Lecture

Essential Blues Guitar Practice Tips

This module offers essential practice tips for blues guitar players. You will discover:

  • How to practice licks and progressions effectively.
  • The importance of using a metronome to maintain steady time.
  • Techniques to lead your band with confidence and keep the groove alive.

By implementing these tips, you'll improve your performance skills and ensure your playing is engaging and tight.


Course Lectures
  • In this lesson, Berklee instructor Michael Williams demonstrates various A major and A minor chord licks and phrases. You'll learn:

    • How to create melodies using these chord licks.
    • Techniques to embellish your playing.
    • Examples that showcase the versatility of A major and A minor in blues music.

    By practicing these licks, you'll enrich your improvisation skills and gain a deeper understanding of blues guitar.

  • Berklee Professor Michael Williams illustrates the sliding 9th chord technique, a vital aspect of blues guitar playing. In this module, you will:

    • Learn the mechanics of sliding between chords.
    • Understand how to apply the sliding 9th technique in various musical contexts.
    • Practice exercises to develop smooth transitions and fluidity in your playing.

    This technique will help you add character and depth to your guitar solos.

  • In this lesson, instructor Joe Musella presents the 3 note per string modes of the major scale. This module covers:

    • Detailed explanations of each mode's structure.
    • Techniques for fast legato playing.
    • Examples inspired by guitar legends like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.

    By mastering these modes, you'll expand your improvisational vocabulary and technical ability on the guitar.

  • Instructor Danny Morris teaches how to blend the major and minor pentatonic scales with the blues scale in this bass guitar lesson. Key points include:

    • Understanding the relationship between pentatonic scales and blues.
    • Techniques for creating rhythmic and melodic lines.
    • Practical exercises to combine these scales effectively.

    This knowledge will enhance your bass playing and harmonic understanding when accompanying guitarists.

  • This lesson encourages you to create ambient, open-sounding chords by experimenting with triads over bass notes. You'll learn:

    • How to build unique chord progressions.
    • Techniques for adding emotion and overtones to your playing.
    • Practical exercises to develop your harmonic palette.

    These techniques will allow you to expand your sound and create captivating atmospheres in your music.

  • This module offers essential practice tips for blues guitar players. You will discover:

    • How to practice licks and progressions effectively.
    • The importance of using a metronome to maintain steady time.
    • Techniques to lead your band with confidence and keep the groove alive.

    By implementing these tips, you'll improve your performance skills and ensure your playing is engaging and tight.

  • This advanced rock guitar module focuses on developing your skills through challenging exercises. You will learn to play iconic riffs like:

    • Eric Johnson's smooth lines.
    • Joe Satriani's intricate melodies.
    • Steve Vai's technical prowess and picking exercises.

    These techniques will elevate your guitar playing and prepare you for more complex musical challenges.

  • In this lesson, you'll learn about the Dorian scale and its relation to the minor pentatonic scale. Key points include:

    • Creating intriguing melodies and solos.
    • Understanding how the Dorian scale fits into blues and jazz contexts.
    • Practical examples to apply these concepts in your playing.

    Mastering the Dorian scale will enhance your improvisation skills and expand your musical vocabulary.

  • This lesson focuses on coloring your dominant chords with tensions, emulating the sound of Jimi Hendrix. You will learn:

    • How to add tension notes to enhance your chords.
    • Techniques to create more emotional and expressive dominant chords.
    • Examples demonstrating how tension improves musicality.

    Incorporating these concepts will elevate your guitar playing and enrich your sound.

  • In this video lesson, Rick Peckham explains drop-2 voicings, a crucial aspect of jazz and blues guitar playing. You'll cover:

    • How to understand and implement drop-2 voicings in your playing.
    • Examples to illustrate their application in various musical contexts.
    • Techniques for transitioning smoothly between voicings.

    Mastering drop-2 voicings will add depth and sophistication to your chord progressions.

  • In this engaging lesson, Rick Peckham introduces essential guitar chords needed for various musical styles. Key topics include:

    • Basic and advanced chord formations.
    • How to apply these chords in different contexts.
    • Practical examples to enhance your chord vocabulary.

    Understanding these essential chords will greatly enhance your ability to play and write music.

  • This lesson on drop-3 voicings, presented by Rick Peckham, is designed to deepen your understanding of guitar voicings. You'll learn:

    • The concept of drop-3 voicings and their application.
    • Examples that demonstrate their versatility in various genres.
    • Techniques to practice and incorporate these voicings into your playing.

    Mastering drop-3 voicings will enhance your harmonic knowledge and enrich your guitar arrangements.

  • In this lesson, Michael Williams explores augmented and diminished triads, essential for enriching your rhythm guitar playing. Key aspects include:

    • How to spice up your playing with chromatic approaches.
    • Examples that illustrate the use of these triads in blues progressions.
    • Techniques to incorporate augmented and diminished triads seamlessly into your music.

    These concepts will expand your harmonic palette and bring a new flavor to your guitar playing.

  • In this course, Abigail Aronson Zocher introduces various techniques for acoustic guitar playing. You will explore:

    • In-depth exercises focused on improving your acoustic guitar skills.
    • Techniques for enhancing your sound and performance.
    • Practical applications for different musical styles.

    These techniques are designed to help you become a more versatile and confident acoustic guitarist.

  • In this sneak peek of Abigail Aronson Zocher's course, you'll learn about Open D triad tuning. Key elements include:

    • How to tune your guitar to Open D for unique chord voicings.
    • Techniques for playing in this tuning and exploring new sounds.
    • Examples demonstrating the application of Open D tuning in various contexts.

    This lesson will open up new creative possibilities for your acoustic guitar playing.