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Learn to play blues guitar.

Acoustic Blues Lead – Playing the Chord Changes – EP369

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a more melodic sounding blues lead by targeting notes within the chords… “playing the changes”. This jam track is just 2 guitars (rhythm and lead) and I’ll show you how to play both parts so you can play this with another guitarist.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through - Lead

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

        • David C says

          Actually, you really don’t have to play the “blues” per se. You can change the strum pattern, through in some related chords that are in the same chord family.
          I’m not trying to be a smart dufus. I’m suggesting that you might want to learn the song, the rhythm and change it to rock or country or even a plain old love song.
          Brian’s roots are in the blues but so are the majority of songs on the radio. They just sound different.
          Change to a different base line, walking base line, or alternating base line.
          I have no idea where you are on the becoming a guitar player journey but Brian has stated he’s rooted in the blues, major and minor pentatonic scales BUT he’s also branching out just like the rest of us so start with the song he presents and try different styles using the verse and chorus sections of his songs.
          Keep learning his stuff and it will begin to make sense musically. It is about at that point for me anyway.
          I hope this helps.

    • Jaime says

      Brian, I appreciate that this lesson includes both the ryhthm and lead parts – so that I’m able to learn both, but even if I was more interested in lead, understanding how the chord changes go really helps to learn it all.

  11. John D says

    Great ideas Brian. These chromatic lines emphasizing chord shapes are relevant to all styles of music. Great for finger dexterity and linking chord shapes to melody lines. Well done.

  15. Craig F says

    Thanks, exactly what I’ve been looking for. Been trying to do these chord changes using the CAGED system with it’s chords and scales but, not doing very well. Very happy to see this lesson.

    Would you call this “blues”? It does have blues elements in it but, reminds me of the tv show Monk’s theme song from the first season. Personally, I didn’t think, “this is the ‘blues'” when I first heard it.

    At any rate, thanks again for the lesson. (Any chance of getting another harmonized 3rds and 6ths lesson? [Getting Spoiled] I’m just now able to incorporate some harmonized 3rds in my jam sessions; they are a lot of fun once you get a feel for them… which, at this point, happens more by accident than by design; in other words, still trying to get a proper “feel” for them.

  18. Ian C says

    The last couple of weeks I was beginning to loose heart, yes valuable stuff and a good revision but I felt I had been there so many times ….
    Then ‘pow’ you are back with rich teaching and learning material which also sounds brilliant. I appreciate your lessons are not aimed at any one level of player (least of all me!) and they must therefore sometimes not hit the button exactly in terms of content, style of music, difficulty etc with everyone every week. But I always go through the motions each week and learn at least something.
    However, for each mediocre (for me) week there are so many of these valuable, inspiring, content rich pieces delivered without great, unassuming teaching style.

  20. charjo says

    Brian,
    This lesson seems to be a culmination of all the recent rich teaching lessons on CAGED, harmonized thirds and sixths. I find so many of my licks now are revolving around chord shapes, so I really appreciate this one. It may be spoon feeding, but it could be valuable to catalogue licks around chord shapes, maybe in a section like the blues lead course. It sort of falls into the “take away” idea. A lot of the lessons are concentrating on lead but I wonder if you could focus on rhythm for a while, particularly chord transitions.. Maybe a lesson to review the use of secondary dominants, walkdowns, major/ minor chord walkdowns, interspersing some diminished chords etc. The lessons just keep getting better and better. Thanks for your enthusiasm and inspiration.
    John

  24. Roger Y says

    Not getting together with either weekly guitar partner because of the virus, I am trying to fill out the lead with an occasional anchoring bass note or stab chord. Well worth the time– a great lesson.

  26. Steven B says

    Once again a great lesson that builds on the recent couple of months lessons that are really consolidating some basic principles that we have to know. I’m starting to make the connections from one end of the neck to the other and that is so fundamental to playing well. You have a progression of lessons here that have opened up my thinking and that is the whole point to me.
    Wherever you take us I will be following!

  27. Billy Ray S says

    Brian I want to say first of all THANK YOU for all your help and hard work that you’re putting into your lessons . You really don’t know how it’s helping for so many individuals from whatever style or experience they may have . Like some of your replies I myself would love to see you creating lessons focusing on the rhythm from different styles if you could of course . So many times we tend to lose focus upon it or deem it an unnecessary aspect . Rhythm is very powerful . Hope all is going well and looking forward for your new lessons to come. Thanks again you’re doing an awesome job my friend

  28. Brad F. says

    Loads of comments around this one. When I heard you to begin to explain Rhythm my ears lifted about an inch I think. Been wanting to get some more insight into rhythm and this was GREAT!! Just skimmed through the comments above and the rhythm thing came up alot. It helps enormously to understand where the licks come from and the timing and phrasing.
    Really Really cool lesson. I recognise how lucky we are to be able to understand why and see how it’s done. Yeah some say it’s spoon feeding, not the way it was learned in the old days, but this isn’t the old days and I need the spoon, it enables me to enjoy the instrument much more then having the time to devote oneself to learn by listening to recordings over and over and magically find the answers.

    Anyway, the Rhythm material is Great. More please.

    P.S. the melody was Great too…..so many videos Brian makes that inspire me to want to be able to play……so hard to choose. Good problem to have. Cheers!!

  29. Phil K says

    Un otro gran leccion, Maestro (I forget that not everyone is from South West Texas)! That Martin sounds so sweet you could pour it on pancakes! Would you be willing to trade some moon rocks and magic beens for it?

  30. Laurel C says

    This sounds awesome. After following the breakdown it wasn’t as complicated as it sounded due to an excellent breakdown and a clever use of notes and phrasing for the lead that the fingers were happy to follow . The rhythm will be good practice for the chord transitions too in getting the fingers to work with these shapes in a more disciplined way. So much to learn but we are in the right place. Cheers.

  31. Dan G says

    Brian, I want to humbly say, “thank you”. Everyone who teaches anyone about anything is, number one, strong and couageous. Number two, they open themselves to be criticized. A few comments are saying, “enough with the blues instruction, time for a different genre”. Their comments are good, but the reality is, it all applies to each style, whether it’s jazz, rock, country, ragtime, blues, etc. The truth is, we all bring to the table, everything that we learn to develop our own musical signature and sound. I welcome all of your expressions and talents, so that I can learn more. When I precept someone in my work in the surgical environemnt, I remind them that we are all “hybrids” as we learn from everyone and every experience. I’m a better guitar player and musician after sharing in your work. Be encouraged, YOU are making a difference. Keep up the great work. THANK YOU,
    Dan Gustafson

  34. James S says

    I think I made a similar comment the last time you did a lesson on playing the chord changes – Really beautiful work as usual, but way way too many chords! I realize you’re probably trying to keep it interesting for yourself, but I think it would be way more useful for your students to study a simpler, more common progression.

    I’m thinking of the lesson you did with the progression from People Get Ready (C-F-C-G-Am-F-C). That was one of your best lessons of all time!

  35. rjwheeler says

    Great lesson; love you step by step explanations of how you got the the notes and where they come from.

    Do you have a bio? If not would love to know more about you and your musical journey.

    Bob

  36. Davie d says

    Nice Brian, real nice! Will definitely learn this and great practice to use the tonal centers! Love, love your playing and how you teach us how to fish! You make us think!
    Dave Delisio
    Boise, Idaho

  38. Craig M says

    Hi Brian
    This comment is coming to you from wintry Melbourne Australia. I clicked the link to your latest weekly lesson this morning……and as usual a really melodic piece that I can’t wait to attempt to learn. These terrific lessons come at such a pace that I have trouble keeping up especially when I enjoy going back to your “Micro” and “Throw back” lessons. I am 64 and have been memorised by the guitar for most of my life and have been “playing” the instrument (I use the term loosely) for about 30 yrs. Your lessons are fabulous-challenging but pitched well within my grasp. I am gradually filling the many of the gaps in my understanding of the instrument eg an understanding and application of the CAGED system is one of many examples.

    I am certain that my playing has improved immeasurably since I began these lessons. But so much more to learn…and so little time.
    Warm regards
    Craig MacDonald

  39. Robert G says

    There is a lot of information in your lessons for a beginner like me. I just don’t know where to start! With ep369 , I tend to learn the lead first and then maybe throw in the rhythm later. Is that the right approach to any of these lessons? I like them all.

    • David C says

      To Robert G,
      In my humble experience I’ll give you my answer to your question on what to learn first. You said “…lead first and then maybe throw in the rhythm later. Is that the right approach to any of these lessons?”.
      The short answer is another question. Are you making progress and are you learning how to play the song? If you are then keep going with whatever you’re doing. Otherwise change it up a little and turn something around.
      My wife gets to hear me play and after all the many years we still like each other and share our honest opinions. She tells me I’m doing great and what I play sounds good and “nice”. I preface my next sentence with the last because one night I played 5 or 6 of the MP3 audio clips of Brian playing and Tomasina, my wife, recognized his playing from listening to my playing. That was a great boost to my confidence. As it turns out, I generally learn the tune, ie., the lead parts first and then pick up some rhythm parts to fill in as variations of the lead parts or even break apart playing the same song the second and third time with a different variation on the lead each time.
      I hope that helps. Just my opinion and what works for me.

  41. André S says

    Dear Brian
    with regard to the last chord-diagramm (A6): I‘m afraid I don‘t have enough fingers to do this.
    A part from that and above all: Thanks for this great lesson!
    Greetings from Switzerland
    Amdré

    • Greg B says

      Hi Andre’,
      This reply is going to be dated but it looks like Brian is probably muting the 4th string with his ring finger while using his smallest finger to play the 6th on the 2nd string. If he isn’t muting it, it would ring out as an A7 would. Right? Maybe go down to an open E chord, so barring isn’t necessary, and experiment.
      From Northern California,
      Greg

    • David C says

      Go to the internet and type in “How to play A6 chord on guitar”. You’ll see a whole bunch of options and a few on that particular fret. As it stands what’s in the tablature looks slightly off or I will have to grow another finger like you say.
      In any event if someone said I had to play that chord fingering I’d have to break it apart into a high OR low triad.
      Or get a new finger sewn on. LOL

  42. Malcolm D says

    Brain,

    Absolutely brilliant lesson, as I’m a new member I’m enjoying my guitar journey so far 🙂 your sitemap has so much to offer on so many lessons.
    Big thank you for doing a great job.

    Malcolm..

  46. John H says

    I love these melodic bluesy lessons… so much to learn and do here. I don’t know which I like better, the rhythm or lead but what the heck they are tremendous together. It’s one thing to play/study the blues but your added melody lines take these lessons to a whole new dimension. These lessons and others like them are very performance worthy and head turners. I can’t tell you how many times my wife stops and comes in to my studio to listen to you present this material. Especially on the acoustic. Thanks so you for all that you do Brian. Can’t wait to play this on my Martin or maybe even my Strat.

  48. Greg B says

    Hi Brian,
    One way I get tripped up is in conceptualizing/visualizing targeting chord notes and pentatonic patterns. I do sometimes count notes in each pattern from the root to the next root in the shape. So the 6th in G major pattern 2 makes sense. But I’m having a hard time simultaneously thinking of both patterns and chord shapes at the same time. Maybe it’s because of habit that the pentatonic patterns come to mind and the ease of defaulting to them while soloing chases the shapes away? My brain seems to want to think of the D major patterns when a progression changes to the D chord. Is that another reason I’m tripping up?

    Your playing is beautiful and I can mimic the notes after a few goes but when I make my own loops in various different keys, I’m constantly bailing out into pentatonic patterns, feeling like things are going too fast and I’m suddenly a few chord changes behind.

    Does this make any sense? I’m hoping it’s common enough so that you have a ready recommendation.

    Thank you so much,

    Greg

  49. Anthony (Tony ) W says

    Hi Brian. From a new member. I can get why you got some adverse feedback on too much blues. My requirement – probably the most common – is improvement in my play. Now , one may not wish to learn that particular piece BUT the frequent ” takeaways ” are the gems. You can get those little embellishments in your toolbag and work them in ( where appropriate ) in all the genres. Keep it all coming.

  50. Gary Wilshaw says

    Hi Brian, this is an all time favourite lesson for me. I love the way it draws on so many threads you’ve been giving us over the years and its (for me) a very appropriate balance of challenge. I have a feeling (which I guess you are saying in the intro) that I’m on the cusp of ‘getting’ this idea!!
    Very best wishes
    Gary

  53. Lyn C says

    Hi Brian..Love the compositions that have a lead and a rhythm part to learn. This is a really fun piece to play, and it’s fun to play along with you on the jam tracks. Keep up the amazing creative work- it’s much appreciated.

  56. Amy B says

    I am new to this site so just sharing first impressions: I have started with this lesson, EP369, and while i am seeing Brian is very articulate and knowledgable, i am hoping to see more focus on the instruction and less narrative during the lesson. some of the explanations are helpful to get context but they also go a bit off topic. my focus is to concentrate on the actual placement and execution of the segment being learned and hope to see more of that. Thanks!

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