Playing the Blues / Closed Rhythm Guitar

This lesson we'll learn how to play a closed blues rhythm.
This 3 chord progression, will be moveable, and will allow
you to play blues rhythms in any key. The key we will be
learning today will be the key of A. The best fingering to
use is hold down the 5th fret (Large E string) with your 
index finger. Hold down the 7th fret (A string) with your 
ring finger.After strumming the first chord(A),while holding
these fingers in place, to change notes, stretch the pinky
to the 9th fret (A string). This may seem tough at first, 
however this is the basic closed position format for playing
blues rhythms.

   Play 4 times   Play 4 times      Play 4 times
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :----------------7-7-9-9-------------------------------
A :-7-7-9-9--------5-5-5-5----------7-7-9-9--------------
E :-5-5-5-5-------------------------5-5-5-5--------------


   Play 2 times    Play 2 times    Play 2 times
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :-9-9-11-11------7-7-9-9-------------------------------
A :-7-7-7--7-------5-5-5-5---------7-7-9-9---------------
E :--------------------------------5-5-5-5---------------

  Ending or turnaround

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

The rhythm we learned in this lesson began on the 5th fret
and started with the note A. This determines which key you
are playing in. To play this rhythm in the key of B, simply
move up 2 frets and begin on the 7th fret, starting with B
note or B chord. To Play in the key of C, move up to the 8th
fret and begin on C.

Soloing
If you wish to try improvising some blues solos , try recording 
above blues on your home recorder. Hit rewind, and play, and try
using this A pentatonic scale shown below. If your playing in B,
this scale is also moveable, as was the blues rhythm. 


e :----------------5-8-5---------------------------------
B :-------------5-8-----8-5------------------------------
G :----------5-7-----------7-5---------------------------
D :-------5-7-----------------7-5------------------------
A :----5-7-----------------------7-5---------------------
E :-5-8------------------------------8-5-----------------


Beginner Blues Guitar DVD LessonDVD Guitar Lesson Description

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