Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Have a Blues Jam Session By Yourself on Guitar (Just 4 Chords) – Blues Guitar Lesson EP292

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play both rhythm and lead in a solo jam session (no accompaniment needed). You’ll also learn a right-hand strum technique and how to play the Mixolydian scale when soloing. Everything is created with just 4 basic chords (E, Bm, A, and G)..

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  10. charjo says

    Didn’t catch my ear at first listen but then those great rhythm ideas got me. Love that idea of practicing myxolydian licks while making music. New takeaways every week. Thank you, Brian.
    John

  12. Steve M says

    Brian, I love this rhythm! Once you get it down it flows into such a cool groove. For myself, I think learning a number of completely different rhythms is a big key in be able to play more than a couple of songs for folks and keeping their interest. Keep it coming!

  16. Carl Z says

    The mode business is not easy to grasp. This is how I try to understand it. The song consists mainly of chords from A major. But since you emphazise the E major chord, the fifth in A major, it becomes E mixolydian mode. And thus, in the solo parts , you can use A major notes. Is that correct?

    • Jeff F says

      I’m not not best with theory but thats how I understand it. With that said, I’m confused how the G chord fits in. I thought it should be a G# (diminished). I’ve spent the last hour looking this up and trying to wrap my head around it.

  19. Geof C says

    I spent quite a bit of time with this one trying to get the hang of the muted strings and catching the notes when pulling my arm up. I’m often able to keep my arm moving, but it takes a bit to get it to be fluid with the direction you’re going. Great lesson!

  20. Mathew W says

    I really love this type lesson and this one in particular. The strum pattern is great but I find the b minor bit so difficult, do you actually inject pace into the down up down before the a cord? I just can’t make it seamless or as smooth. Great stuff as always.

  24. Robert R says

    I love these standalone lessons. I was hooked on this one immediately. I’ve already got these parts committed to memory, but have a lot of practice to do before it will be played as easily as you make it look! Well done!

    • Carl Z says

      Well, this song is not really in the key of E major, it is in what they call the E mixolydian mode.

      Mixolydian means we are basing the song around the fifth chord in a scale. So if the fifth chord is E major, then counting backwards we find A major as the being first chord.

      All the chords in this song is from the A major scale, and so are the solo notes.

      Why not say we are in A major then? Well, A doesn’t play a big part in this song, it revolves around E which gives it a special feel, the mixolydian feel…

      • ljg says

        Hi Carl,

        Thanks for your reply.I am still a little confused I think the A mixolydian mode has a G chord and the
        flat 7 which is a G note and based on the key of Dmaj.Maby i am missing something in my logic.
        I do know a G chord is used in many songs in the key of E just don’t know why it works.
        Thanks again.

  31. Andy N says

    I wasn’t sure if this was for me on first listen but thought I’d give it a try. I’m absolutely hooked now!! Great rhythm take aways, especially the variations on the E and this percussive style is totally addictive once you get it down. Great teaching as always Brian. Thanks 👍

    • john p says

      I just thought I’d mention, you should try learning anything you like. You don’t have to learn it all in your “first day”. Just have fun with it. If and when you get stuck, go learn other things. I have struggled with some things. Only to revisit them even years later to nail them. And for me, it takes me an hour to warm up and loosen up. And don’t forget to learn the easier stuff. As you learn techniques, and you will learn them here especially, you will find that you can learn the things you thought impossible before. Minimum 2 hours a day. I try to get 8 to 10 hours when I can. Brian is one of the best!

    • Ray L says

      I’ve been “new to the guitar” for about 24 years… HAHA!! I’ve never taken it seriously. Just learned a little then lost interest. I’ve decided to take it seriously this time though and im actually progressing. Just stick with it and realize you won’t get good overnight.

  37. Brian K says

    Maybe the best lesson yet…this draws you in…
    This isnt super easy….but…if u take time and learn to play it….u really feel like ur jamming…all by yourself….a great feeling.

    Agree with “wrightclick” …. would like to hear more about the part around 8:10 of the second video, where Brian describes transposing the E7 sequence to the key of G7/C7/D7 blues. A microlesson on that would be nice.

    Great stuff Brian….and thank you for what u do for your learning and playing community.

  38. glen s says

    hey howzit Brian,
    many thanks for the lessonS…. great stuff you’re putting out.
    I hear shades of The Who. Shakin’ all over …. LIVE AT LEADS …. offf to the guitar woodshed I goes….
    laterz, G

  40. stratatatcat says

    I am enjoying this one very much Brian! Just what I needed to challenge me and hone my strumming and rhythm abilities. You are a truly talented teacher. Best on the net for standalone compositions 4 sure!
    And this one being just a tad different was a welcome surprise. Great job!

  41. john p says

    I have learned much from you and that’s coming from a slow learner. But this me be my biggest challenge yet. Because of you, I can’t put down the guitar. I’m not sure if I will get this one down. But it won’t be because i didn’t try. The rhythum is hard for me to get timing down. But I’m sure it will come to me like everything else I’ve learned from you. I really like this. Probably my favorite. Thanks!

  43. Dennis T says

    I don’t reply much, but just wanted to thank you for sharing your knowledge! I’m improving because of your encouragement and teaching method. Also inspired to practice more thanks to your melodic lessons. Keep up the good work!

  46. jabadead says

    Brian, first time I have posted here. May I say you are the first cd/dvd/ on line tech that has so inspired me to move onward. Please provide a technique that would help out in the muting. In this song, should I look to do more with the left or right hand? My first inclination is to play it hard and leave out the mute, but as you know it adds alot to the song. This is one place I loose the rhythm, but if I could only mute better, it might flow better…..peace and many thanks in advance

  47. David Alkalay says

    Hi, I don’t do tab, but I work with music notes. It appears here, but not in a downloadable form. The only download is in tablature. Also, it says to for full view to click on the gear icon and then scroll down for full view; that function isn’t working…unless it is and I’m just missing it. Can you either guide me to it or send me the arrangement in music notation?

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