Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Elmore James Style Rhythm and Lead (Simulated Slide) – EP122

Description

In this blues guitar lesson you’ll learn how to play a classic Elmore James style rhythm and lead on electric guitar. You’ll learn how to emulate Elmore James’ classic slide licks, without even using a slide. This is a technique that is commonly used in blues lead guitar. You’ll hear artists like Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top using this technique. You’ll also learn the Elmore James rhythm shuffle along with some of his lesser known, non-slide licks. Be sure to crank up your overdrive for this one!

Part 1: Free Guitar lesson

Part 2: For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through: For Premium Members

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  2. Hup says

    Brian, the quality of your lessons – the content and all of the assets, just keep getting better and better! I really appreciate your dedication to making our musical education a pleasurable journey. Bravo!

    • XBRXBR says

      Just a short feedback Brian. Your site is amazingly rich, clear, and practical. The main smart and attractive element regarding your (new) site is the sophisticated yet unpretentious design as well as its consistency and allure. It easy on the eye as it is informative and detailed. Thank you for being so mindful, focused, and inspiring. I appreciate in particular the option of downloading the attached media and notations. Take care now. Ron xbr (10/20/2015)

  3. jimbostrat says

    Playing slide guitar without using an actual slide!!?? Great concept!! What a genius idea!! This lesson is very reminiscent of Brian’s other complete and ready-to-go blues lesson EP097 (Jimmy Rogers Blues) which also has and intro/outro concept. Great deal……and I especially love that nod to Keith Richards plus that turn around! I’ve already incorporated that turn around in a funky acoustic blues piece I was working on!! Great energy as well with this one Brian!!

    Jim C.

  4. JohnStrat says

    Brian,

    This one is a great lesson for all of us and certainly for me. Just the sought of thing I used to hear to and made me want to play the guitar. I’m full of enthusiasm for this as so many of the other lessons.

    Another few slide lessons would be great. Slide really drives the dynamics of the guitar sound particularly blues.
    It will take a while to get this up to speed but you can bet I will be trying flat out…

    Thanks

  5. sunburst says

    So much funtastic learning new stuff! like the variations in double stops especially in this lesson ,, Brian , for me you are a true teacher, I will certainly recommend and share your site,, with all what you play you explain a bit of it’s history which is very cool,, I’m not ashamed to admit first time I heard of Elmore James, I am sure he inspired Billy Gibbons..definitely hear it in this blues shuffle

  8. Rudai123 says

    As always great lesson. There seems a method to the overall teaching style of these lessons. You learn certain “chunks” of blues playing and can reuse them in future lessons, learning songs, or performing. That turnaround a great piece in the arsenal. I also like your incorporation of the Keith Richards D shape added to the A.

  9. charleydelta says

    Brian – Your “Keith Richards” hammer on to the D bar chord while in the 4 Chord (A) shuffle part of the progression is absolutely brillant! I first learned that good old blues shuffle progression when I was in high school (I think that was during the Mesozoic Era), but I never thought to throw in that “Keith Richards” hammer on move. Too cool for school, dude! ?Charley D.

  13. johnwj67 says

    Hi Brian,
    another great lesson and very enjoyable as usual,i’m kinda catching up since the schools closed here for 6 weeks in the summer plus general life stuff,glad to be back , tho my fingers tips have gotta harden up quick again !keep em coming..all the best.
    john

  19. sunjamr says

    Awesome lesson! I can’t wait to get really stuck into this one….but I’m still perfecting Lesson 116. Maybe Brian should take a week off now and then to let some of us get caught up. There’s just so much good material and I don’t want to miss any of it.

  22. lastwerd says

    Hi Brian, A while ago I sent you a note about my frustration at not being able to find particular lessons easily – and you wrote back saying that you were gonna work on it…I thought, in my cynicism….yeah yeah…sure he will! And now of course I am ashamed of my doubt!! The new site is ….just brilliant….easily the best I’ve seen (sorry Marty!)……simple, sophisticated and easy to get around……you’ve surpassed yourself Sir! Who ever designed it deserves a huge pat on the back and a pint! (You?). ……I hope I am forgiven!
    Oh Yeah….and the latest Elmore James thing…….it’s a joy!
    Again…Thank You

  24. diesel says

    Hi Everyone! Can somebody clarify why the following notes work? They aren’t in the key of E-major. They sound great but I can’t understand why.

    Bar 6: The ‘D’ played on the ‘B’ string. (D is a flat seventh)
    Bar 8: The ‘D’ played on the ‘e’ string. (D is a flat seventh)
    Bar 10: The ‘C’ on the ‘e’ string. (flat sixth?)
    Bar 11: The ‘A#’ on the ‘e’ string. Perhaps it’s transience makes it ok.
    Bar 11: The ‘G’ on the ‘e’ string (flat third? E-minor?)
    Bar 12: The ‘A#’ on the ‘A’ string.
    Bar 22: The ‘C’ on the ‘e’ string. (flat sixth)

    • diesel says

      I thought I’d follow up with the answer in case someone is looking.

      E-minor is E-major with a flat third, flat sixth, and flat seventh. So E-major flat seventh (D) is in the E-minor scale. So is E-major flat sixth (C). The A# is there because it sounds good. I can’t explain that one.

      I hope that helps out another theory nerd. It’s ok to play those minor notes in the major key if they sound ok. They sound sad, of course, but not out of place.

  26. Bill W2 says

    Brian….Hey bro, thanks! I’ve just gotten “comfortable” with EP-121 and now I’m working on this. It’s like “Thanksgiving Dinner” every weekend. Excellent instruction and I was following you but, man, when you hit the E13!!! Trick or Treat………jokes on me. Need to keep stretching those fingers on my walks.

  28. Bill W2 says

    graham! thanks great that you can follow. The thing imo what Brian does, if you break it down into bit size bits, is to demonstrate essentials techniques which can be utilized in many ways. …….peace…….whew!!!

  29. Sonne says

    Hi Brian,
    Would it be possible for you to write down the setup that you use in the lessons.
    I know that you often explain it but for me and i’m sure for others too, that don’t has English or American as our main language it’s not always that easy to understand. Specially the name and model of the pedals that you use.
    I enjoy your lesson very much and think you are a great teacher.
    Best regards
    Peter

  31. Don D. says

    Thank you, Brian! Man, this lesson makes me as happy as any lesson might! What a nice sound to emulate! For those people who are interested in Elmore James, in addition to listening to all the recordings he made in his life, there’s an excellent book about him and his music by Steve Franz called The Amazing Secret History of Elmore James. It’s a blast. There isn’t any analysis of the music per se but there’s much well-researched writing about the people and places and situations that contributed to the music. The discography is comprehensive. If you order it on Amazon, it’s easy enough to find author Steve Franz’s listing of the books. I think he sends a nice bonus with every purchase (not sure that he still does), and his price is comparable to the best online prices. Good book, man.

    For the record, he didn’t pay me to say this; he has no idea I’m endorsing him.

  32. Patrick van Rijn says

    Hey Brian, real fine lesson this one. The playing-slide-without-a-slide-technique does work! And it sounds even more like a real slide when hitting the strings near the neck pick up. Don’t know why, but it seems to work out for me. Thanks again!

    • Brian says

      They are available – if you can’t view them the issue is browser related. Try closing all browser tabs and restarting your browser. If that doesn’t work try using a different browser, i.e. Google Chrome or Firefox

  35. jimatcove says

    There’s a dumb-assed old saying that those that can do , those that can’t teach …. you are the living proof of its stupidity.
    You have magic guitar skills and the magic teaching genius – rare and precious combination. Thanks Brian .

  37. john m says

    I just can’t get over the fact that I’m paying almost nothing for this amazing site!! Brian, I grew up playing classical piano and trumpet. Basically hated the lessons but always loved playing the music. Did some jazz and rock keyboards but never had a teacher I enjoyed listening to. You’re the first. So many reasons: your knowledge and playing ability, your relaxed demeanor, your explanation of the licks and theory without any pretense. It’s all good, man. Thank you!

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