Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Jump Blues Rhythm (with fill licks) Guitar Lesson – EP383

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a jump blues rhythm with chord substitutions and blues fill licks in the key of A. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to jazz up your blues, this would be a great lesson for you.

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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Comments

  6. James W says

    I haven’t tried the lesson yet just listen to it. I’m excited to try it! But I noticed you have stated your speed playing is your deficit. Well that’s not true. I am a EVH fan and this to me feels like a little like shred…just sayin. Love it none the less.

  8. Andy N says

    Oh ye! This one’s right up my street , down my alley and I’m my backyard.
    Always love the rhythm ones and now jazzy as well.
    But I’m very worried about what happened to that middle finger!

  11. Walter D says

    Once again you demonstrate your versatility as a player/teacher. You said in a recent video that it’s important to get out of your comfort zone if you want to learn and grow as a player. This lesson is Exhibit A for me. Awesome. Thanks

  13. houliAK says

    What I like about this lesson and all the others, is the side bar (nuggets and light bulbs)that explains why and how a lick or chord works. I get so much out of it and the fact that you have often times said the nugget before and it starts to eventually seep into my thick skull. It really sets a tuning fork off in my loins and that excitement has taken my playing to another level. I appreciate it!

  16. David G says

    Great lesson, Brian! Really nice to get something with some sophisticated-sounding changes a bit out of the ordinary, as well as your great explanations. Plenty to work on here, and lots to reuse elsewhere as you say. One question: is there a particular reason you did the score and the tab in C rather than A (I’m guessing there would still be plenty of accidentals even in an A key signature because of all the 6/9/dim7 chords, but I’m just curious.

      • David G says

        Sorry, Brian — didn’t make myself clear, because it’s not really the tab as such, but the score that goes with the tab in the full walk-through at the bottom of the page (just above the comments). Yes, definitely in A, and I can’t paste a screen capture here in the comments to show you what I mean, but if you look at the full-screen walkthrough + score + tab, the score does not look to me to be in A (i.e., the key signature does not show the three sharps I would expect). For the tab, of course, it makes no difference at all, so the point is really moot, I guess, but I was a bit puzzled — no doubt it’s me, not you. 🙂

        Anyway, great lesson and I would love to see more on the uses of 6/9 and dim7 (and #dim7 as in this lesson from D9 to D#dim7 to A) in turnarounds and transitions. This adds a whole new dimension to blues, as you emphasize! I haven’t yet got to the point of being able to finger that Freddy King chord easily yet but I’ll keep working on it. 🙂 Thanks again for providing so much inspiration.

      • Douglas P says

        Hey David, I was looking at the Notation, and you do make a good point. The Notation does not express the Three Sharp (C#,F#, and G #) that are inheren’t with “A” Major Key. I did not see them at the beginning. I thought it was just the way the notation program transposed it? But, Brian always says what key all his compositions are going to be played in, then usually gives us a quick once over with respect to main chord usage at the beginning of each Lesson Video. To Brian, just in reply to this I am like 2-3 days behind just listening to it. It sounds awesome, as usual. I particularly liked the 1/4 note Triplet run near the end. Gives it a solid transition. Each lesson is just getting better and better in it’s complexity and arrangement. So, I hope you don’t get upset with me replying to David about that. As always, Respect to you, Brian, and everyone in the Active Melody Community.

        Doug Piper.

  21. San Luis Rey says

    Hi Brian,
    Just wanted to thank you for this week’s lesson. Only when I started this one did I realize how good it is with the chord shapes and changes and some sweet lead runs thrown in! Thanks again, Mike

  22. Greg B says

    Hi Brian,
    I love these lessons which help raise our rhythm game. The 9th and 6th chords with embellishments to build into them are a joy for hours and hours. It’s great alone and an absolute ball with friends.
    Thanks so much,
    Greg

  24. Barry W says

    Thanks for continuing to mix in unaccompanied rhythm lessons with the lead lessons. I am a rhythm player and always looking for interesting chord substitutions. My wife really enjoys when I play and sing the standards using gypsy jazz chords and rhythms.

  25. JohnStrat says

    Brian this is a fabulous lesson. If there is a single lesson on this site which includes all I need to practice most now its right here. Thanks so much when I can get fully to grips with this I will know I have made a huge advance.
    JohnStrat

  26. William I says

    So overjoyed. You are gifted teacher and I am so glad I found you. Loving guitar again and learning so much. Just finished your blues course and this lesson is a wonderful compliment. A style of playing I love to listen to but never really knew how to play; until now. Wonderful. I don’t have the words. Your lessons are like listening to a magician giving away hard earned tricks. You are very generous with your teaching. Thanks so much Brian. I turned 50 this year and feel the guitar passion all over again! By the way, I sit front of my computer with a Yamaha THR5 amp (wonderful little thing, 10x30x10cm, I picked up from my father who has retired to piano only). Loving the sound I have too!

  32. Douglas P says

    This really is a suburb lesson. So much packed into it. It baffles my mind where your inspirations come from. Thank you also for the Spotify references. I left a reply to David above, only because I did get where he was coming from. This lesson has so much. Thank you for passing on this knowledge. Take care.

    Doug P.

  33. richard p says

    Each week I see you struggling with… do you need to explain CAGED again… and the Major/Minor scales. I love that you’re thinking about everyone, but you need to give yourself a break. I think most of us know exactly what you mean when you say things like “this is the A-shape for C”, or “this is right out of A-minor pentatonic”. I think you should do one lesson on the basics of CAGED, Major and Minor scales (and the first position Pentatonic for major vs minor). Then, make the blanket statement at the start of each lesson: “If you don’t know CAGED and don’t know the Major and Minor scales, unfortunately you won’t get anything out of this lesson. But, don’t worry, check out lesson X and then come back”.

    Just trying to help you out a bit…

  35. Geoff says

    Well, I have gone through the whole lesson and learned how to play what was played. It was great fun as always.

    Now comes the difficult part : how to apply these chord ideas in my own improvisations.

  38. Dennis M says

    Great lesson Brian,
    You mentioned counting but just got to the 3&. I’m good with fingering the chords mostly and can get through the first part with a heck of a lot of practice.
    I can figure out the rhythm but counting it through is pretty tough. Do you count all the way through. I can tell by reading the notes, follow along until I got the feel but have trouble doing the counting since it’s not straight forward. I can read the notes but not fluently. Any lessons on rhythm and counting?
    Thanks,
    :Dennis

  40. Michael M says

    How should I count the fast strum on bar 13? 1-2–3-4-5-6-7-8 and 1-2-3-4.? 1 e and a ? If I want to break it down slower? Some of the stuff I’m trying to do by ear and it’s coming slowly. I’m not a great reader but a little baffled with the 32nd note grouping

    • Mark G says

      Yeah same here. which reminds me, I was in a touring ska band a few years back in Sacramento, CA and once in a while there was this fantastic 3-piece jump blues band that opened for us. I was always blown away with the jazzy sounding chords and rhythm comping that the guitarist would play in their set. the guitarists was just a kid (late 20s to early-30s) with great chops. I’m glad to be able to finally start injecting that into my rhythm playing after learning how to use the ‘classy” chord shapes, substitutions and rhythms, thanks to some of Brian’s amazing lessons! BTW: Rich, what are a few of your favorite early 50s jump blues songs?

  48. Graham C says

    Hi Brian just want too say this is the best lesson you’ve done I had too join the lesson website after this so much brilliant information well explained and so many ideas to add to my playing can we please have some more jump blues lessons take care

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