Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Blues by yourself. Some simple ideas for solo Blues – Guitar Lesson – EP618

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn a classic 8 bar blues shuffle rhythm with several embellishment ideas sprinkled throughout. In the part 2 video, learn how to use a Diminished 7 arpeggio for a more sophisticated sound.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walkthrough

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Comments

  3. Steve M says

    Love it Brian, these stand alone blues are right up at the top of my favorites. Gone through the first half and for me the most challenging part by far is that turn around. This lesson is really fun and really useful.

  9. Philippe R says

    Dear Brian,

    Just to thank you for all the very good job you do.

    I must tell you that every week, with your incredible lessons, I discover and learn something new.
    It’s not only about the music you do, but with all your explainations placing us in situation and which are always clear.

    Keep on doing so well Brian, your lessons are GREAT!!!
    Philippe form Switzerland 🙂

  10. Imerio A says

    Great lesson Brian…is it a standard blues but full of very goog ideas that make it a bit different and modern. Your teaching method is so clear and highlights the fundamental things to work on.
    Thanks also for the information on the particular guitar used.

    • Brian P says

      I too really enjoyed that explanation. Blew my mind to see that the same shape moved up 3 frets is the same 4 notes, but in different order. And that arpeggio sounds so sophisticated, yet isn’t terribly difficult. Awesome lesson! Thanks Brian!

  17. Steve M says

    Hi Brian, I have a question and it might be one you want to answer in a lesson. The chord progression is somewhat different from the other 12 bar blues that I have seen and would be interested in your thoughts on it and why it works ( and it obviously does because it sounds great.

  20. TooSmooth says

    I struggled for years on that whole chord inversion thing. Is it an F#m? no, it’s an A6. No wait, it’s a B9. About a year ago you explained it and I finally got it. So for anyone else out there struggling with the concept, hang in there! If I can get it, you can too!!

  21. slopace says

    What you just explained about the diminished and where to play it and the arpeggios as well were worth its weight in gold. You blew the door wide open on that valuable nugget for me!

  23. Brady B says

    man you are absolutely the very best. in one short lesson you demystified the diminished chord for me. instantly the playing sounds more sophisticated, more polished. since i discovered you my playing has improved more in 6 months than maybe all of the previous years combined. everytime i hear you say “hopefully this is a light bulb moment…” it is. thank you, thank you and thank you again. what a gift you have given.

  24. Laurel C says

    Creative mix of using an 8 bar blues shuffle rhythm. and bringing to the table the 6 to 9 chords, the Dim #7 between the 4 and 1 chord attributes. Overall it sounds great to play. The movable Dim#7 arpeggio was a great tip off the chord, although it looks different to past arpeggios connecting caged shapes. Enjoyed the random playing idea at the 4.24 mark – 2nd video ….. (off to the races!) Future lesson? because that sounded so good too. Thanks Brian.

  25. Steve says

    Great explanation of the diminished usage. By moving the shape up 3 frets, the arpeggio is joining the two positions, so easy to remember. Then that same shape on strings 5-2 is a 9 chord! Could do a lesson, perhaps just on that shape to get really familiar with it.

    • Steve says

      Can play an entire 12-bar blues just with that one shape, moving it around the neck as 9 chords for the I–IV–V, and using the diminished version of the same shape as the turnaround/tension to cycle back to I.

  26. Nick Ll says

    These unaccompanied acoustic blues lessons are my absolute favourite ones Brian, the primary reason for my watching (though everything you do is good and adds some value). I’ve always loved the diminished 7th arpeggio since I first heard Dickey or Duane (I like to think Dickey as he was I think the jazzier of the two and wrote the song) playing it in the intro to In Memory of Elizabeth Reed by the Allman Brothers Band, so it was great to hear your explanation and ideas on how it works in the context of a simple blues. Thanks again for a tremendous lesson, top notch!

  27. James R says

    Brian,

    I’ve been a member here for three years now, and I always get excited when you post blues videos. Blues is the only style of music I play. I only improvise in the keys of E and A, playing strictly fingerstyle. I’ve made it my mission not to move on to other genres or even other keys until I fully understand E and A, and can seamlessly blend minor and major scale notes when improvising.

    Please consider doing a series of blues lessons, I know they’d be very popular. I also think all of your “Play Blues by Yourself” videos deserve their own category in the lesson menu.

    When I was first learning, I searched all over YouTube for instruction, not just lessons, but teaching that resonated with me. Your approach did. I’ve heard you mention that some people say you talk too much, but in my opinion, you can’t truly teach without explaining the “why” behind what’s being played. You do that well, and it makes all the difference.

    I look forward to many more lightbulb moments from your lessons. Thank you.

    • Brian P says

      James R – Brian’s Active Melody website has a category “no accompaniment” lessons (226 of them so far!!), which I too love.

      Also, I too really appreciate learning the WHY behind the the sounds. It helps me remember things better.

  28. barry s says

    Hello Brian,

    I’m Barry and I live about 30 miles south of London.
    I’ve been playing guitar off and on for about 40 years following my love of players like Clapton and Gilmour but, although I have learnt pieces and songs, I’ve never really known what I’m really doing when it comes to soloing and after seeing your excellent YouTubes videos I realised that I needed to go back to basics so that I can learn and progress.
    I joined as a premium member and already have made some simple progress without wanting to jump into a ten minute flurry of notes.
    This is an excellent site and you’re a very good teacher.
    I look forward to making further progress, one step at a time.

    Best Wishes,
    Barry.

  29. sunjamr says

    I have a Journey carbon fiber guitar which folds up and fits into a bag that complies with overhead baggage standards for airplanes. Works like a charm, never gets out of tune unless I fold it up. But even then it’s only very slightly out of tune when I re-attach the neck.

  30. Carole M says

    Top a a mornin to you Brian,

    Another one of those genuine and simple lessons putting together some of the best fundamentals and sounding oh so right. Less is more in my neck of the woods. You nailed it once again. Great as always!

    Have fun.

    Cheers,
    Eric

  32. Michael Krailo says

    This was a really fun one to work out. There is a mistake in bar six of the sound slice tablature showing the sixth note as an A when it should be the low E. At least that’s what Brian played and described in the video and it definitely sounds better with the low E. The best part is the dim7 arpeggio transition to that harmonized 3rd at the 9th fret.

  37. Peter S says

    Great lesson Brian, as usual. Love the way you teach and all the light bulbs that have switched on for me. I’ve been a member for over a year now and the way you link the scales and chords is really illuminating. All the pieces you feature are really musical and fun to play. Much appreciated…thanks.

  45. Daniel H says

    You talked about the diminished 7 chord as a transition chord from the IV to the I a few years ago and somehow I forgot it!
    This is why I love the repetition you bring in with new context. Such a cool sounding arpeggio! I need to lock it down. Thank you Brian!
    … and never be shy about repeating concepts!!

  46. Ian M says

    Another great lesson Brian. Interesting 8 bar blues. Cant wait to see your follow up video on the Journey Guitar. By the way is it a JCD422B model?
    Thanks again for your skill and commitment

  47. Mike K says

    Only half way through and I feel like I’m learning so much from listening to his discussion of the various chords/licks. Now it would be nice if I remembered it all but once in a while it sticks.

  50. Alan M says

    I’m learning a lot from this lesson. A slight confusion for me though: you explain that A minor pentatonic pattern 5 and A major pentatonic pattern 1 both come from the G shape (~12:30 in part 1). My understanding though is that minor pentatonic pattern 5 comes from the A shape. What am I missing about that point?

  51. Lynne R says

    I think the very first lick is much easier to learn and visualize as the Ama “Blues” Scale ie A ma PP1 scale with an added b3 rd rather then think of it as combining the major and minor pentatonic scales over the 2 nd to 5 th frets.

  52. TONY O says

    After a few weeks spent relearning classics, it is great to come back to Active Melody. So much more fun and developmental than rememorising golden oldies.
    I have little talent, but plenty of time and have found this lesson a great platform on which to create some ideas and phrases of my own.
    As ever, thanks Brian for making my hobby so much more fun than in the past.

  53. Ray R says

    Brian: Thank you for this lesson! I have been playing guitar for many years but because of very small hands I have never been able to play a closed position blues shuffle using the 6th and b7 so I’d have to capo and play it open. Your suggestion of moving the root note to a higher string is genius! I can now reach those notes easily and has solved a perplexing technical problem for me..

  54. Georg B says

    Hello Brian,
    Thank you for another great lesson on the blues. Your explanation of diminished chords and the corresponding arpeggio is the icing on the cake, of course, and makes this lesson and this blues something truly special.
    All the best,
    Georg

  56. Rob M says

    Hi Brian, loving the lessons (as always). I have a question. Not sure where I would find the reply, but I’ll put it out. Perhaps u could address on lesson – if others were interested. I know the cage system has positions 1,3,4,6,7 and the other ones that seem most often referred to 1,2,3,4,5. The issue is I’m not sure which is being referenced. I can usually figure it out, but often I get confused. Any thoughts.
    Thanks
    Rob Morrow

  59. John I says

    I came back to this. There is a lot to like with the melody once it can be played smoothly. And the diminished arpeggio with the T Bone ending is the icing. Very cever stuff all wrapped in a lesson, as always. Fun stuff to play. Thanks!

  61. Robert M says

    Fantastic lesson as always, Brian. I’d love to know what settings you use on your amp when you play the blues on your acoustic. I have an AER compact 60/4, and the sounds I get out of it are absolutely awesome – I put my Gibson J 45 through it. I know it’s a case of trial and error and just tweaking the knobs to get the desired sound, but I’d just be interested to know what numbers you’re dialing in to your amp.
    As I say, I absolutely love your lessons; they are so clear and easy to follow – honestly like no other I’ve seen. Sincere thanks!

  63. Joe B says

    Brian
    The Journey acoustic has grown nicely the past few weeks (since buying it at your recommendation),
    Enjoy the solo blues lessons, nuggets for the toolbox here to use in other places also.
    Thank you again, greetings from France
    David B

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