Description
In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a blues lead response using the “Call & Response”. The jam track and the “Call” lead part are provided by Quist. The goal of this lesson is to learn how to play the response in a typical blues jam like this.
Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson
Part 2 - For Premium Members
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Slow Walkthrough
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Video Tablature Breakdown
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Michael Allen says
I can really get into this one! Thanks Brian
JohnStrat says
A great idea for a lesson but a slow blues or a bit less busy version would be more playable for me I find it a bit to full on.
John Strat
Michael M says
I feel the same. After listening for a few mins I had to raise the white flag
Garry says
Wow Brian (& Quist!). Can’t wait to get into this one. Priority No. 1 for the January Holiday period. Thanks for your amazing lessons Brian. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Here in Melbourne, Australia, 50 days Covid Free. Hoping that things improve on your side of the world. All the best!
DABEE says
cool stuff, is there a part 2 for Quist’s part?
Brian says
No – the lesson is only for the part I played, not Quist.
thomokel says
Hi Brian. You sounded like Eric Clapton to me with a touch of Mike Bloomfield if you can believe that, but that’s where my head is at.
thomokel says
Boy! I should have waited for the whole lesson before commenting.
Cardo says
Good stuff – certainly some good takeaways even if I’d be hardpressed to play it over about about 50% speed. A year ago as an acoustic player I would have passed on this lesson but I bought a new MexiStrat for $700 and it’s been great for learning blues articulation.
San Luis Rey says
This is a great lesson to make the connections between the minor pentatonic patterns. Really nice call and response between you guys Brian! This will be fun for sure.
John B says
Can’t wait to sink my teeth into this one. Thanks for turning us on to Quist. Happy Holidays Brian.
Rich F says
Brilliant lesson! I love Quist! Great call and response!
The first part of your second response (the hammer on/pull off) reminds me of something Jimmy Page plays in “How Many More Times” at the end of Led Zeppelin 1… the part where thst song slows down, and Jimmy is responding to Robert Plant’s bluesy vocals…
Blaine L says
That’s funny, I listened to that same response and it made me think of Robert Cray – the way he sometimes makes his solos “stutter”.
RNArizona says
I got the Zep connection too….and I loved it.
Jeff M says
I totally hear that too…and Brian references a Buddy Guy lick which makes sense as Jimmy pulls a lot from Buddy.
Peter B says
Gimme more that was smokin!
Guido says
Where can I find the lead guitar blues course?
Guido says
Sorry! Found it!
Aaron B says
Can you share the episode number? I’ve been looking for this but whenever I type “blues lead” in the search I get 150 results…
JohnStrat says
Aaron,
The blues lead course is only available to premium members. If you go to my account and then scroll to courses you will find it there or if you go to the lessons page and scroll down on the left hand at the bottom you will find the links too. They are directly under the search options menu which ends about a third the way down the whole lessons page so don’t go too low and miss them!.
JohnStrat
Aaron B says
DUH! I can’t believe I didn’t see that before. Thanks for the tip!
smake1954 says
The whole jam is way too fast for me. I just try to pick out some ‘nuggets’. Have fun everybody with this lesson.
rainmon1 says
you know you can go to the interactive tablature section at the bottom and slow it down to whatever you want, right? That and being able to loop a section helps me a lot.
Jim M says
Inspirational. The genesis for exploring new licks.
Lawrence H says
Great lesson!
Happy Holidays.
Blaine L says
Very cool. I believe I may have heard a bit of Robert Cray in your “response #2”. Great idea, great playing.
Israel U says
Is this a metal nut?
Brian says
Yeah – they put them in Strats in the early 90s
Rex L says
Thanks Brian, I was wondering about that too. Are your pickups stock? They look different as well.
bruce s says
Wow, what a great lesson to improve on fast blues licks, some really cool ones in there. This will be a real challenge to try to get to full tempo….
Thanks Brian
Allan says
Great jamming guys liked it a lot
Mike R says
I really like this type of lesson since I am trying to learn how to play with others more. Some really cool licks in this lesson that I will learn but as someone else pointed out this is a little too fast for me also. Would appreciate you doing this again sometime to one of those beautiful slow blues arrangements you do so well. Thanks
Raymond P says
A great lesson on call and response techniques. It’s also very helpful to see how you explain and demo how to mix the key with the pentatonic scales and chords. Very nice.
Thanks Brian
Ray P
Buster89 says
I thought it was great idea and novel concept to play with Quist in that fashion. Trick of that lesson is also to figure out how Quist plays his licks . Both Brian and Quist have different styles as well as dynamics but it came together well in the end. Thanks Brian for another great year of lessons ! Merry Christmas to all from Mid North Coast Australia.
charleydelta says
Brian, one of your best ever! I’ve been using Quist backing tracks for awhile now to accompany my practice sessions. So glad y’all are corroborating.
William B says
Thanks. I learned a lot about 1st position and 2nd position.
David G says
Great licks, Brian! This builds really nicely on earlier lessons, and emphasizes a number of key points. That “Clapton lick” is so crucial and I need to keep working on getting it fluid, but going through the minor pentatonic positions is always welcome too (not sure my wife enjoys the big bends as much as i do, mind you). Thanks so much for this great workout.
Greg B says
Great lesson, Brian. There’s always a great energy which comes form two guys trading licks. I’m glad you chose some of the classic foundational ones we can adapt as our own.
spottydog says
Brian this is the course I have waited years for and I have been a premium member since the beginning THANK YOU
PS. I am 69 years old and in Hospice. Your lessons and your explanations tha I enjoyed for all those years give me hope You mean a lot to me. I consider you a friend not a teacher.
Brian says
wow thank you man. Sorry to hear you’re in hospice!
Michael K says
More of this stuff thanks Brian
Ralph P. says
Sounds like a conversation between a teenager and his father. Teenager: stormy and brash with an attitude. Father; calm and wise and mature. I could listen to the father all day because he has so much wisdom and he knows what he’s talking about. Teenager: Stop yelling!
Hey Brian, I’m surprised that you don’t have an Eric Clapton Signature Strat. I played my 1989 Seven Up Green one in bands for 25 years and it was the most versatile Strat I ever played. I think the Pewter ones are one of the prettiest Strats ever.
Brian says
I always wanted the 7up green one – those are great looking Strats. I’ve seen only one video of EC playing one – you can find it on YouTube if you search for Clapton and David Sanborn
Ralph P. says
Thanks for sharing Brian. I found the clip: Before You Accuse Me with Sanborn and Robert Cray. The guitar looks great, but I’m not sure about Eric’s purple suit-jacket!
Have a very happy and healthy holiday season, and continued success with AM.
https://youtu.be/ttC9g_YYvcs
Steven B says
Don’t miss EP 303 & 305 if you want more of this brilliant inspiration. Doesn’t have to be up to speed to sound good either. This style is really motivational for me. Thanks!
Nathan D says
I absolutely loved it! I purchased a month-long premium membership to try it out. In January, I will be enrolling for the entire year! This is exactly my type of instruction. And boy, this lesson was awesome. Thanks for your wonderful teaching, Brian.
Will L says
The ends of my fingers have worn away from working on bar 6, even at 80%, still not got it yet!
Paul J says
Really love this stuff. Sore fingers, but really enthused. It one I will keep working on for some time.
rainmon1 says
Brian, something you might want to mention – what really helped me in doing these big bends was using more than one finger. For regular bends I usually only use one (usually the 3rd) finger, or maybe add the 2nd finger for stiffer bends. For this 1 1/2 step bend, I backed up my third finger with both the first and second fingers – it makes it a lot easier, meaning, I can do it now. Now maybe Eric doesn’t need to use extra fingers, and when I can play like him, I may not either, but for now, I think I’ll use whatever gets it done.
JULIAN C says
Fantastic call and response – lots of great take aways and lessons within the lesson as usual.
Thank you
David C says
this lesson was outstanding Dave callan . PS. need more
Terry A. says
Great lesson Brian(as usual) As with most of your lessons,after days or weeks of practice,I can do the slow walkthrough ok,but man,playing it up to speed seems like an impossible challenge sometimes.(could have something to do with my 68 year old arthritic fingers! LOL!) Gonna keep trying though.
Richard R says
Another great lesson. Jus bought a les paul standerd in iced tea waiting for it to warm up and take it out of the case n kearn this!!!!
Thank you brian!!!
Aaron B says
I love this one and it’s a ton of fun. I feel like it would be super helpful if there was a 3rd speed in between slow and normal. The jump up in tempo is… intense. Otherwise awesome lesson and idea, thanks!
Lance R says
Wow Brian – outstanding. Thanks!
Richard P says
I follow Quist on Patreon. He’s great!
Haralabos S says
Bellissima ed interessante lezione di blues come tutte le lezioni del Maestro. Tanti saluti dalla Sicilia Italia.
Bob C says
Great lesson! Please give us more of the same!
steph_70 says
This is just the kind of music I started learning electric guitar years ago. Not getting it is the reason I quit and sold my gear so many times over the past 20 years. I purchased a new guitar and amp last week and started practicing again, but I accepted that i will most likely never be able to reach a level even close to this
Carlo Laezza says
Jacob Quist drives me crazy has a crazy touch