| Blues guitar is an extremely popular guitar style, | | | | pattern that you should learn first. The 12 bar |
| and if you decide to learn blues guitar you'll be | | | | blues simply consists of three lines, each with four |
| following in the footsteps of some of the | | | | bars. The chords I, IV and V (and their variations |
| greatest guitarists of all time. This article takes a | | | | such as sevenths) are used - so for example, an |
| look at the basic steps that are involved if you | | | | easy 12 bar blues pattern in the key of E might |
| want to learn to play the blues. | | | | look like: |
| 1. Learn The Basics | | | | E / E / E / E / |
| Anyone wanting to learn to play blues guitar | | | | A / A7 / E / E / |
| music will first of all need to gain mastery of the | | | | B7 / A7 / E / E / |
| basic guitar fundamentals that are common to all | | | | The 12 bar blues can be played in any key, |
| styles. Once you got a grip on these, then you'll | | | | although the keys of A and E are especially |
| be ready to learn the more specialist blues guitar | | | | popular. |
| techniques. | | | | Other blues patterns include the eight bar, 16 bar |
| So first of all, you need to know: | | | | and 24 bar blues. |
| - How to string and tune your guitar using | | | | It's easiest to start by practising these chords |
| standard tuning (EADGBE) | | | | sequences using one strum per beat, and then |
| - The correct posture and hand positions for left | | | | incorporating the rhythms which are characteristic |
| hand and right hand | | | | of blues songs, such as the shuffle patterns and |
| - How to form simple chords | | | | slow blues rhythms. |
| - How to hold a guitar pick and play simple | | | | 3. Lead Playing |
| strumming patterns | | | | Once you've got the hang of playing blues rhythm |
| - How to play individual notes and easy tunes | | | | guitar, it's time to learn some blues scales and |
| - How to read guitar tab (and preferably simple | | | | graduate to solo playing. |
| musical notation too, although this isn't essential) | | | | Blues guitar solos are based on the five note |
| Once you can do all of these, you can start | | | | pentatonic scale - both major and minor scales |
| learning to play blues guitar. | | | | can be used, although the minor scale is most |
| 2. Blues Rhythm Playing | | | | characteristic of the blues sound. |
| As with other types of guitar music, when | | | | Blues guitar music also makes use of the so-called |
| learning blues guitar it's best to start off by | | | | 'blue note', which is usually a diminished (flattened) |
| learning rhythm guitar techniques first, and then | | | | fifth, although diminished thirds and diminished |
| graduating to lead playing. | | | | sevenths can also be used. These blue notes help |
| Blues rhythm playing involves learning those | | | | to give greater expressiveness to the music. |
| chords and rhythmic patterns which are most | | | | Work through each of these stages, and you'll be |
| characteristic of blues music. The 12 bar blues | | | | on your way to playing fantastic sounding blues |
| pattern is the most common, and this is the | | | | guitar music in no time! |