The 3 Best Classic Blues Rhythms To Play Hundreds Of Songs…

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374 responses to “Using 3 Best Classic Blues Rhythms”

  1. Ron Hoag says:

    I’m and inventor and 74 years of age, love how you explain your technique. It also, explains some of the things I play just by ear training, but with some rules applied. I wish I had your instruction way back then. I was raised in a musical family but all self taught. This was the way it was done back then, when money was an issue. My Dad’s family played, sang and danced in show business as part of a Carnival side show act. He did have stories.
    Thank you for you instruction.

    Ron Hoag

  2. Len says:

    Hi Griff,Just what I needed,your method of teaching is without a “note” ha is super.Its like you read wantabee,s minds.Thank you very much.

  3. Dieter Hornemann says:

    Griff now you are teaching us how to fish. ( for ourselves). More of this and we will be able to leave the nest.

  4. JIm says:

    Wow! Super lesson! I really liked the theory details you drop in there – like the finger position being the “4th” or “b7th” (so many online instructors just say “fret x, string x ) and the Swing rhythm really being “triplets” and using just the “1” and the “uh” to count it. I always thought you were kind of “cheating” when you said its was two notes (1/8ths?) and seemed to count “off time.”
    Only one suggestion/request (very greedy): When you do the counting, could you actually go over the tab (just a measure would do) and show how you count each note/rest? I’m terrible at reading music, and would really appreciate a confirmation that I ‘m getting all the funny little squiggles and dots correct! THANKS AGAIN!!!

  5. toni says:

    muy buena tecnica y muy simple

  6. Paul Warner says:

    There are several very good guitar teachers on the Internet these days and I follow some of them, but there is not doubt you hold your own in teaching and I
    think this video is the best one you have done, for several reasons. One is the use of the pick and fingers. Some months ago I decided to learn “Stairway
    To Heaven” by Led Zeppelin and I decided to learn it using the pick and fingers and I am getting pretty adept at playing that way, so I have worked on other songs like Babe, I’m Going To Leave You by Led Zeppelin and Foolin’ by Def Leopard where the pick and fingers come in really handy. Secondly is the use of two finger chords, again pick and finger, but the sound I discovered is sometimes so much nicer than using the full chord so now I am doing a lot of that. I like the two finger chords because it leaves the other fingers free to embellish these chords, or use single note fills. Of course the main gist of the blues rhythms
    you taught is great too. It’s nice to see how somebody plays especially in a band situation which is another reason this video is pretty damn good is your discussion of not clashing with other parts being played by other players in the band. Another huge advantage of pick and fingers is being able to play the chords with the fingers and use the pick for rolling base lines.
    Yesterday I heard a song by Chicago called “No Tell Lover” and I was daydreaming about being to play all the parts on the guitar, the horns, the keyboards, the guitar chords and the notes sang by the singer. Personally I would love to lock myself in a room for a year with my coffee, my microwave dinners and just work on guitar…….great lesson Griff

  7. Jim says:

    The first one is same of many related bass licks using the root, octave, flat 7th, 5th, etc. It would be nice to see a set of combinations of these and how you can mix and match to keep a good rhythm going. Also, think a session on double stops and how they can be mixed in with a jam set would be nice. I like it when you mix in the theory or why these little tricks work.

  8. Awesome, I’m an avid student .

  9. Alan says:

    Griff, you make learning the blues so clear and easy to follow, just like your classic BU set which I bought recently. You continue to inspire me to play blues so please keep on with the lessons!

  10. diresteve says:

    love this.. thanks Griff

  11. lloydee says:

    great stuff griff; can’t wait to see video 2 & 3

  12. Bernie Fitzpatrick says:

    This is just great! It really puts a bunch of things together and leads you to build on them from there. I think I’ll have some fun with this next time I get together with friends, all of us just hobbyists, and we’re looking at each other like: “What do you want to play/” “I don’t know what do you…” etc. These kinds of things are great musical conversation starters.

  13. PAUL says:

    geat rievew from BGU course. learned the slide from a video from your past email of stormy monday. really liked this lesson. enjoyed playing along with the jam track on my pc. BIG BUMMER. MY PC CANNOT PLAY THE JAM TRACK AND YOUR VIDEO AT THE SAME TIME. I LIKE HAVE ING MY MP3, WHICH I HAVE A SOFTWARE THAT COVERTS TO WAV FILES, BUT IT’S BROKEN. PLAY IT LIKE IT IS I GUESS. THANKS FOR THE LESSON.

  14. magentry says:

    Wish you lived close to me for private lessons,
    You are in a class of your on.

  15. Dallas says:

    Thanks for the lesson Griff. Your instructions were clear and understandable.

  16. dick says:

    Griff, I thought you never come in on the first beat, but that appears what you are doing in the “torn down section”. why is that?

    • Griff says:

      It’s because I’m setting up the bass and the root of the chord on that beat. As you’ll see in the next video, you don’t ALWAYS stay off beat 1, you just have to use it for the right purpose.

  17. rob says:

    Lovely stuff, Griff. I really enjoy your lessons. Cheers

  18. peter says:

    Thanks Griff
    I saw the first one and it is great.
    YOU ARE A GREAT TEACHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Thanks very much
    Peter

  19. Tom says:

    Hey Griff, I’m always happy when I see an e-mail lesson from you. Thanks. I’m selling my vintage Framus and was wondering what make is the guitar your playing in the video. I’m leaning toward a hollow body electric with the f holes. Trying not to get too bulky as I only play on my own with your jam tracks.
    Thanks again.

  20. Steve says:

    This has got to be one of the best lessons i,ve ever been sent .thank you.steve.

  21. William Hyslop says:

    Griff ,, you are very Generous..

    Many Thanks

  22. thanks for everything

  23. Don says:

    Great lesson Griff. I appreciate all the effort that you put into these lessons.

  24. mike says:

    Thanks Griff. This makes me think young again

  25. Ken Berry says:

    Love this lesson, keep it simple and still sounds great, also helps us who need a little help with rhythm and timeing……… thank Griff……..looking for the next lesson…

  26. denny says:

    really gooood stuff, been playing gospel bluegrass rhythm in a group for 10 years.
    BGU is a breath of fresh air. This lesson was great. Thinking about getting another
    guitar. When I mute strings I have a bad habit of touching the volume control on my strat.
    I got big hands. Any suggestions? Thanks for a great lesson.

  27. Thank you for those cool rhythms I really wanted something to fill in between playing lead riffs

  28. J Dominique says:

    Very enjoyable. So much creativity.I must admit this was much needed for me, making me a better player.
    Many thanks.

  29. willie says:

    great lesson thanks Griff – the building block concept is brilliant!

  30. Kenny says:

    Griff,
    Awesome lesson!!! Thank -you!!!!
    Simple is the best ,always has been and will be…..
    BGU is such a great place to start,GET it and be Amazed

  31. ColCan says:

    And one day I will! All this info is great. The little chord idea, i’ve seen before but not in your context. But your point about not getting in the way of the band is so on the mark, often when playing full chord rhythm, it’s just wrong, to muddy, to much happening. So these little chords as you so rightly demonstrate, allows me to continue playing and i’m still adding to the overall sound, but not killing it.

    keep it coming, I think it’s great.

  32. Tom Hopsicker says:

    Great stuff as usual. I have one question. In the past you have stated that you would do the 2 note chord hits on beats 2 and 4, but in this lesson, you are doing them on “1 and” and “3”. They both sound good, but I was wondering about the theory behind it. There is actually a difference of a half a beat between the two methods. (I think) Thanks in advance. Tom

    • Griff says:

      With a swing feel, I like the “ands” just because it adds a little more bounce. If I was doing more of a straight feel thing I’d probably stick with 2 and 4. Neither is wrong,it’s just personal preference.

  33. Graeme H says:

    Hi Grif, great lesson as usual. Looking forward to the rest of the videos. Keep up the good work.

  34. neraw says:

    What foot switch are you using to start and stop the track. Are you using a computer or an amplifier.

  35. neraw257 says:

    This lesson was outstanding.

  36. Stevo says:

    Excellent – bring on rhythm guitar

  37. love all u send. made a file on my pc to keep every thing you send,im not always able to get to it fast enough,but I DO GET TO IT. so much fun working out on my dean with all your lessons and videos wish i could just lock myself in the room.sorry im so slow.just wanted to say thank you and let u know i,ll get to every one of them…………..always learning

  38. shawn says:

    Great video Griff. You do have the teaching gig on the raps.

  39. 70 yr old percussionist with desire to learn blues guitar. Love you e-mails with videos. It has been slow but fun. Thank you

  40. James says:

    Great video Griff! You have a wonderful way of communicating your message. Please keep it coming! I also have a Gibson ES335 that was made in 1959; just wondered what kind of strings you use on yours.

  41. Chucky says:

    Hamlin…!

    You’re like the Yoda of da’ blues lesson!

  42. Shodai says:

    Fantastic stuff, as always. You really have a great knack for taking these topics and making them easy to understand, instantly usable, and always relevant. Wish I had someone like you 30 years ago!

  43. Bob says:

    Man! You are a great teacher. This is my first time on your videos, and I also play the Guitar. Keep it up. thanks

  44. john says:

    Griff, i noticed that you change your fingering on the slide part. Any reason for that?

  45. john kovalick says:

    Griff,

    I have been playing for about 40 years. I love allot of your stuff. It has renewed some of my older ideas and brought me back into learning new ideas and expressions. Thank you soo much.

  46. Steve C says:

    Great stuff Griff, simple but oh so effective!

  47. nick thomas says:

    thanks,i love the way you explain things,very easy to follow,it must be,because i can,lol

  48. Annette says:

    Thank you. Really enjoying your videos.

  49. jean says:

    Thank you for this video. I will enjoy it . lots of work to do. Excellent!!!!

  50. Al says:

    your very easy to learn from, thanx for the lesson’s they help alot and are easy to pick up on, thankyou!

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