Description
In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play an acoustic country blues composition (and older MicroLesson that has been very popular on all social media platforms). You can play this by yourself and will learn where it all comes from so that you can use these ideas when you improvise.
As an added bonus, I’ve written a 2nd half that follows the same chord structure as the first half. Available (with TAB and instruction) to Premium Members.
Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson
Part 2 - For Premium Members
Only available to premium members.
Register for premium access
Register for premium access
Part 1 - Slow Walkthrough
Only available to premium members.
Register for premium access
Register for premium access
Part 2 - Slow Walkthrough
Only available to premium members.
Register for premium access
Register for premium access
Video Tablature Breakdown
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 MoreAdd to "My Favorites"
You need to login or register to bookmark/favorite this content.
So funny to hear this because back on Shorts 24 Acoustic Country Blue ML I totally memorized it because I loved it so much! Not sure if ML099 Outside Blues is another one but man I was all over that one too. I’m sure there are a several others but great idea Brian. Thank you as always!
Yes I love the song too
Thanks for the heads up on those to other lessons!
Yeah David, I would like to second the request for ML099 to be extended in a revamp…..and thanks for bringing it to my attention, it’s a gem I had overlooked
For me, this is the best lesson ever. I’ve improved my playing 100 %, works with country, blues, rock or gospel. 2 thumbs up Brian
It’s because it’s so American!
I love that every Friday I get a big surprise from you. This is a fantastic idea and I can’t wait to get into it. Thanks Brian
What a pleasing melody and a great one to play on the back porch on a summer’s eve. Over the years following you my fingers have become more educated in finding those licks. Lately having fun just hearing but not seeing you play the lick. Sometimes I can find it on my own.
Thanks for this one, Brian.
Didn’t get part two yet except slow walk through but maybe just didn’t come through yet. Like these kind every now and the . Kinda helps my trying to learn all the faster licks to just relax a little. Nice lesson Brian! BTW little history on the guitar? Maybe on part two video. Thanks for your awesome teaching!
try refreshing the page
I’d say that it may have nothing to do with the individual lesson. Perhaps the popularity of the latest lesson is more about the general approach and platform of your site. The winning niche you have created especially the etude approach. When it’s all said and done premium members of your site build a repertoire of stand alone pieces where others just have a bunch of exercises. Word may be getting out?
Going back and developing lessons from the minis is a great idea!
Please remember to look at some of the LEG lessons. Some of that stuff could use pdfs and mp3 tracks as well.
Part 2 video is not here. I am loving this.
try refreshing the page
I like your idea of revisiting and expanding mic-lessons. I’ve learned some over the years, but missed this one. Will certainly learn it. Thank you.
Nicely done!!
I was hoping that you would get around to writing variations on the most popular EP’s that you have done in the past. Gives us more ideas on how to embellish and play around a theme or melody. I think doing more of these would be very well received. How about doing it for When the Saints Go Marching In? Thanks
Yeah great idea Brian….I second When the Saints Part 2….you could show how to improvise further from the melody in a part two….would be cool!!!
It’s a great idea to go back over a particularly popular piece with added detail. I can think of a few lessons that I’d like to see you add new measures and detail.
Great idea revisiting some of the old lessons, so many to choose from. EP282 has always been one of my all time favourites, I would love to see a part 2 extension for this one. Thanks Brian.
Absolutely! EP282 is an excellent composition and could certainly be developed further. It is wonderful that Brian gives us these pieces gratis when I would imagine he could be making money directly from them (not that I would wish it any other way).
No disrespect… but he is making money from them lol! Look the following of premium members he has gathered. Great idea to develop the ML’s further Brian.
Another great lesson! Thanks Brian!
Most useful sure many will enjoy.
Remember the first part, had a lot of fun with it. Love the second part, hoping for the third part
It makes you feel good. It may be the familiarity of sounds we’ve heard before in our lives, but it’s the way you build up the tension and then release with a sound that just feels good/right. It’s latter point that may stick emotionally with more people. Who really knows. The mystery may be just as important, though.
One thing is for sure, the composition will put a smile on the faces of the audience that listens to it live.
This is great. I would also love to have the MP3 track for ML 065.
I think the reason it is so popular is that it uses all the things you’ve shown us over the years, put into one great song! And I’m picking this one up a lot faster than some of the other ones. Really great job on this one – especially part 2.
Hey Brian Your enthusiasm really shines through with this concept.
More please.
I have always wondered what makes one composition so much more popular than others too – it could be the preferred style (e.g. country, call and response blues, gospel etc.)the guitar type, acoustic or electric. ( e.g. bends hard to do on acoustic) and the difficulty level ( e.g. barre chords, using the pinky finger for really long stretches, or tricky finger placements)., and how much time one has to learn a new piece.
I like this one because it not only sounds great, but it is not overly difficult to play with a bit of practice and it sounds good on acoustic guitar.
I love this song Brian, both parts1 and 2, although there are others I adore equally and in some cases even more. It’s difficult to say exactly what it is that makes a specific song so much more popular than others but I’m pretty sure you are not the only songwriter to have long pondered such mysteries. You certainly have a gift for composition which appears to an extent to have slipped under the world’s radar.
One observation on the packaging of this lesson: I reckon a video of both parts connected together into one long song might further enhance the presentation?
Good day!
How about this?
Send an email, to those of us who provide feedback on a regular basis, your top five lessons that have “taken off”. I (and I am sure there there are others like me) would be happy to review those lessons and provide opinions on why those lessons were attractive to so many.
Bottom line, you have given so much to all of us so I think there are many of us that would like to show our appreciation by doing this (at the very least)!
Enjoy the music! Wade
Or just post the information on here Brian – surely no need to send out emails?
Brianr, it blew up everywhere for a very simple reason! It’s darn good! You can do this style of lesson anytime as far as I’m concerned! It was great!
I should learn to spell your name right while I am at learning the lessons too. Sorry Brian!
Hi Brian! New premium member and I’m getting so much out of the full access – thank you! Love the acoustic blues and country songs you do, please continue. I’ve been playing for 40 years and your approach and creativity make it all seem new and exciting. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Like it. It’s a fun tune to play and sounds like a song which makes it easier to for me to play. A lot of your older ML lessons with a little bit more added like this one might be worth giving it a try. This course has made my Saturdays even better. Your knowledge and talent with your enthusiasm is awesome Brian. Fun time.
Both lessons were great. Thanks Brian
So many good tools to use everywhere.
Thanks, Brian.
I’ve always considered each of your solo, stand-alone tunes as just opening material that paves the way for expansion into additional, improvisational (is that a word?) sections like you’ve done right here in this lesson with Part 2.
As such, any of these compositions can become longer performance pieces. It also highlights the futility of trying to learn pieces exactly the way you play them because we all sound a little different anyhow, even if we do play ‘exactly’ the same thing, note for note.
Lastly, since most of your blues compositions are in the keys of E or A, I’ve also found using a capo helps to remove the monotony that can come from playing too many tunes in those keys too frequently.
If you do decide to visit ‘the well’ more often and write more Part 2s it will save you and all of us some time while also challenging you to keep coming up with more and more licks, which you’ve done very well for so long now.
Thank you so much for helping me become a much better player over many years of studying your lesson material. You’re the best.
Hi Brian,
I’d suggest that this initial lesson was so popular due to NO extensive scale runs.
My ear can handle a partial scale run but gets bored with an extensive run.
Thank you for what you do!!!
-Brian Knotts
HI Brian
I think this lesson is so popular is because you’ve included many little riffs that are familiar to our ear from a range of popular songs.
The take-away for me is when I recognize a familiar riff and you show us how it fits in with chord changes.
Thanks
Bruce A
Another great lesson. Took me about 3 hours to get through both sections and try to digest and play it as best I could. Will likely take a month to get it down somewhat smooth):, but worth it.
It’s a perfect open position E acoustic country blues with the open pedal tones, everyone wants that in their repertoire
Thanks Brian! I don’t always keep up on the micro lessons and this one sounds great with the part two added.
All your lessons are amazing Brian! Parts of this song reminds me a little of Eric Clapton’s Alberta, from Unplugged, but what do I know?
However you create these lessons Brian, they show us the possibilities. Keep them coming, I always enjoy your lessons.
Neat one Brian. Love the vibe
I know tons of them I would love to see part twos! You read my mind!
Brian, thanks, for revisiting this old lesson. This was one of mine favorites as well. Your acoustic country blues lessons are the best. Steven Klus
I used to have that same Gibson guitar. I think mine was a Mark 6. When I was away for school, my mom stored it in her hot Texas attic! I’m sure you know how that turned out. It had the best sound too. I can’t afford to get another one at today’s prices. It pains me to see yours haha!
That short was so good that to learn it I did my premium subscription at Active Melody.
Hello Brian,
Your video ep580 was a real game changer for me. Now I’ve finally understood mixolydian.
In your latest video ep583 you use an old piece from a micro lesson. That’s wonderful. Having followed you for a while now, I know that you keep revisiting the same themes but always repackaging them. The level of creativity you use to create new pieces week after week is impressive. It keeps your videos so super fresh. But I’m also very grateful for every repetition, because it’s only through repetition that I can really internalize what I’m learning.
In any case, I look forward to every Saturday when you post another video in which I discover something new or have the motivating experience of being able to follow along better in some places than before. I hope you never get tired of explaining things to us again and again.
Best regards,
Georg
Great lesson Brian. It is simple, yet with interesting embellishments that I haven’t thought of doing. I always get a kick out of seeing what new guitar you’ve picked up. I’m guessing it is a 50’s J45….maybe older.? The sound is fantastic. Those are getting hard to find and getting expensive. I’ve been pondering on how the guitar wear got so heavy beneath the strings. Any theories? Thanks for doing these lessons from a longtime member.
you’ve got a good eye – it’s a 50 – J-45. I’ve had this one for several years and used it in a few videos… i’m guessing the sound hole is so beat up because of a super heavy strummer… as for under the strings – you got me.
Too funny, because I learned this before I joined and STILL play it regularly! Now I have to learn the new part. Great lesson!
More of these would be sincerely appreciated.
Is that a n LG1 or 2 you’re playing?
G’day Brian,
Key of E! You just have to love it. So many options!
Great work as always,
M.J.
Bonjour Brian,
J’éprouve enfin un très grand plaisir à jouer ces deux morceaux après de longues séances de travail !
C’est vraiment le style acoustique que j’affectionne et il n’existe que toi pour le rendre vraiment accessible et en détail à tous les amateurs.
MERCI Brian !
Yes Brian – a part2 variation on an accessible tune that can be played alone for fun or for others. Your pieces are so good and interesting to play and listen to that this will no doubt add a new dimension to your lessons. Thank you!
Really enjoying this one. Please more solos like it. Maybe some delta style blues?
Pretty sure I stumbled on to this one a couple years ago. I appreciate going back and revisiting it and having a 2nd version.
I can’t speak for others, but the piece appealed to me because it is easy-going and relatable, almost familiar, with great licks. I liked it from the get-go.
Thank you very much for breaking down the composition of MLLESSON 86. Chuck says it took him 3 hours to learn how to play it. I had personally given up because I had missed your explanations (we talked about it at the time.) and it would have taken me days…
I think some other ML deserve the same treatment .
thanks once more.
All the best from France
Dom
I love this lesson. Would love it if you’d flash the scale patterns you reference on the screen during the explanation sections–or if they were included on the tab or as downloadable pdf. I suspect they’re all in pdf somewhere on the site, but I haven’t found them easily yet. Cheers!
Jeff,
They are all in the Caged System Series: EP556-560.
If a lesson resonates with me, I really like a follow up. It helps me se how you can do something different.
I like all your compositions…# 307 would rank in the top 10
Hi, great lesson. Thanks very much Brian. Any chance of revisiting some of your Bluegrass songs in the future?
noted!
Awesome Brian!…and the same guitar to boot! Please don’t hesitate to talk too much–it’s the theory part of the lesson! It’s your explanations as to where things come from that help me remember, and of course to be able to apply it to other keys and situations.
It’s awesome that you’ve been doing a lesson a week for 12 years Brian! You deserve millions of views.
Great lesson, full of meaty, wholesome goodness like good barbecue.
As for its popularity my guess would be everybody who dabbles in acoustic blues, or aspires to play it, is always looking for more rudiments of playing in E, and also taking it up a notch which this lesson does really well.
I’ve been playing acoustic blues longer than I care to think about and I found much to steal, and great explanations of how- and why to steal it, as you went through both parts.
Someone mentioned ‘Alberta’. I would agree, with just a slight mod to the changes.
Love the A#dim7 you used in part 2, I’ll be over-using it on a regular basis 😉
I love the call and response major blues with the nice little licks.
Another great lesson, your lessons always gives me ideas to use,thanks Brian. David E S
What kind of running is this?? I’m using standard tunning