Blues Style Guitar Course: Level 2
In Blues Style Course 2 we will borrow from the best by studying the playing of the three most legendary blues guitarists – “The Three Kings” B.B. King, Freddie King and Albert King. We will also cover various topics like slide-guitar, metal picks, blues-specific soloing and phrasing and get into regional blues guitar like delta blues, Chicago blues, New Orleans blues, Texas blues and even British blues. Get ready to take your blues guitar playing to the next level.
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Chapter: 1: From The Crossroads: More Blues Lead
Let's get started by expanding your knowledge of blues style lead playing. You'll learn how to build your own blues licks by using the pentatonic scale and a few basic techniques like hammer-ons, pull-offs, bending and varying the rhythmic phrasing.
Chapter: 2: The Three Kings
Let's go deep on your knowledge of the Three Kings of Blues: Albert King, B. B. King and Freddie King. These are the three most important guitarists of the Blues style. You'll get a break down on the tone, phrasing and licks of each of those blues legends in order to build your own repertoire of lead fills.
Chapter: 3: Creative Techniques
In this chapter you will expand your blues lead playing technique with in depth guitar exercises on phrasing, vibrato and bending. You'll get a lot of opportunities to put that knowledge to use in practice tunes!
Chapter: 4: More From The Crossroads
Let's go further in blues style lead playing with more conceptual skills and techniques. With these lessons you'll learn how to play guitar with a capo, a slide, hybrid picking, targeting chord tones, alternate tunings and more.
Chapter: 5: Rhythm, Turnarounds, and Alternative Forms
In this chapter you will learn a variety of blues style rhythm riffs and approaches. We'll take an in depth look at alternate blues forms and styles. Then finish with turnaround exercises from a variety of styles.
Chapter: 6: Regional Blues Styles
The Blues is more nuanced than you might think. In this chapter you will get more in depth about various regional blues styles. You'll learn what distinguishes old school Delta blues from uptown Chicago blues, the differences between Texas and New Orleans blues; and get an intro to jazzy blues and British flavored blues.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way is to start with the 12-bar blues progression and practice some easy blues riffs. Learning the basic blues scale (like the minor pentatonic) will also set you up for some cool solos.
Blues is all about feel and expression, often featuring techniques like bending, sliding, and vibrato. Regular guitar playing can be more about following strict melodies or chords, while blues lets you improvise and add your personal touch.
Not really! Blues is beginner-friendly and doesn’t require deep theory knowledge. Understanding the 12-bar structure and basic scales helps, but you can jump in just by listening and mimicking.
A blues shuffle is a rhythm pattern that gives blues its groovy swing feel. It’s often played with a steady “da-da-da” triplet rhythm on the lower strings.
Absolutely! Acoustic blues has a rich history, especially in Delta blues. It sounds raw and soulful, and many iconic blues songs started on acoustic guitars.
“Sweet Home Chicago” is a popular choice—it’s a simple 12-bar blues progression with an easy rhythm. Plus, it’s a classic!
A turnaround is the final two bars of a 12-bar blues progression. It’s a little riff or chord sequence that brings you back to the start, giving the song its looping flow.
Standard tuning works great for most blues, but open tunings like Open G or Open D are fun to experiment with. They make slide guitar playing super easy and bluesy.
Not at all, but a slide can add a cool, slippery sound that’s iconic in blues. If you’re curious, start with an inexpensive slide and try it out on an acoustic or electric guitar.
