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Acoustic Blues Guitar Lesson – Play Acoustic Blues Guitar By Yourself – EP315

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play an acoustic blues composition that requires no accompaniment. This composition uses the classic blues “call and response” technique, allowing you to first establish a simple blues rhythm, and then create fill licks in-between the rhythm phrases. Grab an acoustic (or electric) guitar and follow along.

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Comments

  1. ranja says

    June 28, 2019 at 6:43 pm

    Lovin this one Brian. Very down home.
    Ron

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    • Kelvin H says

      November 24, 2019 at 6:44 pm

      This is magnificent Brian, it sounds great down here in Australia on my Martin acoustic… love it.

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  2. Tony says

    June 28, 2019 at 6:58 pm

    Sweet

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  3. Cary says

    June 28, 2019 at 7:05 pm

    I’m grabbing my guitar and a beer and headed it to the front porch right now!

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    • Warren Messineo says

      July 4, 2019 at 8:20 am

      that’s what I’m talkin’ bought – where is your porch, I’ll be right over !

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      • Matt C says

        July 7, 2019 at 4:14 am

        Count me in too.

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  4. JohnStrat says

    June 28, 2019 at 7:05 pm

    Love this one and will be making a effort next week to get this off with all its goodies. Wonderful JohnStrat

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    • Christian P says

      November 20, 2023 at 4:50 pm

      MP3

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  5. Brent C says

    June 28, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    Oh man, LUV it !!!! Getting started right now.
    Thank you Brian

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  6. Claire W says

    June 28, 2019 at 7:21 pm

    Nice! (How old is that Martin?)

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    • Brian says

      June 29, 2019 at 10:31 am

      1947

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      • dr-d says

        June 29, 2019 at 11:21 am

        I love this tune too. Authentic and articulate blues. What model is that Martin?

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  7. roco says

    June 28, 2019 at 7:36 pm

    Nice! Great takeaways!🎶

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  8. Michael Allen says

    June 28, 2019 at 7:55 pm

    I’m all into this one. Thanks Brian

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  9. OldVet says

    June 28, 2019 at 8:07 pm

    Evidence the rockers from later years took directly from the old Delta bluesmen is in this lesson.

    The repeating lick in E with the trill can be heard as the opening guitar by Stevie Mariott in the Humble Pie song, “Rolling Stone.”

    When switching to the 4th Pentatonic, the little slide down is heard in ZZ Top’s LaGrange in the first lead. Different strings, but the very same sliding in the 4th.

    In the Crossroads Guitar Festival in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas 2004, Clapton’s voice over during the opening of ZZ Top, who wrapped up the event says it all. Wait for it. He talks about ZZ Top as archivists of the blues.

    As a side note, Frank Beard is such an under rated drummer.

    So put some delta in your blues.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euZm1TfO9xY

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  10. Alex says

    June 28, 2019 at 9:00 pm

    Last week I wished for something in d minor, and this week I wanted acoustic blues!

    I’ll bet that’s a Hanna Hat from Donegal Ireland, looks almost the same as mine.

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    • Brian says

      June 29, 2019 at 10:29 am

      Good eye Alex, it IS a Hanna hat

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  11. jimbostrat says

    June 28, 2019 at 9:07 pm

    Watch out Lightnin’ Hopkins!! Nice and swampy funky and down home Bayou!! I suggest making this one a favorite right next door to EP213 & EP214 and studying and drilling this all together into second nature………..great basis for blues and exploring improvisation!! Jim C.

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    • Cary says

      June 29, 2019 at 2:46 pm

      Oh yeah, 213 and 214 are fantastic too

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      • Francisco Javier C says

        July 2, 2019 at 6:26 am

        See 097 I play on acousstic!

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        • Leigh R says

          July 10, 2019 at 5:05 pm

          Thanks for the tips guys, I’ll check all of these out. Great lesson Brian, very achievable for my level of skill.

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  12. David M says

    June 28, 2019 at 9:25 pm

    Love It! Love It! Love It! I wish you could come out with a song like this every week for the summer blues to play on my porch.
    Thanks Brian.

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  13. San Luis Rey says

    June 28, 2019 at 9:48 pm

    I love these stand alone acoustic blues lessons. You can just grab a guitar and go! Every lesson youv’e put out lately goes straight to favorites. Man, you are on a roll!

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  14. Glenn says

    June 28, 2019 at 11:26 pm

    OK, I’m going back to the buffet again. I love this stuff, and this was was a confidence builder for me. I had most of it in about an hour, and learned a bunch. More similar to this and the unplugged lessons, but I also have enjoyed your country lessons. I don’t know how you do it. Say, if you won’t name your compositions, how about a contest? The lesson numbers are confusing in conversation.
    Glenn

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  15. BRENDAN G says

    June 29, 2019 at 12:04 am

    Great lesson,
    There might be a small mistake on the tab. You have the 2nd fret on the low E string and it should be the 3rd .
    Otherwise great lesson
    Brendan

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    • Vagelis F says

      June 30, 2019 at 2:54 am

      right, sounds great with a full bend,
      many thanks and greetings from athens greece Brian and Brendan

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  16. Allan says

    June 29, 2019 at 2:29 am

    exellent Brian another gem to get stuck into lots in this one so cant wait to get started cheers mate

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  17. Bosc T says

    June 29, 2019 at 2:49 am

    Thank you from France Brian.

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  18. Lights says

    June 29, 2019 at 5:03 am

    Yeeeeeeeeeeees! That´s my lesson!

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  19. Jim M says

    June 29, 2019 at 7:39 am

    Dirty !!!

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  20. Charles C says

    June 29, 2019 at 9:09 am

    Recommended active melody to several guitar players on the bus to hear Tommy Emanuel and David Grisman in Boulder this week. Hope they signed up. Love your site Brian

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  21. Raymond P says

    June 29, 2019 at 9:33 am

    Nice sounding Blues-E lesson. Some nice take-aways too.
    Thanks
    Ray P

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  22. David L says

    June 29, 2019 at 9:37 am

    5 weeks of blues. Anything for the paying members into different styles of music?

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    • Michael W says

      June 30, 2019 at 12:49 am

      Last week wasn’t blues……

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      • David L says

        June 30, 2019 at 7:02 am

        One lesson in five not blues. I stand corrected.

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  23. Edward L says

    June 29, 2019 at 11:55 am

    Another great composition. But I noted that it was easier to play when the second note in the first “call” started on a G (third fret E string) with a bend rather than the second fret. Then I noticed that you played it with a bend starting on the G, but the tab shows F#. I like the way you played it better. Thanks.

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    • Brian says

      June 30, 2019 at 3:12 pm

      I have corrected the tab.

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      • sunburst says

        July 2, 2019 at 10:42 pm

        I see you sweeping measure 11 ( inverted triad 789? anyway i’m sweeping it cause it sounds right! so many variations and room to make up stuff ..like this ,enjoyed for a good practice

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  24. BRADLEE C says

    June 29, 2019 at 12:39 pm

    I love your tabs with the note duration as well as fret and string. What software do you use?

    Outstanding composition and really useful explanations, by the way.

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  25. charjo says

    June 29, 2019 at 3:28 pm

    Just perfect! Love it, Brian.
    John

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  26. Francis L says

    June 29, 2019 at 9:39 pm

    Hey Brian, my hats in the ring for another 12mths this being the start
    of my 4th yr .love this number, that guitar is the same age as me
    It just sounds better.
    Cheers

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  27. James O says

    June 30, 2019 at 1:14 am

    Superb. Thanks again

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  28. steffen e says

    June 30, 2019 at 3:09 am

    Hi, I think there are some mistakes in the tab. In the beginning. I tried to learn but it Is different to the Video and the sound. 😄

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    • Brian says

      June 30, 2019 at 3:12 pm

      I have corrected the tab.

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      • steffen e says

        June 30, 2019 at 5:02 pm

        Sorry, but I am still sure it is not correct. You play an E with the hamering on in the beginning. It‘s not in the tab.

        Steffen

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        • steffen e says

          July 1, 2019 at 3:51 am

          Well, ok. you do not Play the second string 🙂

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        • Brian says

          July 1, 2019 at 10:42 am

          I’m not seeing what you’re referring to. I’ve watched it several times – can you be very specific about what is incorrect, what measure?

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          • steffen e says

            July 1, 2019 at 4:44 pm

            Sorry, but what I meant is that in the Video you explained the respond part in the beginning and after the A you play an E with the hammering on but in the tab is not the whole E writen. Only the D and G string which you are playing. That was what I was wondering about, but now I unterstand.

  29. Iman A says

    July 1, 2019 at 11:46 am

    Beauty Hat I really enjoy this great and excellent Blues lesson . Love it

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  30. Treblemaker says

    July 1, 2019 at 3:47 pm

    These are so good. I really wish you would show us how to play a simple rhythm as a micro lesson to go with each one. This one could be microlesson STR 315. That rhythm you played in this one was way cool but it doesn’t even need to be that complex. Just a 5 to 8 minute video kind of thing. Pleeeez and thank you.

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  31. Alexandre F says

    July 2, 2019 at 8:54 am

    Wow! This is the kind of blues that makes you thrill from the beginning through the end of the song always smoothly over the course with hammer on , pull off strings , bendings, hybrid picking …all the great stuff from blues and even a jazzy feeling on it … I really enjoy this kind of clapton style and in my opinion some muddy waters too

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  32. Geof C says

    July 2, 2019 at 12:13 pm

    Love this one Brian! Lots of light bulbs turning on, winking, blinking, and then, gradually, going dimly-bright. I can follow along, but not yet with metronome ease.

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  33. East Coast Bill says

    July 2, 2019 at 2:09 pm

    Brian thank you. I have been working on some of the Legacy and Micro Lesson files. Enjoy them tremendously. I especially enjoy the lessons like EP315. They permit you to sit down and ply. Can’t beat it.

    Thanks

    East Coast Bill

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  34. Jamie R says

    July 2, 2019 at 2:20 pm

    Just the type of composition I’ve been looking for. I was just starting to work on EP213. Can folks recommend other lessons (or micro lessons) in this vein?

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    • JohnStrat says

      July 3, 2019 at 3:02 pm

      Jamie take a look at 097.

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  35. jerry L says

    July 2, 2019 at 2:25 pm

    Once you get going on this take a listen Bonnie Raitts Blender Blues on You Tube to expand your licks. Brian takes it easy on all of us so our heads don’t explode, good job my brother, tasty licks as always!

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  36. sunjamr says

    July 2, 2019 at 3:39 pm

    After 3+ years as an ActiveMelody member, I can take the “call” part of this lesson and sit around for hours crafting different “responses”. No matter how new a player you are, you should try it. But first learn the lesson.

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  37. sunburst says

    July 2, 2019 at 9:14 pm

    So much going on here, I say this would be a good monthly challenge.. there is so much that can fit between this slow 12 bar

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  38. JohnStrat says

    July 3, 2019 at 2:52 pm

    I just returned home from Portugal and so I will pick on this wonderful lesson to get refreshed as it’s been listening only. Re running this for me it has to rate as one of the top lessons it’s such a classic bluesy hook of a rhythm it has to be perfected and improvised on. What a goody.
    JohnStrat

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  39. Qi H says

    July 3, 2019 at 6:05 pm

    Hi Brian,
    Thanks so much, Such a nice piece! A quick question, when you finished the 1st round 12 bars, did you add two extra bars to do the turnaround? Not that matters, but I realised it’s not a strict 12 bar, it would be great to know that we are allowed to mess around with a 12 bar.

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    • Qi H says

      July 5, 2019 at 7:27 pm

      Sorry I got that wrong, the turnaround is actually the first two bars of next around!

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  40. Geoff White says

    July 4, 2019 at 4:25 am

    Sound great on a 12 string

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  41. rick m says

    July 4, 2019 at 7:56 am

    Brian,
    Thanks for doing what you do, and for the way you bring it to your army of students. Great, great stuff. Thank you!

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  42. Warren Messineo says

    July 4, 2019 at 8:23 am

    thanks, absolutely love this one. And that Martin is a beauty.

    But most of all – where did you get that great hat ??

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    • Brian says

      July 4, 2019 at 10:18 am

      Found that hat at a little shop in Germany – just had to have it!

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      • Warren Messineo says

        July 5, 2019 at 1:45 pm

        I’ll have to wait until I go to Germany. I had the pleasure of having a beer with Peter Finger a few years ago after a performance in SF. Great guy and great show.

        Hope you heard some great music on your trip.

        thanks again for 315. I am having a great time working on it.

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  43. Tom M says

    July 4, 2019 at 10:43 am

    This is one for the fourth! Love it – smooth and natural

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  44. Darren K says

    July 4, 2019 at 2:08 pm

    Really enjoy your lessons and site, I generally support the on line instructors but you are a cut above, I listen to some others and get bored quickly I like your approach and style.!! I will be traveling and its nice to login no matter where I am to squeeze in a lesson and some playing time….Cheers

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  45. melodyseeker says

    July 5, 2019 at 1:48 am

    solid!!!

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  46. freddie h says

    July 5, 2019 at 10:03 am

    Perfect. Will definitely be working this one up. Love these solo blues pieces.

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  47. REYES F says

    July 7, 2019 at 12:03 pm

    Hi Brian,
    Nice blues, I really love it.
    To be honest I have been waiting for a long time for this type of blues.
    Relatively easy to play and extremely gratifying for a novice player.
    Is it possible to have something more sophisticated with similar
    rythme in the key of E in the next weeks ?

    Francis
    from Paris (France)

    EP 214 EP 214 (part 2)

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  48. Agingnut says

    July 8, 2019 at 10:55 am

    Thanks a lot. One of my favorites.

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  49. erwin41 says

    July 13, 2019 at 10:31 am

    Beautiful lesson,Brian.Ilove it.

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  50. James F says

    July 18, 2019 at 9:24 pm

    My favorite lesson so-far; I really like delta blues and/or Chicago. Really like this, thank you.
    Two other comments:
    1) We’re all envious of the many guitars you play.. but beautiful to see! (Q: how many guitars does a guitar player need? A: One more)
    2) I vote for more videos with Otis in the background

    jim

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  51. benneyy says

    July 22, 2019 at 2:28 pm

    Hey Bryan

    What artists are good to listen to with this kind of delta blues vibe. I love this sort of blues but struggle to find any.

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  52. Michael G says

    July 25, 2019 at 11:59 am

    Awesome. The most straight forward no accompany lesson that I have seen. Makes it easy for this beginner to see where to add fill licks.

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  53. Deuan says

    July 27, 2019 at 5:59 am

    Man, you provide value – over delivery every time. This one is worth my year’s subscription. I just love jamming this vibe! That’s what I ‘m talking about!!

    You are serving humanity !

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  54. Newt Havasu AZ says

    August 11, 2019 at 7:09 pm

    If we get proficient at this lesson what level would you say we would be between one and 10?

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  55. Nick O says

    August 13, 2019 at 5:57 pm

    I think the tabs wrong? Shows an A instead of an E in the first measure, with the hammer on

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  56. Antony W says

    August 16, 2019 at 12:08 pm

    Gotta say this is one of my all-time favorites!

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    • Cary says

      November 3, 2019 at 1:30 pm

      I’m with you on that! Love this tune.

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  57. Mike E says

    September 10, 2019 at 1:52 pm

    Pairs nicely with ML 052!

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  58. Tom J says

    November 14, 2019 at 9:15 am

    Hi Every one. Im new to this site. This freebie on youtube got me hooked so I’ve joined up (played it ’til about 1a.m. this morning!
    Tom

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    • Ian S says

      February 5, 2021 at 4:28 pm

      Me too. There’s loads of stuff on here at every level. Great value.

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  59. Sailorman500 says

    January 5, 2020 at 11:53 am

    Hi Brian, been away for a couple of months, glad to be back! This lesson is the 1st of many reasons; even my wife likes it. If I heard it coming from the bushes while canoeing down a lazy river, my hairs would stand on end!

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  60. Mick D says

    April 9, 2020 at 4:57 pm

    lots of challanges for me. thank you!

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  61. Javier R says

    May 27, 2020 at 10:35 am

    Loved this one. What are others in the same vein and skill level?

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  62. Steve W says

    July 31, 2020 at 10:05 pm

    Great 12 bar song . You can really grind into the E section.

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  63. Dave P says

    September 23, 2020 at 2:48 am

    Very inspiring, Brian, thanks.

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  64. Allan D says

    October 15, 2020 at 5:30 am

    If I’m not mistaken, isn’t there a little bit of “Hey Joe” about that first lick? (but I can play that lick so I’m not complaining)!! LOL

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  65. Ian S says

    February 5, 2021 at 4:23 pm

    Cheers Brian. Can play around with this all day and learn new things every time.

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  66. RIFF DIGGER says

    February 10, 2021 at 6:34 pm

    Two things, and yes I really like this particular lesson.
    I learned the opening section of Hendrix’s Catfish Blues (which of course, is a take-off on a Muddy Waters song) note for note and it took forever but I loved it. I had to unlearn that, so as to not get mixed up memorizing and sussing out this lesson by Brian. Took a while as I am not an advanced player. (formerly trained as a bassist). But I stuck to it and I really like this lesson for the information and style.
    2. For some reason and this may help others: I could not get the G string to ring out on the hammer to the first fret, when hitting the E chord. Frustrating and tore up my index finger trying. I kept at it or a period of time and realized that my strum hand on the right, was hitting down more on the bass strings and not nailing the G-string. I further realized that if I make a conscious effort to even accent the G string with my Pick on the sweep, I will surely get that G# to ring out in the hammer, a nano second after the E chord. Well, you get the idea.
    Back to practice. Love this lesson. It’s a classic. And you can always add on to the fills once you learn the Time and the beats. Thx, Brian.

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    • RIFF DIGGER says

      February 10, 2021 at 6:49 pm

      The time stamp of the hammer-on, is at 5:07.
      Could not make the edit on my original post. Thx.

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  67. Tlm B says

    June 6, 2021 at 9:00 am

    Another fantastic challenge Brian. I never knew that I would love learning how to play the blues.

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  68. Drew D says

    July 29, 2021 at 1:02 pm

    Nice and sweet rhythm love this one Brian, amazing teacher for sure! thanks my man.

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  69. Seamus Walter says

    October 24, 2021 at 3:35 pm

    My first lesson here and had loads of fun! I signed premium straight away.
    Looking forward to learn here

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  70. ROD H says

    January 24, 2022 at 6:50 am

    Brian, I really enjoyed this lesson particularly because of the options and variety of riffs you have built in. Could you tell me what pick you use for acoustic guitar ? Best wishes Rod

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  71. Thomas B says

    February 9, 2022 at 4:17 am

    Really Cool I like and try it .. greetings from vienna

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  72. Ashley M says

    March 6, 2022 at 11:57 pm

    Love this one Brian ! Ep 366 is also a fav. Really enjoy these solo compositions. Thanks, Ashley.

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  73. Paul N says

    February 24, 2023 at 3:00 pm

    I stumbled onto this lesson on YouTube. I have been looking for this for a long time. It inspired me to get my guitar back out and join for a year. Just this one lesson I would gladly pay the year for.

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  74. Chris A says

    January 3, 2025 at 5:43 pm

    Thanx Brian,

    This is awesome, I am learning all the licks, sounds great. Very easy spending time on the guitar with this challenge.

    Down Under

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