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Playing guitar can be an ordinary feat to most people. Any person, with the right ear for music, can learn any instrument in a matter of hours. On the other hand, learning how to play blues guitar is almost a form of dexterity that not everyone can master. Blues music has been the foundation of many other genres of music such as Jazz, R&B and even Rock and Roll. The style of music is so captivating that it almost sounds complicated as well. Here are a few facts in order for you to learn how to play blues guitar:
The Technique
The technique in order to play blues guitar comes from the skill in picking. Although essentially, the scales make the music when playing the instrument, it is imperative to construct the picking technique before scales can be played. The guitar can then be played as a Rhythm Blues Guitar or a Lead Blues Guitar. There has to be suppleness in the fingers of the player in order to get the rhythm right.
Knowing the Difference
For the Rhythm Blues Guitar, the chord progression is founded on the twelve bar blues structure. When you play blues guitar, more often than not, the interval cords that are in progression are the I, IV and V, but other cords may also be played so long as the tonality is present in the rhythm. The Lead Blues Guitar, conversely, is more popular in terms of the measure of its expressiveness. It primarily focuses on the technical skills of vibrato and bending. The pick's basic motion is up and down, alternating in every turn.
In an example by James Ham, if there is a basic riff with the notes A,C,D,A,E one after another, the A would be played with a downward picking motion while the C would be played directly after the A with an upward motion. This is playing two notes in one motion. You can also try playing a 12-bar chord progression in different keys, in the same way as when you play a rhythm blues guitar in pentatonic scale. Try practicing this rhythm pattern continuously until you get the hang of the beat.
Getting Props
There are also several audio samples of blues records available online. Most of which can be downloaded for free. These samples may be played in both slow and full speed, helping you learn to pace your rhythm during mastering your picking technique. Although agility is integral when you play blues guitar, you must also concentrate on the accuracy of each note that you play and focus on your scales. Fluid rhythm and chord progression are fundamental in making blues music. You can also get a book that offers superb guitar licks that can help you practice.
Expression
As you play blues guitar, or any instrument at that, it is always important to practice. It is in practicing that we master our art and our passion. You can also sing along as you strum the guitar, after all, the blues music is all about expression.
There is only one difference between guitar scales and scales on any other musical instrument - you can play guitar scales in more than one way thanks to the strings of guitar. You can play a unique note in 3-5 ways with this instrument.
Using Blues Scale In Lead Guitar Playing:
You can produce a minor pentatonic scale by using 1st tone (root), flatter 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th tones of a major scale. You don't have to use 2nd or 6th tone. You can produce a minor blues scale by adding a flatted 5th tone to the scale. In the A key, this produces a scale with the following notes in it: A, C, D, Eb, E, and G.
There are people who don't distinguish between minor and major blues scales. Remember, a blues scale means the minor version.
You can produce a major pentatonic scale by using 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th tones on a major scale. In the C key, it would produce C, D, E, G, and A notes. To create a major blues scale, add a flatted 3rd tone that gives you the following notes in C key: C, D, Eb, E, G, and A.
Remember:
The rules regulating relative major as well as minor scales are working here. Observe the keys of A of minor scale and C of major scale. You will notice similar group of notes. Both the scales are relative, which means they comprise of the same notes.
The minor blues scale of A key has A, C, D, Eb, E, and C notes and the major blues scale of C key contains C, D, Eb, E, G, and A notes. The notes are same. Where's the difference then? It's in the starting point!
This is a common occurrence in music. And if you are playing a mahogany blues guitar, you will find that its scales are doing double duty! Once you master one pattern, it becomes useful for one major, one minor, and 2 keys.
Playing The 12 Bar Blues Progression:
This is simple. Suppose, the first chord of the progression is A7, make use of that minor blues scale over the song to solo. You need not alter scales at all.
Although the above way is not the ultimate one, it's still preferable due to its simplicity, especially when you are learning to play mahogany blues guitar. There are other ways, too, to play 12 bar progression or other type of chord progression, for that matter. The common approach is to use a combination of minor and major blues scale.
So, are you ready to learn playing a mahogany blues guitar? Once you master the skill, you will be able to create sounds or musical notes that you wish to hear and play.