The 8 Bar Blues – “Key To The Highway” Style
This lesson is about the 8 bar blues. While it’s less popular than the 12 bar blues, there are still a lot of 8 bar blues tunes out there.
This variation is from Key To The Highway in the Derek And the Dominos style. This isn’t right off the record by any means, but it’s how I would play it if someone called it.
I hope you enjoy it… tabs and stuff are below.
Before you run off and try to play this, I want to point out something very specific about my left hand technique. Look at this image from the video:
Notice that the tip of my ring finger on my left hand curves away from my index finger, not towards it!
This is something I've seen a lot with my private students lately and it can really trip you up.
Your ring finger should oppose your thumb when you play. If your index finger or middle finger oppose your thumb, you have your hand in such a way that you will always struggle opening up and making stretches.
Downloads
This Video (MP4)Mac users should use the MP4 version to download the video
- This Video (WMV)
Windows users should use the WMV version to download this video.
The TAB for the example.This is the TAB for the example in the middle of the video
what guitar is that and what does it cost?
On his blog, he has an article about what gear he uses where he names the guitar. It’s a fender type with a smoother neck.
I WOULD HAVE TO USE A CAPO. WHEN YOU GET TO BE 65, YOUR LAET HAND JUST DOES NOT STREACH THAT FAR WITH YOUR PINKY. PORR ERIC CLAPPTON HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT HE HAS NEURLOGICAL DAMAGE NOW. SO USEING MY CAO I VAN JUST DO IT LIKE I WAS IN THE KEY OF E. WITH 2 FINGERS!
It’s a Suhr
http://www.suhr.com/guitars/
when i was your age , i used that 8 bar blues and could streach my pinky like Steve Vai!. with my artritist it’s impossible for my finger to go that far . if i pull om it it cracks and hurts. I have to slide up to that fret in order to play it. sounds kind of funky, but it works.
Griff, several years ago (probably around 50 years), I Iearned a blues tune that has 8 measures, but is a slight variation from the example you showed today. I assume its a variation of what you presented in the video. It’s called “Troublin’ Mind Blues”. The way I learned it was 1 bar of I, 1 bar of I7, 2 bars of IV7′
, 1 bar of I, 1 bar of V7, 1 bar of I, 1 bar of V7. I suppose if the first I7 was a V7, it would be very close to your example this morning. I think I will try to post on the BGU forum and maybe stimulate a discussion thread.
The song you are referring to is almost certainly “Trouble In Mind.” Many/most of versions out there (Nina Simone, Johnny Cash, Hank Snow, etc.) use the traditional 8 bar progression that Griff uses here. The Lightnin’ Hopkins fingerstyle version might use an extended I chord rather than the change to the V in the second measure, but it’s hard to tell
Well, you did it again Griff. It is so easy to follow your lessons and a pleasure to boot. The last item you posted that seemed to generate a degree of cynics, was equally good. Keep up the great work. Alex.
My question is about the added 6th note (that E stretch-thingy on the G chord). I noticed in several of your BGU lessons, you only play it twice per bar,on the 2 and the 4 beats. Here, you’re playing it four times (on the “2” & “and” and “4” & “and” beats). I LIKE this sound better, but was wondering if it is a song choice thing, a “correct pattern” thing, or does it matter?
Got bored 3 min 16 sec still talking no guitar tuition.
Purchased a used Fender Strat 3 yrs. ago, have picked it up twice. Want to purchase Blues Beginner as soon as I have the $$ to spare but am soo hesitant because I don’t have a lot of time each day and as good as your lessons look, you talk soo much and I’m afraid that I would be like Tony and lose my patience and interest…
Definitely don’t purchase anything in the musical realm. You don’t have the discipline or motivation since you have only picked up your guitar 2 times in 3 years. Griff instructs – he doesn’t talk too much – and if you think he talks to much you might want to get checked for ADHD.
Surprised you had the time to take the trouble to post, you must be really busy! Suggest you find a site which has 30sec instruction to meet your attention span. This one is for people who take it seriously and really enjoy a professional who knows his stuff and is personable too.
Fast forward what you don’t want to hear. Technology is magic.
I don’t think he talks as much on his lessons, but you have to explain why and what. This is an advertisement not a true lesson. Buy the dvds and if not daisies return them. I play and still get something from them.
Just learn a 3-chord trick and stick with it. You don’t have the patience to be a real guitar player by taking instruction.
Tony not everyone is at the same skill level Griff explains his lessons to cover all levels and explains the why when and how he gave out a lot of information in the first 3 min 16 sec if you want to learn parrot fashion guitar playing where you don’t know what or why you play what you play go to YouTube
I found Griffs courses very informative and it’s taken my playing to a level of Understanding which I never thought I would have achieved without Griff and I intend to stay a student
🎶
thanks Mark. Exactly what I was thinking.
Well said! Griff is so informative.
Tony, you have to realize he does these for the masses. If you know the first stuff, fast forward. If you want private lessons made just for you, they won’t be for free.
hey Griff. you are an AWESOME teacher.You lessons are easy to follow. OUTSTANDING. I COULD HAVE USED A GUITAR TEACHER LIKER YOU WHEN I WAS STARTING BACK IN “64.
Rock on. thanks alot.
Griff…Always GREAT stuff
thanks again Griff. Like the way you explained how to stretch the pinky.
Ah the memories I learned those shapes because I wanted to learn bad motor scooter by Montrose back in the day on a Gibson SG that’s when I was 18 I’m 53 now still have and use the amp but gave up the SG for a Les Paul thanks again Griff !!
Hi Griff. As a bass player I still get a lot from your videos, especially the theory ones! I’ve been playing a 6 string bass for a few years now and doing some good stuff with it! Maybe someday you’ll have a blues course for bass! Hopefully I’ll have the time and money for it! However I’m running out of time, turning 66 this year! Started when I was 16 and still learning!
How do I get out of the habit of pointing my thumb towards the headstock?
Try “classical style”. Sitting down, put the waist of the guitar on your left knee (for righties) instead of the way us rockers do. You will naturally have the body low and the neck high. And it will be easy to play barre chords and keep your thumb in the correct position.
Standing up, do the “Les Paul slung low” style (like old Jimmy Page or old Slash). Same deal.
You can gradually drop the neck if you want, but you will need to drop your left shoulder too (just look at Griff).
I tried what you said about putting the guitar on my left knee instead of my right one and HURRAY works like a charm!! (If I didn’t have arthritis in my legs I’d do a happy dance!)
To the guys complaining about too much talking going on, you guys need to understand that Griff is only being thorough in certain aspects of the lesson so that it will be easier on you in the long run. He could have taught you how to play an 8 bar blues in 30 seconds but if you can’t make the stretch, well now you know how you probably can in an easier fashion. I’ve followed Griff for several yrs now and I know he’s really interested in helping you in all aspects of playing the guitar. Nothing wrong with that in my opinion. There’s some truly beginners on his mailing list and he wants to make sure they got all they need to learn what he’s teaching. Just bare with him and you will surely learn a lot….and it’s only going to cost you your time.
My favorite 8 bar blues is George Thorogood’s “Get a Haircut and Get a Real Job”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adz1aWRsDw8
Thanks Griff. A good, necessary piece of blues guitar basics. If folks want another example of the 8 bar blues form I would point them to the Robert Johnson song Malted Milk. Eric Clapton famously covered the song on his album Unplugged.
Downloaded back track and used it in Garageband program. Record myself along with the back track and then play it back, great incentive to keep practicing. Thanks Griff – great lesson & for the free downloads.
GREAT LESSON AS ALWAYS.
HAVE TO PRACTICE STRECHING
MY CORD FINGERS AS I HAVE SMALL HANDS AND NOT THAT LONG FINGERS.I PLAY ELECTRO
ACOUSTIC WITH BOAT BASE.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GRIFF.
Hey Griff,
It’s these quirky little tips which form an invaluable part of ‘learning at a distance’!!
Keep it BLUE.
Hey Griff,
Afterthought, I’m sure I’ve got some VHS footage somewhere, of Eric doing ‘key to the highway’ through the 12? Keys, ring any bells?
how can i get around this with no little finger on playing hand
Watch Django Reignhart on you tube. He lost use of fingers in a fire, and became aye the greatest guitarist ever.
You CAN do it. Persevere.
That word above is maybe.
GD autocorrect!
Hey Griff,
The G stretch can’t do unless I slide for the Pinky action like Paul said. I have small hands. I can stretch from 3rd Fret to 7th Fret with pinky but cannot control the rhythm…needs a lot of practice so will be avoiding 8 bar blues FTTB with this stretch. Is there an easier way to get the same sound?
Thanks
Michael -Sydney-Australia.
Man we get it get on with it already! Im a fan of your lessons bcuz of the more advanced lessons you do but cmon it seems like you got stuck on some beginer shuffle that was the first thing most ppl learn! still a fan but let’s not regress.
Hi Griff, since 2015 I can now do the bar chords stretched, so no problem.Just practice and hand exercises for flexibility. I also sometime muffle with my right hand to get a feel sound as well.
Michael-Sydney-Australia 30 Jan 2018
It’s a pleasure learning from you
Useful help as always Griff. Playing it standing up is where my real challenge happens
When Griff gives a lesson, he has to make it so a wide range of skill levels can learn from it. If you find it is moving too slowly, skip what you already know and go to the area you are interested in. If you want detailed instructions, either buy his courses (guaranteed money back for a year) or hire a private instructor of $50/hour. Otherwise put a sock in it.
Hi Griff.
Thanks for another great lesson. Key To The Highway is a great piece. What about Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out. I believe this is a another great 8 bar blues?
Interesting comments today. I happen to like Key to the Highway. Also I think the 8 bar approach is a nice change to things and will try to learn at least one other, maybe the George Thorughgood tune.
Really dug the acoustic stuff you recently put out too. I, for one, am learning from Griffs lessons and enjoying the journey. The courses are good and so are these freebies. Thanks.
Wisdom for all of us:
“Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it.” ~ Lao Tzu
Cheers Griff
For the lesson and advice I like the way you go into great depth in your explanation
Thanks Griff but it would have been better if you had included a basic ‘lick’ to conclude.
I learned Key to the Highway in E. The I was shown a cool turnaround: e – c#7 – b7 – e.
Nice stuff Grif!
I did a couple of times round of it, then shot off and watched about three different versions on YouTube.
I had it down pat after that with the groove and then the lyric placement and I’m having a lot of fun with this one now, electric or acoustic.
It’s just a little bit different, but feels so bluesy!
Thanks mate.
Griff, I’ve been around a while and don’t surprise easily, but that trick you showed (leaning forward with the guitar to help reach further . . . ) well, damn, brother! That, indeed, works. I damaged my “fingering hand” in a construction accident many years ago and just haven’t had the functionality ever since. Thank you. That trick, I think, is going to help me quite a bit (and not only with “8 bar blues”.
I’m with you Joe…Been playing on and off for years, and gave up on this technique….But this is THE SINGLE BEST TIP I HAVE EVER FOUND FOR GUITAR !
What an amazing feeling when you have to give up on dream, desire, wish….whatever….only to find that it’s really within your reach once again….Thanks Griff.
Hey Griff,
Great lesson, I think you did this one sometime in 2015 but a great refresher. For all those here I started from scratch learning Blues Guitar in 2013 with Griff of BGU and I have advanced faster than other previous lessons from a Guitar teacher . I am 69 yrs in retirement and enjoying the challenge now with 5 guitars and a few BGU Courses. If I can do it so can anyone. Enjoy!
Michael-Sydney-Australia
Funny thing. I was just noodling around yesterday trying to figure that out after listening to the song. Got it figured out now thanks again Griff. Then i went on to mess with a 10 bar slow blues by Billy Gibbon called Blue Jean Blues. Another great tune maybe you could break that one down for your followers too.
Might be strange, but I’ve been working on playing Bass but i like to check in on your Guitar lessons because of your pointers on rhythm, structure, basic learning, and today I really enjoyed your talk on hand/body positioning. Great information for any aspiring musician. Thanks.
Another 8 bar song that’s fun to play is Get a Haircut and Get a Real Job by George Thorogood.
Folsum Prison Blues by Johnny Cash is actually an 11 bar blues. The “gap” between verses is 1 bar. Listen to it and you will see.
I have never done this sort of guitar playing but I find your lesson very easy to follow so wish me luck I am glad to be with you now Cheers Bill S.
For me, to get my pinky out there I have to roll my thumb so the side of my thumb is against the neck, not the pad of my thumb. The the reach is easy. It’s just the way my big hands work.
Small hands are no handy cap. just listen to Danny Gatton. : )
Great lesson with good tips. I’ve been working on this for several weeks after being fascinated by Clapton’s Keys to The Highway on youtube…I still find your lesson very helpful about hand position.
Hi Griff,
my hands are not big enough in order for me to stretch my pinky to the seventh fret,
any solutions please?
Watch this….
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hCT9xnlhldM
Your hands ain’t smaller than this….
(But I use the same excuse😜)
Thanks Griff,I will work on this one at slow speed even if it takes a while before it sounds good,raytuned88!
Thank u brother. I finly got a chance to get on a wi-fi
Griff, I thank you for this and for all the rest. I am still learning. I am working on your “Beginning Blues Guitar” course. You are really an excellent teacher.
Thank You,
John Eisner (from Israel)
Could you please post a picture of the correct way to position your fingers beneath the incorrect picture? Thank you.
Awesome as usual Griff.
man i have been looking for someone who teaches like you!
A tip. Move the entire progression up the neck to make the pinky stretch easier. Frets get closer together the further up the neck you go.
I like that method thought. I would add one thing….. Work your way down(lower), on the neck,as you go. You’ll be surprised how you can teach your fingers to do it.
Play It,
Jim
Hi Griff. In the still, the finger you are pointing at is not the one with the ring on it. So which is the finger that you are referring to in the text – the “ring” finger (i.e. the one with the ring on it) or the finger that you are pointing at?
Cheers from ChrisG in Australia.
To get my hand into position to stretch my pinky is funky. Almost looks like I have a deformative problem. BUT, your technique seems to work. To go from this “deformative” position back to playing the D7 is going to take some serious practice. Its possible though.
Thanks Griff, I get the most from this lesson format. Video w/ pointers, TAB example, and backing tracks w/ & wo guitar. Now, how about some Allman Bros: must of done someone wrong, you don’t love me…