Free Blues Lead Guitar Lessons

These are additional "Free Blues Lead Guitar Lessons" brought to you by You Can Play Guitar. Includes Free Guitar Tab to: Blues Guitar Solo Licks in various keys.

 

Griff HamlinPlaying Through The Blues

Blues Guitar Solo In The Key Of A b f p s p h e :----------------------5------------------------------- B :-7---5-----5--------5----8-5---5---------------------- G :-7---5-----5------7----------8---8-7-5---7---5-6------ D :--------7------------------------------7---7---------- A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ p s p h s e :------------------------------------------------------ B :-------------------------------------5-5----5--7------ G :-------------------------------------5-5----5--7------ D :-7-5---5-------------------------5-7-----7------------ A :-----7---7-5-3---5--3-4---3--5-7---------------------- E :---------------5--------5----------------------------- s v v v v p p h e :-----------------8----8-10--11-10-8----10----8-9------ B :-----8-8-8-8-8-10--10---------------10----10---------- G :-7-9-9-9-9-9------------------------------------------ D :------------------------------------------------------ A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ p s p h p s p e :------------------------------------------------------ B :-10-8---8--------------------------------------------- G :------9---9-7-5---7---5-6----------------------------- D :----------------7---7-----7-5---5--------------------- A :------------------------------7---7-5-3---5---3------- E :----------------------------------------5---5--------- 6 times f gb.p h p e :--------15-15----------------------------------------- B :-13--15---------15---13----15--13-14------------------ G :------------------------14------------14-12---12------ D :--------------------------------------------14-------- A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ s p h s h e :------------------------------------------------------ B :------------------------------------------------------ G :--------------------------------------12-------12----- D :-14-12-10----12----10-11----11--12-14-----13-14------- A :----------12----12-------12--------------------------- E :-------------------------------------------(9x)------- gb.p e :------------------------------------------------------ B :-15---13-----15--13----------------------------------- G :---------14------------------------------------------- D :------------------------------------------------------ A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ f p s p h e :-------17--------------------------------------------- B :----17----20-17----17--------------------------------- G :-19-------------20----20-19-17----19--17-18----------- D :-------------------------------19--------------------- A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ p p s h s e :------------------------------------------------------ B :------------------------------------------------------ G :------------------------------------------------------ D :-19-17---17------------------------------------------- A :------19----19-17-15----17-15-16----15---------------- E :---------------------17----------17------------------- b b b.rel b.rel.p e :------------------------------------------------------ B :---5-7--7---7--7-------5----5--7---7-5-7---7---5------ G :---5-7--7---7--7-------5----5--7---7-5-7---7---5------ D :--------------------------7------------------------7-- A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ p s p h e :------------------------------------------------------ B :-7--5------------------------------------------------- G :-7--5------------------------------------------------- D :------7-5---5----------------------------------------- A :----------7---7-5-3---5--3-4-----3-------------------- E :--------------------5---------5----------------------- D Blues Intro Todays lesson is focused on a good way to start a blues song. This example is given in the key of D. These intro blues guitar licks sound like the intro to "Red House" by Jimi Hendrix. s v v v v v v v v v v v s v v v v v e :-------14---14----14---14---14----14-----13---13------ B :------------------------------------------------------ G :-12-14---14----14----14--14----14-----13----13---13--- D :------------------------------------------------------ A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ v v v v v v v s b.relp h e :-13----13---13----13--14------------------------------ B :---------------------------12---10--12--10------------ G :----13---13----13-----14---12---10--12--10-11--------- D :----------------------------------------------12-10--- A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ s h e :-------------------------3---3------------------------ B :-------------------------6---6------------------------ G :-------------------------4---4------------------------ D :-------------------------3---3------------------------ A :-12-10--8-9--------------5---5------------------------ E :-------------10----3--3--3---3------------------------ Building Licks From The Blues Scale / Run This lesson shows how to combine the blues scale with the blues run as a foundation for building blues lead guitar licks licks. Shown below is A blues scale.The notes are A,C,D,D#,E,G back to A. e :---------------------------------------5-------------- B :--------------------------------5--8------------------ G :-----------------------5--7--8------------------------ D :----------------5--7---------------------------------- A :-------5--6--7---------------------------------------- E :-5--8------------------------------------------------- A A A Shown below is A blues run.The notes are A,C,D,D#,E,G back to A. e :--------------------------8-10-11-12-15-17------------ B :---------------------8-10----------------------------- G :-------------5-7-8-9---------------------------------- D :---------5-7------------------------------------------ A :--3-5-6-7--------------------------------------------- E :-5---------------------------------------------------- A A A A The guitar licks below clearly demonstrate how the blues scale is combined with the the blues run. This allows you to obtain more feel and travel further up and down the fretboard without allways being stuck in the basic box shape of the blues scale. Lick#1 f f.v s s p b e :---5---------8-10--11-10-8----8----------------------- B :--5--8--8-10---------------10------------------------- G :-7---------------------------------------------------- D :------------------------------------------------------ A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ Lick#2 trill h p f.v h p s p p p s v e :-5-8-5-8-5--5----------------------------------------- B :----------8---8--5-8-5----5--------------------------- G :-----------------------8----8-7-5--7--5--------------- D :----------------------------------7--7--7-5----------- A :-------------------------------------------7-6-5-3---- E :---------------------------------------------------5-- Lick#3 trill h p h s e :---------------8-------------------------------------- B :-5-8-5-8--8-10---10--8-------------------------------- G :-----------------------9-8-7-5------------------------ D :-------------------------------7---------------------- A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ Lick#4 trill trill trill f.v h p h h p h h p h e :-5--------12-15-12-15--11-12-11-12--10-11-10-11------- B :---8-5-8---------------------------------------------- G :------------------------------------------------------ D :------------------------------------------------------ A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ trill h p h b v e :-8-10-8-10-----8-------------------------------------- B :------------------10---------------------------------- G :------------------------------------------------------ D :------------------------------------------------------ A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ BLUES LICKS IN THE KEY OF E #1 Blues Intro Guitar Lick for the key of E This is one of the most traditional blues guitar licks that is used to start a blues song in the key of E. When played slow it will remind you a classic Robin Johnson or Lightning Hopkins lick. When played at a faster tempo it can sound much more like Johnny Winter. A good example of the sound of this lick can be heard by Stevie Ray Vaughan on the song "Pride And Joy". trill s h p h h e :---------4----3-----2---------------------2----------- B :------------------------------------------0----------- G :----2-4---4--3--3-2---2---0-1-0-1---------2----------- D :------------------------------------------1----------- A :-----------------------------------0-1-2--2----------- E :-0---------------------------------------------------- Blues Guitar Lick 2 * Key Of E This easy to play blues guitar lick is derived from E blues scale (shown example #1). This lick works well for the "turnaround" when playing a 3 chord blues progression in E (E,A,B), as the ending note of this guitar lick also ends on the note B. Example #1 * E Blues Scale E G A A# B D E G A A# B D E e :-----------------|-----------------|--------0--------| B :-----------------|-----------------|-0--3------------| G :-----------------|-------0--2--3---|-----------------| D :-----------------|-0--2------------|-----------------| A :-------0--1--2---|-----------------|-----------------| E :-0--3------------|-----------------|-----------------| Example #2 * Blues Guitar Lick In The Key Of E B V H V e :-3-0-------------|--------------0--|-----------------| B :-----3-0---------|------------0----|-3-0-------------| G :---------3-2-0---|------0-2-3------|-----3-2-0-------| D :-----------------|-2-2-------------|-----------2-----| A :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| E :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| V e :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| B :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| G :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| D :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| A :-0-1-2-----------|-----------------|-----------------| E :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| Blues Guitar Lick 3 This blues guitar lick combines notes from the major and minor scales and blues scales in the key of E, and also provides an ending for the "blues turnaround" ending with the note B. f p f f f e :----20-20-19-18-17------------------12---------------- B :-17----------------20--17----20-17-----12-15-15-15---- G :--------------------------18-------------------------- D :------------------------------------------------------ A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ p b b v e :-12--------------------------------------------------- B :---15-12----12--12------12---------------------------- G :---------14-----12------12---------------------------- D :--------------------14-------------------------------- A :---------------------------14------------------------- E :------------------------------------------------------ Blues Guitar Lick 4 * Song Endings These are good blues guitar licks that make great song endings. f p p s p h e :---7-7-6-5-------------------------------------------- B :-5---------8-5----8-5------5-3---3-------------------- G :---------------6---------------4----4-2-0---2-0-1----- D :------------------------------------------2----------- A :------------------------------------------------------ E :---------------------------------------------------0-- Blues Guitar Lick 5 * E Mixoblues Guitar Lick The mixoblues scale differs from the traditional blues scale by adding the additional major 3rd. In the key of E, this additional note is identified as G#. Example #1 teaches this scale in the open position. Example #2 teaches an E mixoblues guitar lick. Example #1 E G G# A A# B D E G G# A A# B D E e :-----------------|-----------------|-------0---------| B :-----------------|-----------------|-0--3------------| G :-----------------|-------0--1--2--3|-----------------| D :-----------------|-0--2------------|-----------------| A :---------0--1--2-|-----------------|-----------------| E :-0-3--4----------|-----------------|-----------------| Example #2 p p s p h p p p s e :-3-0----0--------|-----------------|-----------------| B :-----3----3-0---0|-----------------|--------------7--| G :--------------3--|-3-2-0-1---------|--------------7--| D :-----------------|---------2-0---0-|--------------6--| A :-----------------|-------------2---|-2-1-0--------7--| E :-----------------|-----------------|--------3-4-0----| Blues Guitar Lick 6 2 great blues lead guitar licks to add to spice to your blues guitar endings. Lick #1 e :-12-0-0--10-0-0--|-9-0-0--8-0-0----|-7-9-11-12---0---| B :-----------------|-----------------|-------------3---| G :-----------------|-----------------|-------------1---| D :-----------------|-----------------|-------------2---| A :-----------------|-----------------|-------------2---| E :-----------------|-----------------|-------------0---| Lick #7 s e :-12-0-0-0--4-0-0-|-5-0-0--6-0-0--7-|--8----7---------| B :-----------------|-----------------|--8----7---------| G :-----------------|-----------------|--8----7---------| D :-----------------|-----------------|--7----6---------| A :-----------------|-----------------|--8----7---------| E :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| KEY OF D Blues Ending Guitar Lick In The Key Of D This lick is a nice rundown , using the D blues run descending, with the major 3rd. This lick will put a very smooth ending on any blues song. Make sure you practice it in other keys as well. h p p h p e :-------13-15-16-15-13----15-13-14--------------------- B :-13-15----------------15----------15-13----13--------- G :----------------------------------------14------------ D :------------------------------------------------------ A :------------------------------------------------------ E :------------------------------------------------------ s p h p s p h e :---------------------------------------------------3-- B :---------------------------------------------------3-- G :-14-12-10---12--10-11------------------------------3-- D :----------12----------12-10---10-------------------5-- A :----------------------------12---12-10-8---8-6-7---3-- E :-----------------------------------------8-------8---- KEY OF G G Blues Intro Guitar Lick LICK 1 Derived from the "mixoblues" scale and run in the key of G, this guitar lick makes a great song intro to start a blues song. To play this lick in the key of A, move up 2 frets from G. To play in the key of B, move up 2 frets from A and so on, etc... h p s p h p s p e :-------3---------|-----------------|-----------------| B :-----3---6-3---3-|-----------------|-----------------| G :-3-4---------6---|-6-5-3---5---3-4-|-----------------| D :-----------------|-------5---5-----|-5-3---3---------| A :-----------------|-----------------|-----5---5-3-1---| E :-----------------|-----------------|---------------3-| h e :-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------| B :-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------| G :-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------| D :-----------------|-2---------------|-----------------| A :-3-1-2-----------|-3---------------|-----------------| E :-------3---------|-----------------|-----------------| LICK 2 This guitar lick makes a great ending "outro" lick, when playing a blues song in the key of G. Note the use of the major 3rd interval (4th fret/G string) and the major 7th interval (6th fret/B string). This lick works particurally well as song ending with a G9 chord. h h e :-----------------|-----------------|-10--------------| B :------3-5-6-5-3--|-----------------|-10--------------| G :-3-4-------------|-5----3-4--------|-10--------------| D :-----------------|----------5------|-9---------------| A :-----------------|-----------------|-10--------------| E :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| Alternate Blues Turnarounds These guitar licks played in the key of B demonstrate good examples of alternate blues turnarounds, each ending on the major 5th interval, the note F#. A chord progression example in the key of B is B,E,B,F#,E,B, and the turnaround chords are E,F,F#. The used of the major 5th interval allows a player to gain a more "controlled sound" by ending a guitar solo on the same ending note (F#) as the ending chord of the turnaround, F#. #1 f b h b e :------7----------|-----------------|-------7----7-9--| B :----7----10-7----|-----------------|-----7---10-----7| G :-9---------------|-9--7-9----------|-7-8-------------| D :-----------------|--------9--------|-----------------| A :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| E :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| #2 trill s h p h h e :------11---------|----10-------9---|------------7-9--| B :-----------------|-----------------|---------7-9----7| G :-9-11----11------|-10----10--9---9-|-7-8-7-8---------| D :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| A :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| E :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| #3 h e :---7-------7-----|---7------7------|-----7-9---------| B :-----------------|-----------------|-7-9-------7-----| G :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| D :-9---9---7---7---|-6---6--5---5-4--|-----------------| A :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| E :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| You Can Play makes no claim of endorsement or participation by the artist mentioned above.