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Need some ideas to make your rhythm sound more interesting? Blues Rhythm Guitar Lesson – ML137

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a rhythm for a 1-4-5 Blues progression that sounds interesting by mixing up strum patterns and chord embellishments.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walkthrough

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Comments

  1. San Luis Rey says

    April 10, 2026 at 7:25 pm

    This sounds awesome Brian!

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  2. Raymond P says

    April 10, 2026 at 7:26 pm

    Any chance of getting this in the musical notation format you usually use in Soundslice?

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    • Raymond P says

      April 10, 2026 at 7:28 pm

      Disregard I found how to change it notation.

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  3. slopace says

    April 10, 2026 at 7:27 pm

    I always welcome rhythm lessons! Great beat and I really love the sound of those 9 chords played that way! Thanks Brian.

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  4. John C says

    April 10, 2026 at 7:29 pm

    Its interesting that playing a clichéd first 12 bars helps accentuate the variations in the bars that follow . Its like a breath of fresh air.
    Also like the Freddy King E9 in bar 17

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  5. David B says

    April 10, 2026 at 8:59 pm

    Luv this stuff! It’s the kind of rhythm I find easy and enjoyable, and the extra embellishments I’ve learned over the years with you, are making my guitar playing way more interesting and koool sounding! Thx, Brian.👍

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  6. Jeff H says

    April 10, 2026 at 10:27 pm

    Every week I wonder what has Brian got for us this week. You never disappoint us Brian. Another fun and interesting lesson and composition.

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  7. Nelson V says

    April 10, 2026 at 11:24 pm

    Lots of good ideas here! works well with finger picking too.

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    • JEROME L says

      April 11, 2026 at 2:16 am

      Hi Nelson, hi Brian and every one.
      Nelson I appreciate your comment ; it will encourage me to continue.
      I tell that because I have difficulties to play with a pick and I feel more confortable with finger picking.
      But is it possible to be as fast and precise without a pick as with one in such rythm exercise?

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  8. Derek W says

    April 11, 2026 at 2:40 am

    Great lesson Brian, bringing all these chords together from previous lessons really pays off

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  9. Derek W says

    April 11, 2026 at 2:43 am

    Just to add to my previous comment the E6 at the end reminds me of the Beatles. I think at the time it was unusual but distinct

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  10. Don R says

    April 11, 2026 at 5:56 am

    I have enjoyed your CEO 7 over time and I am disappointed that Martin made guitars with potential binding issues. I understand they have solved the problem in the last few years. I hope you can get them to pay for your repair.with a qualified luthier.

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  11. Brady B says

    April 11, 2026 at 6:31 am

    I love this so much. The strum pattern/style is instantly gonna be a staple for me. Thank you.

    Always hear songs hidden in different sections of these lessons. This one I hear Lyle Lovett’s I’ve Been To Memphis in the section where you’re going back and forth between the open E and the A half bar with the hammer on the G string with the E chord. Super cool.

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  12. George R says

    April 11, 2026 at 8:13 am

    I’ve a got an older CEO-7 with a similar binding problem.

    It’s a very nice little guitar.

    If I was Martin’s CEO I think I would address this known issue on a guitar with my name on it.

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  13. Imerio A says

    April 11, 2026 at 10:03 am

    great lesson Brian…full of good ideas and not to difficult to follow. come up with more rithm stuff in the future please. it’s so helpfull in many ways.

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  14. Paul N says

    April 11, 2026 at 10:08 am

    Good lesson! Thanks Brian!

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  15. JEFFREY R says

    April 11, 2026 at 10:52 am

    very good love it . Especially the stuff at the end of a
    part 2

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  16. Two Below says

    April 11, 2026 at 11:35 am

    Great fun – I caught myself smiling.

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  17. Mitchell N says

    April 11, 2026 at 3:19 pm

    I think that when it comes to strumming patterns you just have to feel it. Breaking it down by upstroke, downstroke, etc. makes it awkward for me and causes me to think when I really should be feeling the rhythm. I find that sometimes it’s just easier to listen to the rhythm and then just play until I feel it. And when I feel it I find that I’m just doing naturally what Brian is explaining. Not that there’s anything wrong with the explanations. It’s just that sometimes I think you just have to listen and trust yourself to find the rhythm and eventually you will and all the technical stuff will work itself out naturally.

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  18. Agustin A says

    April 12, 2026 at 12:47 am

    All your guitar blues is awesome I’m slowly working on it but I sit and practice quite a bit. Slowed up a little doctors found another brain tumor on me so slowing me up but still hitting hard. You keep me strong on the learning thnx. I’ll find out what they are gonna do on brain surgery on the 22 of this month I’ll be taking my guitar and you to whatever hospital I go. You’re a great teacher

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