Today’s video is a little bit different, and you’ll probably have to just watch it through once first, and then try it for yourself.

It came from (as many things do) a question that came up on one of the monthly All Access Pass live sessions (we do a few of them each month.) 

It has to do with playing with the band, and not on top of the band when you solo. In this case it’s a jam track, but it works the same.

Anyway, it’s hard to explain, but super cool if you can do it…


    51 replies to "Soloing With The Band Using Call And Response"

    • kim

      I would buy a course that focuses on nothing but call and response without hesitation.

      • Art

        Agreed. Hopefully Griff will put one together for us

    • Chris

      One of the best lessons in a while. Thanks.

    • MARC VENET

      Fantastic video Griff. Focus on dynamics and building/releasing energy in time with band is super valuable.

      Marc

    • Richard+Croce

      Wonderful lesson Griff, more of this please

    • Alan H

      Good stuff Griff. A suggestion would be to include maybe 12 bars of the backing track you’re using. For me it would eliminate having to find the same thing and then it wouldn’t sound right.

    • Sean

      Griff this is great stuff and really spoke to what I struggle with with phrasing. Thank you so much for your suggestions tips and tricks on how to add some variety to your soloing. Very helpful!

    • Jean

      A very nice video that I really enjoyed. Thank you

    • alanreynolds4@gmail.com

      Ah111 This is just what I need – Scales are getting boring,and I don’t know how to move from the 1 to the 4 and 5 whole soloing – This give a good feel of how to do that .

      Thanks Griff

    • kim

      I live call & response – this lesson is the most useful I’ve heard on the topic.

    • tony szydlo

      Cool many tech. ideas

    • Charles Chinden

      Thank you so much you are good person,that is very useful I really appreciate.

    • Michael Chappell

      Hey Griff, Great refresher, saved it again for a go at it again now that i’m advanced more.

      Cool Lesson

      Stay Safe,

      Michael-Sydney- Australia 22 June 2020

    • Ken M

      I liked the way you used the double stops to Build energy into it . And these are things most of us warm up with ,how useful .
      Tks Griff . Seems like you give what I need to
      Pick my strat and bang away 👍

    • Dave McKenna

      Some of yor best stuff ever. Thanks Griff

    • Jack Donoghue

      Hi, Griff.
      Do you have that backing track? I really liked your ideas with this.

    • Ron L

      Wow, great lesson. This shows you don’t have to play fancy difficult licks to make a great impact. Just play the right stuff and think ahead about the over-all form. When to build it up and when to bring it down. Converse with the band. Great.

    • Chris CLEMANS

      Griff this lesson is awesome! It can send ones soloing to a whole new level and playing with a band. This is why you are the best in my book!

    • Interstate slim

      Thanks Griff, I’m not sure why, but this really clicked with me. I have a lot of your courses, including the solo ones. The story part of the solos just didn’t seem to sink in until this video. Maybe it’s because I’m further along or maybe it’s cause it sums it up in a shorter lesson( focus problem). Anyways thanks and enjoy your day.

    • James

      It’s a great lesson Griff. Thanks James.

    • James

      It’s a great lesson Griff.

    • Bill45

      Wow! This draws so much from so many of your courses (and freebie videos) and brings it all together in a 16 minute video! Brilliant!! I echo some of the other sentiments expressed above that this would make a great course. Suggested title:

      “How to take everything you’ve learned about the blues and use it effectively” or

      “How to play with the band, not on top of it”.

      I especially love how you demonstrate the sound of the blues is not necessarily in the speed (although speed can be nice too), it’s the feel!

      At the risk of repeating myself. “Brilliant!!”

      • Bradford Barkley

        Is there a way to get this backing track? Thanks

    • Scott R

      Awesome intro solo! And the rest of the lesson was just as good. That could serve as another solos in the “5 Easy” lineup. I’d love a transcription of that….

      • Andrew W.

        I’ll second that comment. This was one of Griff’s “Bluesiest” pieces ever. I’d buy the transcription, especially the wrap up starting at about 12:12.

        I’m guessing Griff doesn’t provide tabs because as a teacher he wants everyone to get the process first. But that means slowing down the video, writing some notes down, starting the video again, etc, etc.

        Having said that it sure would be nice to dig into the piece straight away.

        So, Griff, please make this available as a single item for purchase or part of a new course.

    • Gary

      Hey Griff, Loved this video.
      Is there any chance you can put it out in a downloadable version. I don’t have internet at home, and go out to a coffee shop a couple of times a week to check out your stuff. This one would be great to have at home so I can check it out with guitar in hand.

    • Tom Bueche

      This hits me right where I want to be, Griff. I want to affect people listening, and this is the kind of stuff that does it, even if I’m not as fast as Bonamassa (by a very long shot). My band is on hiatus until after Christmas, but this has got me wanting to call them up!

      • BISHOP

        Thanks for all you have done. The lesson is great. Happy Thanksgiving.

    • Bill

      Thanks for all you have done. The lesson is great. Happy Thanksgiving.

    • arock

      Great lesson with some really good ideas I can use now. Thanks!

    • Erv

      Nice lesson Griff, thanks and happy Thanksgiving

    • Kevin

      One of the best lessons. I like the sophistication of it.

    • Michael Dietrich

      Love you man, thanks

    • Layne Oliver

      Thanks for everything Griff,
      Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

    • Rudy Rico

      Hey Griff, Thank you for that. You’re a good teacher. I’ll keep saying it.
      Rudy

    • Alexander

      Thanks griff, this video gave me a lot of food for thought in soloing. Can’t wait to practice this. I intend to watch this video again and go and practice this call and Response method.

      Thanks again

      Alexander

    • Jeff

      I have been watching your videos for years. This is one of the very best lessons yet. Real soloing strategy.

    • DaveyJoe

      Excellent ways to expand our abilities Griff. Thanks!
      11/22/18

    • cowboy

      tons of fun…thanks Griff…later.

      cowboy

    • Todd

      Loved it! Helped explain/show some what of what the answer part is, but I still can’t wrap my head around the who/what constitutes the call…. helped a lot with when to make use of box two and how to make good use of double stops. Thanks!

    • John A

      Great lesson Griff

      thanks for sharing and Happy Thanksgiving to you, the family and everyone in BGU club

    • Davy

      Thoroughly enjoyed this video Griff.Thanks

    • Don Hall

      And always do the face when you do the big bend. Griff, I love your stuff. Having an experienced pro mentor explain these practical ideas is invaluable. You could play tab transcriptions all day for years and never really get it.

    • PaulP

      I loved the bit from 11:05 to 11:45. The rhythm self accompaniment is so cool.

    • Kent

      Would love to know what you’re plugged into and your set up on that. I have both tele and strats and want to experiment with some pedals. Great video Griff.

    • Bryan

      Hi Griff, really enjoyed this. Any chance of writing the tab for the riffs/responses please ?

    • Alex

      This solo would make a good lesson that we could purchase, looks very doable.

      I enjoyed it.

      Cheers

      Alex

    • Jay

      Great video, wow, I can feel the intensity of your solo,love the double stops, that’s my kind of playing! Thank you Griff!

    • Frank Maynes

      That was really infomaTIVE..I got BGU in 2008 went thru it but really didn’t spend enough time on your lessons. My fault,,,
      Also kinda got side tracked with jamming and learning songs from some of my favourite bands ,,,more of a side track. Really. You put out an email just the other day that confirmed what I was already kinda thinking about ,,GOING BACK TO CLASS, I DID ,, IN getting it now EVERYTHING is sinking in also using the jam track at the end of each lesson AND COUNTING,, I’m going to do each lesson and try to really absorb it Thanks for being a great teacher and have a great. THANKSGIVING

    • larry

      Thank you. Great “show and tell” with the dramatic bends, I’ll need to set one of the guitars up with 9’s

      Inspiring

    • Terry b

      Thanks griff for another valuable lesson. Happy thanksgiving to you and your family.

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