The “Blues In E” rhythm is one of the most quintessential blues rhythm figures on the planet… almost no other rhythm on your guitar sounds as “blues” as this one.

And as long as it’s an E or an A, it’s not too hard to play. Those are open positions, and the stretch is no big deal.

But what happens when that changes? What happens when you want blues in… G? or B? What then?

Sure, you can capo it, but that’s not always an option. And for some folks, it could be arthritis or a host of other medical issues that makes it so you just aren’t going to make that stretch.

So I decided it was time for a video with some options. Some are easy, some are not. Some may work for you, some may not. It’s not about one right answer, it’s about looking a little outside the box and seeing some options that you may not have though of.

Want to download this video? MP4 | WMV

Let me know if any of these work for you!


    25 replies to "Alternatives To The “Blues In E” Rhythm"

    • Michael Chappell

      Hey Griff, Great lesson and at last some alternatives for Blues in E or B or G..I have struggled a lot with the stretch in E especially the V B. But eventually got it but unable to keep it going for say a song length of 2-3 mins..The alternatives here are awsome..I even had the song Johnny B Good transcribed from Bb to A so that I could play it easier and at least be able to sing it as well but still learning this one as the solo is a tough one..

      All good will be practising this for a while..

      Michael -Sydney- Australia 22/11/2018

    • James Tibbetts

      Hi Griff
      I have several BGU products of yours and love them. I have Carpel Tunnel and what appears to be an old industrial or Karate injury to my wrist/hand that make barre chords hard to reach and hold down. I find spreading my fingers difficult; and with small hands and a very short pinky I don’t have much of a span.

      I have to be on the 7th fret before I can stretch my pinky to the 12-barre blues rhythm that you’re playing. Can we have some finger-stretching work-out exercises please. Love receiving your videos, they are the ‘fills’ between your BGU lessons. Many thanks

      Regards
      James

    • Jake L Whicker

      Been playing that “blues in E” rhythm for 30 years, and now I have three more ways to get it done. Thank you! You’re the best!

      And sometimes I use the 5th string root (A shape), going lower on the neck from the I to the IV & V chords (E shape).

    • Dave

      Griff, tried each one of the examples and love them! Gives me an alternative I never realized was there! As usual you are the best in helping your students!

      • PAUL

        You did this a Year ago. You should send this to Eric Clapton. he has nerve daage no mre conscerts.
        I have been playing for 5+ years, now my left fingers have artritist. The futher up the fret board, it is reachable for me, but i slide it and you can’t tell.
        I remeber those other wyas, but it get’s harder to play for more than 25 minutes now. 67 years old and still playing. Just not eneough.THAKS GRIFF, YOUR ASSSUME !

    • DaveyJoe

      Good advice Griff. Thanks!

      11/19/18

    • bhupp

      How about Drop D? I tune the low E string down to D and then shuffle on the 2 low strings. You have to move around the neck for the I, IV, V a bit. And you lose the low E for lead lines (or need to remember to transpose), but you don’t have to stretch!

    • Gary

      I have had that stretch problem for 10 years because of a pinched ulnar nerve in my neck which for a while left my pinky and ring fingers numb making it impossible to do the stretches,they have gotten better so this is some real good pointers for me. Muchas Gracias.

      • Mike

        Gary,tyvm for that post…I have an injured index finger from an industrial accident that happened in the 90s…Some chords are hard for me to finger right…I started to get depressed about it,I started thinking “Maybe Im a fool for buying guitar and amp,maybe I just wasted my money”…but you have just encouraged me!

    • Roger J

      Hmmm…thought I knew all the tricks, but not that last one! Will try it.

    • jerry palladino

      What about using the pinkeye on the 2nd string alternating it with the 6th and seventh. In other words hit the 6th string base and the 2nd string 6th and seventh as used in the song Memphis Tennessee and many others? I use this pattern all the time but I’ve never heard you mention it. To me, it’s actually a lot less monotonous as well. Am I wrong with this?

    • Adam Wilson

      I have bone cancer and this helps me a lot thank you Mr.H
      😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

    • Dave Rowlands

      I’ve never used that B shape, Griff… I usually find it less of a stretch at the 7th fret, coming back down to the A on the fifth fret before returning to E. I suppose I’ve been cheating all along. πŸ˜‰

    • O.J.

      thanks for putting it into context. I myself use the B7 most often for the 5 chord in that case

    • Memphis Matt

      13:00 That chord is right out of the A cage chord form and I use it to play both major and minor chords. Seriously good stuff. Thanks

      I’m more interested in rock an roll but decided to give your material a try. Have just started the “On the Porch” lesson. Its just what I needed to jump start playing. Have gotten into a rut and I’m trying to climb out of it.

      Thanks

    • John mann

      Some great alternatives, especially the really tricky extra note like in johnny be good, I find that practically impossible😩 I loved that little turn around you did is there a lesson on that? Thanks again Griff, I’m learning so much from your lessons, I only wish I had more time to practice! 😎

    • RollyS

      THANK YOU! I have been having a h**l of a time with this! There is light at the end of the tunnel! It would be nice to have the tab though. Just picked up the HTTBS course and love it! Thanks

      • PAUL

        IF YOU WHERE IN A, YOU WOULD GO D, THEN YOU CAN GO TO THE “A” NOTE ON THE 6TH STRING AND ELEMINATE THE STRECH WHICH I DO, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY HAND THAT ERIC CLAPTON HAS. BASICLY THAT’S HOW TO PLAY JHONNY BE GOOD.

    • John

      I know, I have been emailing him for 3 days to correct the introductory 50% off pricing advertised on the “How To Build Blues Songs” course with no response at all. Odd, they usually respond within 24 hours.

    • Stephan Cotton

      Great lesson. Would love a tab for practicing.

    • David Douglas

      This is very interesting. A different way of looking at things, even just to add variety.
      Thanx Griff,
      Dave in the Adirondacks

    • Ed

      I play bass as well as guitar and if the guitar player uses the little chords option and doesn’t play the low root notes we will have a much better sound and a lot more grooves available to play. I try to pay attention to what the guitar player is doing when I get to see and listen to bands and I have seen some of the best using the little chords idea.

    • Drew

      Your comment that this rhythm wouldn’t be played in a band setting kind of threw me for a loop. But after thinking about it, I suppose it makes sense but does that mean I am not practicing rhythms to prepare me for an open mic jam?

    • terry

      Thank’s Griff for taking the trouble to make this video. It’s really appreciated. All of those alternatives would work for me. There are many challenges in BGU, but if I haven’t yet mastered them I can at least see the improvement in my playing that comes with practice. It took me three months to learn to play barre chords, but this was the one thing that completely defeated me. Even with the guitar upside down on my lap I can’t make the stretch over five frets. It was quite dispiriting not to be able to do something so basic. Now I have something to work on.

    • LUCIEN PREGENT

      was looking at your advertizing for 63.00 kit you for kit of 5 cd book etc.

      but when i try ro order the amount is 127.00

      can’t figure it out. please explain.

      am still interest in that pakage. but in that pakage only.

      lucien pregent

      tanks for reply.

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