much: it’s exactly what makes it valuable to me. A very good balance between talking, repetition, theory, practice and good tunes! Love it!

  6. charjo says

    Brian,
    Never apologize for talking too much. Maybe you have to be a premium member to fully appreciate your format, but the talking videos, part 1 and 2, are like our weekly private lesson and you are like the teacher I could never seem to find. After watching these carefully there are the slow walk throughs, tabs, video tabs and backing tracks to perfect it at our own pace.
    Bring on more theor.y. A few threads in the forum have brought up theory recently.
    John

  7. scattercreek says

    I agree the theory you put in lessons is a gold mine of worthwhile information.  Understanding how music works helps make one a better player. It also adds the the enjoyment of music. Keep it up Brian!

  10. Michael Allen says

    Thanks Brian.  I love the lesson.  And don’t worry about talking to much.  “I like the way you talk”  Things are learned best when thoroughly explained

  12. Kevin GA says

    Totally agree with previous posters Brian re:talking - for me, you have just the right balance of info/explanation/demonstration which is why I pay for Premium - I still play like s**t but that’s another story 🙂

  16. barryfoil@gmail.com says

    another great lesson love these acoustic blues, great for solo guitarists (or would be guitarists !) i was going to suggest a lesson on how cords fit together , so yes some theory 101 would be good. I have been trying to play for over 50 years, mainly by ear, with limited talent and have learnt so much since finding your site. I now have some understanding on how music composition works, pity my virtuosity skills don’t match.
    Keep up the good work, you must be keeping many happy
    barry (UK)

  18. dada says

    yes another great lesson! thanks! for me you are not talking too much at all your remarks are very very helpful. please continue the way you do!

  22. owens says

    Please continue the explanations as to why it works.  Personally I appreciate all the lessons that you provide theory explanations .  Otherwise it’s just memorizing without providing us with skills to contribute to music on our own

  23. drlknstein says

    Brian
    you make mondays a little bit easier to digest.  I am a lawyer (till the grand jury meets anyway)  got in the office this morning, ck ed email, hit usual business sites, then ck ed yours for new lesson.  I usually watch the lesson first in my office and then watch it again later with guitar.  well, I just took off at noon and am home with the guitar with a clear mind ready to learn the new challenge.

    don t change anything-keep going with bonafide blues and rock and truth.  I need all the help I can get and the theory helps.

  24. drlknstein says

    BRIAN-

    WHY DO YOU ALWAYS USE THE ALVAREZ FOR THE ACCOUSTIC SESSIONS?  AND IS THAT THE AP 70 PARLOR?  I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PARLOR AND HAVE LOOKED AT SOME RATHER EXPENSIVE ONES. 

    THANKS

    MARK

  25. JRI says

    fantastic lesson Brain, as usual.  PLEASE keep talking, and talking, your explanation and ..talking.. are one of the biggest reasons I subscribe.  I learn so much from your talking.  I agree with others a mini theory course might be nice, but, I think we are learning a lot of theory during your “talking” and we are also learning some great tunes (my friends and family have been very impressed).  I really value your input on how we could improvise and add onto your tunes, 12 bar blues in particular is such a great format to do so, thus, keep on keeping on and keep on TALKING

  26. hansell says

    Hi Brian,
    What a great lesson on this posting! I just bought myself an Alvarez MPA70 acoustic (on your endorsement) and this is the first lesson I’m playing with it. Love the guitar and Love your arrangement! I really enjoy lessons such as these where you don’t need backing tracks or second guitars. Keep them coming!
    Harry

  27. willise says

    This walking bass type lesson is just what I needed. I’m desperately trying to lean The Downtown Stomp by Pat Donahue and this goes a long way to helping with it.

    By the way - maybe you should look at a Pat Donahue inspired lesson!!

    Cheers!!

  29. Don Deering says

    Thank you, Brian, great lesson, great tune!

    I haven’t heard the entire lesson (can’t wait to get home to do so worth a guitar in hand), so I really don’t know what you said about theory, but I’m responding to the comments. You certainly haven’t overdone the theory, and it’s the difference between knowing the grips and understanding the underlying concepts. If I could play as well without the theory, I don’t think it would interest me, but knowing theory has definitely improved my confidence, and having confidence has improved my playing.

  30. zoidb says

    I think for this one the slow walkthrough might be a little too slow? Maybe a little faster, or just a tad slower or the same speed as the run-throughs on the individual videos at the end.  Anyway it’s no biggie since I’m finding the soundslice speed up feature really useful for practicing.

  31. Woodduck8 says

    Excellent! just joined up and already learning something that sounds great.  Looking forward to digging deeper into your lessons, Thanx.

  32. Jrhep says

    Fun lesson!

    The way you tie the “riffs” to scale/chord position is critical. This is something I had to learn over time on my own It took awhile to migrate from learning licks to applying licks to my scale knowledge…huge difference. This could have saved me a lot of time had I used this approach day one.

    One add? Include a full speed version like the slow version, no talk just up to speed.

  34. Eddie Chen says

    I am from Taiwan. In your lessons, not only can I learn guitar techniques from you but also improve my listening capability. Your MUCH talk is very helpful and productive to me. Thank you so much.

  35. old man says

    Great lessons! Just signed on for second year.I don’t think you talk to much. After years of guitar magazines, guitar music books, VHS’s ,DVD’s and some
      lessons, Since starting Brian’s lessons ,I am finally starting to understand the whole guitar.                     
    Thanks Brian!

  36. doug.balch@gmail.com says

    This was wonderful.  You forgot the outro.  Remember, you were goiing to start giving us different ways to wrap things up?  Thanks.

  38. Countryman says

    Hi Brian.  I do agree with the majority of comments that you most certainly DONT talk to much. It is what makes your style of teaching stand out from many of the other guitar sites on line. Like Barryfoil(UK) I have been trying to play the guitar for over 50 years .I play by ear and the theory side of playing passed me by completely, until I joined you 18months ago. My guitar playing has improved immeasurably, and I am now able to understand some of the theory thanks to your style of teaching. Again I echo many of the comments made, that a mini lesson devoted to more theory would be an excellent idea. Many thanks Brian for the time and effort you undoubtedly put into producing these lessons. Best wishes .Countryman

  39. oldsodbuster2013 says

    I know if I searched long enough. I would find the lesson format that I can rap my brain around. I am a semi advanced beginner in this instance and I am getting it. I will become a premium member very soon. I love this stuff…wow…this is the greatest thing since sliced bread. play on peace out with a doubt its a hell-a-sound.

  42. dhw1066 says

    Hi,
    One thing following Brian’s lessons I found you can see possibilities of combining previous lessons into longer ‘jams’.  For example this lesson EP111 goes nicely with the piece taught earlier EP049. So you got a longer piece to play around with to build up speed and stamina. Other lessons I found that combine with this one are EP084 Winter Blues and Bo Diddley EP086 since they match the same key and feel as this one. If anyone sees any other possibilities let me know.

  45. warren james earp says

    Hi Brian. Thanks for a great lesson. Re-your comment, it would be great if you could explain the relative major and minor,  and its relation to the major and minor pentatonic position.  It would also be great if you could do a lesson on soloing through a 12 bar blues without a compliment highlighting the chords by the notes you play and showing us where those notes are and when it is best to play them … I’ve just come to the end of my first year with you and looking forward to the next.  All the best.    Warren.

  46. Don Deering says

    Thanks, Brian, I’ve heard the whole lesson now. I’m working on playing it. Your teaching style is spot-on, suggestions like considering hand angle are invaluable.

  47. jontyblu says

    I understand that chords 1=E major, 6= C# minor and 4= A major work well together and why 1,4,5 also work well because they sound right (and it says so on my chord grid).

    Could you do a lesson as others have asked on this aspect of chords and chord progressions ie why some chords associate better than others. By the way EP111 is another cracking lesson.

  49. Robotman says

    I almost got it (I think).

    The one thing I have not been able to replicate is “the knock”.

    It would be nice if you could expand this lesson on that point, or create other lessons with emphasis on “the knock”. I think it sounds very cool.

  50. hotrod1941 says

    Brian, Thanks for the great lesson. No, you do not talk too much. You are very informative and I would like to see some theory as maybe a special lesson. One thing I would like is understanding or knowing when playing a I-IV-V or VI is (for instance) when going to the IV, how to use the 3rd for flat7. I have a reasonable idea, but when playing, sometimes I get all caught up in root minor and get lost (depending where I am in the scale of things) and miss the walk in or out on the IV.

    Thanks as always

  51. nifcam says

    I love these lessons too, but I’m not sure what to do at the end. The slow walk through is great but to my ear it doesn’t seem to have an ending. Anyone with suggestions?
    Thanks!

  54. madams says

    Hi Brian,

    I’m coming back to this lesson and wanted to respond to your requests for feedback.
    1) I would love a theory course (which you’ve mentioned you are developing).
    2) Keeping theory as part of your lessons is important to an overall understanding of playing guitar. Otherwise we’re just memorizing finger placement and picking. I would even like a little more theory in your lessons, but understand the need for balance
    3) You’re not talking too much. You are gifted at teaching. Keep up the great work!

    Michael

  55. Matt H says

    Hi Brian,

    Another great lesson!!!

    I would love a mini theory session on the relative minor chords /scales you mentioned. My ears definitely got the difference when played against the E major chord, and the C minor7 chord, which is very interesting considering you played the same notes, so would love to know more about that.

    Thanks again

    Matt

  56. sunburst says

    liked this on electric today.. can really hear the vi (Dbm7) slide back to the A..going to the E .. I like did a bit improvise using finger style like piedmont blues I learned from a great teacher on Jamplay Eric Madis. Or using a hybrid picking and plucking with hammer ons the E with the same pattern

  57. Dan P says

    Oh yes…. Its taken me about four hours (in different shifts) to get this down. I’m thrilled to bits! Who said you cant teach an old dog new tricks?
    I cannot believe that I’ve only been a premium member since December and come on bundles! Amazing considering I have not picked up a guitar for many many years, and was only self taught.
    I must admit that a lot of the theory has been going strait over the top of my head, I have just been so excited about being able to play such beautiful music (within reason) that I have gone to the next move without knowing what I’m actually playing.
    But… I have now made a pact with myself to spend at least an hour a week on theory.
    Thanks for the great lessons Brian, and to the members input to my questions on the forum.

  62. zanread says

    Yes, yes yes, on the guitar music theory course – I’ve been looking for years for a course that would actually make sense to me. I’ve got a million little pieces of theory I’ve picked up over the years, but still find myself unable to connect the dots in a way that applies to my playing. I love your lessons and have learned more from them than years of private lessons, but still seeking to get the BIG PICTURE on the guitar…..

  63. Thomas J says

    You talk just fine Brian
    Sharp lessons and already good improvement in my game.

    This blues is a wonder can you post more of this kind 🙂 and I’d like more jazzy-blues lessons like “St James infirmary”?
    Can’t thank you enough,
    MERCI
    T

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