Probably the one constant among all blues players is our love of the oh-so-soulful slow blues feel…
Whether it be Stevie’s “Texas Flood,” Gary Moore’s “Still Got The Blues,” or Hendrix layin’ down a little “Red House,” there is just something about the old school slow blues sound that hits you where you need to be hit.
So today I’ve got a brilliant lesson with my good friend Steve Trovato for you where he’ll show you one of his famous 1×12 licks that works great over a slow blues style tune like “Red House.”
Here is the TAB for this lesson and here is the jam track (right click on the links to download.)
125 replies to "Slow Blues Lick Lesson With Steve Trovato"
nice–good explanation of “tricks”
I like the originality of this lick. Thank you…
Thanks Griff
Good lick and well explained.
I see where someone thought it was “ mournful”
Well the blues is not played at birthdays or weddings
because it is all about being “ blue”!
“ The sky is crying” isn’t about the joy of hitting the
lottery!
Thanks for the lesson Steve and Griff
Any one would love to be half that good Steve Trovato as you just played. If any one complains on it they aught to stop tuning in. Great in played and explained.
Hendrix would never use that lick. Maybe when he was a beginner.
What a great presentation. The originality is awesome. Thanks
Ctyler@abbnebraska.com
Yea, that guitar sounded terrible. Also the playing sounded
slow and/or out of time??? Not sure but He better not put that
out to the public or sales will suffer. I know the guy can play
and sound good but this was not it.
It sounds like you may not be ready for this lesson yet.
Perhaps with more ear training you may enjoy it more when you are ready.
I thought the tone and the pitch were both absolutely fine. While it may not have been to your liking relative to your own personal taste there was absolutely nothing wrong with the tuning. I thought the lesson was quite good.
Ditto!
Tone is totally subjective. One guy’s killer tone might suck to another player. Also remember
the old saw about opinions .
Pretty cool lesson I think.
Hi, and thanks for all your information but the sound of guitar was awful it is sounding as mourning march at the time of funeral.
I like the lick and it is well explained – one of Steve’s better presentations.
Prefer your licks Griff….this one is too mournful, waily and a tad boring.
Cheers Griff and Steve
For the video
I found this lesson hard to follow with all respect to Steve he’s a top player
But because of the position he holds his guitar I found it easier to follow the tab
I have followed and purchased many courses from Griff these past years. Griff introduced, one of his mentors to the mix and I now have at least two of his courses in the bag, so to speak. Do I emulate either tutors prowess on the magic box we call guitars, no! I try and enjoy the trying. I think that is the thing, not to criticize all the time or complain about the video / description / tab or anything else that appears to offend some. If it offends, then leave well alone. I have felt I have to comment, not so much to defend guitar tutors but, to have those that do criticize to rethink what they are actually after in watching such lessons. Griff, you are a very good tutor, as is Steve Trovato. keep up the great work.
Steve Trovato is a great player and this is a cool lick but I have noticed in this video as well as others that it’s very hard to see what he’s doing due to the way he holds his guitar. That’s the reason I would not buy any dvd of his, great player though.
What is it you can’t see? Video of both hands is there, complete verbal description – fingers, strng, fret – tab is viewable and completely notated, and you can hear every note played slowly and explained thoroughly. Mr Trovato is respected player and a member of the faculty at a major university (the same one our host, Grif, attended), teaching is his business. How many of his videos have you seen – in their entirety – sounds like you are either too much of a beginner to benefit from his level of instruction or need a teacher to get you started up close and personal. Dissing the media used for instruction sounds like a personal problem. Sorry for the rant, Grif, but sometimes enough is enuff!! Hi everybody from Texas.
Learning isn’t done with the eye’s only. Listen and emulate.
One of my jammin mates is blind and he’s got no problem with it at all.
I agree with Ed. Steve is a great player, not a great teacher. As someone else suggested, download the tab and work it out on your own.
I most definatly put this in my bag of tricks a long time ago. It is good to go over stuff once in awhile to hear how well you are playing it now after being away awhile. k tanks
I think some may not lke this lesson saying the pace may be slow or the guitar sound diffrent . keep in mind no one can sound like Jimi did only SRV was able to get real close . There are copy right issues also so you cant do it exactly. Also a guitarist will not always play the same song exactly every time. I use this approach a lot . Sounds more like Hendrix if you step down the tuning because Jimi did it that way and so did SRV. THIS IS JUST MY OPINION .
Gee a re- fresher 4 days till 2020 H N Y
Why Bflat? Since it is a beginner lesson,seems easier to do a lesson in a key beginners are fimiliar with & use often such as E or D or A
It’s in Bb because that’s the key Hendrix wrote it. You really shouldn’t have a problem transposing it to A. Just move everything one fret lower.
yeah! Griff I love it I feel it in my bones
yeah, good suff
I’ve wanted this song for so long- bits and pieces-this gives me some of it that I didn’t have. Thanks.
Thanks Teach, Great lick, love that jimmy style and sound. Thanks to Steve as well. Looks like you have a lot of great players for friends!!
Happy 16th Birthday Ryan, hope you enjoy your special day 🙂
Thanks Steve and Griff,Very interesting,really injoying this lesson. Len.
Happy Birthday Ryan, all the best of luck to you , in all your endeavors.
Happy birthday Ryan, you share the day with both my wife and myself.
P.S You have a wonderful dad
THE FREE STUFF IS ALWAYS APRECIATED. Along with the books and CDs I have from you, I continue to progress. Thank you
Steve has a great right hand style like the way he pulls with his thumb while muting with his other fingers nice thanks much guys !!!!!!
STEVES A GOOD TEACHER. GRIFF? YOU DID SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS ONE PENTATONIC SCALE RUN THE OTHER DAY FROM ONE OF YOUR LESSONS. I’M A STRING BENDER, THIS WAS A COOL SLOW BLUES LICK/SOLO. WHAT EVER YOU CALL IT. I HAVE TO CONFESS, THAT I HAVE NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY WITH MY FINGERS LOCKING UP. SO THE GUITARS IN ITS CASE AND I DO WATCH AND SAVE YOUR VIDEOS FOR WHEN I GET OUT OF THIS SLUMP. A LOT OF HEALTH AND PERSONAL ISSUES. CRABBY NIEGHBOR COMPLAINED . SHE WORKS 12 HOUR GRAVE SHIFTS. SO I CAN’T EVEN PLAY MY BREEDLOVE ACOUSTIC WITH OUT HER POUNDING ON MY WALLS. HOW MUCH IS STEVES SOLO LESSON? DON’T BE JEALOUS NOW. I HAVE A FEW OF YOUR DVD’S. LOL 🙂 TO YOUR HEALTH, PAUL
Yeah Nice lick! very similar to what Robin Trower does alot of bends and vibrato. He bends and goes into bends from other bends all over the place.If you want to hear more bends and vibrato like this listen to some Trower stuff.
Thanks Griff and Steve, you got me picking up my guitar and playing some mean red house licks and incorporating some of these ideas mixed with my moves and things that came to me, singing through my guitar. cool !
Robin Trower should sound a lot like Hendrix, if I’m not mistaken Robin was a prodigy of Hendrix.
thanks for a great lesson both Griff and Steve! The intro alone is killer!
WOOOOW FRIEND OF YOURS NOW A FRIEND OF MINE =
Great lick! What I like best about this isn’t the actual lick, but the tone Steve gets playing with his fingers. It give an extra sizzle or something to the tone. Similar to Mark Knoplfer or Jimmie Vaughan. Sweet!
Great lesson…particularly the way the details were elucidated.
Super lick!! It looks like the strings are going to break on those awesome bends. Steve is a little harder to follow than Griff, IMHO. When he starts out with “playing in the key of “whatever” “, I still have a problem with that. I can’t seem to find the right info that puts all the scales, in the key of, and forming chords that just flips on the little bulb above my head. If anyone can point me in a good direction I would appreciate it. Thanks Dr. Dave
David — basically, when Steve says “Key of B flat”, he’s referring to the base note of the pentatonic scale he is using for the lick.
Griff has an excellent class on theory that really brings it all home. Check it out.
Not to be confused with the Bill prior ,as a beginner, I thought the 2 string trick was great and I was able to replicate,
Great lesson.
Thanks Steve and Griff
Bending 2 strings , gathering a 3rd string and multi finger picking? Just what every beginner needs!! Are you serious?
Agree
Thanks Griff & Steve, love those licks, Hendrix was the Man.
Never thought I would be sitting playing guitar at mid night on a New Years Eve 40 years ago.
Here’s a go at song writing
Here I sit New Years Eve has started.
I am so broken hearted
I took a chance
Tried to fart but only $hit my pants.
Happy New Years BGU
Orrin
That helped me pull it off doing what you said using the ring and index to do the 3rd string bend after the 2nd string bend.
Jim
Thanks, I bought the BGU last week but stuff like this makes the waiting so much easier. I really like that 2nd string 3rd string bend trick.
Jim
Great lesson hope i will be able to play it half as good
Thanks
Cool stuff
My solution for the bend in the 9th fret 2nd string into the 8th fret 3rd string is to play something different with the same notes and the same tempo. It does not as cool as Steve sounds but the nothing I am playing sounds as good as his playing. The important thing is to learn from the video.
Later I will focus on the bend thing.
THAT, was sooo cool!!!
Damn that sounds good,
Hi Steve,
Great lesson, thanks.
I’m having problems de bend up 9 full and bend down to 8.
If someday you have the time maybe you can provide details.
I’m really puzzeled with this.
Regards from Spain.
Javier
I
tThanks i allways love good tips :
Thanks ! that was a really good lesson, great bend and vibrato trick !
Terrific Really enjoyed this one
and another video I cannot play. I have reported this a few times with no reponse from you about what may be the problem. I download and or play videos all the time and yours are the only ones that have a problem. Do I need a special player? From “comments” I see that others are playing them…..HELP!
Does any one else feel the way I do~??
I wish Griff had played this lesson~!
Thanks to Steve, great sound and a really good lesson.
JimJ
12/5/2012
looks tricky …but will have a go
what effects and guitar settings is Steve using?
Griff what kind of effects is steve using in this video. I have been looking for that sound
Gary
Awesome!! Highly appreciated, Thanks!!
GREAT ! Thanks a bunch guys. I’ve really come to like these videos. They are straight forward,far less confusing than others I’ve seen. Keep ’em coming !
Whoa, great lick. Thanks Steve, thanks Griff.
Nice really nice
Hi Griff,
This lesson was really good, not only for its content and easy presentation style but that it was played on a Tele. Why interesting? Because having just started I bought a Squire Tele and am thinking of a Les paul for Xmas for blues. Nice to know I can get that sound out of a Tele albeit different to a LP (in theory!!). I am definitely buying the course now.
Phil
Excellent thanks to you both. Something similar on your blue les Paul jam would be amazing!
great lesson im a bit slow but getting there thankyou
Thank you Griff nice lesson, how bout some Bo Diddley style rhythm lessons.
Nice as always Thanks
I Love the BLUES it doesn’t get any better. GREAT JOB STEVE!!! & GRIFF!!!
I love those licks blues is my thing. keep em comin`
this is all new for me only one word AWESOME
Your lesson from Steve on red house is dead In the water but I can get it on my IPad but I want to read the tab when as I watch the video meaning I want to print it.
Thanks
Ed mintun
I can see why you are such a good teacher. You had a good one in Steve.
Great lesson Steve,
Many Thanks,
Paul
Man, are my fingers sore this morning! Got it though, and feel good about it. Great lesson!
The way I found I could pull off that awesome-sounding phrase where you bend up on the 2nd string then down on the 3rd was:
Start with your ring finger on the 2nd string, ninth fret and your middle and index fingers on the 3rd string (eight and seventh frets, respectively). Then bend both strings at the same time – your middle finger will get the 3rd string up easily with the help of the index finger. The trick is to get your ring finger out of the way in time; if you don’t, it will mute or kill the sound of the 3rd string when you pluck it.
It should be noted that I’m doing this with a pick, as I don’t play fingerstyle anymore. It might be easier to pull off with the strumming hand muting methods that Steve describes in the video, but at least this is a way I found to get it sounding halfway decent with a pick. Of course you are still going to need to mute the 4th string with your palm as with any bend of the 3rd string.
If you find yourself lacking in hand strength, try sliding up into the key of D (box 1, of course) and trying it there first – that will allow you to get the feel down without having to struggle against the string tension so much.
thanks griff as usual fantastic i never realised their was so much to learn but im slowly geting there with a hell of a lot of great help from you thanks les
That was very cool
nice
I suppose it’s no accident that Steve & Griff presented this Hendrix lick on his birthday, 11/27. It’s a fitting tribute to a legend, and I plan to incorporate this lesson into my SWS studies TONIGHT! …just as soon as I put a new set of strings on…which will be in about 10 minutes!
Later Dudes!
Thanks Griff awesome as usual.
Thanks Griff
I really enjoyed this video. Steve is a very good teacher and he made that tele really sing.
Just got my package last night in the mail, and spent three hours today practicing a long with the DVD, I’m amazed at all the info on just the first one. Its going to be a great help in not only learning the blues guitar but the guitar itself.
Thanks guys, especially Griff for making it so easy to understand.
Another great lesson,really inspiring!
Sweet, sweet, can’t say enough about that!!
Very nice…..thanks for this one!!
Sweet! Fits my right hand finger style nicely. Going to use this for sure!
Really great lesson! I’m still trying to untangle my fingers from the strings after trying that bend on the 2nd string then coming down on the 3rd, but I’m sure there’s no permanant damage! Brilliant, keep them coming please, I’ll have that bend nailed down by the next one.
Thanks for another great lesson. This was so well presented and easy to understand, and I love the split screen. Your efforts make anyone feel like they really are great players by giving away these tidbits to us. Thanks again for your talent and generosity. You make adifference in alot of peoples lives. Jeff
My kind of blues lick, gives me motivation to pick up my guitar….thanks Griff
right up my alley! i NEVER use a pick! are there any courses like the one steve demonstrates here available! thanx, harry
really enjoyed the video.. Thanks looking forward for more.
dale
This is fantastic! This guy really explained it to a T! Every last detail!
These lessons are great,I’m just a beginner but I’m getting the hang of them
Thank you for the excellent lesson and the Hendrix licks are just the thing on his would be 70th birthday.
These lessons are excellent – they have given me some insight into getting a real feel for the blues. I would buy a set of these!!!!
absolutely first class. man them double bendy licks made me feel like jimi. (when alive)
rock on steve n griff u sure cheer me up!!!!!!!!!!!!
My style of blues, superb Steve, thanks a lot.
Fantastic! One the best online video guitar lessons i have ever seen……..Thanks Steve
Great lesson and well explained.
Hey Griff!! How about something similar from yourself, but a lot lazier and laid back.
This song is in the key of Bb. He is using the minor format of boxes1 stating on the Bb and adding parts of box two. I got it!
I like this one, slow with vibrato.
Another great lesson guys. Thanks!
What are the amplification settings? Did you run that through one Griff’s 66 Tube Screamers?!
I first heard Redhouse in about 1971, just after I started playing. I thought it was stunning and hoped one day I might be able to do it. This helps. Thanks.
Well done, good light and like the double screen
Dirty, dirty, dirty. But good dirty!
Well it dosent get much cooler than that! This video clears up a metric ton of questions that I had . Thanks Steve and Griff for putting this out . Truly PRICELESS !
….THAT”S what I’m Talkin’ Bout..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Griff. Excellent stuff and a great way to start the morning.
Now that’s pretty cool stuff, Steve. Actually, it’s pretty hot stuff in my world. Griff is right. It hits where you oughta be hit. While Griff’s blazing speed is nice, at 66 yoa I’m learning to play a little blues. I’ve always liked the slow bluesy stuff. Then I discovered the slow blues. Great stuff. Great way to learn. So more of this type will be goooood. Thanks Steve and Griff.
Super!! Thanks
fantastic lesson,love the blues
Great lesson, love the blues, love to fingerpick, and love the Tele, so its all good in this lesson…thanks for the detail was invaluable…..
Hey Griff. This is an awesome lesson. Thank you
Excellent.
Great sound, top tutor, easy to follow and play straightaway.Thanks Griff.
Great instruction. I picked up on it when I put the pick down. Cool………..
Griff, thank you for your excellent encouragement, i wish i had enoughspare dough to invest in your course! however the stufff you give us is so fantastic i know i am getting there! please keep it up your generosity is really appreciated.
good stuff! thanks