Buddy Guy is one of the absolute last living blues legends (if not the last) and I’ve been listening to some of his music more often lately…

I wanted to do a lesson on some essential Buddy Guy licks… but he’s somewhat of a chameleon, able to adapt and change based on the situation and the music going on around him.

But what is unmistakable in Buddy Guy’s sound is his speed and use of cool little flurries… so I took an idea that he uses a lot in the song, “Things I Used To Do,” and did this lesson on that idea.

Hopefully you can try this approach for yourself and inject a little Buddy Guy into your own playing.


    40 replies to "Buddy Guy Approach To Slow Blues Soloing"

    • Luis Santos

      I would pay a premium for a course “How to Play like Buddy Guy”

    • Robin Giesbrecht

      Have seen Buddy perform quite a few times over the years. What a performer. I remember the first time I saw him in a small venue in Montreal. What I got from that first show was that Buddy was an extraordinary entertainer, a real pro, and he had total control over his guitar. A master. He blew me away and I had to process what I had seen and heard over a few days to come to the realization that I had just witnessed a real master. And since then I have seen him quite a few more times. And every show is different..and amazing. Like I mean amazing. Yeah he is cool. Love the polka-dot guitar. Always a smile on his face.

    • Pete

      It’s kinda like Al di Meola’s approach where he is playing huge flurries of really fast notes, 32nds, grace notes etc., but all the time his foot is keeping an absolutely rigid time and he always knows exactly where he is.

    • Jim

      Griff,
      Just a quick note to say thanks a bunch! Always something of interest in what you share!!! Thank you!

    • Joe Urbanowski

      It seems like Buddy plays like a vocalist.. which IMO is one of the best ways to play.. hence his “random” flurry of notes.. Great lesson,Griff..!

    • Kenny Krupnick

      Hi Griff, Any tabs for this one? Thanks!

    • sam

      This lesson was BGU = Buddy Guy Unleashed !!!!!

    • Jack Flash

      interesting licks…

    • Bob Curtis

      Great Lesson! Do you have any tabs to throw in?

    • Ron R

      My apologies to Buddy Guy and the BGU public
      Buddy Guy is 84 and not 88 as I wrote…he was born July 20, 1936 in Lettsworth, Louisiana
      We all hope to be rocking like Buddy at 84!

      • Joe Urbanowski

        I’m 67… and I pray I’ll be 1/10th as good as Buddy when I’m in my 80’s… lol

      • Tug

        Born July 30th, 1936. 🙂

    • cowboy

      love Buddy Guy…seen him a few times and always a great show…thanks for the useful tips…later.

      cowboy

    • Eddie

      One thing about Buddy Guy he never plays the song the same way. Love his blues and guitar playing

    • Erick Blackwelder

      I’ve listened to Buddy Guy for years and didn’t notice how he played in bursts until now.

    • Ron R

      Thanks Griff! Great Buddy Guy fast riff lesson! Buddy Guy is a Legend!
      Saw him last Nov. in Atlanta… Buddy played behind his back and with his teeth!
      A showman still at 88! Tom Hambridge opened the show and played drums for Buddy!
      A belated Happy Birthday! Good Luck on your move move to Texas
      Just got your “How to build Blues Songs ” A lot of information…Thanks Griff!
      It helps to take the whole 12 bar blues to another level!
      Keep On Trucking!

    • Craig

      Nice. I love Buddy Guy. Can you throw some tabs on this video???

    • GTF

      Great lesson Griff. I have been fortunate enough to see Buddy twice. Happy belated birthday and good luck in Texas… I grew up in Austin and just got back from the Sherman area last week. A few more years for me to retire and I will be permanently heading back there myself. I think we all are looking forward to many more great things continuing with BGU!

    • john Duzan

      Thanks for all your help, it’s invaluable to me.
      And a very happy, if belated birthday to you sir!
      See you on FB

      • PAUL

        Cool Lesson. Happy Belated 49. So like all the others, your getting out of the PEOLLES REPUBLIC OF CALIFORNIA. !
        Austin is very nice, but hot in the summer. Going to miss you. wish I was going also.
        No earthquakes there, but those hurricanes can be pretty bad. be safe.

    • Louis Ogden

      Thanks for this and I wish you a belated happy birthday.

    • Thierry Harvey

      great and simple lesson
      Thx

    • Davy

      Great lesson Griff. Really useful. Thanks for that.

    • Laurent

      Griff,
      What make and model looper do you use?
      Thanks!

      L.

    • Leon Davidson

      Every day you give me a reason to keep playing the Blues. Great Job!!! Can you tell me what Looper are you using? Thanks

      • David Kelley

        Is it just me ? I must be missing something, but I think the video started with you playing in G then you were showing us things in A. Is that right?

        • Steven McDowall

          Nope — exactly right David! I noticed the same thing, but the pattern is the same so can be used in any Key.

        • Jim

          I saw the same thing

      • PAUL

        NICE ONE! LAST VIDEO, THIS PART OF YOUR SITE HAD A.PUP VIRUS FILE. GLAD IT’S GONE. I DID TELL YOUR TECH SUPPORT.
        THIS VIDEO, HAD PORBLEMS. IT WAS NOT IN TIME WITH THE AUDIO AND WOULD FREZEE THE VIDEO, BUT THE AUDIO WOULD GO ON. STILL WAS A GREAT LICK . THANKS GRIFF.
        PS; MAY BE MY FLASH PLAYER.

        • Blackbelt

          Paul,

          Using all caps is considered shouting.

    • Robert

      Greatly appreciate that you share your time and talent, hoping to one day be maybe half as proficient as your talent reveals. Your one of my main go to for YouTube lessons. Hoping to be able to afford your course one day.

    • tony jorgensen

      Again, thanks so much for doing these lessons. I learn something new every time.

    • Bob

      Nice lesson on how to approach BG’s sound

    • Rob

      Very informative lesson Griff. I truly value your approach and have learned so much. I saw Buddy last month during his January residency with Quinn Sullivan. If you get a chance to see Buddy, take it, he will not disappoint. At 82 he is still kicking it!

      • T C Boice

        Glad to hear it! Will be going to see him in August in Reno.

    • Dave

      Buddy guy has a night club in in Chicago and plays there frequently,when he isn’t playing there you can always catch great acts from the Chicago area and around the country.

    • Terry

      Boy that gets your Left Eye Jumping.

    • John

      Thanks Griff. Great as always.

    • Rick Barros

      A thousand thank U’s..thx for being here..U’ve help me alot.. hag1

    • Alexander Paul

      Well done Griff
      🌴😎🌴

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