Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Country Blues Guitar Lesson – EP131

Description

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play an original composition which alternates back and forth between a D5 chord and a C. In addition to learning the strumming pattern for the rhythm, you’ll also be playing several lead fill licks in between the chords (and learn what scales they come from). I titled this “Country Blues Guitar Lesson” because I thought the rhythm part sounded country, whereas the lead fills sounded bluesy. This piece is played with no accompaniment – solo guitar.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through Video - For Premium Members

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  2. Maradonagol says

    Well I was betting on a cruncher with the ES335….but if this is called country blues…then I am totally hooked…love that melancholy mood …….you hit an interesting nerve on my end!!

    Thanks for another top lesson….

    Roberto

    • Dory says

      Hey Brain,

      It could just be my take, but when I hear you play (anything) I spot so many wonderful guitar players I’m just amazed! As with this lesson my thoughts went right to Stephen Stills and Treetop Flyer. While not identical, your teaching opens new doors, and there’s so many directions/levels to go with it! fantastic lesson.
      Hoping you have a great Christmas..

      Kev
      Savannah GA

  5. madams says

    I was refreshing the lesson page every few minutes waiting for the new lesson to post. When I saw “Country Blues,” I was a little disappointed because I’m not a big country music fan.

    But, I decided to go through the lesson to learn what I could. I found that this is really a beautiful song. And it’s full of great musical insights and theory as always.

    If you’re not a country music aficionado, don’t let the word “Country” in the title keep you from digging in to this one. It’s really a great lesson.

    Michael

    • Kip M says

      The Steve Earle method of finger picking would be a great lesson and I often get “cross ways” as Steve mostly uses 2 fingers to pick and I use mostly 3 so every once in awhile when playing his songs I get a finger tangled up … LOL … but it’s fun.

  10. Tom Van Bladel says

    This is why I love this site. To find these little treasures, not every week – some of them are not my style, but that’s ok, but every now and then these beauties show up. I gues everyone has thas feeling, each in their own style, and that’s why we appreciate all your efforts., Brian. To me, I’m very pleased with this mix of styles. I’m looking forward to it every Saturday morning, like a 46 year old child opening gifts from under the Christmas tree. I am so grateful for that. Thank you!

  13. Allan says

    Really cool tune Brian I can hear bits of acoustic Jimmy Page in there, your right about the opening you just keep playing it very simple but grabs your attention and sucks you in there. Cheers mate

  27. JRG says

    I am really enjoying this lesson! After it came out yesterday, I spent well over an hour, nonstop just learning and enjoying it. Great sounding lesson and not extremely difficult. After taking a break, I added drop D, than double drop D, palm muting and dynamics. Love this lesson Brian, thank you!

  29. melodyseeker says

    Man! Brian, you’ve hit everything that I’ve wanted to learn on guitar right on the nail, That is why I will continue being a member of Active Melody. I can’t wait to dig into this awesome country blues lesson.

    Merry Christmas!

  30. jimbostrat says

    From the Beginning……Greg Lake…..Hello it’s me…….Todd Rundgren…..Old Lang Syne by the late great Dan Fogelberg……….mellow and haunting break up tunes………”From the beginning” in my mind has the greatest two jamming chords in the history of acoustic guitar……..basically a form of an A chord and the open C chord moved up three frets……….if these songs don’t stir up haunting long lost loves mellowness in most of us…….nothing will. The cool thing here of course is how Brian can do his spin on a dime and go from some pretty cool upbeat jammin’ blues for several weeks and then get us all introspective with this cool acoustic lesson…………and again. we can jam for hours with the direction Brian’s laid out with this latest tune!!

    Jim C.

  38. Michael J says

    Merry Christmas to yourself & the family, Brian. Just appreciate so much what you’ve given me and everyone else over the journey. A Happy and Healthy 2016 to you all, and already looking forward to next year’s new stuff.
    Michael J.

  39. dennis k says

    Hi Brian. Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year. Your teaching is by far the best I have experienced and with this lesson, it really opens many doors and whilst I have been playing what I thought was OK, nothing compares to you!!! take care, love the family and friends as you have many!

  41. gary m says

    Morning brian . merry christmas everebody.
    Gary here from NZ. Its christmas day here. I just had to get up early before the family woke up to do this one.
    Every now and again you put a lesson up that I cant wait to get my hands on and this is one of those lessons.
    good stuff. Thanks for the christmas present.
    Gary

  43. Teleman001 says

    OK, Brian. Great song. Being a “not so good” banjo picker, it reminds me of a banjo tunes I have played. Question now….. I have been messing with this tune in drop-D. How would you do the rhythm differently in that tuning?

  44. thedge says

    Brian this is a fantastic lesson! I would love to see more like it. This and the bluesy jingle bells are my two favorite lessons from you. Keep up the great work!

    I think the drop D version does sound interesting as well.

    Thank you,
    Brent

  45. riteus1 says

    Hey Brain,

    Your lessons have been a blessing to me. I have learned so much from you. I like that you explain not only the licks but the principles which allows me to create my own licks. Your teachings have inspired me to write several songs which I have recorded.

  47. Mimdaddy says

    Happy New Year Brian

    Another great lesson that I love. I’m assuming this lesson is in the key of D. I’m really trying to understand chord progressions more . Although this works and sounds great I don’t understand why.

    Thanks again.

    PS. Why do you so dislike the Taylor you play in this lesson

  50. George K says

    Hello Brian great arrangement and note combination here, like it. In fact your whole site is brill, top man and a top guitar teacher you’re one in a million.
    Best wishes and a happy new year to you and your family.
    Many thanks
    George (Newark, Nottinghamshire. UK)

  51. Pete Lee says

    I love this! I’m not too good with a pick and a finger picking arrangement works well, but it loses that nice twang that I think is so important in this piece. I’ll keep plugging away with the plastic. Thanks again Brian for pushing me along.

  52. Aaron P. says

    Another amazing lesson Brian! I love your taste in music and I take so much from each lesson. I love this lesson because I often get into a rhythm rut of just strumming the same old patterns. This lesson helped me learn how to pick out chords and improvise with fill in licks. Thanks for all you do!

  64. Jeff H says

    Interesting, all the artists and styles people are hearing in this. What I flashed on was Neil Young’s “New Mama”, at least the first few bars. At any rate, excellent tune and one I think I can tackle. Thanks again, Brian.

  65. Jeff S says

    Great song! There is such a wealth of material here, I recently upgraded to a yearly membership and have no regrets. My only problem is I’m violating my resolution to focus on learning a song start to finish before taking on a new one- there’s so much stuff here I want to learn!

  66. Paul D says

    Brian as a recent subscriber I cant thank you enough for how I enjoy your site. I stumbled across this lesson EP131 which highlights your plectrum picking technique. I note you use what I would call a closed fist technique to hold the plectrum with the index finger pointing across the plectrum. Other teachers would recommend a more open hand technique and where picking using the pinkie to rest on the guitar as an anchor with the index finger finger point down the pick, like holding a pencil. Interested in your thoughts and whether you have a lesson on this.

    Best wishes

    Paul

    • Brian says

      Hey Paul, you may be correct on this. My fingers aren’t very long and I”ve never felt comfortable trying to anchor them with my right hand. I see fingerstyle players doing that but not using a pick as much.

  70. Dave says

    I put this in my folder marked “Come Back To” as I was working on other lessons. I’m so glad I came back to it, it is wonderful…..and of course the longer I keep working these lesson, the less time it takes me to come back to this folder……..

  71. Mark says

    Can’t get this tune out of my head! Thank you for another great lesson!

    I added a little twist in the 6th bar to make it more country- pull off 3rd string 4th fret to 2nd fret (B to G) then bend the 4th string 3rd fret up a half step the pull off to open to make it more country (minor third bent to major third then pull to D).

  73. Paul N says

    6.5 years ago, and the lessons were as fresh and intresting then as they are now. Really enjoying working my way back through your “priceless” archiive.

    Thank you sir!

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