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Funky Blues Rhythm and Lead Guitar Lesson – EP359

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a funky rhythm and lead over a minor key jam track. This is the same jam track that we used for the April 2020 Site Member Challenge – Check out the consolidated posts from site members and see how they approached it here: (Page 1, Page 2, and Page 3). Keep in mind, everyone that submitted recorded their own versions before I did, so you can see the many different ways that this jam track might be approached! Also, (as always) thanks to Don D for consolidating the posts for us!

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through

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Comments

  1. Michael Allen says

    May 1, 2020 at 9:32 am

    What a nice surprise bright and early this morning! I love Funk and learning to develop the rhythm needed to play it. Thanks for another fantastic lesson!

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  2. snakechisler says

    May 1, 2020 at 9:59 am

    Well that backing track sounds familiar 😉

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  3. Blaine L says

    May 1, 2020 at 10:57 am

    This is great. I haven’t listened through the entire video yet, so maybe you get around to this… but what’s that guitar you’re playing?

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    • JoLa says

      May 1, 2020 at 12:27 pm

      1960s Kay Value Leader. Brian talks about it in EP319

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      • John J says

        May 1, 2020 at 10:57 pm

        thanks

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      • Blaine L says

        May 6, 2020 at 9:08 am

        Thanks!

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  4. Vincent K says

    May 1, 2020 at 11:08 am

    So glad you made that really cool funky rhythm, can you give a link where we can see the other members’ videos?

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    • JoLa says

      May 1, 2020 at 12:21 pm

      Hey Vincent, the links are in the lesson description on top of the page.

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  5. JoLa says

    May 1, 2020 at 12:24 pm

    The challenge was fun but learning this cool funk rhythm with lead is a must for me! Great great lesson, love it!

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  6. Alan K says

    May 1, 2020 at 1:57 pm

    Great idea Brian. I am generally living with some older lessons at this point but I will need to jump on this one as I am so vested with this backing track. Loved the funky feel you created. Can’t wait to see how you approached this. So much to learn on this site.

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  7. JohnStrat says

    May 1, 2020 at 3:26 pm

    Very cool and will make for a great practice session piece. Thanks as always. JohnStrat

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  8. jimbostrat says

    May 1, 2020 at 5:13 pm

    Sounds just as cool on my vintage Strat as well, Brian……….that cool classic single coil tone…………..hint…………I could also hear a continuous Hammond or Farfisa organ playing and backing up this nice track!! Jim C.

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  9. vincent z says

    May 1, 2020 at 5:48 pm

    Brian, when you use the Kemper could you also say what profile you are using, I have one and like to match the tone for a starting point. thanks

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  10. Andy N says

    May 1, 2020 at 6:51 pm

    HI Brian, just want to say that I think this format, a kind of retrospective linking back to the April challenges was a master stroke. Already knowing and understanding what the progression was meant I watched the lesson in a completely different way and picked up on different things. Like seeing how you handled the parts I’d found challenging.
    I’ve spent quite a bit of time since the end of the challenge trying to figure out, play and jam over the rhythms over members came up with. (and what a variety of awesome ideas there were).
    The lesson has gone on to explain quite a few things I heard there, which my ear told me worked but my brain didn’t understand why, including in my own effort 🙂
    I’ve learn’t way more about minor key blues as a result than would have been possible from just the lesson alone.
    Oh and its a super cool funky sound too!

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  11. San Luis Rey says

    May 1, 2020 at 7:29 pm

    Why didn’t I think of that! LOL. This is so cool Brian! This is going to be a great funky place to hang out this week! Thanks again and always.

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  12. BRENDAN G says

    May 1, 2020 at 7:52 pm

    Great lesson, but are we doing a challenge this month?

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  13. Steven B says

    May 1, 2020 at 7:52 pm

    I feel so fortunate to have AM and linking the members challenge has added another dimension to the brilliance of the learning experience. I didn’t know how talented members are and I now will have to incorporate listening to the responses every month as I have found it invigorating and feel it will increase my knowledge further. So valuable!! Thanks to those who participate and one day I will get over my stage fright and have a go. Imagine standing in front of a stadium to play when one camera seems daunting. haha

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  14. Jim M says

    May 1, 2020 at 8:54 pm

    I am so fortunate to be an Active Melody member, and be a part of this Active Melody family of musicians.

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  15. Joel R says

    May 2, 2020 at 6:57 am

    Hello.
    Full screen for iPad is Great When you disable vidéo.
    What kind of effect do you use Brian with your Kemper?
    Thanks for this funky blues lesson.
    Joe.

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  16. Raymond P says

    May 2, 2020 at 10:10 am

    Great rhythm lesson Brian. Fun to play and fun to listen to.

    Thanks
    Ray

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  17. Paul D says

    May 2, 2020 at 12:25 pm

    Another great lesson Brian! I Love that funky stuff!!

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  18. scubatan says

    May 2, 2020 at 12:47 pm

    Trying the challenge first really help my brain to figure things out first, now the lesson makes a lot of sense! I agree on you assessment on Joe Bonamassa. Though his earlier stuff is more Blues based, I like them a lot more. Try “A New Day Yesterday” Live album, man, the way he setup and work the song is right on!

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  19. Alan S says

    May 2, 2020 at 1:06 pm

    Great lesson love this type of music.

    Thanks

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  20. sunjamr says

    May 2, 2020 at 11:20 pm

    Funk is having a kind of resurgence lately, and there’s a good reason for that: It’s really fun to play, and it inspires people to “get up off a that thing” and move around a bit.

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  21. Tim S says

    May 2, 2020 at 11:48 pm

    Just gave this a listen though first, then second time tried playing along and the third…followed the tabs and this was crazy fun to play! Fantastic lesson Brian!

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  22. dave d says

    May 3, 2020 at 5:30 pm

    always felt the same way about joe, nice lesson

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  23. wrightclick says

    May 3, 2020 at 9:41 pm

    Excellent lesson i understood everything just wish i knew about the Member site challenge before i learnt the lesson as i do not often go into the forum . Great Stuff Mr Sherrill the Robben Ford kind of lick just blew me away .

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  24. Christopher C says

    May 5, 2020 at 2:24 pm

    Funk is my JUNK! (That doesn’t seem appropriate for some reason after reading it to myself before posting but anyone who can relate knows what I’m talkin’ about)! WOOHOO!

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  25. Chris A says

    May 5, 2020 at 3:00 pm

    Wow! Just when I think you you have maxed out your abilities to come up with more Rhythm w/ Leads lessons (by the way are my favorite ones) you come with this sweet killer groove.
    Thank you Brian! From your friend locked in his house down the street in Brentwood, TN. Chris

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  26. Thomas M says

    May 5, 2020 at 5:28 pm

    Very, very cool

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  27. Ann D says

    May 6, 2020 at 1:47 pm

    Love this lesson!!!! I’ve been wanting to get better with my strumming hand. Can’t wait to be able to play this straight through. Struggling with the timing of the Fm (5th and 6th bars). Although I see it in the tabs, I keep tripping over this one. I will keep practicing 🙂

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  28. Kindlylight says

    May 7, 2020 at 4:39 am

    love it

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  29. sunburst says

    May 7, 2020 at 8:28 am

    Very nice,..professional as always..Liked this much..having a ball following your embellishments

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  30. Randy H says

    May 7, 2020 at 10:54 am

    Brain:
    I like the way you explained “Min Pentatonic Pattern 4” in Part 2 @ 01:10. I originally memorized the patterns to cover a block with all six strings within 4 frets. Since joining your site, I’ve have learned to brake the patterns up into top and bottom sections like your pattern 4 to me is the top of pattern 4 and the bottom of pattern 3. It all make sense, it’s only 5 notes. Also I love how you explain a little theory to go along with the lessons. Very GOOD……….Much Appreciated .

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  31. André Schrade says

    May 8, 2020 at 10:14 am

    Thanks!

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  32. Marcus C says

    May 17, 2020 at 6:41 am

    This really feels like it has a Robert Cray vibe to it; the whole track, rhythm and the lead.

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  33. dylan A says

    May 20, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    Hey you said in another video that for A major that the relative minor was F#m. Just wondering how you got that. Why the G got flattened and its now 4 half steps away

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    • dylan A says

      May 20, 2020 at 3:27 pm

      nevermind, I figured it out I was wrong

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  34. Andrew H says

    May 26, 2020 at 9:59 pm

    Great lesson. Soooo much fun to play.

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  35. Buster89 says

    October 26, 2020 at 12:55 am

    Hi Brian, sorry late posting – why does the F major work here ? Is it borrowed from parallel scale ?

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  36. Buster89 says

    October 26, 2020 at 1:24 am

    Ok. I just remember now. As it is a fourth chord , it helps building more tension. All good.

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  37. Andrea C says

    January 19, 2021 at 11:59 am

    Grazie!

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  38. Peter K says

    July 2, 2022 at 9:42 am

    Sweet Albert King style lesson. Oh yea

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  39. Dan V says

    September 19, 2022 at 11:36 am

    New user alert!!!! How do you avoid hitting the 4th 5th and 6th strings) Are you palm muting them, or are you just avoiding them altogether? Please share as it’s a major issue I’m having and would like to know where to spend my time on developing the right skills 🙂

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