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
Only available to premium members.
Register for premium access
Register for premium access
Slow Walk-Through
Only available to premium members.
Register for premium access
Register for premium access
Only available to premium members.
Register for premium access
Register for premium access
Only available to premium members.
Register for premium access
Register for premium access
You need to be logged in as a premium member to access the tab, MP3 jam tracks, and other assets.
Learn More
Add to "My Favorites"
You need to login or register to bookmark/favorite this content.
Brian says
Live
Peter B says
I absolutely love this lesson. I am playing it finger style as I find it easier that way. I am also using an electric guitar. I have changed the shuffle pattern a bit to fit finger style, and it sounds awesome (at least to my ears!). I am advancing so much using your lessons Brian. I look forward to many more lessons in different styles.
Michael M says
Great suggestion. I’m struggling to do this with a pick. I might try to do it fingerstyle as well.
Jimmey M says
what is that model alverez are you playing?
todd55 says
This is terrific, Brian. But I hope you’re still considering a follow-up to the Warren Haynes lesson. They keep getting better!
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!
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
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.
Brian Belsey says
I love the diversity of these lessons, but there is something about the slow unaccompanied blues that is extra satisfying.
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.
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.
genedivincenzo says
Brien,
The hell with the lessons, be well!
strat62 says
Great job Brian as always you make it so clear. Glad you are doing ok.Mark
wired4u says
Hi Brian,
Thanks for all the great lessons! Glad to hear you’re OK!
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
abracadabra says
What model Alverez guitar are you playing?
Brian says
@abracadabra - the guitar is an Alvarez MPA70
roco says
Really enjoyed this lesson. Hope you are feeling better and all is well.
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.
marvin2000 says
Hello Brian,
Great lesson, keep on sending great lessons.
Ed.
Valleyisle says
Thanks, this is a new ride for me.great lesson format. Love the slow run through, please keep that up. Uncle Joe
mw says
Thanks Brian, ma kinda blues playin. Digin the gear, flat cap and baggies, now thats a blues look.
mw
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.
Karnac says
Brian
Thanks for the time and effort….great stuff!
talofa says
Your amazing…is there anything you can’t play?
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
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.
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.
Brian says
The MP3 jam tracks and the tablature are all available to download for offline use, but the video content isn’t - think of it like Netflix. 🙂
Brian says
@DaveS - yea you got it - E minor pentatonic scale. Heart is great, thanks for asking!
mikendall says
Is it possible to have the tablature to match what you are teaching
Brian says
@mikendall - could you be specific about which bar doesn’t match? I try to make it as exact as possible
Scott S says
I didn’t find the tab to match either.
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.
FenderBlues says
Another AMAZING lesson Brian! And glad to hear you’re doing ok.
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
BeatleEd says
Not seing the tab for part 2 of EP65. Pdf download is only given me part 1.
Is that the only pdf part available?
Brian says
@BeatleEd - the tab covers both parts.. it’s all in the same document
warren james earp says
Okay so it’s taken me a week but I’ve got it.. thanks Brian love these lessons keep them coming mate.
BeatleEd says
OK. I see it now. Sorry. I must be losing my sight.
GT555 says
Love these acoustic blues lessons Brian! Keep them coming!
drlknstein says
THANKS BRIAN
THIS LESSON WAS PERFECT FOR ME. I AM AN INTERMEDIATE PLAYER (PROLLY 3 OUT OF 10)
LOTS OF GREAT IDEAS TO USE
A+
M
timsimmons says
Hey Brian
These lessons are really really helpful. Thanks so much for offering this service!
tgp123 says
I am not able to play part 2?
tgp123 says
The mesg says that I can’t play with my current set up???
talofa says
Great introduction to some classic slow Blues. I am finger picking this lesson and it doesn’t sound to bad. Thanks
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;}}/*]]>*/
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.
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
albicio says
Great job, clear and it seems so easy to play…. I’ve to learn it! I’m sure i’ll need many week to play it, but I’ll get it
Alberto
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
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
barryfoil@gmail.com 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
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
felixe2 says
Great stuff Brian…..explained very well. Thanks
Gene
orient2k says
Another fantastic lesson. Many thanks, Brian.
barryfoil@gmail.com 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
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!
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
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
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
Ne14_activemelody says
Don’t know why! But it took me a really long time to learn this one.
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
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.
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
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
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 ,
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:)
Brian says
@mama59 Gut, dass Sie genießen Sie die Seite . Danke für Ihre Unterstützung!
tonino69 says
che corde mi consigli????
rjritt says
Hi, Brian
New member here. Love the site and all the great content, especially these acoustic blues.
Don D. says
Thanks, Brian! My continued appreciation–you’ve got quite a library of worthwhile lessons here.
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
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)
Deane J says
Brian, I luuuuuuvvvvvee this lesson. Such delicious bluesy sounds, and so accessible to beginners like me. Be well!
Rodger B says
You can actually build Sweet Home Chicago with a few extra notes and rhythms in this tune…..
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
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
Brian says
Thanks Steve – tell your wife I said she obviously has excellent taste! 🙂
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
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!
Patrick B says
Thanks for the great lesson!
Check out Pierre Bensusan’s Alimateau for the New Age DADGAD version of this rhythm 🙂
James M says
Hey,
I signed up this week for a years membership and this is the first lesson I’m sinking my teeth into. I am looking forward to learning some blues 🙂
Cheers, James.
Cary says
I rediscovered this great lesson today…. love it.
Michele R says
i am getting lost at the lick at 12min of the second part, where it came from ? it is not the minor pentatonic
Mr.Charlie says
E MAJOR pentatonic
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?