Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Slow Acoustic Blues – No Accompaniment – EP065

Description

These solo (no accompaniment) lessons continue to gain popularity. I realize that not everyone wants to play in a band, or even wants to practice with a jam track and I have to admit that here’s nothing more satisfying than being able to entertain with only a guitar and a pick. In this lesson, learn a slow blues in the key of E that requires no jam track. This can be played on acoustic or electric guitar.

Part 1

Part 2

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Slow Walk-Through

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Comments

  3. hansell says

    Hi Brian, Just became a premier member yesterday after a Google search for acoustic blues courses. This is exactly what I was after. Looking forward to going through all you got. Well done!

  4. Rock Star Daddy says

    Brian, you were probably thinking about this lesson when you were out ,on the table! I had the same thing done and like you everything is OK. Another good one to work on.
    Be well and thanks
    Jimmy

  5. StreakyPete says

    I found this lesson to be very interesting, since it made me realize that I had been playing the strum pattern wrongly for years.  My version sounded OK, but introducing the bass note into the mix has tightened the whole thing up.
    It just goes to show that it’s always worthwhile to take another look at your playing technique.
    I haven’t finished part 2 yet, but I’m enjoying learning some ‘new stuff’.
    Thanks again for a great lesson Brian, I’m so pleased, I’m not even going to mention the cap!
    Pete.

  7. Micky51 says

    Great timing on this Brian. I have just bought a new Martin mini acoustic with exactly the intention of working on some of your other acoustic lessons and this one sounds great. Really appreciate your lessons and look forward to each new one. Many thanks.

  8. dkbrinkel says

    Hi Brian. I’m a Premium member and I enjoy your lessons very much. I want to download your videos to my harddisk. No problem with the YouTube videos, as I have the relevant software to do that. But how can I download from your Premium site video part 2 and 3?

    • Ramona M says

      Recommend using I.D.M Internet download Manager. Fast speeds and remember to get the free I.D.M extension from Microsoft. Have used this fantastic software for a few years now and it is reliable & brilliant. You will require the I.D.M extension which will be installed into into your browser and it will ask you to enable it. Next go the lesson and a little blue tab comes on, pick it and download your video, music and tab using I.D.M. and you have a choice of video quality as well. Cheers from down under. Happy learning.

  12. Tractor says

    Posted by:Tractor Aug 25
    Hi Brian
    Great to hear that all’s well with you wonderful tutorial loved it and looking forward to playing it one day as well as you do.
    Have A Good Day
    Cheers

  16. amarkowitz says

    Didn’t know you were out but glad you’re back. This is an awesome lesson for intermediate players like me who love the blues but are still taking it slow.  Usually takes me 1-2 weeks to get all the parts down, then a couple of months before it sounds the way I want. Love it Brian, just love it.

  17. marvin2000 says

    Hello Brian,
    Great lesson, keep on sending great lessons.
                                      Ed.

  20. crizmo says

    For some unexpected fun, click on the “CC” button to get the closed caption. The subtitles generated during the instrumental demo include gems such as “big boobd, I’m home”.  Now that’s the blues resolved.

  23. Andy G says

    This probably fits for most of us and as a reasonable player will get some real pleasure from your tutorial. You are such a good teacher, hope all is well with you, this is the best money I have spent as a premium member.Thanks

  24. DaveS says

    Hi Brian, hope you are ok with this heart thing, this lesson is great as usual,
    am I right in saying it is all within the E minor pen scales, as in your blues lead course, the notes you are playing seem to fit within the 5 patterns.

  25. blues46 says

    Hi Brian. I’m a Premium member and I enjoy your lessons very much. I want to download your videos to my harddisk. No problem with the YouTube videos, as I have the relevant software to do that. But how can I download from your Premium site video part 2 and 3?

    I had the same question that dkbrinkel asked on Aug 24th.  Did not see a response.

  30. benplay says

    Hey Brian, great lesson. Really enjoying your acoustic and electric lessons I have come a long way since joining, love your music taste. The blues are the best, BEN.

  32. Disor says

    New member here. Great lesson.  If not asking too much maybe for the future, could you do a small video summarizing the riffs only.

    Thank you for sharing your talent.

    Ricardo

  43. JVH says

    Mi correo es .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)/*= 0){out += unescape(l[i].replace(/^ss*/, '&#'));}while (--j >= 0){/**/if (el[j].getAttribute('data-eeEncEmail_gRgptPDXqQ')){el[j].innerHTML = out;}}/*]]>*/

  44. JVH says

    Estimado Sr.
    Soy subscriptor y descargo los videos con Firefox y la Extension DowloadHelper.

    Pero llevo un tiempo que no consigo bajarlos, ya que el DowloapHelper no me los detecta.

    Te ruego me indiques como podría hacer para descargarlos.

    Un saludo.

  45. Mimdaddy says

    Great lesson Brian, I love it.  Question. When you talk about understanding the root fret, do you always mean it according to the 6th string (E form bar chord). Would it depend on what cord extension you are playing, like using the 5th string (A form bar code)?  Could you help me discern the difference.  Thanks again. Mike Musgrove

  47. cheese8800 says

    Thanks Brian - you are a great teacher and I’m enjoying your lessons very much! Two remarks – a) what’s your suggestions how to handle the intensity of weekly delivering such great lessons. I’m still on this one and there are already new lessons coming and b) I’m a premium subscriber - but there should be anyway a DONATE button (just in cases I’m so overwhelmed by a good lesson like with this one!!!)
    Cheers
    Cheese from Switzerland

  48. gazulli says

    Brian:  New to your site and to Tabs.  Do you have any info on reading your tabs?  When I look at the Tabs and compare to your lesson (Part 1) it doesn’t seem to track exactly so though I would ask.  I love the lessons and find them helpful but challenging at this point.  Any info you can give to help with this will be appreciated.  Thanks

  49. [email protected] says

    HI Brian
    I am a premium member and really enjoying the lessons. I have a poor internet speed so get lots of buffering. Is there a way the audio can be downloaded from the videos so it can be used off line. this would be really useful. Maybe a downloadable mp3 of the audio on the video as well as the jam tracks.

    Barry

  50. cheese8800 says

    Well Barry - there are some specific free programs in the internet judt doing that: convert Youtube videos to mp3. Just google it up - download - and play

  53. [email protected] says

    reply to cheese8800
    I have tried the youtube to mp3 software, but brians videos are copyrighted so they wont work. If you find a way to get the audio off the video I would love to known how. It would be great to have the audio so you can run it through speed altering software and loop small sections until you can get them to sound right.
    I dont know how difficult it would be for Brian but a downloadable mp3 of the video lessons would be the icing on the cake.
    Barry

  54. Drsteinberg says

    Hi Brian
    Just joined today and working through this as my first lesson. Wonderful stuff and looking forward to more lessons. It’s great to be enthused by the guitar again! Thank you.
    Keith
    All the best from Scotland!

  55. Eamon says

    Very clean and straight forward style of teaching
    I love the little techniques you put in from time to time in each lesson
    You make it look so simple but yet so intricate
    Love your lessons man

  56. Ne14_activemelody says

    Hello Brian,

    Perfect blues for the on coming winter here in Sweden
    Just started learning this piece today… looking forward to that nice BIG BEND in bar 17.

    Like every one else here love your lessons :-)

    Graham

  57. mark c says

    Brian i’m a new premium member. Really like the lesson.  On the slow walk thru is it possible when you make the lesson you could count in before you start as it is very hard to hit play and get in sync with what you are playing.  thanks mark c

  59. elpescador says

    Every now and then I have to pause and marvel at what a great instructor you are. Each lesson not only shows you how to play a particular song, but it also opens doors and ideas to apply various riffs, rhythms, etc. to other songs. Best money I have spent in a very long time. Thanks for all your hard work Brian

  60. johnontherock says

    hello brian
    this slow laid back blues with a pick and the next lesson that goes with this one is the kind of blues ive been searching for online.i stumbled upon your site by accident and boy am i glad about that.i just love the music you produce and the way you explain it.playing chords and fills are unlocking the fretboard for me and making sense of all the scales i have learnt over the years.i spent years thinking that scales alone will give me freedom to express myself on the guitar but it doesn’t,its a must to know all the scales i do know but thanks to you im set free.learning EP065/66/82/55 and blues rhythm in E so far has been fab.
    Thanks bro.

  61. Travellinglight says

    Hello Brian
    I checked out the chances of printing this lesson AND
    YES I can print it off
    which I did
    and
    WOW
    It feels different to your video lesson somehow
    Can’t follow the TAB so well Brian

  62. Travellinglight says

    Hey Brian can I print of the TAB for your lessons?
    I would like to print the TAB instead of downloading the TAB?
    I made a mistake and left this message on The YOU TUbe post
    before loging in sorry

  63. unhinged says

    Hi, Brian I am a new member to your site and it looks and sounds great just what I am looking for , as an eternal beginner ,, I also subscribe to several other
    Learn to play the blues sites , I think yours will be the one to move me on to the next level , but your version of TAB is very confusing not seen this style before
    Have you got a more basic type of TAB available, cheers ,

  64. mama59 says

    Hallo Brian, vielen Dank für diese wunderbare Lektionen und für den perfekten Aufbau.  Habe richtig Spass! Auch wenn ich kein Englisch kann verstehe ich die Musik, die Tabulatur und den Feeling! Herzlichen Dank nochmals:)

  69. Izzy says

    Hi Brian Well i went out and did it. I liked the sound of that Alvarez so much, I bought one yesterday. I like it. I think it came through with 12 gauge string though. have been working on lessonEP065, and it seems I am not getting a good response from the hammered notes down that low on the neck. all i know so far is the strings it came with are the D’Addario coated bronze type. Thinking about trying out some lighter gauge strings..If you ha any suggestions, it would be much appreciated . Thanks Eddie W

  70. craig w says

    i am a new premium member. downloaded this lesson and noted that the tabs are not the same as your video lesson. did you change your mind on how this is played or are you improvising ??

    craig

    • Brian says

      Craig, they should be pretty close. I might have played it slightly different in the video – I’ve gotten better through the years about memorizing it EXACTLY as the tab (also I now create the tab after the recording)

  73. DANA H says

    Hi Brian,

    Really enjoy your site. You are teaching an old dog new tricks and have rekindled an interest in guitar again for me. Really enjoyed lessons like this one and the Mark Knopfler and Funk lessons.

    Any chance you would be interested in teaching a lesson like “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoSn2Y-b6wI”?

    It’s Steve Winwood // Blind Faith – “Can’t Find My Way Home”.

    Thanks for providing us all with intelligent, well thought out lessons!

    Sincerely,

    Dan

  74. Strykerward says

    Brian,
    my wife wants to thank you for the great lessons that are helping me play better. She say’ s its fun to listen to a new tune every week. And she says I look cool in my activemelody.com t-shirt.

    Thanks.

    Steve

  75. bri-uklefty says

    Hey Brian,

    This is a great lesson full of challenges but with the prize as normal being another really cool blues tune. .

    I got suprise at the end of part 2 hearing about your heatlh surveillance; and really pleasedyou and your famly that everything is okay with your heart. Music really is a tonic and adds a natural harmony to all of our souls.

    Best wishes and cheers Bri

  76. Steve M says

    Became a premium member this week and have started with this, the sequel ( 066) and the David Rawlings lesson. Fantastic stuff! Very learnable now that I have upgraded, though the timing in some spots is quite challenging ( for this lesson particularly in the second half going into the A). Really enjoy playing this stuff and think mixing these parts around and doing a variation or too is ever so useful. Love that this can stand alone!

  81. Roger K says

    Your slow blues lessons are just what I’ve been looking for. My wife also enjoys hearing something new. However, I have to ask about the t-shirt with reptilian/cat tongue. Scratching my head for the back story. Can you explain?

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