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Minor Key Blues Guitar Lesson Played with a Percussive Fingerstyle – EP283

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a minor key blues in B minor (although, I’ll show you how to easily transpose this and play it in any key). This is played with a percussive fingerstyle rhythm and requires no jam track – you can play this one all by yourself.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through

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Comments

  1. JohnStrat says

    November 16, 2018 at 6:43 pm

    Well this will be another great technique to pick up upon Brain and its a stand alone lesson as well. I am sure its going to prove useful to many members.
    Thanks JohnStrat

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  2. Don D. says

    November 16, 2018 at 6:55 pm

    It sounds great, very November-ish.

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  3. thomokel says

    November 16, 2018 at 7:01 pm

    Beginning sounds like Roberta Flack. Can you do a Cream era Crossroads like thing or a Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young one?

    Tom O’Kelly

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  4. Jim M says

    November 16, 2018 at 7:07 pm

    That’s my kind of music ๐ŸŽธ

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  5. Aussie Rick says

    November 16, 2018 at 7:35 pm

    Looking forward to getting into this great little composition and lesson.

    Just a small problem Brian: Soundslice is greyed out/unavailable with this lesson, with the message “www.soundslice.com refused to connect” in its place.

    Rick

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    • Michael Allen says

      November 16, 2018 at 8:00 pm

      On Screen Tab Viewer not visible but I’m sure you must be aware of it. I check back in the morning. Love the tune!

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      • Brian says

        November 16, 2018 at 8:13 pm

        Try refreshing

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        • Pat P says

          November 16, 2018 at 10:42 pm

          I have the same problem here, Brian – on a Mac
          – with the Chrome browser it is greyed out and says “www.soundslice.com refused to connect”
          – with Firefox and Safari, it is totally blank – no grey or message.

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          • Marko B says

            November 17, 2018 at 7:42 am

            I have exactly the same problem, refreshing doesn’t help…………..help!

          • Will L says

            November 17, 2018 at 11:10 am

            It seems to only be this weeks lesson upload, previous weeks still have it (on safari/iPad).
            Iโ€™ll check back in the morning too, Brian usually sorts these hiccups quickly.

    • Brian says

      November 17, 2018 at 12:40 pm

      Sorry, I’ve fixed this. It was a setting that allowed it to show for me, but no one else. It works now.

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      • Will L says

        November 18, 2018 at 11:28 am

        ๐Ÿ‘

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      • mike w says

        December 19, 2018 at 9:21 pm

        Love that guitar I am getting the step sister not as nice but more in my range since my playing has a long ways to go. Great lesson

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  6. Michael Allen says

    November 16, 2018 at 7:57 pm

    I look forward to learning this one. Thanks Brian!

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  7. Aussie Rick says

    November 16, 2018 at 8:30 pm

    Brian, I tried refreshing but it hasn’t resolved the Soundslice problem. Any other suggestions?

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    • Brian says

      November 17, 2018 at 12:39 pm

      Sorry, I’ve fixed this. It was a setting that allowed it to show for me, but no one else. It works now.

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  8. JoLa says

    November 16, 2018 at 8:53 pm

    Awesome, Brian! I love this sweet minor tune and the percussive rhythm and will dig into it very soon! Just wish the mp3 sample was looping for a little longer instead of just once … ?

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    • JoLa says

      November 17, 2018 at 9:56 pm

      Just realized why this lesson sounded somewhat familiar, it’s like an extension to ML019, my favorite Microlesson! It has the same chord progression ๐Ÿ™‚

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      • Jeff S says

        November 18, 2018 at 7:57 am

        Good observation Jola! I didn’t make that connection and ML019 is one of my favs also- to me 019 has a Santana feel to it no? Be interesting to merge the 2

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      • Brian says

        November 18, 2018 at 5:47 pm

        hah – you’re right. good catch! I thought that sounded familiar

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  9. Buster89 says

    November 16, 2018 at 10:50 pm

    Same problem for me. No soundslice. Still works on the previous lessons. Just this one seems to have a problem. Cheers.

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    • Brian says

      November 17, 2018 at 12:39 pm

      Sorry, I’ve fixed this. It was a setting that allowed it to show for me, but no one else. It works now.

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  10. Arnold M says

    November 17, 2018 at 7:08 am

    Same comment as Buster89, soundslice works elsewhere, but refreshed a couple times here but still no viewer.

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  11. Raymond P says

    November 17, 2018 at 7:50 am

    Great lesson, fun to listen to, fun to play

    Thanks Brian,

    Ray P

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  12. bob e says

    November 17, 2018 at 7:55 am

    Same here with the above problem
    Cheers

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    • Brian says

      November 17, 2018 at 12:39 pm

      Sorry, I’ve fixed this. It was a setting that allowed it to show for me, but no one else. It works now.

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  13. sunburst says

    November 17, 2018 at 8:25 am

    Steve Via ? lol more like the Traveling Wiburys ! Great lesson and as always terrific composition Nice tones settings from that little Sister

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  14. sunburst says

    November 17, 2018 at 8:51 am

    A next good extension follow up (after playing through this now) reminds me and started me playing Carlos Santana “Black Magic Woman” solo

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  15. Jimmy James says

    November 17, 2018 at 8:57 am

    Great Lesson Brian! I hear “The Thrill is Gone” in chords almost. Love to see a part 2 of EP 281….it works out great at open mic night!!

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  16. mike jams says

    November 17, 2018 at 9:40 am

    Awesome! i love these stand alone songs
    great job , i always look forward to our new Friday songs
    have a great weekend

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  17. David M says

    November 17, 2018 at 11:14 am

    Hey Brian –
    How about a lesson on a “Boogaloo Blues” rhythm ala “Tramp” by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas – Stax Records 1969?
    Would be nice to learn a more R&B-type Blues from the 1960’s.
    Something like this:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXJOiAhbSCE

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  18. Pat P says

    November 17, 2018 at 12:41 pm

    Soundslice there today. Thanks Brian

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  19. Buster89 says

    November 17, 2018 at 1:33 pm

    Yep. Same here !

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  20. John B says

    November 17, 2018 at 3:29 pm

    Thanks Brian, The hardest thing for me is getting the percussions correct. If I can get that correct I will get to the next level. Great to play rhythm and melody. Pretty chord progression.

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  21. Jeff S says

    November 18, 2018 at 7:52 am

    Brian, thanks so much for your weekly efforts. It can’t be easy trying to be all things to all pickers but week after week you hi it out of the park!

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  22. magpie says

    November 19, 2018 at 5:28 pm

    Great lesson. I will be getting into this one now. Thanks Brian.

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  23. Tony B says

    November 20, 2018 at 1:38 pm

    What is the brand of that guitar and where can I buy one?

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    • Brian says

      November 21, 2018 at 1:04 pm

      Hey Tony, it’s a B&G Little Sister – shoot me an email and I’ll put you in touch with my contact at B&G

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  24. Rob R says

    November 20, 2018 at 6:16 pm

    Brian,
    How does your B & G ‘Little Sister’ sound unplugged?
    Thanks!

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  25. Guillermo V says

    November 20, 2018 at 10:48 pm

    Such a Clapton lesson!!!!

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  26. Craig K says

    November 21, 2018 at 4:20 am

    Brian; I’m into my 3rd year as a member and I have yet to learn one of your lessons all the way thru. But I don’t mind because I’ve learned so many things thru bits and pieces. I’m going to be done with working for a living in 18 months and I’m looking forward to digging in deep to your lessons. You are my favorite teacher , by far. Thanks for all you do.

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    • Brian says

      November 21, 2018 at 12:30 pm

      Thanks Craig, no worries on learning a lesson all the way through – lots of folks do that. The goal is really to teach you how to start to improvise and write your own stuff anyway, so as long as you’re learning and growing as a guitar player – we both win ๐Ÿ™‚

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  27. benny l says

    November 21, 2018 at 9:00 am

    THANKS BRIAN,
    GREAT LESSON, SOME GOOD LICKS, AND VERY HELPFUL WITH THE FINGER PICKING !
    HOPE YOU AND FAMILY HAVE A VERY VERY BLESSED THANKSGIVING!!

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  28. Elliottmo says

    November 21, 2018 at 4:43 pm

    Hi Brian

    I have been a member from November 20 2011 and have never been more impressed by the improvements I have seen you make over the years, thank you to you and your family Happy thanksgiving. And your Pug !

    Respectfully Yours
    Michael Bishop

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  29. Ian C says

    November 22, 2018 at 11:51 am

    Very nice little piece great for finger picking which I got the gist of no problem…however I am struggling to get any sort of consistency with my back of fingers percussion. It’s either sloppy or too hard, the more I try the less I can get it right! Guess Ill move on and come back to this technique again later.

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  30. George K says

    November 22, 2018 at 7:47 pm

    What can I say, another great lesson Brian like it. Ta

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  31. Robert D says

    November 23, 2018 at 12:57 pm

    almost like playing Clapton’s old love in B.. one of my old time favorites, i have started playing old love fingerstyle since this lesson.. very nice

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  32. Joe S says

    November 25, 2018 at 4:48 pm

    Great feel and swagger on this lesson. The C#7 at 6:35 in part 2 is a II chord and thus this little progression essentially becomes a II-V-I (the most prevalent progression in music) which is why it works.

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  33. Chris Christie says

    November 26, 2018 at 12:19 pm

    cool thanx

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  34. David F says

    November 29, 2018 at 3:37 pm

    Your site is just the best Brian! I’m a new member and look forward to getting better over the winter. Just wanted to mention that I LOVED the “Back in Black!” That is, the black screen behind you again for this one. It’s so much easier on both the eyes and the laptop power with the black background that you used to use. Just my two cents–otherwise, the site is purrrrrfect-thanks for doing what you do amigo-

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  35. sunburst says

    December 5, 2018 at 8:39 am

    I finally started this lesson this morning!,, this is my favorite style of playing,, from my perspective this reminds me of fingerstyle techniques and the feel of Mark Knophler .. what a great turn around too..never would have made that up myself ,,lol.. appreciate the time and key signatures too ,.. eventually will help reading staff notation

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  36. Annie V says

    January 11, 2019 at 7:31 pm

    Love this piece, thanks again Brian

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  37. Timothy K says

    January 19, 2019 at 3:40 pm

    Had a lot of fun learning this one. Especially like you you explain why the licks work and how they fit into the pentatonic scales and chords we’re using. Thanks!

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  38. Dennis O says

    February 12, 2019 at 3:24 pm

    BRIAN

    Notices your B&G guitar. I just got one (mint used private build) though mine’s a cut-out . Super sweet. Its a higher-end guitar than my limited talents deserve but I’m in a wheel chair and have back issues so wanted a small-bodied light-weight electric that packs some punch and this delivers. LOVE LOVE LOVE it

    My question: What gauge strings to you use on yours? The ones on mine seem pretty stout (previous owner didn’t know what gauge he had on it), which I’m used to having previously only played an acoustic but I’m trying to learn out to incorporate vibrato to some measurable effect (damn hard for me…really hard) and am wondering if lighter strings might help. Thoughts?

    Appreciate your lessons lots. I’m a slow learner but know lots of practice is my key to getting better and your approach to teaching encourages me to keep working on things

    Grins

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  39. Israel U says

    January 19, 2020 at 3:45 pm

    This is so beautiful. I find that I just love minor and minor blues compositions.

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  40. Rick L says

    April 13, 2020 at 1:57 pm

    great lesson Brian, sure glad I signed up this year. Love the variety.

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  41. william d says

    October 13, 2020 at 10:05 pm

    Great lesson as always, Brian!

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