It’s odd how things come in to your life at times when you aren’t ready…

Now, I’m not some zen master with some mystery of the universe unsolved, not by any means.

But when I learned what I’m going to share with you today, I was actually at a weekend-long guitar clinic back in the early 1990s. It was put on by some guy from MI (musicians institute in Los Angeles) and I’m sorry to say I don’t even remember his name.

At that time in my life I wasn’t playing blues very much. Like a lot of people from the late 70’s and 80’s, I was playing as fast and loud as possible. It was the “shredder” era and I was spending 2 hours with a metronome and my scale books every day. I was so engrossed in that culture that I completely ignored the instructor’s advice on jazz and blues soloing.

Fast forward about 3 years and I was teaching 5 days a week steadily. Things were going okay when one of my friends offered me his gig in a local blues and classic rock cover band. I really hadn’t considered the idea of playing in a “bar band” but it seemed like a good way to play more and make some money so I had him set up and audition for me.

The audition went “ok.” It was between me and one other guy, and they chose me. Not because I was really better, mostly because I didn’t have much else going on at the time. They gave me a list of 50 songs to learn for the gig in 2 weeks… that was it.

Learning the tunes turned out to be the easy part. The hard part was the soloing… I stunk – badly. I always figured if I could play a blues scale I could play blues, right? WRONG AGAIN!

That’s when I remember the clinic a few years earlier, and believe it or not I was able to find my notes from that weekend. I went over them again searching for that little secret I couldn’t remember.

Finally I found it – I looked it over and worked out a couple of licks using it. Then I started playing over the tunes again… but it was all different this time.

Instead of sounding cold and stale, my licks made sense. And not only that, I found myself playing the same thing as the original artists without even trying to copy them! It was awesome. I had figured out how they were thinking, and since I was thinking the same way, I was playing the same sounds automatically.

The rest, as they say, is history. I’ve toured the world and made several recordings over the past 18 years or so. I’ve had a great career so far, and it’s just getting started. Obviously I’ve tried to continue to learn and grow as a musician, but what I’ll share with you today will take you very far indeed.

So, why go through this whole story? Simple, so you’ll pay attention. My hope is that by reading of my mistake, and how powerful this little trick is, you won’t ignore it, thinking it is too simple to be effective.

Now if you really are not at the point where you are doing a lot of solos yet, don’t worry. This idea applies to rhythm as well. A lot of times the only difference between rhythm and lead guitar is where you stand 🙂

If you don’t yet know the 5 boxes of the blues scale, you can download them in a .pdf format here. These are available all over the internet, and a quick Google search will yield hundreds of them, if not more.

Of course, if learning the patterns was all you needed, there would be no such thing as rock stars now would there? You have to learn what to do with them, and that’s what this is all about.

You’ll need to be familiar with the first 2 box patterns for this to completely make sense. Once you are, enjoy…

Now if you remember back to the 4 Note Solo lesson, I utilized this whole major/minor thing all over the place with only a few notes. Imagine what can be done with all these additional notes at your fingertips!

In the Blues Guitar Unleashed course there are actually 3 complete solos that utilize this concept and demonstrate how it can be used. I can’t possibly begin to put all that here. But If you already have a lot of licks down and can solo pretty well, you’ll be well on your way with the video here.

Or if you feel like that may be a little over your head, start with Beginning Blues Guitar to get started, and you’ll be ready for Blues Guitar Unleashed before you know it.


    229 replies to "The Secret Of Blues.."

    • clem

      wow, just learned something new . Griff taught me.

      thanks Griff!

    • Rob B

      Does this only apply to dominate chords? If your playing a minor blues, you can not use the major scale over the I chord. Correct?

      • Griff Hamlin

        That is correct, over minor chords, minor pentatonic/blues only

    • Thomas Guitarman

      great job and explained simply

    • Ian Robins

      This is great, Griff, Thanks. One thing thing though, I have found a little major lick that seems to be to be a major lick on the four. Listen to Peter Green playing “Need Your Love So Bad” Is he not playing a major lick on the four in the intro solo? Correct me if I’m wrong.
      whatever he is doing, I’ve stolen it and include it in my bag of tricks, er, licks. 🙂

    • Jerry Palladino

      Can you play the major blues sound on the 4 and 5 if you play over the 4 and 5 chord?

    • tony

      Wow I guess I had missed this one . Maybe not . So judging by the # of replies this is a sure fired great way to approach the first 2 boxes. I seriously thank You for this lesson I am just starting to get this into My playing .Can You imagine jamming with 3 other guitars at the same time as I do and try hard to stick out from the rest and really dig into it. One guy is really good and in his own band he plays the bass ,but, his guitar is great . when He solos man he really is good. One other guy can rip into a solo now and then when he catches the right time . I guess that I could do what You do . Like I said I really dig this lesson THANKS A LOT Griff . OH its okay to play fast guitarist are still doing it . Just some just haven`t got it yet.

    • Gene Cordoni

      Hey Griff, thanks again for this awesome video and your graceful style of teaching.. very cool and thank you for your bits of free information.. your the best.

    • Mark Arnold

      This lesson is what it’s all about the five boxes and when and where to use them thanks Griff for all you do !

    • Frankie

      Great lesson Griff, Thank you !!!

    • geoffrey munn

      Thanks for your help, I have played bass for a number of years and decided if I learn more about blues guitaring it might help with my bass , I am in two minds on what I really want to play, but my first love is my bass but my guitar playing has got so much better and wanted to thank you mate . Your ace in my deck of cards

    • Ken Lovan

      Griff,

      I am well into your BGU course and have just mastered the Second Blues Solo. I understood that Box-1 was, and is the Minor Scale, but even though I could play Box-2, for some reason I could not grasp that Box-2 was the “Major Scale” until I saw you Play AND Explain it in this Video. Eureka! NOW I understand it. Thank you for E-mailing it. I love this course by the way. After wandering into other Blues teaching courses on the Web, I am always reassured that your BGU Course is by far the best!

    • Leonard Madera

      great lession thanks.

    • iansewell04@aol.com

      Brilliant!

    • JimTsail@aol.com

      I’ve been playing Blues for 42 years.
      Some of this video is right on.
      However, there are some options for soloing that you didn’t touch on.
      It’s a good start though.

    • jays99@gmail.com

      Simple to do but complex sounding to the ear. Thanks for the easy to follow lessons Griff. Apparently this is one time not to think outside the box(es). Learning the boxes (actually, just 1 & 2) has been transformational for me. Suddenly everything fell into place. Helped me with old rock songs, too! A foundational concept. No one teaches blues like Griff!

    • Friend -

      Great stuff as always. Simple and very understandable. Thanks

    • JOHN SPENCER

      Massively useful Griff…… thanks.

    • r.bouricha@helioflex.com.tn

      Absolutely clear. Thank you Griff

    • berrypatchkcm@yahoo.com

      Hey Griff, Just got started on your BGU course. taking your advice going slow and making sure I learn each lesson well before moveing on. I have been playing around with the guitar for Yrs. I had no idea that I knew so little. Thanks for this course. I always look forward for any new post. you are a great instructor. Please keep up the lessons……..

      dale

    • breddick59@yahoo.com

      I like that

    • David Lackey

      As a maintenance technician for the dept. of defense,I also have been influenced by your training method.
      So much so ,when I was requested to instruct military personnel on new equipment and procedures your methods of going over things step by step were used and repeated frequently.
      Thx!

    • gonro2@aol.com

      I’m an Auto Collision teacher and Griff, your style of teaching is so much like mine, using visuals, keeping it real emphasizing practice and setting achievable goals so that one doesn’t lose interest. Keep it going …awesome lessons.

    • Friend -

      Hi Griff,
      A big thank you for that, I can explore that side of blues playing. I have always played finger-style with a rocking thumb and fingers playing a limited solo line; now for something new.
      John

    • stovewoodtd@yahoo.com

      thank you very much for sending me all the information so far. and may God bless you. I have played bluegrass all my life and sang but due to my cancer and treatments I am now trying to learn some new things such as the blues I seem to have a lot those lately. no more tenor singing my father played and started me some 57 year’s ago he played blues and jazz all his life so I just wanted to be some different than him but now I wish I had watched him more as he was well versed in his style of playing, he knew a lot of cords and blues licks. thank you again for your help the stovewood in the bad lands of Lincoln co. New Mexico and again God bless you

    • llewellyn

      Hi Griff,
      Thank you very much for this excellent lesson . I really love to learn and play it,but as you said this needs attention and practice,could you please send me the notes for the Major and Minor Scales so I could write it down and practice it at home.cause I get chance to check my mail once a week,so if you could please spare a little time and post these Notes I will be greatful .eagerly waiting,

      Thank you,
      Llewellyn.

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      have been utilizing? I’m experiencing some minor security problems with my latest blog
      and I’d like to find something more secure. Do you have any recommendations?

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    • George

      I THOURGHLY appreciate all of your presentations. I am an older person who did a solo lounge act
      Voice and guitar and electronic rhythym 6 nights a week for 31 years.
      Never having been a good player I still practice at least an hour a day and your lessons are wonderful.THANK YOU.

    • Friend -

      Thanks so much Griff! I hope that someday I can pay you back for all that you have given!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • maymay

      Thanks. You make so easy to understand. I am moveing slow but steady. I enjoy learning when is so easy to understand. Thanks for doing this for us. I have not workd for 2yrs. I can not afford to pay lessons. This will be my next job, siging and playing for myself.

    • opals100@yahoo.com

      Thank you Griff – you have made a 61 year old woman very happy – After playing in bands in my earlier days and not understanding some of the chord and note relationships – you have stitched it all together for me. I know its taken me a while, but finally I am getting it all.
      Would love to meet you and see you playing, but I am in Australia and its a bit far to come. Maybe some day soon???
      Cheers Janet

    • daniel rossi

      Griff interesting article here, I could play rock songs and jammed for years with my garage band , not really that good but have picked up things over the years , thinking 7 or eight years ago my buddy took me to a bar in Downey and I met Robert Lucas , who was front man for Canned Heat , also Junior Watson , Rick Holstrum , Johny Mastro and Dave Melton of Mammas boys . these guys blew me away . I wanted to play Blues and nothing but the blues after that but struggled with it . some months ago I discovered u on internet . I have always known the blues scale from my lead guitar player in 1982. Today some of your stuff has been incorporated and can play much better thank you , Saw your name in Southland Blues magazine is it Rick Hamblin or Rick Hamlin I want to get out and see u live . I live in Long Beach Ca. is this you. Dan Rossi ,

    • jq

      I need the tabs, but thanks

      • Richella Holbrook

        just do a search for ‘G’ major blues scales box patterns and same for ‘G’ minor blues scales box patterns! and, there’s your tab…

    • Frankie

      Great lesson Griff but along with other students of the guitar I’d really appreciate Tab that would go along with the G progressions … Thank you

    • Paul Warner

      I noticed over the time I have been watching your videos and following the lessons that you teach that you don’t respond to people who make comments regarding what they just saw, or where they are, or have progressed to in learning what you teach, and I was curious as to why??? Of course I know you have a busy schedule but I am impressed by the amount of comments that you do get.
      As for this lesson, it was excellent and I actually watched the video four times and I will watch it again as I like working with scales and practice them continually, but also I like to see solos played over and over again as it gives me a feel as to how fluid they can and should be.
      I am thinking seriously of building a blog and website in the guitar niche and I would actually like to promote your courses on my blog and website, Would that be a possiblitly??? Paul

    • jq

      Makes since to me. I’ll give this a go. Many thanks!!

    • Eric Lehtonen

      Hi Griff,

      Thanks for your great videos. I find them really helpful. Just one question about this lesson. I have another blues resource that talks about this same soloing rule, but they state that over the 5 chord you can play either major or minor pentatonic.

      Is this wrong?

      Many thanks

      Eric

    • Joey

      Thanks for all the great info Griff.
      Is there a tab somewhere for the G major scale you are using in this video?
      The minor is all ive ever used so I have that down & I can only follow you
      so far in the video. ive looked around on the net but they all seem to be
      diffrent, , Thanks again : Joey

    • Bruce A Mitchell

      I don’t see and tab for the lesson. Are they (Tab) available?

    • ruth blizzard

      This sounds great. Can’t wait to learn it. Thanks.

    • Steve

      Griff, wish i could just click my fingers and do it as easy as you can, do you have a magic wand?

    • les

      thanks again griff itll take me years to get my head around all of this but thanks to your lessons and time which you so happyle devote to all of us hopefulls i can always go back and catch up with the videos to refrech thanks again lea

    • Jim H

      I love that story! A life lesson and a guitar lesson!

    • erdogan

      thanks for the lesson Griff,you are the best.

    • maggie clark

      Griff, you are the best!!! I just forwarded this to a friend who is “stuck.” I love your stories and your style of teaching. It is SO sincere! It is obvious that you are genuinely trying to impart knowledge—not just show off!

    • paul edwards

      thanks for the lesson griff. as always you have a way of putting things over. keep up the good work.paul

    • Mike

      Wow! My fingers are to big to play that fast. Thanks for the lesson. I always enjoy.

    • Carl Ney

      I find your lessons fascinating. The problem is that I have rheumatoid arthritis and have been trying to adapt your lessons to a steel lap guitar. I have my guitar tuned to an open D, sometimes I have had success, but, mostly failed. Do you have any tips?
      Thank you,
      Carl Ney

    • Matt Gammon

      Awesome Lesson Griff. I really got a lot out of it. I was wondering, what kind of amp is that behind you? Is it a Fender or a Peavey Classic 30 with the Peavey emblem taken off? I was just curious b/c I own a Classic 30

      Thanks

    • Rey

      Great lessons, Griff,
      The box patterns for Major Pentatonic and Minor Pentatonic including the Blues Scale box pattern can easily be downloaded on the Internet.

      I do know the box patterns which is the blue print of playing the blues but just part of it.
      The other part is the Phrasing….blues phrasing. Meaning without some rhythm …. tension and release something you want to communicate the box patterns are limited and can bet boring.
      It’s part of the learning but a lot ear playing guitarist don’t know them or if they do only know one or two box patterns not the five patterns or playing them in a linear vertical on the fingerboard way.

    • Mike Walsh

      Great tip. Thanks..

    • Tone

      I really appreciate your teaching and your method. I can’t thank you enough. I sit in with a friend who has a band here in MI sometimes, and he’s like WOW, What happened to you haha. Thanks again

      Tone

    • Bob Malin

      Dear Griff; OK,On the 3rd of August,I’m getting the BGU Course!!! I have learned MORE from your “Mini-Lessons” Via Email,than a FULL COURSE Taught by a Self Proclaimed “Master Guitarist” I’m a Disabled Gulf War Vet living at the Lyons Veterans Campus in Lyons,NJ,and, We don’t have access to a printer,so each lesson of yours I would Transcribe By Hand,go to my room after watching your Video,(BTW,You’re method with the “Fret Hand in the Box” Was a HUGE Help!!) and Practice,from the 4 note box to the Secret of the blues!! My Playing has improved MORE by your lessons,than trying to learn on my own and WASTING Money on the “Other Course”. THANKS GRIFF!! I Can’t Wait To see how far I go NOW With your DVD Lessons!!
      THANKS MUCH!!! Bob Malin Lyons.NJ

    • ENGY

      BIN LEARNING FROM YA FOR A WHILE NOW THANKS ALOT KEEP UP THE EXCELLANT WORK DUDE

    • arnold tate

      Helpfull….playing blues not easy as looks…. Thanks…

    • bob

      cool, but i don’t know the minor blues scale, just the major. bob

    • dan dupler

      go slower and review “the box” again please finger by finger slow thanks griff you make an old man happy been a hack for 30 yrs

    • Brian Palmer

      Thank you it all helps with my practice sessions the more you go over things the luckier I get (one of Griffs quotes to us learners) and it is true it works!

    • mark pidgen

      I’ve been playing for 45 years and still don’t understand 3, 5, 9th etc.. I’ve tried really hard but have no aptitude for it apparently,and I can really ‘carve’ too. My mind CANNOT connect math and music. Any explanation for this that you’ve found. Thanx. I like the lessons anyway.

    • maarty

      Excellent always appreciate tips to make my playing coming more together -Griff,i love a lot of these ideas to ponder over,cheers and thanks.

    • Alvin

      I kinda got confused watching this video, because when you mentioned major blues scale I expected to see you play do re mi….. but I didn’t see that going on. How do you diffirentiate major vs blues scale? And how does do re mi alters in the minor blues scale as well?

    • Jan P.

      Thanks. As usual very good.
      I will work on it.

      Jan P.

    • Sal Minardi

      Slowly making sense to me.

    • Greg

      Good lesson little by little i’am catching on thank’s Griff

    • Robert (Bob)

      Hi Grif thanks ,
      for being a great guy and putting together a teaching program for a multitude out here in cyber space what a terific service you are doing . You mentioned Musicians Institute Did you mean Guiitar Institute in Hollywood. If you did that was put together by dear friends of mine
      Pat Hicks , Howard Roberts (n since has passed on ) you might have had Ron Benson who created the Benson Amplifiers. Have a good week .
      Robert ( Bob ) Mariotti

    • Stratocaster68

      Hey mshortin@comcast.net,

      When the 6th on the A and the the 8th on the G is added to the A minor Pentatonic, it becomes the A Minor Blues Scale, the flatted 3rd and 5th (I think are the notes added). Hope this helps, if confused google the A minor Blues scale!

      Thanks Griff, I’m getting a lot of good info and instruction from your lessons! I purchased your Playing thru the Blues course a year or two ago and am finally getting the time to work thru it. Thanks so much! and keep the lessons coming!

    • mshortin@comcast.net

      Hi I am a beginner and I have been watching Griff’s excellent videos for a while now, more to show me where I’ll be going than help me with where I am (which is at the very beginning of the journey to playing the blues). I have a question that I hope someone can help me with: why is it that when I Google “a minor guitar scale” some sites have different notes than others? For example Griff’s link above has the 6th fret on the A string, but many only have the 5th and 7th, some show 5th, 7th, and 8th fret on the E string but Griff only shows the 5th and 8th, etc. Can someone tell me the difference and which I should practice? (Probably Griff’s I guess). Thanks!

    • Scott

      Disagree with you on using the minor only on the V. You can use either major or minor on the V. IV is restricted to only the minor. When I discovered this rule it opened up a whole new world of soloing for me.

    • Jemi Lee Van Zandt

      I enjoy your method of teachi9ng and appreciate how you demonstrate each part of your lesson. Thanks.

    • Arturo garcia

      Thanks You are amazing guitar player and i Love the blues

    • ROBERT CAMPBELL

      I LIKE VERY COOL, NEW BEE ROBERT CENTAR FLA.

    • Ian Bath UK

      Griff
      Your lessons are brilliant, down to Earth and inspirational. They really, really help.
      Thank you very much
      Ian

    • licksnkicks

      OMG I got the a ha moment! Griff thank you so much. More food for thought!

      You are the Blues Master!

    • robert

      hello,

      enjoyed the video.

      i found that alot of real creativity can be found by voicing one note through bending / expression then using that to connect a couple of steady notes there after or even before.

      blues resolves really easily so the affair of expression comes more naturally.

    • Chuck Beavers

      Secret society, secret minority, priority one can you dig the blues, she’s got the mood from my head to my shoe’s. Thanks Griff this really fits perfectly into my Jigsaw and completes the puzzle. Love the ”Don’t Lie” version on da tube. Thanks for sharing your life and your special gift.

    • Brown

      thank you.

    • Ralph Essex

      When are you gonna tell us about dealing with dodgy groupies?
      Thanks for the great lessons.

    • ken

      It took me a long time to figure this out…and unless someone finds it themselves it is hard to explain it to them. I know a lot of technically great guitarists, but somehow I just don’t “feel them”, I am now trying to adjust to my own speed and sound……….just about there and your lessons have helped tremendously..I know this is going to sound strange, as “It is the Player not the instrument” but I bought a new PRS and I play 10x better on it………..go figure…my fingers find all the right places…………….Thanks

    • MACK

      YOU LOST ME 100% WITH THIS ONE….NOT READY
      FOR THIS YET I GUESS

    • Ken

      Griff,Cant thank you enough,I bought books etc on playing blues etc and their just collecting dust on the shelve.
      Your lessons are simply great.You pitch it just right the way explain and show us how to play.

      Griff thanks for all you have taught me up till know you are great.THANK YOU

    • Jay

      Once again, Griff, you’ve shared something special and also something critical to my journey. I never realized that these blues heroes of mine had so much substance to their playing. They all seemed to make it look so easy. As much as technique, what you’re teaching me is that there is a whole foundation of knowledge that is essential to the process. Thanks for what you do.

    • ingeblieb

      hi griff…i’ve found the answer to my question….of course the Bb you use in a blues major scale no tin a penta major scale….thanks…!!!!

    • ingeblieb

      hi griff….
      i’ve got a question…in the video when you are playing the G major penta….were you playing G A Bb??? i thought that is the beginning of a minor scale and not a major scale..? so i’d love some clarification for this….isn’t the major penta scale the 2nd box scale so G A B D E?
      thanks for your answer…thanks for your lessons and i think it is sooooo great that you make them downloadable…great!!! thanks

    • Roy

      ALL I CAN SAY IS GOOD GOOD GOOD AS ALWAYS GRIFF YOU THE MAN———-

    • Stephen

      Hi Griff Thank you for all your support on this journey.

    • tony

      this is what i have been waiting for to add to all the knowledge . thanks for all the imput Griff and ill be around a bit longer .

    • Simon Koumparos

      Many thanks again Griff. As usual you are so right in highlighting how important this simple rule is. You sent me this lesson ages ago, I watched it and then promptly forgot it.
      I wasted months figuring it out before I returned to this lesson again. So please do keep repeating the basic lessons, ageing blues players like myself need to be reminded!
      As ever, my humble thanks for such great lessons

    • lance

      No example in the e mail. Too bad – would have enjoyed hearing it.

    • Colin

      Hi Griff,

      OK I’m confused.

      The box 2 scale you mention as the major scale is shown in the attachment “A minor blues” in the key of A, however box 2 in the attachment starts at fret 8 i.e.C.

      Am I right in transposing this Box 2 pattern into G, to fit in with your lesson, by simply deducting 5 frets from the pattern shown in Box 2 to bring it into G and thus the pattern you play on the video?

      Thanks

      Colin

    • Rob

      Hey Griff I was wondering if anyone else is having the same problem I’m having viewing the video clips.They are freezing up and I miss the lesson.Thanks Rob

    • Daniel Carrick

      Hey Griff, Thank you for this lesson! It really opened up an entirely different set of runs. I was already getting into another rut, but this helped me to move on beautifully. One big question, however, and that is what do I do with my pinky finger? I try to implement it with all of the runs and riffs you are showing me, but it seems to have a mind of its own. Sometimes I even catch myself laughing at my finger, watching it dance everywhere but where it should be. Any suggestions?

    • Quinn

      Thanks man, another great lesson. what i want to know is where do you learn this stuff did you go to blues guitar school or did you sell your soul to the devil at the crossroads ? 🙂 … where are the afore mentioned crossroads ? i might want to go there myself and make my own deal cos i aint gettin any better at playin 🙂

    • Devishankar

      Excellent Griff & thanks! Your style of guidance will be of immense help to budding guitarists.

    • Bobby

      Hi Griff, That was great but I did not see where you could watch how you would use that with a jam track.

    • chris

      Thank you so much! This clears up a lot for me !
      Great information and an excellent video.

    • Richard Tracy

      Griff:
      I really appreciate all your tips to help the young musicians out there but what are box 1, box 2 and so forth? Also when you improvise using a mimor blues scale should you use the natural, melodic or hormonic scale?

    • Christian

      Hi

      I found it very interesting. I have an important mater, First of all, I’m frenchspeaker aned my english en pretty poor. so I could have problems of communications.
      Now I do not knoe all the notes ion my guitar, Do you sggest me to by a book, wish one?

      I ‘m very interested to go on by learning.

      Thanks

    • Serg

      I want to second Mike ,
      Major blues scale.

      Cheers

    • mike

      what about pdf for major blues… would like to get boxes for these, thanks

    • mike rathgeber

      Great lesson but you mentioned at the end of the vid that there is a follow-up. Where might I find this?

    • Terry E Sheldon

      Thank you Griff you explain It so clearly.

    • sam flores

      That was so helpful thank you much.

    • Temple Weste

      Great lesson! Big help in pulling it all together.

    • Duje

      This is very yousful for me ,Ty!

    • David Jary

      Thats the way you do it ah haa

    • Willy H

      You really got it goin. Make it all look so easy. Good instructions. Thanx. Willy H

    • Griff

      If you were looking for the boxes, there is a link to them in the post above but here it is again:
      http://bluesguitarunleashed.com/pdf/a-blues-boxes.pdf

    • George

      great lessons .it is really simple while watching.why don’t books have this?

    • Chad Hendricks (Ty)

      It’s me Ty the reason I have been playing lap steel and dobro is because I lost three of my fingers on my left hand and they put them back on and now I am to the point where playing a guitar is now able to do
      Thanks brother

    • Chad Hendricks (Ty)

      Thanks for the gift of blues my friend I just lost my wife to cancer and you have brought me out of a mental hell with the way that you teach I am 55 years old and have played my harmonica with some of the greats marshal tucker and eric clapton ginger baker while I worked at winterland in San Fracisco I have been playing lap steel and dobro for about 3 years and iam digging the way you teach .
      Thanks for the direction Griff

    • dave

      Griff,
      Pass this one on to ‘paul’.
      I’ve had one of those ‘strokes’ of luck myself, and am just thinking of starting to learn guitar. I’ve wondered about the memory issues, but who knows, maybe even a busted ole Army Medic can ‘cure hisself’ with music? Dave

    • paul

      Griff,
      Been playing for years, but after a couple of life changing “strokes” of bad luck, I had to retrain my co-ordination brainto fingers. So I had to totally relearn the Guitar, but memory lapses became a confidrence barrier and at times I would refuse to play at all.
      I bought my daughter her first kit and it had a learners DVD in it. I tried to get my head around the darn thing but it was impossible. But as it turned out your introductory email, which I nearly deleted as I thought it was just another lot of hype, but am very pleased to say that instead I opened it, and your style of educating the unlearnt is so relaxing and I now have a rebirth of wanting to play properly again. Keep it going. Paul

    • Robert Chavira

      Great! The lessons are nice to read and play them.
      You make the lesson easy and you sound great doing them

    • Sonny Black

      Good stuff Griff, It helps me out, Thanks Sonny

    • Dr GAJ

      Griff; I’m way confused. “Box 2” scale, you say is a “MAJOR” scale. Yet, it is listed (along with Boxes 1-5) as a “MINOR” scale on your diagram. Also, other examples of A Major on-line do not look (or sound) like Box A. Please explain. Thanks. Dr GAJ

    • Tab

      Sweet… For the longest time I would solo over the chord of the moment… would this concept aply there as well or only if soloing over the root of the key?

    • DANO

      Could you email the tab for these Box positions PLEASE . I’m out off worck for mow ,but as soon as i’ll get back on track , i will by some blues lessons from you . Merci et Salut from MONTRÉAL Canada DANO…

    • harold hill

      Love this. I can never remember the maj. Blues scale so I usually play the reg. maj scale on the one and min. blues on the 4 & 5. I’m getting a lot out of these lessons…thank you.

    • Josh

      where is the tab for these Box positions??? please!! email me them Josh.M.Beyer@gmail.com

    • Josh

      Hey, I tried emailing you but someone named Cassandra? emailed me back trying to sell me something. I just can’t seem to find the Minor and Major Box 1 and Box 2 position you sent me. Where can i find the tab for those or the videos?

    • donald r morvant

      Tks for this lesson..really great demo and guidance…enjoying moving fwd w/ playing solo blues after playing same (3) licks for the pss 25 yrs… tks

    • Jim

      super stuff for novice or review, I’ve been playin’ for 35 years, but mostly folk, so this is great for new inspiration. Thanks!

    • peter

      thanks great tips

    • Gary

      Excellent! The fundamentals are so important.

    • Art

      So if Box 2 starting on the G is the G-major scale, that means that is the same pattern as an Emin box 2, correct?

    • llewellyn

      Hi Griff,
      Thank you very much for your lesson and your time taken to show us this very interesting scale. Its really cool. Keep up your good work and please send me some more.

      Cheers!
      Llewellyn

    • Anthony Longshore

      Thank you so much!!! I have only had six 1/2 hour lessons so far. As soon as I learn the basics, I will sign up for your lessons ASAP. I really want them now, but I’m afraid there to advance for me at this time.Tabs are really simple to follow. Some of the chords, my fingers are not willing to make the pointA to point B yet. And now I’m learning the G major scale, plus the G minior. If you think I can, at this time walk away learning from your DVD’s and books let me know. I read and listen to every one of your free E-mails, and feel I should be paying for them. Please reply to longshore.anthony@yahoo.com. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on what I should do.
      THANK YOU, Anthony Longshore / Cincinnati, Ohio.

    • derek

      Thanks so much,excellent teaching,you make it very clear to understand.Love it

    • SKYLAR WOLF (Devils Son)

      just wanna say your always doing a great job! I have my own thing going with this here music/playing. But, there are times my son, who is only 7 years old really wants to learn. So we both benifit from the lessons. Its a great way to spend time with my son. Since I am a full time musician we use your lessons to have fun together. Its like they say you can never stop learning!

      Skylar Wolf ( Devils Son)

    • david griffith

      great lesson ….. thanks very much…….. I bought your course awhile ago and I hope you’re ‘doing well’ ….. it’s also great that you give so much much away at no cost except our collective effort to ‘get it.’

      collective ‘cheers’ to you

    • andy grant

      Hey griff andy here.man its been awsome learning the blues with you, u have been an insperation to me,u have made learning how to play the guitar fun again,the scales I hve learned have been a big help,I have gone from just playing rytham to playing some lead,so thanks a lot man,and I’m gonna buy ur dvds when I get the money,thanks again griff.

    • Claude

      Great stuff helps tremendously

    • StringBitch

      Griff; this session is priceless; encouragement to find your voice and the concept of communication all in one; guaranteed to blow the back wall out of your gig venue anytime!!!!! brilliant, approach, enjoy and destroy all those misconceptions about yourselves as players;HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!

    • MARK

      i need more of this type of coaching . it does make sense

    • Nav

      HEY GRIFF, I really like the secret you’ve unveiled to us here, however, I was wondering if you have a tab or video showing us how to play box 2, thanks so much,
      Nav

    • Freddy G.

      This has been one of the best lessions in how to use the major and minor scales and turn it around to make great blues lead. Thank you so much for this great lession, I well work it till I can play it in my sleep. Thanks Griff.

    • mike

      Greatr work as usual guys. Honest and straight forward and sound logical advice very well explained. I commend you on your good work.

    • Eddie jenkins

      What are your settings for straight
      t and blues jr. Also what is your gig amp.

    • Wazza

      A big thank you Griff, Iv’e been playing guitar most of my life, and you do a great job of showing me a nice easy relaxed way of making sence of lead guitar. So thank you again, and please keep the lesons coming, I love them.

    • daniel

      you mentioned that you learned the idea of this blues soloing form an MI instructor…could he be by any chance… keith wyatt?

    • Al McCausland

      Griff,
      Way to advanced for me. Thanks! I only hope I can get there some day.

    • andy donaldson

      I still cant believe how outstanding your instruction video’s are G., I have been playing,teaching,and judging in competition, pipeband drumming in Scotland for 45 years and have been foolin around with guitars,as my 2nd instrument of choice,for years and since I stumbled on your instructions i can now play the blues,not very well but it sounds kinda like the real thing..! and,getting better.. Amazing.!
      Long may you continue,or,as we say in Scotland,”lang may yer lum reek”
      thank you very much
      best regards
      Andy

    • robert culp

      ok thats the 5 boxes for A minor blues. where are the 5 boxes for E major and E minor blues
      i’ve enjoyed the lessons bu they are reallyto slow for me. i’m 64 years old and i’m ready to delvea little deeper.

    • David

      Not sure I agree on the limitations of only playing minor blues over the IV and V but the idea of using both major and minor (and playing riffs that combine them) is certainly important.

    • michael fredericks

      In a previous video you mentioned the Brand name of the strat you use….I didn’t get it. Would you let me/us know again. And as I’m certain it has been said many times, your playing is gifted….”something” to which we can all aspire . It’s great!

    • rick h

      That was about as good as it gets, ‘O Wise One. And to my good fortune, your lesson was very timely, as yesterday I was practicing the Em box2 scale and having quite some fun with that. When watching your video today, I connected the dots to the box2 Gmajor pentatonic scale (that you showed), which is the same pattern as its relative minor -the Em box 2 scale (leaving out the Bb). When playing over the IV and V, my ear likes it. I don’t quite understand it all, but your lesson reminded me of the connection … a lesson long, long ago. Thank you Master.

    • Louey Hesterman

      Another great tip Griff, many thanks, one of my problems at the moment is I don’t use a plectrum but I can get nearly there by hammering on and off as I pluck- cant seem to match the plectrum speed though, more practice needed-
      Thanks Griff, will remember this important tip (Major- 1, Minor 4-5)
      Did I get that right mate?

    • Tim O'Neil

      Griff,
      Great lesson. It would be helpful, if you wouls show the tabs. Thanks. Tim.

    • Sally Grimes

      Will I EVER get any faster? Seems I’m stuck in slo mo.

    • Joe

      Thank-you so much. This clears it all up for me.

    • Marc Murphy

      So I meant to start taking guitar lessons a while ago, and then suddenly 35 years went by. I’m now 56, finally bought a nice new American Strat and started taking lessons locally.

      After 8 lessons (at $25 per) I stumbled upon your course. The first few lessons in your course are similar to what I was learning locally, but your lessons somehow drove the points home more clearly (even though my instructor is a very good, classically trained guitar player). When I complete your course I plan on going back to the local lessons, but with a very good foundation that I’m sure will allow me to progress well from that point forward.

      Making these online educational purchases always seem a bit iffy, but your course is all that it’s advertised and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to learn to play. I came into this only knowing some basic guitar chords, but that was the only foundation I needed to get up and running. Thanks for a job well done and keep up the good work.

      Marc Murphy

    • jonbrevik

      this secret of the blues is cool there is a basic foundation to the process of playing them . now i have to i have to perfect the1-4-5 progessions knowing them blind. then the spark will hit.

    • Big Dan

      BINGO!!! The light has gone on! I finally get the 5 boxes. Now my soloing goes all over the neck. I was so restricted before. I dropped my bandmates jaws with this. Awesome lesson, keep up the good work Professor. Big Dan in Michigan.

    • OGE

      HEY GRIFF….I WATCH ALL THE E MAIL YOU SEND. I FULLY ENJOY THE LESSOND AND KEEP THEM ALL. I WILL TAKE ONE OF YOUR COURSES AS SOON AS I DECIDE ON WHICH ONE. I’VE WRITTEN TO YOUR HELP DESK AND COMPLETED A SURVEY YOU SENT ME BUT I’VE NEVER GOTTREN A RESPONSE. DOES ANYONE REALLY READ THESE? I DON’T MEAN TO BE A SMART ALECK; I WOULD REALLY LIKE SOME INPUT SO I CAN DECIDE WHICH COURSE TO TAKE. OF COURSE IF I TAKE THE BLUES UNLEASHED, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT ON SALE AGAIN. TNX OGE

    • A Martinez

      Whoa Griff: Here I thought I was an intermediate player who was concerned your BGU wouldn’t have enough of a challenge for me to find it worth the $147 investment. WRONG! This is an excellent study program for someone who doesn’t want to deal with an actual instructor or just prefers to study alone.

      I recently lost my favorite instructor to financial survival as student enrollment due to economy slow downed. Unable to find someone I could “jell with” I started searching the Internet for instructional videos. I tried a couple of others due to cheaper cost of the DVD’s, but in actuality for what you get in the BGU, your program is far superior. Thanks the this product you’ve put a lot of hard work into developing and for all the free videos you send out. Awesome!!!

    • Chis Pegusset

      At 64 years of age I didn’t expect to be learning & playing the blues on guitar, thank-you Griff, from the UK.

    • Stan

      Hi Griff,

      Thank You just doesn’t say enough!

      I havd the pdf for the A minor but the video is in G, is ther a pdf for G ?.

      Thanks, Stan

    • Marty Syring

      Hello Griff:

      I just wanted to express a “thank you” to you for helping me learn how to play guitar. This Blues stuff is the direction I want to go right now (I listen in at Bluesville almost everyday). What an education! All of the little tips and lessons you’ve provided by e-mail are helping me develop a practice routine. Eventually I’ll enroll in your course, but I haven’t progressed to that point yet. Take care, I’ll be in touch.

      Marty S.

    • Jim Ervin

      First let me say that I never could afford an electric guitar and never touched one until two or three years ago , at age 60, when I found a perfectly good 1964 model Danelectra tossed out with a pile of garbage in the lane beside my house. I’ve had many requests from people to sell it to them but I won’t. Playing the music is too important to me.
      One thing that’s always slowed me down on guitar is counting the frets to know where to place my fingers. Finally I smartened up and numbered them with pieces of masking tape at each fret under the strings. That makes it easier for me to practice the A Minor Blues Scales, which I printed out. Thanks for making them available.

    • Kort Hutchison

      Hi Griff – I have your “Soloing Without Scales” course and I look forward to your emails more than I can explain in these short words. Your teaching style is, without a doubt, the best I have seen. I am 62 yrs old and started playing the violin when I was 6, switched to Alto Sax in 6th Grade then Tenor through High School. I changed to Bass Guitar while in college, when my Sax was stolen. I played music for a living while in college and still gig now and again. I picked up the 6-string, for self amusement, after retiring. Thanks to your course, I am now hooked and play a little each day. You are a blessing to more than one generation of guitar players. I wish you all the continued success possible. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your young family.

    • Paul Lelkes

      G’day Griff,
      The video was done in the key of “G”, the pdf link is in the key of “A Minor Blues Scale”. My request is, can you send me the “G Minor Blues Scale”, which will make my understanding of your lesson more relevant.

      Greetings and thanks from one of your fans “downunder”.

      Paul.

    • don

      HI GRIFF I NEED A NO BULLSHIT BEGINNERS PROGRAM FOR THE BLUES GUITAR IVE SEEN YOUR LESSONS AND VERY IMPRESSED CAN YOU ADVISE WHATS THE BEST DVDS TO START OUT WITH
      REGARDS DON

    • aitie

      Griff you are the most generous, kind, patient, and relaxed teacher on the internet. Great tips.

    • Lajos

      Hi Griff,
      This is the best lesson I have ever had on blues soloing. It really changed my life, but seriously. It was that tiny kick that I needed to step forward, and that I could not find anywhere else. I am already more than familiar with all scales in major and minor, and I have made some solos of my own, but none of them sounded well enough to show anyone.
      I have just followed you as you were playing, and it was really a revelation: a whole lot of new ways become open, and those sounds started finding themselves in the solo and the chords… You know what I am writing about… Thank you Griff, you are the KING! :o) Kindest regards,
      Lajos

    • Rick

      Hey Griff, Thanks man.

      Re BRUCE SANKEY’s comment, is there a diagram of the 5 box’s available please.

      Due to your generosity MANY guitarists are improving & feeling encouraged with their progress.

      Dwell on that thought for a moment.

    • Tom Hris

      Griff
      Looking at your two Blues programs, I’m wondering which is right for me. I messed around with the guitar when I was a teeager an picked it up again earlier his year. I’m not a total beginner, but am quite rusty. Yeah, Im 57 now so it’s been a while. I am getting a lot from your videos on line… wish they were longer. What would you recomend?

      Regards
      Tom

    • john

      Hi Griff,
      Interested to read your posts and examples.
      Unfortunately, this latest one \"the secret\" – the video won\’t download!
      Been trying to work out blues soloing principles for over 40 years now, (and now jazz) and still haven\’t quite got there, but getting close. Have 1 or 2 theories as to why a \"blues\" \"scale\" or basically minor scale works over a Ma or 7th chord sequence (which it shouldn\’t), if you\’re interested.
      Even though I learned note for note then EC\’s Hideaway, and PG\’s Stumble, both with JMayalls Bluesbreakers (and saw them both several times live in 1965 – 67), I still could not say I\’ve worked out the \"secret\" of how they chose their notes from the available scales.
      Regards,
      John. England.

    • john

      Hi Griff,
      Interested to read your posts and examples.
      Unfortunately, this latest one "the secret" – the video won’t download!
      Been trying to work out blues soloing principles for over 40 years now, (and now jazz) and still haven’t quite got there, but getting close. Have 1 or 2 theories as to why a "blues" "scale" or basically minor scale works over a Ma or 7th chord sequence (which it shouldn’t), if you’re interested.
      Even though I learned note for note then EC’s Hideaway, and PG’s Stumble, both with JMayalls Bluesbreakers (and saw them both several times live in 1965 – 67), I still could not say I’ve worked out the "secret" of how they chose their notes from the available scales.
      Regards,
      John. England.

    • john

      Hi Griff,
      Interested to read your posts and examples.
      Unfortunately, this latest one “the secret” – the video won’t download!
      Been trying to work out blues soloing principles for over 40 years now, (and now jazz) and still haven’t quite got there, but getting close. Have 1 or 2 theories as to why a “blues” “scale” or basically minor scale works over a Ma or 7th chord sequence (which it shouldn’t), if you’re interested.
      Even though I learned note for note then EC’s Hideaway, and PG’s Stumble, both with JMayalls Bluesbreakers (and saw them both several times live in 1965 – 67), I still could not say I’ve worked out the “secret” of how they chose their notes from the available scales.
      Regards,
      John. England.

    • Aron

      Griff you always inspire me to keep going.Found a busted humbuker after a 2month wait
      for my guitar in the shop secret formula Gorilla Glue works great on those magnets.
      Found new pickups and listened to them online at seymore duncans site what a miracle.
      Found out a lot of people play guitar but can’t read music.Scale on staff not same as
      guitar strings egbdf, strings are EBGDAE. Confusing and i like E blues i know those open
      strings. Jam session Friday . Lost left hand after medical treatment last wednesday.
      Doctors desperate to help me recover from stroke do more harm. I’ll keep practicing
      Keep up the good work .Ifixed my old guitar and i’ll use PH90 PHAT CATS in my new
      Acoustic Graphite. Project 20 Aron

    • ricardo

      hello griff , can i request! can you send me a diagram of blues soloing. big blues thanks. god bless u always

    • bruce sankey

      hey griff can u send me a diagram of the 5 boxes su l can follow what you say? Thx .

    • Dave

      Is there a rule as to what number box is what I have notice that while learning the minor pent scale thst some videos call 58 57 57 57 58 58 box 1 in others I’ve seen it called box 2 is there a standard

    • jim

      griff does this work shifting the scales major to minor with all of the different scale forms pentatonic scale, major scale, minor scale etc. and do you allwas start on the root notes within the scale that you are playing, or is it smart to hit the root note of each cord as it starts to be played? hopefully i am not the only one trying to figure this out. also i noticed you have a coarse playing through the blues is this going to be more advanced or no please help any info would be greatly appreciated. and don’t worry with all your support I’m sure you will be jammin with clapton in know time.

    • jim

      griff does this work shifting the scales major to minor with all of the different scale forms pentatonic scale, major scale, minor scale etc. and do you allwas start on the root notes within the scale that you are playing, or is it smart to hit the root note of each cord as it starts to be played? hopefully i am not the only one trying to figure this out. also i noticed you have a coarse playing through the blues is this going to be more advanced or no please help any info would be greatly appreciated. and don’t worry with all your support I’m sure you will be jammin with clapton in know time.

    • Chuck

      Griff,
      Thanks so much, once again, you clarify just what I am trying to figure out.
      Good luck on the Crossroads festival, I\’m voting daily for you.
      Chuck

    • Chuck

      Griff,
      Thanks so much, once again, you clarify just what I am trying to figure out.
      Good luck on the Crossroads festival, I’m voting daily for you.
      Chuck

    • Chuck

      Griff,
      Thanks so much, once again, you clarify just what I am trying to figure out.
      Good luck on the Crossroads festival, I’m voting daily for you.
      Chuck

    • John Dale

      GRIFF,….Haven’t been able to afford your DVD yet, but hopefully one day…in the meantime, REALLY appreciate you and what you’re doin’. Bless you!…P.S. any Duane Allman licks?

    • John Dale

      GRIFF,….Haven’t been able to afford your DVD yet, but hopefully one day…in the meantime, REALLY appreciate you and what you’re doin’. Bless you!…P.S. any Duane Allman licks?

    • Don Randall

      Hi Griff,

      After many years without a gig I finally landed a gig playing electric bass in a blues band.

      It’s called The James Yarwood Memorial Blues Band, based on a repertoire of blues and some r&b standards I used to play in the 70s. I probably got the gig because I was one of the original members – and the bass player at that.

      I am hoping you will teach some of the shred techniques used in today’s blues. There’s no harm in playing blues with tons of expression. Thanks.

    • John

      Hi Griff.

      I am just a simple pick away, learn to play guy, but I really enjoy your videos and examples. I get better each day I play. Thanks and keep up the good work. Even though I am rank amateur, I was playing some of the stuff I learned from you and the boys next door stopped what they were doing to listen, they thought it was a cool sound.

    • shari tallon

      Hi Griff,

      You are amazing, love your emails and I have been telling all my students
      to subscribe and order your lessons. You have a great way of demonstrating and the tabs you offer really helps too. I can\\\’t thank you enough and I\\\’ve been telling everyone I know about you!

      Shari

    • hugh

      het griff
      the link http://bluesguitarunleashed.com/video/secret.wmv doesnt work
      Hugh

    • Ed Araya

      Griff,
      Thanks for all the Blues’ "tips and tricks", I have learned quite a bit from the videos you send us. I have also practiced along with the rhytm files sent and I have a question. What do you use for a rhytms machine? or, Is is live? It sounds very real.

    • Bryce

      While I’m sure you hear it alot, your teaching methods are fantastic. You focus on a couple of ideas that seem incredibly powerful, without overloading the student. I’ve watched your various free videos as they have come into my inbox and each time I’ve taken something away from them. I’m still a beginner but I feel my blues understanding has come a long way already from your simple tips.

      I will be purchasing your Blues Guitar Unleashed package this month. Thanks for your value oriented approach to marketing it, I’m confident it will be well worth the investment.

    • John G.

      Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge. I have the “problem” of a good ear – making theoretical stuff difficult. I appreciate your approach and that you make your tips available. Your lessons are helping bring things together for me. Things are a little tough right now but when I can I will buy the DVD’s. Thanks for helping those of us who want to learn.

    • Scott L.

      Griff, first off let me say that I look at several online guitar newsletters and I feel yours is by far the best and most useful. I took lessons for awhile but had to stop (unemployed). I feel I’m almost stealing from you because of all the good stuff I recieve. I’m a little confused about something though. ( You know what they say, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.) 🙂
      I downloaded the A minor blues boxes and had known these before. However you have put a new slant on them. I think, according to your lesson,you can play all 5 over the same root note (G in your lesson, but A in the download). But you call box 2 the major and box 1 the minor in your lesson. What are the other boxes called? It seems to me all the boxes are minor because they all have the flated 3rd (the natural C in the A minor blues). Am I trying to confuse myself?

    • Miguel

      Sorry, man, but this is BAD advice, especially for a beginning player that could easily get locked into it. To recommend NEVER playing the major pentatonic over the 4 chord ignores a kind of important player, a guy named BB King. Not to mention all the blues/rock guys who copied him. Listen to Dickie Betts’ classic solo on “One Way Out” for just one small example of many. I’ve been playing 30+ years and honestly don’t feel that “tricks” or “rules” like these are helpful for beginners who don’t understand they aren’t absolutes.

    • David R. Stiehl

      This is the best blues course ever ….. and I’ve
      been around for over 30 years
      David R. Stiehl

    • Tom Paiement

      Your instruction methods are fabulous. By far the best I have found on the web. I hope you are reaping some benefits from all this.
      I have a quick question. Do you, in your courses, address the business of ‘triplets’ in the beat. The 1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3 in a measure?
      Really a great job you are doing.
      My best.
      Tom Paiement

    • Dave

      Griff,
      Really appreciated the tip on the major minor blues scale, but have a question. By Major do you mean the Major pentatonic, or the Major scale? I’m a little confused on that one.
      Dave

    • John F

      Hi, Griff,

      First, excellent job with the lessons. I’m learning so much from them. Thanks!! Here’s my question – I understand the theory behind the I-IV-V progression, but what I struggle with is figuring out what key a song is in (other than the jam files that you’ve shared that use the key as the file name :-)). If you hear a song, or are looking at the music (I admit, I’m not good at reading staff), is there a trick/tip to identifying the key by ear or reading the staff? I see the basic chord progression in staff, but sometimes it’s very tricky (at least for me) to figure out which key is used, especially if the chords are mixed up (that’s what it seems to me). Thanks for the help!!

    • Helmut

      Hi Griff,
      it`s realy easy if you now it.
      It`s a good addition to your DVD`s
      Thanks for it.
      Helmut

    • mark

      Hi Griff,
      I know there has to be alot of folks like me who “grew up?” and became a parent and got in the raising the family thing. Now I’m not complaining(not completely)I believe everything has a reason for being. I raised 2 handicapped children and now have been living alone for 3 yrs. I write this as a inspiration to anyone who is wanting to give in and give up on playing.My friends let me say this from a heart that had to live the blues to come back to the blues…”STICK WITH IT!” After probably 26 yrs of living without my strat I got determined to be happy again. I drove 140 miles to charleston s.c and got me another baby. For once something for me. And folks its great to know that after all this time its still there. Had to relearn some things but once you pick it back up its like good steak. You can’t get enough. I’m signing up Griff cause I feel I can always leanr more and I know it can only help. Let me say thanks in advance!

    • slander

      I don’t know why it works but I often mix in notes out of the ii minor at bar 9 (the V chord). E.g. playing in Am at D7; key of G. It always sounds legit but I don’t know why it works… perhaps you do?

    • Chris Anderson

      Very nice tip, and very helpful to beginning blues players. I generally agree with the “rule”, but major licks can sound really good against the V chord as well. Generally speaking, even the masters like BB will stress the minor scale on the IV chord.

    • Ed Klipsch

      Griff, I have enjoyed the lessons. I am learning them on an acoustic-electric right now. Which is harder to get the bends, but am able to learn the basics to transfer later when I get a full electric. Your presentations are excellent.

    • robert thomas

      griff all i can say is WOW and thanks.the lessons are great and i am takeing a lot from them thanks

    • Norman D. Cameron

      Dear Griff, I recently purchased your DVD lesson and found them to be great. I was wondering if you could help me with a problem I’m having. I’m trying to find any tablature regarding an old blues song, “Bertha May” by Memphis Slim from the sound track “Honneydipper” or Album “Three Women Blues”. It’s a simple slow blues tune that’s originally done in piano. I don’t have the ear to tab it out but maybe you or someone you know could tab it. Thanks for a great product

    • Gary Odom

      Griff,

      You amaze me guy. I am constantly absorbing things from the net and am currently overloaded with material. You always push a breath of fresh air in the confusion and give me hope that I can learn to play this guitar. I only need a ton of practice to get my fingers to do the talking.

    • guy thompson

      great lesson again griff somthing on how to use cords when soloing would be cool

    • karthik

      You are an amazing teacher.. I could play the Minor blue scales seeing your videos. In my humble opinion, I think this video on major blues need some finger numbering as you mentioned for minor blues, so that it’d easy for novice..
      You are just too proficient in guitar.. God Bless!

    • T. Collins

      You are a great player.Thnx for your help..Hope you continue to provide info to the others. God bless you & your family!! Sincerly T.G.C

    • Walter

      Griff – Once again, very cool and helpful,as well as entertaining stuff! I can’t wait for the next one. Your four DVD | 2 CD set of lessons should be dynamite for everyone. Hope it goes well for you and keep that good stuff coming!

      Thanks, man – Walter

    • volkan ural

      hello Griff Volkan here from Turkey I am very happy with your blues lessons. To find a correct teacher here is very difficult but your lessons have helped me to understand and learn very quickly the blues system.

      Thank you (tesekkur ederim ) Volkan

    • Bill

      I appreciate your way of teaching,easy to do the cords. Thanks for the video,s Bil

    • Bubba

      Griff, I have to tell ya. I have gone through some of the best Guitar classes around. And I have learned more useful information from you and your Playing through the blues class in just a few short weeks than I have in all of them combined. My own soloin g is finally starting to sound like something I would let others hear haha. I have in the past played rhythm and some country, but had always had a love for the blues. I can play rhythm along with many of the best but could never grasp lead soloing so it sounded like it should. Until Now… Thanks Griff…. Bubba

    • Ian

      Hey Griff, Thanks for sharing your excellent information & tipps. Where is all the information about the Blues course,the DVD’s, how to purchase them and are the DVD’s playable in the U.K.

    • ezra

      Hay Griff thanx for the real consern and share of the lesson really!! and if U can give a lesson on how to be a good pianist tooo plz

    • Kelly

      Wow. You are great. Your tips are greatly appreciated. And the video clips are great too. Thank you

    • svend erik nydahl

      Hey Griff
      Now I m back from job, but where are the link to purchase the dvds arggh, whatt????
      svend e.

    • svend erik nydahl

      Hi there Griff!

      Now I m searching for your blues teaching, and its 9.30 but no where to press a yes I buy button!

      Well I m living in Denmark så maybe your`e still sleeping, but I d sure like to get my hands an the teaching, but for now I have to go on my job. Please reserve the item for me!

      When I m back it can be too late, and besides I have things to do when I come home that just cant be postponed. Hopefull

      svend e. nydahl

      nydahlsvende@gmail.com

    • jack

      Griff,
      EXACTLY what I was looking for. I viewed the recent video with your student and was reminded of the 5 boxes for reference. Soon as I saw your reference in this note I printed it – thanks. The 5 box idea is really going to help with muscial tone/transisitions.

    • John

      You speak of using Box 1 and Box 2 scales. Do you have a video further explaining these?

    • […] I posted a lesson where I talked about using the major and minor blues scales over different portions of a 12 bar blues […]

    • Griff

      Thanks for the comments everyone.

      As for the frequency of mailing… I’m sorry. My regular email sequence, which is automatic, is still running (because I don’t know how to turn it off) on top of the additional emails I’m sending out.

      The good news is that BGU comes out on friday and things will return to normal… no more 3 email days I promise!

      As for the solo that seems “missing,” it wasn’t my intent to use a cliffhanger. Actually I just took that right out of the DVD and put it up, not realizing that I had done any kind of segue to the next lesson… my bad.

      I’ll see if I can’t fix that and get some of that solo example up for you to see.

      Griff

    • Rich

      Griff,

      Thank you for opening up the secret. This make perfectly good sense, and it opened up my creativity.

      Rich

    • brady browning

      i look forward to checking the mail for these lessons ibought your course and the riffmaster and i enjoy both very much. thanks again for all your help brady

    • David Gatch

      I appreciate your style of teaching. Just what I need. Your emails keep me motivated to learn more. I call dibs on one of the GBU sets… can’t wait to get mine.
      As far as the frequency of your mailings, the only duplicity I am seeing is your tips/lessons being linked from Bob Murnahan’s and Zack Robert’s emails. Keep ’em coming!

    • Jim

      I thought the 4 note exercise was great. I just hope I can master it.

    • *************

      Griff, I enjoy your guitar tips. Although they are mostly geared at less experienced players, every once-in-a-while I have a light bulb moment. You remind me of something I have since forgotten.

      The reason, however, I write to you is this. Can the frequency of the mailings be lessened? There is really no way I should get 3 bulk mailings daily.

      I have 2 options unsubscribe, or delete them as they arrive. Neither option benefits you in anyway.

    • Sonny

      Where’s the “Solo example” referred to in the video… it cuts off right before! I want more… seriously… I’m on the fence between the online course, and the dvd course. Online is really fine with me, but I don’t want to miss out on the ‘additional material’ referenced in the writeup of the blues guitar unleashed package. I’m also not willing to pay that much more for the dvd’s either. I got a case of the “bgu” vs. “pttb” blues.

      Sonny

    • dave

      Hey, Griff. I enjoyed your storie. I grew-up in 70’s and 80’s. I played a lot of classic rock, and your storie is right on, it brings me back. I kinda went through the same thing. I love the way you teach and I like your down to earth personality. Dave

    • Les

      Hi There,
      Well once again you have not only hit it on the head but have now started somthing all togeather new & a new path that leads to hopfuly bright one.

      Thanks Les Jones

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