Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Ragtime Blues Guitar Lesson – Solo Composition (No Jam Track Needed) – EP351

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a ragtime blues composition by yourself on guitar (no jam track). As you play through the chords, you’ll learn a fill lick that corresponds with each chord. This sounds great at any tempo and works on acoustic or electric guitar.

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. San Luis Rey says

    Wow! Your new Martin sounds fantastic. You look happy playing this lesson Brian. I think this one will be a big help for me to play clean through the song. At least that’s what I’m shooting for. Love these stand alone lessons too!

  9. Glenn says

    I love the ragtime lessons. And whatever you paid it was not too much! I live in Costa Rica and am playing an Easton travel guitar (all I can get here, really, on my income). I like the Easton because I can easily sing over it without amplification. But listening to you playing a really good guitar is a joy.

  10. Phil B says

    I get to listen to your lessons here in the U.K. at about 7.00 am and it’s a great way to start the day and is a good reason to get up and start playing guitar ( apologies to the neighbours!).

    • jimbostrat says

      Not Brian’s nice acoustic stuff I hope doesn’t disturb your neighbors, Phil!! By the way………we truly still miss your Benny Hill over here in the States!! Comedic genius!! Jim C.

  11. Ian C says

    Fabulous lesson for me. I love this sound.
    Three songs I’ve returned to time and again over the last 12 months, worked out chord voicing to sound best and also to practice CAGED are ‘ Nobody loves you when you are down and out’ (original not Clapton version), ‘ I’ll see you in my dreams’, and ‘Hesitation Blues’ I try to play these in the ragtime style of this lesson. I can see lots of the embellishments taught in this lesson which I can straight away develop, adopt and apply to significantly improve my playing of these great songs.

  14. Les Brown says

    Brian? Damn! These are my favorite lessons. Stuff I can play when someone says, “Play something!” You make me sound so good! Don’t know where you come up with them, but no one teaches as practically and effectively as you. Thank you so much!!

  16. KEVIN F says

    Another nice one. I love how you teach caged, chord embellishments , etc. in the context of lesser heard genres like western swing, ragtime, and jazz blues. Got yourself a nice niche carved out.

  19. James W says

    Thanks for another great lesson! After watching the news earlier in the week with all the storms in the Middle Tennessee area,I wasn’t sure if we would get one. Glad you and Arlo and the family are safe.

  21. Roger says

    Now see? There you go again. I am 80% through one project and you throw something shiney at me again. I absolutely LOVE Ragtime. I guess I will start working on this in the evenings while I finish the project I am working on in the mornings

  23. Phil K says

    Brian, love that ragtime blues! It sounds so good on that Martin. I have a 000-15sm that also loves the blues, but I have to admit that type of ragtime is my favorite. Keep it coming! I love those lessons buddy!!!!
    Phil K.

  24. Gary R says

    I love the lessons. I listen and think yeah that’s pretty easy but I never sound anywhere near as you do. I can get close after a lot of practice. You are a great teacher. I’ve been playing for fifty years upside down. I wonder if you have any other students that play like Eric Gales or Dick Dale or Doyle Bramhall

  25. Roger A says

    Great lesson Brian as always. I love it when a great player like you says ‘I have trouble making that dim chord’. Thought it was just me. Great encouragement.
    Love this ragtime blues style.

  27. drlknstein says

    wow , just got thru part one and I cant stop working out on that part where you added the Beatles “Blackbird” riff. I am (out of habit) working it up and down the neck from G to C and to F or starting from F or C……. ………….and trying to imagine using it in a jam.
    ..i knew it was blackbird as soon as you played it.
    wouldnt mind seeing it again with more explanation in another lesson . I am a big fan of all the double stops that you teach (6’s…3rds, etc.) .use em all the time in jams

    merci beaucoup

  29. Andy N says

    That Martin is continuing to inspire you Brian! Another great ragtime number to put on the, ever increasing, to-do list!
    Really like the concept of playing over and around the chords too. So much to take in but spending time on this one will be hugely beneficial in all sorts of areas.
    Thanks!

  34. richard p says

    I just started Brian’s lessons about 3 weeks ago. Already, I’m finding that they’re getting a little easier to follow and play!! My technique still sucks… but, because these songs sound so good, I have MUCH more incentive to get the technique right. And, I say that I understand CAGED, and then I see Brian do something that I hadn’t thought of… it’s truly wonderful.

    And, damn, I never thought that I liked ragtime… but, It’s kinda bluesy/jazzy/ragtime…I love this song!!!

    Keep ’em comin, my favorite cool big brother…

  35. Keith C says

    It’s great that you’re doing this ragtime stuff Brian. Its seemed like ragtime on guitar was always the preserve of finger pickers and its great to have some ragtime teaching for flat picking. (No disrespect to Mr Grosman et al)

    • Duncan J says

      It just shows how you can play them in different ways Keith. I’m playing this one fingerstyle because I’m hopeless with a pick! Give the other lessons I mentioned below a go, they’re great!

      • Keith C says

        I’m the opposite Duncan, I’ve got a weak fingernail on my right hand second finger and also have never felt comfortable with a thumb pick so I’ve always had to try adapt what the fingerpickers are playing to flat pick. We all have to do it in our own way.

        • Duncan J says

          I don’t use a thumb pick and use my middle finger on my picking hand, which is very unusual but just the way that feels comfortable for me and I get a pretty good sound. As you said, each to their own. I’m going to work on my flatpicking though. I’d love to play some of those fast bluegrass tunes one day!

          • Keith C says

            Interesting to watch the great Chett Atkins do that kind of stuff – he played with thumb pick and fingers mostly but when he wanted to do one of those fast single note runs he gripped the thumb pick with his first finger and used it like a flatpick, kind of having it both ways as only a real master can do.

  36. Duncan J says

    Great lesson Brian. I’ve never posted before but just wanted to say thanks and how much I enjoyed this.

    I love fingerstyle blues and ragtime and learned to play through Stefan Grossman’s site. I joined Active Melody to try and learn some new styles on electric and whilst that’s an ongoing and generally failing project, I’ve really enjoyed your no jam track acoustic lessons.

    Some of my favourites are lessons like ep076, ep081, ep177 and ep202. They’re fun to play, sound authentic and are in my repetoire right alongside the classics. I’ll definitely be adding this one too!

  39. fgray says

    Hi Brian-When this lesson first came out I was able to view part 1-yesterday, part 1 won’t play-it says an error occurred. The parts of the lesson work fine. Thought you would want to know.

  40. Peter L says

    Hi Brian
    I just learned the first half of this song from the free lesson, so of course I just had to join so I could continue this musical adventure. This is such a great song you’ve put together for us! I love it. These type of solo, no jam track or other instrument needed kind of songs are exactly what I was looking for. No one else seems to teach this kind of stuff and your easy learning style fits me. So I sincerely hope you will continue to make more of these kinds of lessons. Your helping us all avoid the Coronavirus blues! Thanks so much!

    New yearly member
    Pete.

  41. daniele f says

    Thanks BRIAN!
    In particular for getting into where the chords come from ….my brain can get a little rigid and i understand i have to get away ….sometimes… from 1major 2&3 minor ect…
    like the approach 2,5,1 to a 5th chord for example where 5 is major not minor like it should be in a regular scale . Anyway i appreciate your lessons very much ….oh!could you sometimes put the key signature ? again my stiff brain .
    Thanks again .
    Daniele

  44. George M says

    Love EP351, I really enjoy playing it. It is very fun to play. I would like to learn more songs in that style, could you please direct in the right direction to learn more songs in that style. Thank you

  45. Daniel D says

    Hi, this is a really good lesson for me. Just a bit above my skill level, but achievable, a fun tune with many moves and licks that can be easily applied in other songs. Love the D7 move to D#. And also enjoying it because, as you may remember, I have the guitar you are playing’s older brother, a 1943 000-21.

  46. james s says

    and another one ,, i can do this one to ,, no doubt a few would have seen me comment each time saying (i can do this one to) right its not a show of thing because first time i joined this site i left after a month because i couldnt do anything AT ALL ,, no its just an excitment thing ,, because this time round i can .. and its down to patience ,, and mainly Brians superb tuition ,, thankyou

  47. james s says

    Brian Ben4given has asked if you record this through a mic . or im asking this are you D.I it , as ben sais the tone is fantastic ,, could you pleaase answer when you get time , im sure we not the only ones curious thankyou

  49. Martin G says

    Hello from Scotland…been playing for over 40 years, great thing about music is you never stop learning! just came accross your website, love your teaching style and your compositions… this is great fun to play! thanks!

  51. David D says

    Just great Brian, this one is gonna take me a month of Sundays to even get close! Meanwhile all those other great weekly lessons keep piling up. AAGH! Keep this up the levee’s gonna break. A veritable flood of info for the little grey cells to digest. Still way cool!Thanks Brian!
    Dave in the Adirondacks 🤠

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