Playing the blues is one of the most fundamental, yet 
useful forms of music ever created, as it is full of ryhthm 
and spice. It is one of the most free forms of music, which 
allows blues guitarist to improvise (create their own) solos, 
spontaneously as they play. Sort of, "make it up as they go" 
so to speak. 
Blues music has also been more widely adapted to other forms 
of music, than any other style of music, ranging from jazz, 
to swing, to country, rock, southern rock, classic rock, and 
heavy metal.


               Part 1 / Beginners Blues

First, we'll look at a few common blues intros (short for 
blues introduction, the peice that starts the song).These 
intros are in the key of A.


Intro #1 If you're familiar with blues, I'm sure
you'll recognize this one.

     s                     h                  h    h
e :-----9-----8------7--------5---5---5------------------
B :------------------------------------------5----5------
G :-7-9---9--8--8--7---7--5-6---6---6--------5-6--5-6----
D :------------------------------------------------------
A :---------------------------------------7--------------
E :------------------------------------------------------

Variation or alternate #1
                      (rest)  h               s   s
e :---9------8------7------------5-----------------------
B :--------------------------------5---------4-5-4-5-----
G :-9---9--8---8--7----------5-6-----6-------5-6-5-6-----
D :------------------------------------------------------
A :------------------------------------5-6-7-------------
E :------------------------------------------------------

#2 Melody
e :----5-----5------5------5-----------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :--7--7--5---5--4---4--3---3---2---0-1-2---------------
A :------------------------------------------------------
E :------------------------------------------------------

Harmony for # 2
This walking bass line intro fits accordingly with #2. 
Show this to a friend, or fellow musician and have fun
trading these licks while playing the blues.

e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :------------------------------------------------------
A :-----4-4-5-5-6-6-7----5-6-7---------------------------
E :-5-5--------------------------------------------------

            Part 2 * Beginner Blues Ryhthm

This is a great place to start for beginner level palyers.
In future lessons, we'll learn these same type of ryhthms
that are moveable. For now, you think of this as open string
blues, in the key of A. There are 3 primay chords that are 
played in most blues, which are known as the 1st, 4th, and 
5th (intervals) from the major scale. This is commonly known
as a 3 chord progression. In the key of A, these 3 chords are
A, D, and E. In the key of B for example, the 3 chords would 
be B, E, F#.


   A (play 4 times)     D (play 4 times)
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :---------------------2-2-4-4--------------------------
D :--2-2-4-4------------0-0-0-0--------------------------
A :--0-0-0-0---------------------------------------------
E :------------------------------------------------------

   A (play 4 times)     E (play 2 times)
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :--2-2-4-4---------------------------------------------
A :--0-0-0-0------------2-2-4-4--------------------------
E :---------------------0-0-0-0--------------------------

  D (play 2 times)      A (play 2 times)
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :--2-2-4-4---------------------------------------------
D :--0-0-0-0-----------2-2-4-4---------------------------
A :--------------------0-0-0-0---------------------------
E :------------------------------------------------------

 Ending ( also known as a turnaround)
     A    D D#E  E E
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :--2----7-8-9--9-9-------------------------------------
A :--0----5-6-7--7-7-------------------------------------
E :------------------------------------------------------



Beginner Blues Guitar DVD LessonDVD Guitar Lesson Description

Play Free Blues Rhythm Guitar Video

Also See Blues Lead Guitar Scales Lesson

Download Free Jam Tracks For Blues Guitar

Playing The Blues

Guitar Tools & Musicians Resources