Description
In this blues guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a soulful lead in the key of F#. I intentionally omitted any open string notes so that you can transpose any of these licks to other keys. In fact, this lesson comes with 2 MP3 jam tracks, one is in the key that is taught (F#), but the other is in G# so you can practice playing everything in a different key on your own. You should be able to do that by the end of this lesson!
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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Hey!! I called it………….I guessed we were in for some cool country lesson picked up presumably from your Grand Canyon soulful visit this past week Brian…………but I was first to comment here again!! Sounds super as per usual but I’m still captivated by your great Muddy Waters dual lesson set..EP213 & EP214 and working these two gems to get them down first and foremost!! Jim C.
Thanks for another great lesson Brian! Happy to break out the strat today and get with it.
Mike
Great lesson Michael
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
Really cool! I thought and looked at the tele! lol.. haven’t picked my tele lately! This lesson is cool!
Another gem…super cool
Thanks
Ale
Great lesson Brian. I’m getting a much better understanding of the pentatonic scales and can better visualize how you move from one to another on the fret board.
Another fantastic lesson for those like me who do / will not have Joe “Satch” Satriani fingers and don’t care for shredding. Many thanks you!
Unbelievable, how you can crank out these great lessons. I can’t play it right now, but I’m going to try. Keep it up. I love the material you have been presenting. Your writing talent is astounding!
this lesson really helps get the major / minor pentatonic scales sounds under my fingers. This Brian.
Another sweet lesson. I like the sweet licks in the 4th scale. I have been working on the 4th scale for awhile, but your licks opened up some new ideas, Thanks ! I know you use the 1st, 2nd and 4th scales, can you show some licks in the 3 scale
Wonderful lesson,,,how about some more jazz like ep207.
Thanks,
Ken
Ken: Have you tried Brian’s great EP031 Robben Ford jazz/blues lesson?? I still call this one of the best lessons any where…..not just from A.M. either!! Hope this helps!! Jim C.
Nice mix of licks from the different chord position. Thanks Brian !
Quick question Brian. Do you consciously target particular notes to end your licks on, and if so which? I see you often end on the root note but not always.
I do not consciously target particular notes when ending a solo or a lick (although that’s a good way to approach things). I think of licks as little musical phrases and play them over the song. I guess if I’m playing a lead break and I know I’m about to end… I subsconsciously work my way back to the root note 🙂
Nice and mellow. Thanks Brian!
Fabulous lesson! I have been learning long hot summer by Jimi and this lesson correlates brilliantly with that song. I believe your simple view of music compliments Tim Pierce’s tutorials. Long may you run! Sincerely, Bert Clark
Thank you! As someone who does not (cannot) play lighting fast I appreciate that Brian produces lesson after lesson of great music that doesn’t require you to play at 240 BPM. The music has room to breath and be enjoyed. Since joining this site I find that I’m able to learn and memorize pieces faster. Brian’s method of “this is where the notes come from” also means that if I do forget where I am in the piece, I’m not really lost because I find the notes that fit right under my fingers.
Another great lessons Brian , with as you say , many soulful take always. I was a bit confused however with the chords on the backing track. We are in the key of F# major with an 4 chord of B , which stays within the diatonic key of F#. However the track seems to wander of key with chords of F and A which aren’t diatonic to the key of F# major. I was wondering if that was intentional or what? Either way it sounded great. Thanks again 👌
Hey Robert, yes you’re correct, A isn’t in the scale (key) of F#, but I just thought it sounded good 🙂
Hi Brian,
Been a member for some years now and have a “Favourites” list. I’m concentrating on acoustic at the moment ans so my favourites list is all acoustic. However, when I drop back to my electric guitar I need an electric favourites because my list is getting quite long and it’s difficult to find the lesson i want. So it’s just an idea but could your website team allow two favourite lists for each member, electric and acoustic?
Just a thought! Anyway, keep up the good work.
You can categorize your favorites – so you should be able to create an electric folder and an acoustic folder
I’ve got 10 different categories, including fingerstyle, acoustic blues, electric, tutorials.
I’ve been away for a while, now I’m back and as usual I find a wonderful lesson on a wonderful song!! I got it and It’s really fun to play it! Thank you Brian nice to see you again!!
Hi there;
Something is bugging me. you refer to the BB box position you are playing in as Major pentatonic 4th position in the video.
Now I know it as the minor 2nd position but I though the Minor which for me would make it the major 1st position. Am I missing something, are there different ways to mark the positions?
I tried to find a reference on your site and only found one video and it was about the minor in first position and how you shift down 3 to get to the major in with the same pattern.
Hey Chris, I’m confused by your comment. BB would often play in the major pentatonic scale – which is what I was referring to I guess.
Hey Brian, Suddenly I’m no longer able to load the tab under settings It’s telling me that the video won’t load and to check the URL. Have you made any changes at your end?
thanks Andrew
He Andrew, there’s a known issue with the latest version of Microsoft Edge browser that is preventing the tab pdf from downloading. Try using a different browser and it should work for you – I recommend Google Chrome
Hi Brian, thank you for another inspiring lesson, please keep them coming, Since I joined as a premium member I have moved on so far as a guitarist and can hold my own now when jamming with my buddies, (no longer sat there in the corner, wishing Scottie beam me up). I know many people ask for lesson in the style of… however, I have resisted until now, but is there any chance of doing something in the style of John Mayer. Thanks again Brian 😎
Great lesson Brian.. The longer I’m with ya the easier they get. That’s from a hard core left hander with a sweet right handed Strat.
The way I always remember the key of the ( BB King ) box, which is also pattern two of the minor pentatonic scale is, the note on the ‘b’ string nearest to the nut is the root note.
Awesome lick! I’m new to activemelody and somewhere in the intermediate level of playing. I can play along with the on-screen tab viewer – even at 120% of the original speed. But I fall down on playing along with the MP3. The tempo on MP3 is much faster…. Found an online tool to slow the tempo of the MP3 down at http://onlinetonegenerator.com/time-stretcher.html but it is still very fast! Any suggestions?
Another great lesson, Brian. Thanks!
such a beautiful sweet solo, I can’t wait to learn that
Beautiful soulful piece, and very well taught.
Where can I find part 2 for EP216?
Got any lessons on how I can learn how to change keys to a different key?? Ep216