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Learn to play blues guitar.

Funky Minor Key Blues Guitar Lesson – Ideas for Playing “Outside The Box” – EP294

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to spice up your rhythm and lead in a funky, minor key blues composition by learning to play “outside the box” (which means including something unexpected). This is much more common in jazz, but sounds just as good in the blues.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  3. Aussie Rick says

    Love the funk/jazz/blues feel to this. Thanks a lot Brian.

    By the way, you said the song is in the key A minor with the chords Am/D/E or i/IV/V. This works well, but the IV chord being major is a departure from rule that says, in a song in a minor key, the I chord will be minor, the IV chord will be minor, and the V chord can be minor or major. Is there some sort of guiding principle for departing from the rule, or is it okay to depart from it as long as it sounds good ? And, even though the song departs from the rule that the IV chord be minor, does it still qualify as being in the minor key, simply because the 1 chord is minor? Hope you get my drift.

    Rick

    • charjo says

      Rick,
      I don’t think it’s really in one key to begin with because of the D7 and the E7. It sounds like a funky variation on a major blues that you are playing a minor pentatonic over with the added out of the box licks.
      John

    • WarrenB says

      It is quite common for chords to be ‘borrowed’ from parallel scales, i.e. Amajor and Aminor being parallel scales (same tonic), so the IV chord from the major scale can be borrowed/substituted for the iv chord in the minor scale (in this piece using the dominant). A google search on ‘borrowed chords’ is recommended.

    • charjo says

      At 23:47 you can just make out that Brian is on the bridge pick up. Brian usually rolls off some of the guitar volume and he might have rolled off some treble but the control knobs are never visible in either video.
      John

  8. JohnStrat says

    Brian
    A very useful lesson and seeing I have a pristine ES347 on the way it could not be better lesson for me. There are lots of goodies here as you point out basically simple and yet such an effective style. Great JohnStrat

  9. pheartscott says

    Brian,
    I became a premium member again after a good sized layoff. It’s great to be back and learning from you again.
    I’m also learning keyboard on the side (trying too anyhow) in the hopes of someday being able to create pieces of music utilizing both guitar and piano.
    Loved this lesson by the way and keep up the good work.

  10. charjo says

    Cool out of the box sound, Brian. Inspired me to pull out my 335. I sometimes forget what a great blues guitar it is. Love the mix of rhythm and lead. I know I neglect rhythm far too much.
    John

  11. Glenn says

    My wife and I are retired and live in rural costa Rica. We both have acoustic guitars and are struggling to become intermediate players with your help. I am 71 years old and have been playing for almost two years (previous experience only thumping on bass in a basement band). I am giving you a” like” as you request, but that does not begin express my admiration and gratitude. Stylistically, technically and in communication your learning program is the absolute best. You have made friday an exciting day for me. I like the more relaxed and intimate background with your pug on the couch. I hope that has not gone away. EP277 and todays lesson with two awesome single string riffs were especially enjoyable. Glenn

  18. richard c says

    I just joined as a member because of the techniques you use. I hate full bar cords an I am terrible at them. I could play everything in the lesson some areas I need practice. Love the D7 chord, haha. Great lesson I learned a lot cant wait to learn more. really enjoyed it. I love the style of music in the lessons. DONT CHANGE. haha……. Rich, from Charleston SC

  22. Laura K says

    Hello Brian,

    I have a question about the tab files.
    It seems to me they are made with Guitar Pro, is this right?
    And if so, would it be possible that you provide the GPX files?

    Many thanks
    Laura

  24. Robi Raw says

    Love the outside stuff. Maybe do something with some diminished or other way out kind of chords and take us far out for a bit. Lets get down right destructive, melodically speaking that is.
    I cant practice enough
    thanks for the continuous creative insperation

  29. drlknstein says

    wow! There you go again!!!!..

    in part one ..that rythm using the slide into the D7 and then the walk dow/slide into the D is awesome..I just played it in a 1-4 -5 pattern for abouta half and made a song using it .love it

  32. Robi Raw says

    Really enjoy learning this, makes me want to ask you if you could go all out on a funky groove, like tower of power or something in that vain. I have always wanted to play like that and don’t know how that great sound is played on guitar. Since I am at it, is there a ragtime lesson in your treasure chest of tutorials and if not please take us there.
    My gratitude knows no bounds, playing 40 years now and I have finally found the missing piece. Your guitar instructions and alot of work more like drilling holes in concrete it seems but it is happening.

  33. Tom D says

    The rhythm in the first 12 bars is pretty easy, however the timing of the lead in the last twelve is difficult. I think I need to study the sheet music to get the timing right. This is difficult for me, because I am vision impaired and I have to magnify it. I have to look at each bar separately and memorise it. I have been playing the guitar off and on for 60 years and used to be able to read music pretty well, but now I usually play by ear. I have the music to Chet Atkins “Windy and Warm” which I am trying to learn finger style. I used to learn classical guitar about 40 years ago. I have a few of Chet Atkins arrangements and I can play his version of “Hey Good Looking and Tennessee Waltz.” I play with a friend at nursing homes on the Central Coast of NSW Australia. I have used a couple of your tunes,; one of which is WP130 which I have called “The Antiques Roadshow Blues”. I hope this is okay with you. Please let me know if it is not.

  36. Robert M says

    Another absolutely super lesson but very complicated. I’ve been working on it for almost two weeks now. The first out of the box sequence is nice but I can’t get thru it as fast as you do so I’m looking for shortcuts. I’m playing this on my 335 but it also sounds great on my telecaster which I find easier to play. I’m 71 years old so I can’t move my fingers as fast as I used to. I love your lessons and my playing has improved greatly with your help! You guitars always look pristine, do you polish them after every session?

  37. richard c says

    This is my favorite lesson. I learn bits of it at a time. Some things I leave out and some things i add on. its hard for me to play bar cords because my figures mute the strings. but your chords are easier for me to play. Its great teaching in this lesson .it taught me to get further out of the scales now I see and know where I can hit other notes and it sounds good when im playing lead, and adding rhythm in the mix. I love this type or style of music. Its a little bit overwhelming, but im a beginner. I love the sound so that’s why I am drawn to it. So I learn stages of it. its great stuff. well worth the membership. Thanks

  40. pschlosb says

    I definitely think I hear a major Boz Scaggs influence here, tell me if I’m wrong. He’s had different guitar players. This composition sounds alot like JoJo, which I think might have been Louie Shelton playing guitar who was on alot of his major hits. Shelton wrote alot of the riffs and guitar parts

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