Description
In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a slow blues ballad in the style of the great B.B. King. B.B. tends to go to the same place on the guitar neck during a solo (usually in the Major Pentatonic scale), and in this lesson I’ll explain how to find that place and will give you a series of licks that you can use that are in the style of B.B. King.
BB King Ballad - Part 1
BB King Ballad - Part 2
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rob540 says
Thanks Brian, this is just superb!
Rob
guyguyguyjean says
Is it a 12 bar blues in C then F and ,finally G,all major chords ,i cant seem to grasp the pattern of the backing track,maybe im to much of a begginner,please help me!!!thanks
greg l says
I have not counted the bars out but I suspect it is 16 bars maybe a second 16 with a variation but I don’t hear it but no I would not treat all the chords as major chrods especially the iv chords where it copies ragtime descending from the I chord which is C and that is the key of the tune…. it chromatically descends to an A7 chord or any A dominant could do, then a D7 or D9 but D7 is cool…. it is the ii chord then we go to the G7 chord which is the V chord…….. the A7 and D7 sre substituted for minor chords… an invention from ragtime and early jazz and blues… in fact most of that early stuff substituted ALL chords as dominant 7th chords… it’s the sound of the 20’s LOL…….
I hear the progression starting off normally… C major or C6 is better if you like.. it then goes to the IV chord… F… but play an F9 for that sweet as hell blues sound…… then back to the I chord C.. (I like a straight C7 there too but that sets up that walkdown to the A7…….. you can go C13 B13 Bb13 to A13 or just play them as 7ths……… then D7 G7…. I am not totally right on it yet and do not have the time so perhaps the site owner can help us out but so far if you do not know what I am talking about so far you need to learn more… ( I am not assuming anything mate just sayin)……… as for how to play over it that is what the video is for…. unfortunately I downloaded the TAB and no chords were written…. I totally agree with you… backing tracks need to have chord chart with them when they stray from straight up 12 bar blues… I hope I have been of some use to you.
Paul S says
Many thanks for the chord progression Greg, i wished i’d have looked on Activemelody website and your answer. Still the last hour trying to figure it out has made me think and learn a bit – even though i didn’t quite get all the answer! Many thanks. Have to say i find the chord finding part more difficult than “noodling” over the backing track. I didn’t see the chords on the tab (they weren’t there!) so have to agree they would have been handy. Especially, for a slow learner like me.
greg l says
I find the chord rhythm playing more of a challenge than the lead guitar on this tune… BB King had been a part of my lead guitar language for a couple of decades now but rarely get to play BB songs as most players I know just do not understand the harmonic structure and right feel to back me up but you can throw in some BB licks over hundreds of blues feels but sound perfect with a backing track like this.
Ray J says
Put the jam track on and play a C major chord 2 measures and then drop down to a F chord. Play the F chord 1 measure , then drop right down to a F minor for 1 measure. Then go back to the C major for 1 measure . Then it go’s to the A major for 1 measure, then drop down to the D chord for 1 measure. Then to the G major for 1 measure . Then it starts back over … Hope this helps . Im still working on nailing this myself .- Ray
Marey - Semper Wollmann says
beautifull
scottas55 says
Thanks 🙂
larrgrub says
Good stuff Brian…thanks for another great lesson!!
nicky says
great player, with the gift to teach us. thank you for the site i feel apart of something great. absolute premium member.
DM728 says
I love this Jam Track. Perfect for this lesson and the licks from the blues course. Slow enough tempo to switch back and forth between major and minor and explore the two together. Much fun!
midrider335 says
Thanks Brian- great lesson! Actually the feel and melody of this B.B. King style solo kind of remind me of B.B.‘s instrumental ballad “Darling You Know I Love You”, which is great! Great job!
donald d says
love the slow blues maybe because i cant play quickly. but there is something magical about that sy
tyle of play. i think
to feel the music and put your own feeling into the piece. i have just started to play again after a long long layoff. started playing ep 268 kinda jumped right in. love the lessons. a littlle overwhelmed rt now but trying to stick with it. great piece and lesson . thanks brian.
sena g says
Every Saturday, I am full of expectations and waiting for the new
lesson from Brian although there are so many lessons that I have not had
time to go through. You feel almost privileged: it’s like having a private
guitar teacher. And it feels good fanstastiskt. All of my guitar playing got
a new dimension thanks to this. Songs that I wrote many, many years ago get
new solos and they are freer and more advanced and more delightful. My
guitar self-confidence has increased. Thank you!
ChrisH says
Hi Brian - Really like this - great quality backing track too! Have recently been getting to grips with BB’s “Blues Boys Tune” which I really enjoy playing - Thanks so much for all that you do It’s very much appreciated.
Biker13 says
Thanks Brian - Another superb lesson. Great arrangement. I really appreciate the slower tempo in this one. It provides an excellent proving ground for refining technique and focusing on the subtleties of style, bends and touch. Becoming a premium member was the easiest and best decision I made last year. Thanks again!!
allenmorales230@gmail.com says
Great lesson Brian. Very accessible even for a beginner yet full of soulful licks that any advanced player should be lucky to have in their bag of tricks.
cheese8800 says
Thanks Brian - can you also tell us the chors for this Lesson (C, ….)
Michael Allen says
Thanks Brian. My broken fingers are healing and I love this lesson
Tony Dyrsmid says
Hey Brian. Thanks for this lesson. It is exactly the style of playing that I like. It’s slow speed allows me to concentrate on the feeling, bends and vibrato. Please consider more lessons like this. Thanks soo much. Cheers, Tony
roco says
Great lesson, Brian! Thanks.
videorov says
Like this slow Blues!!
Thanks for the backing track to practice with.
videorov says
Like to have more of these
slow blues lessons in future
kingbee32 says
Thanks for another great lesson! But could you please post chords in the progression, having trouble with one chord.
John LeeRay says
Great
DBinSD says
Great lesson !!!
Brian says
The chords used in this were:
C, C7, F, Fm, C, A, D, G
Paul S says
Thank you Brian……..i can rest my poor old brain now 🙂 i figured out most of them……not necessarily in the right order though!
Fendy says
great stuff as always. perhaps one day you will explain us the solo of “comfortly numb”, that would be great. thanks Brian.
Bzerker says
Thanks Brian i can appreciate all the work you put into these lessons. Glad i found you on YouTube. I have you thing to ask though. could you put a link for the whole tab to get printed out at one time somewhere. Thanks again for another great lesson
randybiggers says
Another great lesson and song. I love it. Thanks
Tanner1 says
Thanks Brian, Good stuff. Like the arrangement and you nailed it
Jbond@aol.com says
Hi Brain, Great Lesson, I want to ask you; Is that a new Eric Clapton Signature Fender Guitar your playing?
Brian says
@jbond@aol - Not a Clapton signature - that’s an American Standard, but I just had Texas Special pickups put in it.
timfred63 says
I don’t know why I waste my money with other sites as I always come back to Active Melody. You’re the best Brian!
Thanks mate.
crawf says
Great lesson Brian.Maybe at some time you could give a lesson on how to play lead blues at a faster tempo and what positions best suit this style.Many thanks.
Richie.
kurt neumann says
Hey,
BB on a Fender?
DaveS says
That was the best yet, glad I took your blues lead course, everything is fitting into place now, more like this please Brian, Love BB.
orient2k says
Great lesson. Simple but superb. The solo is so effective it touches the soul. Many thanks Brian. Hope there will a few more of these types of ballad in the future.
Lulu Maude says
So happy to have this. Premium membership is a treasure trove.
mrpitiful says
Great lesson, as always. I can’t access part 2. Is it something I’m doing wrong?
Brian says
mrpitiful - I don’t know why part 2 isn’t working for you. Are you logged in as a premium member? If so and you still can’t view it let me know - brian (at) activemelody (dot) com
Tanner1 says
Thanks Brian for another great lesson
demmykro says
Brian, nothing you do is painful. Everything you say while you are teaching has allot of meaning, as to the fundamentals of music.
Thank you for your in depth teachings that show us how to play and Where the Music Came from.
FenderBlues says
Absolutely Love this lesson! Thanks for all you do. You’re an excellent teacher! Love the BB King lessons!!
Keith says
Another brilliant lesson Brian, you’re a magician !! Thanks very much.
rajond@usa.com says
i don’t buy lessons too often, but this lesson especially made me want to make the purchase. always a good lesson from Brian and i want to get tabs and jam trax. one observation. your lessons get a little wordy. imho. great teacher all the same.
rajond@usa.com says
hmm. can’t seem to open the premium lesson. suggestions?
Brian says
Hey Chris, that’s me playing everything (except the drums) - the drums are all done via Logic X, but I play everything else.
cc1122 says
How do you make your backtracks, are you playing or do you have a software program that you plug chords and rhythm into.
Thx
Chris
Rick Diablo says
This is fantastic Brian. Thank you.
trm6346 says
How can I get the chords used in the jam track? I’d really like to play them just by them selves
Brian says
@trm6346 - see the bottom comment on page 1 of the comments. I list the chords
cambrow says
Brian, I just downloaded the mp3 and the two tabs. How do I download the 2nd video so I don’t have to be online all the time to view it?
Thanks
Bob Thomas says
Great lesson, exactly why I started learning the Blues. Few timing issues when I’m playing along with the backing track but I know I’ll get there in the end.
GR8TFULL says
Brian, this is great. I wish I could talk you into doing your rendition of the whole lead on the song “SLEEPWALK”, as a lesson.
stonepony says
So wonderful, Brian! I continue to learn so much from you. You are such a beautiful, sensitive musician and I appreciate these lessons so much.
Tanner1 says
Hey Brian, Really enjoying your lessons. It would be nice if you could make part 1 in your 2 part lessons active so we could listen to it instead of going back to youtube. Only part 2 in your lessons are active for listening. Not being negative just a suggestion.
Tofttofly says
Brian,
Thanks for posting the chords for this lesson. As always you are doing a great job in your lessons. I always looking forward to the next lesson.I’m also going back and working on some of the older ones as well.
Thanks
MachansGuitar says
Hi Brian, I just signed up yesterday and I am very much enjoying the lessons. I love the BB King Ballad lesson and am working very hard on that one and having a great time. It would be great for me if you could put the chord changes on the tab. That would help greatly in building my understanding of solo construction to relate licks to underlying chord structure. Many thanks for a great site Brian.
Cheers Eric
double-stop says
Great Lesson. I had learned the pentatonic patterns a little different and numbered different. So, at first I was wondering what was going on.I thought, as a beginner that everyone used the same patterns and number system.Now, I see there are different ways to “skin a @#$.”
MachansGuitar says
Hi Brian, Please ignore my comment above. I found the chords on a previous page.
Cheers
Eric
konk says
Just brillant and very moving !
elerouge says
Very nice melody. Is it possible to have the chord of the rhythm guitar?
elerouge says
Thanks a lot!
Erick Gentile
lews says
The “C” major pentatonic is the same pattern as the “A” minor pentatonic. For “A” , it’s G minor pattern
madams says
Thank you so much. I just joined as a premium member a couple of weeks ago and I’ve learned as much, if not more, than I did during 1 years of weekly in-person lessons!
Theodeman says
Thanks Brian, I will say how many times I had to this video, however, I am glad I could, so that I could get all the bends correct. Thanks for your thoughtfulness
in preparing the lesson. Thanks again. Tom
crizmo says
BB is interviewed in studio by the right guy at the following you tube spot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnTyyX-VJGM
fillusionist110262 says
great music and a great lesson too so glad I signed up thasnks brian.
JohnnyO8142 says
I can’t get the second video’s. It state video can’t play with your set up
godeej says
can we get the chords in the rhythm for this one??
Brian says
C, C7, F, Fm, C, A, D, G
charjo says
I have worked on adding major pentatonic notes in my minor pentatonic licks. It never occurred to me to bend into minor pentatonic notes in my major pentatonic licks. What an exciting concept! That will add a whole new dimension to my playing. Love your lessons, Brian.
bluesdaddy292 says
I though I remember seeing 2 mp3 links here - one with the guitar and one without.
Right now I’m only seeing one link - one mp3 without guitar.
Did something change or am I dreaming?
romo1948@yahoo.com says
BB NEVER played it like that! beautiful.
fcoy2 says
Very nice touch. Although I play more acoustic, this one has me itching to get home tonight and plug in the electric. Been watching a lot of clips of BB lately, and this really reminds me of Peter Green (Need Your Love So Bad) and you can see BB’s influence on him. Thanks for another great lesson. If I can ever find enough free time to really spend the appropriate amount of time on these lessons, I’ll be able to get past “just playing songs” I’ve learned and really start making some music.
Thanks again!
Robras says
Hi Brian, I’ve just joined and I must say a great lesson, I love B.B.King. Give me more 🙂
sink water tom says
well..of all the online instruction out there Brian’s site is the one I chose to join and this lesson is just one of many why…TY Brian
Lowrey says
Hi Brian,
Absolutely loving the site.
Unfortunately I can’t download the TAB pts and 2 for BB King EP041. (Love the tune)
Is there anything you can do.
Cheers
Brian says
@Lowrey - I sent you a private message offline to help you trouble shoot this.
jaystrings says
Another great lesson, man. I’m wondering if we can get the chorus to this in another lesson? Also with a regular ending instead of an abrupt one. Sure would be nice to have a track that included the complete song. I’m not in a band and rarely get to jam with others. It would be nice to be able to practice an entire song in the privacy of my home.
This also applies to all future lessons.
Thanks.
Radar says
Great ballad. I love learning these slow blues and really get how the key is moveable and can apply to so many songs. This one really reminds me of Peter Green’s “I need your love so bad.” He probably copied it from B.B. King. Really nice job and I appreciate the videos.
Thanks
geoffroy says
thank’s from france
adarabos@mdlz.com says
Hi Brian, this is one of your masterpieces thanks for that. Please post more ballads. The tempo is more convenient while the rhythm and bandings are the real challenge. By the way, explaining more about the rhythm would be appreciated. Get the right notes and chords is relatively easy after a while but to give the soul of a song back is all about the rhythm. You may think about some of the songs of Gary More - Ballads of the blues…
Cheers, Attila
Stewart M says
I should be able to figure out the chord progression on this, but it fails me. Do you have any tabliture that shows that?
Brian says
C, C7, F, Fm, C, A, D, G
JohnStrat says
Brian,
Like the long list before me I love this lesson. Its so much fun as you said. Would there be any chance of putting up a ‘ith guitar jam track’ repeating a few times so that those of us who take a bit of finger twisting to get the technique have a good chance to run through several plays it is such an enormous help in building up the technique and timing to be able to play along to your guitar prior to the blank jam track?
schroeder says
Hey Brian
the part 2 video for ep041 isn’t working.
Dennis B says
GREAT! I love ballads, and as a beginner, these SLOWER songs are greatly helpful!!! (Plus I love B.B. and Albert)
John D says
Hello, I’m not getting the chord progression. I see where you said the chords were C, C7, F, Fm, C, A, D, G – but I can’t tell how long they are being played for. Part I of the tab has 9 measures and part 2 has 8. I know this may seem stupid to some, but can you tell me which chords are played in each measure? I want to be able to play this with some of my friends, but if I can’t give them the chords and how long to play each chord, it just won’t work. Thanks.
Jim L says
I’ve just joined today after finding this lesson. Superb piece of work and explained so well. Really loving the light bulbs going off!
Thanks Brian.
Ade R says
Quality as usual.
Duncan M says
Brian – this is the first time I’ve posted. Normally I’m too busy learning material to respond,. I find your lessons fantastic, in that you explain so well what needs to be learned and give the learner time to adapt. You’re a born teacher, and coming from someone who was a teacher that’s high praise indeed. There are some absolute gems in these earlier lessons, but they would benefit so much now with the chords written in on the tab, the slow walk-through and the on-screen tab viewer of the later lessons, if that’s possible. Few of us would mind I’m sure if you revisited some of these and updated them, perhaps even adding a little more if you wish, but that certainly isn’t necessary. This would certainly help me internalise the material fully and allow me to use it over different chord sequences.
Robert M says
I AGREE. COULD REALLY USE A SLOWED-DOWN VERSION, MAYBE WITH LOOPING, TO GET THIS DOWN.
Steffen L says
Hi Brian, great lesson! I love your B.B lessons. I wondering which note you are playing at 13th on the high e string. This note is not in the major pentatonic scale, right? From which scale comes this note? Thanks. Best regards, Steffen
Tom l says
fantastic lesson, what an eye-opener….thanks again Brian !
Omar G says
hello, I would like to share my experience in just 3 days of hiring membership of active melody has been fantastic simple, rewarding practice; I have loved the soft and melodic sweet country classes; I had other experiences with other online methods that only teach licks, however, without any context and now how to use it; on the other hand I am a slow blues bb fan; I would like you to be able to do tutorial on “Darling You Know I Love You” ideas about chords and scales thanks in advance.
ralph d says
Brain, I would like to see the chords in the tab so I can see the notes played over each chord to get the dynamics of the melody.
Thanks
ralph
Ashley D says
Hello Brian, Great lesson. Is it possible to have the jam tracks to this lesson in the key of A and perhaps also G. Some of us (as I do), tune the guitar a semitone lower – E flat. This enables easier bends. However, on the flip side, in the key of C, the notes to be played are too far down the fret-board and sounds a bit dull. Your thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Gary R says
Hello I am a Premium member & I know this is an older lesson but I am having issues downloading the Tabs for EP 041
Any help is appreciated
Thnx, Gary. ~ A happy member
Blaine H says
Old senior here trying to have some fun playing the guitar in later years…. love this sound ….. COULD SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE EXACT CHORD PROGRESSION IS… helps me understand the notes and their relationship to overall sound…
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated…
Thanks all..
bobby S says
C, C7, F, Fm, C, A, D, G
Carla C says
Loved the content of your lessons. I can read the tab but struggle to do so. Any chance your lessons could include standard notation as well?