Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Minor Key Blues – Using Minor Arpeggios To Connect Chord Shapes – EP205

Description

In this minor blues guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to think outside of the pentatonic boxes (an easy place to get stuck) by learning how to use minor arpeggios to connect chords in different voicings up the neck of the guitar. You’ll learn the E minor, A minor, and dominant B7 arpeggios, as well as how to play the chords in multiple neck positions.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

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Slow Walk-Through

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Comments

    • Hi Brian, I had just been working on the Intro to ” I’ve Just Seen a Face” by the Beatles and this lesson really explains the chord voicings used in that song very well. Thanks!

  2. That JohnStrat!! He has to be hovering on the send button every week the very moment when the new lesson comes and posts his comment!! What’s missing here are the two Flamenco dancers with castanets (hand clappers) dancing around as you play this one Brian!! I think this new Martin has already become your favorite guitar!! I’m sort of giddy because we’re off all next week on vacation!! Jim C.

  4. Great Lesson, may be you could do a lesson on all these small cords and cord voiceings . I know a lot of small cords or arpeggios , but I have no idea on there names, it would be great to have a chart of all these cords or may be someone could recommend a good book that covers these smaller cords, I do know how some are made ,but not all

  7. This is one of your best Sir. Not even the best “players” can come up with new and exciting material week after week. You are not just a good player but have a talent for writing awesome guitar Melodies! Hats off to you Brian. This one’s next in line to give me fits.

  8. I love it. I just showed it for my wife and she loves it too so now I have to learn it. I like the Em, Am, B7.
    You described the harmonic minor (1,b3,4,5,b6,7) because the B7 and the 7th chord really resolves back into the Em — very nice.

    Also the rhythm is strong and the song has a Spanish feel.

  9. Much appreciated Brian. I think I will nick some parts of this for my version of The Thrill is Gone. I nicked Marc Woodward version’s for my mandolin playing (octave mandolin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brpN9bozCdc ).

    If other people could suggest tunes that could benefit from your tips and lessons I think that would be great for us all. I tend to dip into you lessons and take parts to fit into tunes rather than learn the whole part.

    The suggestion of a chart or a lesson on “small chords” is quite good. I use double stops a lot on the mandolin to find my positions on the fretboard and to solo around. And I am now using these on the guitar together with the inspiration you provide. For instance, I am working on a solo for the House of the Rising Son starting with a double stop on the fifth fret (a minor) and then using your tips about about the minor pentatonic scale to move up and down the neck while emphasising the chord structure with and playing off double stops. I have not really got any theory for this, which is why I think it would be a great idea if you could eke out a lesson using double stops as reference points for soloing (and finding your way around the fretboard) in both the major and minor (or a combination of both) pentatonic scales. Does that sound complicated?

  17. Love It Brian. It sounds great, it’s different, it’s intricate yet I find myself picking it up fast. My one stumbling block comes in part 2 making the change from the A Minor on the 5th fret to the A Minor on the 8th fret. Any suggestions?

  22. Great lesson Brian! I love the Spanish flavor and the Django style. You make it seem so easy. That’s why I tell people about you. Youtube is full of very talented guitarists, but you are not only very talented but you truly are the greatest guitar teacher ever! God Bless you Brian!

  24. yeah , one more great lesson . I’m with the guy who asked for more small chords all over the neck and their respective arpeggios . overall you could dig even more the theoretical mixed with the practical lessons . thanks again and keep shreddin’

  25. Brian,

    Best lesson on chord relationships yet..for me anyway. Showing the positions up the neck of E minor and A minor clicked with me. I have struggled to learn chords up the neck for years; whether it’s a product of an inherent learning disability, being stubbornly impatient, an inexplicable mental blind spot when it comes to chords, a combination of all of the above or something else altogether, learning chords, particularly up the neck, has always been a struggle for me. I think I need to try and learn chords in small doses; this lesson is a good example of that approach.

  27. Thanks Brian, another great lesson. You mentioned Kenny Burrell in your email re this lesson. One of my favorite playerd too, so cool! Another terrific album if you haven’t heard it is Midnight Blue with Kenny Burrell and Stanley Turrentine, well worth checking out 🙂
    Radds

  28. Hi Brian! Beautiful lesson as usual!!

    What guitar are you playing?

    I loved the Alvarez you used for many of your no accompaniment lessons but this also sounds lovely..

    Thanks
    D

  30. Brian, have trouble hitting the barchords and even some single notes on my Seagull Natural dreadnought.
    can you recommend more playable acoustics for a new player trying to work out your great lessons like this one?

    • Hey Richard, Seagull makes decent acoustic guitars – I would think yours should work but I have no way of knowing how it set up. You might have someone take a look at it at a guitar store and check that the action is where it needs to be.

  31. Thanks Brian! Another great composition that is a pleasure to listen to. It’s pulled a lot of elements together for me, and I feel i will get this one up to speed. Loved working on over the last two days.

  35. It’s good fun (and sounds “right”) if you play this through again using major arpeggios, i.e. E major, A major and the same dominant B7 arpeggio. You can then switch back to the minor and it makes the whole thing sound even more Spanish!

  37. Hey Brian.

    Really enjoy this lesson, actually it is the first one I finish completely and was able to play it top to end . …. Thanks for the tips this chord sequence Em-Am-B7 is very useful as I learned the arpeggios I was ready to improvise some licks around them.

    I have added other lessons but have not been able to complete them mostly because lack of time … This is the first time in my life after learning to play as kid about 55 years ago that I have begin playing blues … So thanks for the tips. I really enjoy the format of the lessons … I will definitely continue to try others. As I improve I will begin to upload my videos as my teacher I hope I’ll make you proud!!

    Blessings.

  38. Hi Brian,

    I really like the styles of music you teach and this lesson is great. I do find quiet often that your 2nd lesson, the one for subscribers, is usually more rushed. Maybe its because you get into explaining the theory and by the time you get back to the details of the composition you are teaching you rush over the small but important details… I eventually work it out but I thought I would just make the observation. many thanks for your good work. Jason McGrath. Tasmania Australia.

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