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Learn to play blues guitar.

Steve Cropper Funk Blues Rhythm Guitar Lesson – LEG030

Description

I wanted to put together a tribute to Steve Cropper and that Stax / Memphis sound that came about in the late 50’s early 60’s, and so this is my attempt at a Steve Cropper style rhythm part. In a lot of styles of music, the rhythm guitar part can be overlooked or dismissed but that isn’t the case with the Memphis Soul sound – to me, the rhythm guitar defines the song. Steve Cropper was the guitar player for Booker T & the MG’s and that band became the house band for Stax Records and backed hundreds of artists including Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, and Wilson Picket to name a few. This style of rhythm playing is fun to listen to and twice and fun to play so hopefully this lesson will be helpful to those that are trying to figure it out.

Unfortunately due to the 10 minute time limit w/ YouTube I had to split this video into two parts. I’ve also included the MP3 jam tracks for you to download, one version with the rhythm and one without so that you can play along. This rhythm doesn’t come from any particular song, it’s just something I made up to demonstrate the style. Enjoy!

Steve Cropper / Stax Rhythm Part 1

Steve Cropper / Stax Rhythm Part 2

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Comments

  1. Sure - I was actually thinking about putting together a whole mini series strictly on rhythm because that tends to be overlooked in a lot of online guitar instruction.  There’s always plenty of focus on how to play this solo or that - but your typical blues rhythm lessons tend to be the standard 12 bar power chord thing.  Sad.

  3. This is really cool brian, I’ll have to play it for you next time I see you. Could you do more stuff on interesting rhythm parts? That would be really cool, thanks man.

  4. I’m really enjoying your lessons and being able to put the podcasts on my ipod.  Can you put the Steve Cropper lesson on iTunes?  I would be very grateful.  Thanks Brian!

  6. This lesson is fantastic! No one posts lessons like this focusing on rhythm, they mainly focus on lead. What’s lead though without rhythm? Love the lesson

  7. Cool lesson, as are the rest also. As a ‘beginner’ guitar player it motivates me to get to the next level, without being freaked out by extreme finger movements (left and right hand)

  10. @buzzing - there wasn’t a tab created for this lesson, only backing (jam) track.  you can download it by right clicking and choosing to “save as” - I didn’t put these in a zip file as this was one of the first lessons I did.

    @patchr - part 1 seems to play just fine (try it again) - if it just hangs up.. try moving the scrubber forward just a little and it should play just fine.

  11. Nice Funky rhythm. Love it. I am really enjoying all the lessons. Interesting fingering for the D9. I think many players will barre the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, strings at the 5th fret with the third finger and not use the pinky.

  12. I’d like to thank you for these inspirational lessons Brian, I am returning to the guitar after a 40 year gap. I know I’ve wasted a lot of time, but your videos have fast tracked me into playing something that sounds like music again. If I could make a suggestion, could you do some Jimmy Hendrix lessons along the lines of your other sound alike lessons. Keep up the good work, it’s much appreciated.

  13. Hey Brian
    Thanks for another great lesson. I learnt triads along time ago but have never found a way to use them and you just showed me in one lesson. I have paid a lot of money to get to where I am at now with my guitar and you are teaching me more in these lessons than I learnt from all I the lessons I paid for. You are a natural as a teacher and I am ex Army so I know a little about instructors. Thanks again for the great lessons they are really appreciated. Don T Auckland, New Zealand. If you are ever down this way let me know.

  16. i really like this kind of rhythm but what if i play it in minor how is it? i really don’t know please help me by your video,

    thanks Brian more power to you…

  17. Hi,

    I’m new to this site and I was thrilled to see a lesson on Steve Cropper style I noticed your comment that you were tempted to put together an entire section on rhythm guitar.  That would be a welcome addition to this already incredible site.  I’m sure you know that the entire “soul” sound is rhythm based, which is why it is so danceable.  Listen to James Brown or Ike & Tina Turner in addition to the great Stax and Atlantic lineups.  To be sure, there are some licks, but involved solos on guitar are rare.  Rhythm guitar is an integral piece of what Huey Lewis calls “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” and the “soul” sound provides the most economical, no frills approach.  Hopefully I am not the only one here who would welcome an expanded section dealing with this art. 

    Thanks

  18. Hi my dad is big into the blues music, he was listening to the Jimi Hendrix lesson and he wanted to know what song is that…my sister and I both have been looking on YouTube.com and we can’t find it? would anyone know what the name of that song is?

  19. @guitargod358 - well unfortunately you won’t be able to find it because I just made it up. :)  i just put a few chords together to demonstrate the Hendrix approach to rhythm.

  20. Another great rhythm lesson Brian!  I’ve been following all your rhythm lessons and it really has improved my playinmg a lot.

    If you’re looking for a suggestion, how about an SRV style rhythm part e.g. as heard on Pride and Joy?  I’ve been trying to get that one!

    Thanks again,

  21. Great lesson Brian.  Here’s a suggestion for an altenate chord.  Instead of the D7 shape on the 8th and 9th fret, subsitute a D shape on the 9th and 10th.  It’s a little smoother sound and when you walk that down with the chords you have on the 7th and 5th frets, you have the “Soul Man” riff. Not better; just different.

  22. All lessons are GREAT! I just look around lessons, Eventhough my English is too short for understanding all your saying but feeling i can play guitar. Finally i found a way to practice with real master.
    Thanks a lot..

  26. Brian,
    This is really tasty playing. You sound cool on your ES335 too. I have always loved this type of playing. Thank you very much for sharing this.

    Last week I heard Donald “Duck” Dunn passed away while he and Cropper were playing in Japan. That is sad news. With lessons like this the music they made will live on. Thank you again.

    John

  27. Love this site! How about some Peter Green and or Danny Kirwan? And maybe some James Burton? LOL! Love all of these lessons! Thanks for all your inspiration!

  32. I knew that it’s worth to rummage through the elder lessons. At the moment I am trying to improve a bit my funky playing skills, and this lesson is great and a lot of fun for doing it! 🙂 And the backing track is of a quality and as interesting as I wouldn’t have dared to expect 😉

  33. Nice lesson! Ive been looking for something else to do with 9th’s!Technique tip for anyone struggling with the ninth cord…I use an alternate grip… my ring finger bars strings 1,2,3, index on string 4 middle on #5. It is basically the same as what is shown but the ring finger can “hinge” to collapse itself on strings 1&2…Its all good!

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