This acoustic blues guitar lesson was filmed live before a studio audience 😉

When you play music, in general, you need 3 things to make it sound musical – rhythm, harmony, and melody. Using “thump bass” you can provide a nice rhythmic pulse, and using either a brush stroke or your other fingers, you can play chords.

What makes it sound super cool is when you get 2 different rhythms going on… but that’s no small feat 🙂

You might notice that I played this lesson on an electric guitar, that’s simply to show you that acoustic playing is more of an approach, not so much about the instrument itself.

Take some time to dig in to this video, and you can download the TAB for the 3 styles (simple, bouncing 1/8ths, and the triplets) below the video.

If you dig this sort of thing, check out my Acoustic Blues Guitar Unleashed course, or maybe grab yourself an All Access Pass.

Click Here For The TAB


    27 replies to "Thump Bass And Little Chords"

    • Gerald Miramonti

      good foundation lesson Griff!

    • Jay

      just wanted to say that i have 6 or 7 og Griff’s courses and even though I’ve been playing for about 30yrs, my playing never sounded good and could never figure out what i’ve been doing wrong. Studied with the best teachers/players but not one of them ever mentioned counting! I received Griff’s Rhythm Figures for Blues Lead Guitar and it has been life changing for my playing….could never count while playing before, but now I can’t help but counting every time i pick up the guitar or listen to music….i am now going back to start everyone of the previous courses and counting while i play…..main point here is when Griff tells you to count, start counting because it’s the most important aspect of music. Forget about scales and chords because if you don’t count, it will never sound musical….please learn from my lifelong mistake….Best of luck to everyone!

      • Michael James Wise

        Absolutely great advice, I am starting to count hopefully this will help my understanding of timing , Mw

    • Jeff

      Griff. Thank you. Thank you very much. What a fantastic, totally FREE lesson. Useful. Helpful. Educational. Not too difficult. Thanks.

    • David lackey

      What type and size strings u using? In addition setting on amp/guitar
      I was never able to even attempt playing until I started your courses,now I get almost all just to pick up more bits and pieces.
      I started this process thinking someday I may not be able to do what I need,there was a mr brown lived on my block had arthritis,and thought if I ever get to have to sit on a porch,what better way then play a guitar..(I was almost permanently on the porch 12 yrs ago when struck with a brain tumor)
      I am now in my later years,and glad beyond measure to have acquired this skill
      Merry Christmas and thank you!

    • Jack

      Back in the 70s 80 from my start. I could use a Celluloid pick. These were stop the celluloid make stuff back in the late 70s so The ones now even claim celluloid feels plastic. Celluloid felt different slight firm feel and had a bright click sound to it. The celluloid claim picks now have a dull sound. You could buy these into the 80s until they ran out of store closet they had in back. So I found a D’Addario Large thumb celluloid pick made now looks and is ok. Must slide all the way onto thumb but it still bends thumb at knuckle. Tight so take time to get use to it. I played the stuff in the video and move to add in a solo. Going to take some time to get use to the thumb pick and grip it like a standard pick in the up and down strokes playing solo. Mostly because I am use to a medium standard pick and the Thumb pick is more like a heavy standard pick style. Will let you know later lol

      • PAUL

        THANSK GRIFFF. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND FAMILY.
        CAN’T PRINT THE PDF ! 🙁

    • Kevin O’Sullivan

      Excellent lesson Griff Once again ‘thank you’ to easily the best teacher I have come across on line

    • Geno

      Superb lesson Griff!

    • Jack Flash

      watching your strumming hand was useful. I use alot of bar cords, 6,9 and 11 cords with regular cords but this is something ineresting in the way it sounds as you do this type of motion with your fingers and it is interesting thing to learn..

    • Jack Flash

      Acustic Blues Guitar Unleashed is another course I have been wanting. I am diving into Strumming and Mastery with an electric guitar so I can use head phones as I live in an apartment. I am expanding first lesson into all the different keys and progessions as I am trying to get changing cords faster and I think maybe thios srtumming thing is also the things on top of the tab legger as they seem to be a strumming pattern or way of playing. maybe I will also be learning what those things mean as I play by ear and how the feeling gets into the ZONE….

      • Jack

        I think the Acoustic Blues Guitar Unleased is great. Perfect for my out on the porch play in the spring summer and fall.

    • Darren

      If you have been inspired to play old Acoustic Blues from somewhere, you have some great information here with this lesson and tab, that starts you off and or gives you better timing practice, Griff also shows you playing combinations to mix it up a little. He is one of the few people that likes electric and acoustic guitar playing, if you like this lesson – he has other acoustic courses available.

    • Ray Knutson

      As a longtime member I enjoy all of your communications ! Great job.

    • Greg

      Very cool lesson. Thanks. I’d love to see more like this.

    • Robert seargeant

      I bought a Fantastic Guild 512 12 string guitar. I have never seen you do a 12 string blues. Is it in your bag of tricks?

    • Chris

      Hi Griff, just to add that it is a very good supplemental lesson in this style to watch and listen to Dave Grohl performing his songs solo acoustic.

    • Chris

      Great lesson for a very important and awesome sounding Acoustic style.
      Although not so much blues, this is the aspect that makes Dave Grohls playing standout. Just to listen to his ‘bass’ line playing is so exciting. Then just add the abbreviated chords on the top string with timing you have a wonderful rhythm, melody and percussion. (oh, also add the great vocals).

    • Daniel

      A most excellent lesson!

      Outside of Griff’s house, “thump bass” is often known as “dead thumb” bass. If you want to find out more about the very early practitioners of this style blues, try searching for “dead thumb”. A lot of Ray Wylie Hubbard’s down home country blues keeps dead thumb alive and kicking today. Again, this was a great lesson, thanks!

    • Terry Tosh

      Thanks, Griff. Love it! I have the AGBU course. That’s my 2019 resolution–to get back to it and finish it!

    • Mike

      Great lesson and idea…thanks

      • PAUL

        REMINDS ME OF PLAYING ON THE PORCH
        IN 1971 I HAD A BASS PLAYER AND MY ACOUSTIC . WE PLAYED MOST OF ALL THE NIGHT CLUBS ON SUNSET BLVD, IN HOLLYWOOD.
        WHERE I LIVE, WE HAVE A SAMLL NIGHT CLUB, WITH A DJ. FRIDAY IS OPEN MIC NIGHT.
        I HAVE GONE A FEW TIMES AND PLAYED ALONE. I NEVER PLAY MY OWN SONGS. WHEN I PLAYSANDY COLORED CLOWN THE SAND MAN, BY ROY OBERSON, I DO HAVE TO THUMP THE E BASS STRING AND FINGER PICK THOUGH THE VOCALS. I ALSO IN 1965 HAD FALMINCO GUITAR LESSONS SO THIS IS A GREAT REMINDER FOR ME. I LIKE TO PLAY SUN SHINE OF YOUR LOVE. SEEN CLAPTON DO IT AND THAT’S WHERE I LEANRED HOW TO PLAY IT ON ACCUSTIC.
        I ALSO DO A STRUM ON THE BASS NOTES.THANKS, GRIIF !

    • SRMrK2

      I have not finger picked much in the past as a moderate beginner at guitar playing. This lesson has piqued my interest and I intend to practice it as it is an easier version. Very nice lesson indeed.

    • Terry b

      Thanks griff, really appreciate the lessons,they have been a great help.

    • Susan Corke

      Could you make the video for downloading ?

    • Tony

      thank you for a great lesson. Learning much from each lesson.

    • Keith

      Great lesson! I’ve been playing around with this type of thing for some time, but you’ve just explained how to make it work. Thank you!

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