Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Acoustic Blues in G – No Accompaniment – EP121

Description

In this blues guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a blues arrangement with a pick that requires no accompaniment. This is something that can be played on either acoustic or electric guitar and is lots of fun to play! It’s also not that difficult, so even beginner guitar players should give it a try. This is not the typical and predictable 12 bar blues, but is a ragtime style arrangement that you might hear on piano. You’ll be playing both rhythm and lead parts on this one.

Part 1: Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through - For Premium Members

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  1. jimbostrat says

    Michael: One nice step to creating your own blues songs is what Brian has always stated here and on all previous lessons….and the two of us have discussed this very subject……..first start by trying improvisation. For example, have Brian’s equally excellent EP114 shuffle in G down and then combine his ideas here with his latest EP 121. Many of his licks fit together like proverbial gloves but don’t stop there…..take his diminished chord and move it up the neck like a dramatic movie theme on the change……..great fun…………add 6ths to his turn arounds. Change keys and take some cool turn arounds in G you may have learned along the way and interject on this nice ragtime piece……..in other words, don’t be afraid to experiment. Also, record yourself as well…………Brian has a ton of great lessons that give you all sorts of nice pieces to get creative! It’s fun and meant to be fun like a neat puzzle……lastly, learn a great arrangement to a fantastic classis song………Brian does an absolutely fantastic job on Jimi Hendrix’s “And the wind cried Mary”. If Jimi the great can’t get your juices flowing I don’t know what else can…..it’s kind of like working with a general contractor building homes before you can tackle your own……..Brian does the absolute best breakdown of rather complex tunes quickly into manageable pieces anyone beyond beginner can utilize than anyone else out there!!

    Oh………and no……….I’m sadly not paid for this great promotion message!! I guarantee you I’m just a paying premium Active Melody member like yourself struggling to achieve the same goal……….Brian lays it all out there on a nice silver platter for us and it’s really right there for our taking!! The moment all this ceases to be fun and exciting and challenging is the very moment I hang it all up………..so plan to be forever learning!! Even Eric Clapton is fond of stating this as well!!

    Jim C.

    • madams says

      Hi Jim,

      Thank you very much for your advice. It is super helpful and I will give it a try. I agree with you 100% that Brian does a masterful job with his lessons and I learn so much. In fact, when ever a new lesson arrives, I listen to Brian play it and always think, “How is he going to teach that so I can learn it.” But he does it every time!

      It would be great to have just a little bit of structure/framework (which Brian mentioned in his response) to show how all the pieces can fit together.

      Best,
      Michael

      • jimbostrat says

        Pssssssssssssst!! Michael: I’ve been bugging poor Brian for over an entire year now to come up with his “Best of Brian” (or as we now affectionately refer to as “B.o.B.”) where he groups together most of the highlight licks, riff, double stops, chord substitutions, chord inversions, triads etc etc………..onto one complete “Best of” course [in fact, two…..one for acoustic and one electric] so………..he concurs this would be a wonderful couple of courses and I concur with him that it’s a hell of a lot of work and review but argue: Ain’t we all worth it!!!?? Maybe if enough other Active Melody members joined in ask asked him nicely……or at least nicer than I have asked Brian!! These B.o.B. courses would be better than gold to have as references and development!!

        Jim C.

        • David D says

          So somehow I just don’t see him doing that just because of the tiny self aggrandizement issue. What I’d really like to know is what Brian does on his day off? Too personal probably. Does he really go down to the corner bluegrass jam? And why is he neglecting that offer? I think he’s just so committed to this place that it would take a lot for him to have to take time off. The only reason I post this stuff is cuz it’s been a few years and Brian and the guitar have truly been a gift from heaven for me. This particular lesson is really a bargain isn’t it?

  2. madams says

    I have been doing well learning your lessons, but struggle when I try to create my own blues songs.

    Will you please do a blog on how you go about creating a song? Maybe looking at the structure, chord progressions and selection, with some theory?

    I think that would really help take me to the next level.

    Thank you,
    Michael

    • Brian says

      Hey Michael, that’s a tough request because many people spend their whole lives trying to figure out a formula for song writing – however, I’ve made a note for a blog post that goes through some of my thoughts and how I approach things. I won’t get into the lyrical aspect, just creating the structure.

  3. Maradonagol says

    Another beauty……thanks for the pick!!

    As I’ve said many a time, the ability to learn through a complete piece that uses/integrates the theory and technique is why your method is #1 in my book…..Thanks Brian!

    Roberto

  4. sunburst says

    i think it is all good, very easy to learn.. would benefit beginners however to detail as much about the chord theory aside from just in what key. This is basic framework but I’m also just beginning to understand triads double stops drop 2 chords etc.. very nice and easy Brian thanks, honored to be here.john

  6. harry9000 says

    I thought: “Dog-gone it, Here’s another song I would really want to learn but am already swamped with trying to tackle at least four other songs on this site I have yet to master, but you know what? After initially being scared off by how complex it sounded to me at first, I discovered this is really kind of easy and fun to play and one I picked up on right away.
    Thanks Brian!

  8. charjo says

    Hey Brian,
    Your bag of tricks must have a false bottom, ’cause you dug even deeper on this one. It’s worth the premium membership just to learn all the variations in part 2.
    John

  9. Navio says

    That piece is awesome. I love the Video tablature breakdown. It allows me to learn and play in time. Slowly but smoothly and then I increase the speed. Really useful tool. In just 8 months I have improve a lot my guitar skills thanks to this site and Thanks to you Brian, from Spain !

  10. sunjamr says

    I love these unaccompanied acoustic blues lessons (and the electric blues as well). More and more I find myself playing fingerstyle, and this also works well with fingerstyle. And BTW, you mentioned hearing Samantha Fish in your email. I’ve been a big fan for several years, and I live in New Zealand. My only hope of seeing her playing is on Youtube, so I hope someone keeps posting it there. Of course, you can get her songs on the iTunes Store.

  11. sunburst says

    lots of good ole there Brain , very helpful and great lesson for studying mixing 7th major diminished and the minor of coarse!! No Clapton sound without the minor penatonics! good job and thank you!

  12. sunburst says

    I guess blues notes and so that means minor notes are being mixed in the major scales..G and C major with a suspended 9 Dm7 (the minor) Like using the diminished chords . Certainly enjoy your originals, lots sound like Clapton

  14. Aldo F says

    Ciao Brian, I’m aldo, from Italy. Sorry for my poor english. I just joined the ActiveMelody community and I want to tell you that I like so much your teaching way.
    I have a small curiosity, which guitar are you using on this lesson, EP121? I do not mean the Alvarez you are using in the beginning, the other one. It seems to be a Taylor GS mini, is’nt it? Thank you, I will follow your lessons for long time, I love them.

  15. bobitos says

    Thanks Brian. I really love the diversity of this piece. It pushes my arrangement skills in exactly the type of direction I’ve been looking for for quite some time. Keep up the excellent work!

  16. Kip M says

    This is a really cool lesson. I am not as fortunate as many of you … I can’t say it’s easy for me or I picked it up quickly but I’m making progress after a little less than a week. I have just about have the first part … intro and verse down to my liking. Not well enough to shoot video proof though so I’ll continue until I’m fluent before moving on to the second video. I am really looking forward to it though. This lesson makes me feel like I’m actually playing the guitar. I’ve never ventured up and down the fret board and this lesson is a fine expedition north and south. Thank you Brian.

  17. johnwj67 says

    Hi brian and everybody, i think this is so enjoyable to play ,its probably my favourite acoustic piece so far ,certainly as a pick user , i havent tried fingerstyle enough as yet just love it tho, if sounds great and flows along so nicely,makes sense if you know what i mean.
    thanks brian john

    p.s was sorry to hear about alfie your little cat,i had to do the same for my dog jini around years ago,its tough ,they are like a family member i guess,all the best .

  19. Kip M says

    Update: I’m still here working this lesson … 3rd week I think. Progress is slower than I’d like but I’m committed to learning this one. I only have about 30 minutes to pick on a daily basis. I like this lesson and have made my way to the leads which i’m struggling to keep it sounding fluid. Am I the only 58 year old beginner guitar player here fighting to keep my head above water? Ha ha … I’m fishing for encouragement to keep with this.

    • Brian says

      Hey Kip, I’ll let others chime in on their progress, but I can tell you for a fact that you are not the only one trying to learn this lesson. Even though I put out something new each week. everyone learns at their own pace and some times people spend many weeks or months on a single lesson, trying to get all of the parts. This one is particularly tricky because of all of the chord changes, but once you get it, you’ll have it for life. Stick with it. But don’t be afraid to take a break for a while and try a different lesson, or work on something different, just to keep it interesting and fun.

  23. Manley says

    Just learn another valuable lesson. After you think and play these songs go back after you have played couple times and re watch the video. I was watching this particular video to see one thing and realized that the D7 in the second measure and later on when it repeated, but realized that he strummed then slide in an out a classic blues move. Gotta pay closer attention.
    Thanks Brian. For the first time ever last night I was playing acoustic guitar while she was working in the office but she stuck her head in the door and gave me a thumbs up. I thought she was telling me something good about the business and at bed time I ask her what she had found she said nothing it’s your playing that caught my attention. Proud husband today…..

  24. Steve M says

    Wow Brian, that’s so awesome! This is the next thing I’m diving into since getting my premium membership. It’s so fun to play and I think it’s teaching me things that will enable me to make my other songs better!

  25. Thomas S says

    The Chord pregressions in this Song are
    G B7 C G°
    G E9 A7 D9
    G
    and it sounds very interesting.
    but I dont understand the theory behind that..
    G Mayor Chords are G Amin B min C D Emin F#dim.

    So is there an explaination?
    How fits the B7
    And can I see the E9 A7 D9 G as a chain of V to I pregressions?

    I am a member since one and a half year and every weekend I check out the new lessons .
    But this songI love the must. Thanks a lot.

    Thomas

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