Description
In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn a slow and easy fingerstyle blues that has a jazz style turnaround. This composition is a solo composition, so no jam track is required. As always, I’ll show you how to play everything note for note and explain why everything works so that you can start applying this knowledge when you play or write your own compositions.
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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Jim M says
I’ve put off learning fingerstyle long enough. This lesson will be added to my daily practice regime.
Timothy H says
Brian,
Thank you!
I have followed you for the last three years and you have been
Such and inspiration for me.
No, I’m not an accomplished musician but…… you have inspired me in so many ways.
Once again thank you and keep safe so we can continue to receive your expertise.
Michael Allen says
I know it must look like I’m waiting for your new lesson to come out every Friday. Guilty. I really need to work on getting my thumb going in sequence with my ring, middle and index fingers. Being born and raised in the Delta just makes this type of tune seem like a natural thing for me to be drawn to. Thanks Brian. And Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. I am very thankful for the gifts you give us every week.
JohnStrat says
A very nice tune Brian I am not sure when I will get to this but soon I hope. I love Delta sounds and I would love to master finger picking. i got 177 down way back but haven’t done much since so this is a good one to take up.
thanks
JohnStrat
Glenn says
Tasty! Wow. A very nice composition, Brian. Good for those “Hey, play something on guitar” moments you have mentioned. Thank you.
Robert Burlin says
I am on this right now. This is the third finger picking tune of yours that I will be able to play now. Played only with a pick for ever but not anymore. Sure takes a lot of wood shedding though. I mean LOTS!
James M says
Hey Robi, can you recommend a finger picking lesson for a first timer. Cheers James
sunburst says
This looks a lot of fun.. I hear the familiar Robert Johnson and you did some cool jazz mix ,,very cool! looking forward to starting this tomorrow!
Francisco Javier C says
Thanks Brian!
LOVE fingersyle,
And members see too ep257,
Great lesson.
Francisco Javier C says
Fingerstyle😅
Raymond P says
Great lesson Brian, some nice take away info. Happy Thanksgiving
Thanks
Ray
David S says
Happy Thanksgiving Brian and family. Another great finger style.I need these. David
Cary says
Fabulous fingerstyle lesson ! It’s challenging, but definitely doable thanks to your great teaching style Brian. Keep ‘em coming 🙂 Maybe something in the style of Big Bill Broonzy in a future lesson? Thanks! Cary
Vagelis F says
06:25 Premium Members
Bob Dylan – Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
well, they’ll stone you when you’re trying to be so good …. 😅
George I says
Right! They’ll stone you! Hahah. Funny how that stuff jumps right back in your brain since half a lifetime eh?
james s says
but you would not feel so alone , everybody must get stoned ,,, sorry i didnt say that bob dylan did
Greg H says
Fantastically beautiful! Incredibly hard. It’s too fun not to try though. Thanks again Brian! These are what makes my Sundays worth waiting for!
Jon B says
Brilliant, as usual.
Stephen F says
Brian,
Love the lesson. Is that a Martin CEO 7 that you are playing. Great sound!
David N says
Brian,
This is actually my first comment. Love the blues and fingerstyle stuff, you do a great job of breaking it down. I don’t know how you can generate this stuff weekly but I’m getting a kick out of it! Thanks for doing such a great job! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Israel U says
That did it. This lesson got me deeply into your website, and I subscribed to premium. Great lessons, Brian.
Israel U says
Just seen the tab viewer full screen. Boy, that’s awesome!
Mark T says
This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Always liked Lonnie Johnson’s style – good place to start Great use of working in jazz progression too. Lots to get out of this one.
Willy L says
still looking for Dylan tune ? …every body must get stoned !
Willy L says
sorry ;..to late
William F says
Question: at 13:08 in part 2, the E9 to E6 is described played in conjunction with the open 6th string (E). In EP 208 (pt 1, 15:01), the same fingering on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd strings are played in conjunction with the open D and are described as a D9 to D6, so that in these instances, it’s all about whether one is playing the open E (6th string) or the open D (4th string). Is that correct?
Israel U says
If I got the theory correct, then it’s like so:
When you play D with ‘A’ shape at the 5 fret, you get D9 on 3 upper strings at 5 fret, and D6 at 7 fret.
When you Play E with ‘A’ shape, that would be on 7 fret. So you get E9 on 7 fret (3 upper strings) and E6 on 9 fret.
So the 2 chords have a common place, the D6 and the E9, both on 7 fret. You can play the open D with D6, or play the open E with E9 if you like the sound of it, but you don’t need to. As long as a chord has a 3’rd and a 7’th (the guiding notes) it will sound correct.
There are many chords that can serve as more than one chord. One of the chords can bee rootless, that is without the root note.
For example, the E9 played on the first 3 strings of fret 7 is rootless. So adding the low E can help.
William F says
Thanks – that was helpful and gives me some motivation to get a better grasp of chord theory.
Phil G says
Actually Israel, I don’t really look at the D9 chord or the E9 chord as an ‘A’ shape. Yes, it “looks like” an ‘A’ shape. BUT, a D9 at fret 5 is actually derived from the C shape D chord there. (Note: he isn’t explaining a D9 chord at 13:08. He is explaining the E9 chord at fret 7) The E9 chord at fret 7 is derived from the C shape there. He shows that at 13:18, but doesn’t explain it. The notes are: A7=1(E), D6=3 (G#), G7=b7(D), B7=9(F#), and e7= 5(B). He also shows the E6 chord around 13:13. That chord is derived from the G shape E chord at the 12th fret. So, fret 9 notes are: D9=5(B), G9=1(E), B9=3(G#), and e9=6(C#). (NOTE: baring G, B, and e at fret 5 with an open D is actually a D sus2b7 chord. D(1), C(b7), E(2), A(5))
Phil G says
NOTE: I guess that last sentence should be “is actually a D7sus2 chord”.
Phil G says
Correction. I just looked again, and in fact, the 3 string bar at fret 5 with open D can be a D9. I’ve just always played it with the C shape there. Don’t know why Chord Finder calls is everything else but that. I guess because there’s no 3rd in that voicing? My bad. AND I also, that is a D6 at fret 7 with open D. And I guess it could be derived from the ‘A’ shape or the G shape.
mritalian says
Finally got to this lesson and just wanted to say this was a very good. It hit the mark, had problems with the fingers in the beginning making that one bar Bminor 7 took me awhile and then I noticed the instructors fingers to get good tone. Anyways, I could go on and on, always looking forward to Brians lessons. This is the place to be if you want to learn really how to play
adarabos@mdlz.com says
This is a great lesson and music, thanks Brian. Lots of good songs but this is in the top 6 for me.
Bob B says
Made me smile. I appreciate the ideas on how to play different shadings over the basic chord structure. Lots of lightbulbs..thanks.
freddie h says
Wow! I finally got all the way through this one. It’s a master class and one of the best lessons you have done. Definitely in my favorites. I learned so much. The Chet style thumb work (with muting makes it so much cooler) is starting to gel. There were so many pearls in here. I love the little tricks you pointed out. Keep these finger style lessons coming. Maybe one in Claptons or James Taylor. Thanks a million. This lesson was worth the annual subscription.
Thomas P says
OK…it took me three weeks but I got it! So proud…lol
Norman says
I like this particular lesson, and day by day it gets easier. Only hitch is barring all six strings on an acoustic, but in the process am better learning to wedge my forefinger right at (almost on) the fret, and find that it works well.
Paul B says
Hi guys I’m a new member to the site and am loving the lessons really struggling to make my thumb carry the bass note past the first count 🙄any tips or exercises that would be good for regimenting my thumb into doing as it’s told! Hope this made sense
Billy says
The Dylan part is from ” Everybody must get stoned”…been ages since I last looked at a lesson, Im tempted to give this one a try.
Douglas H says
Brian,
What model Martin are you playing on this lesson?
Pillarcat says
Hi, I was looking to learn more about 12 bar blues and turnarounds, as a beginner. This lesson is such a delight! There are so many little gems of knowledge thrown in, that would have taken me a lot of searching to find. Thank you!