The A Minor Blues Scale – “Box 1”

Just like the baby learning to talk analogy, this is your first real sound when it comes to blues lead playing.

You have to learn how to make this sound easily before you’ll be able to say anything useful.

First off, watch this introduction video, the tab is below.

The blues scale is the primary sound used in blues music. In fact, it might even be said that it’s the main sound used in rock music and country music as well. The blues scale is identical to the common pentatonic scale, but it has one additional note.

The A Minor Blues Scale look like this in TAB:

And here is a fretboard diagram of the scale. I call this fingering of the scale Box 1. There are other fingerings we will cover later on.

Learn this scale and practice it every day. No, wait, practice it ten times a day. No, wait, practice it 100 times a day! Practice it slowly and evenly at first. Don’t try to speed up until you can play it without making any mistakes, and remember to use your metronome. This scale is the sound of the blues. The better you know it, the more confident you will be the first time you step up to solo.

After you have mastered the A minor blues scale, you can play the minor blues scale starting on any note of the sixth string. For example, I started the minor blues scale on an A note in the example above. Starting on A makes it an A minor blues scale. If you were to start the scale on C, it would be a C minor blues scale. Below, is the C minor blues scale in TAB:

THIS IS IMPORTANT! Do you realize that you can now play the minor blues scale in ANY key on your guitar? Whatever note you start on, that’s what key you are in.. it’s that simple.

You may find that you already know this scale, or at least you’ve probably seen it, and maybe even played it a few times.

And yet, you still can’t play anything cool with it (or at least nothing to show your buddies yet) and I want to tell you one simple thing … are you ready….

IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT.

At least 90% of all of the stuff out there that I’ve gone through preaches the same stuff – practice this scale up and down every day. Go to google, type in “blues scale” and see how many websites come up with that same mantra.. it’s bogus.

You know what happens when you do that? Your solos sound like playing the scale up and down! That’s not what you want.

You have to go out on a limb and “noodle” with the scale. Once you know the fingering and can play it by heart (try it with your eyes closed, if you can do that you’ve got it) put on a tune and just start making stuff up.

Don’t worry if it sounds good, just go for it. In fact, here‘s a little jam track you can play over. It’s a simple blues in the key of A (in fact, you’ll learn the rhythm part later.)

Just start noodling, play whatever comes to mind – good or bad it’s all the same. We have to start getting the improvisational juices flowing. Try skipping strings, try limiting yourself to 3 or 4 notes, try playing the scale only forwards or only backwards. Anything to get yourself playing the notes out of order.

Do that for at least 5 minutes per day, it’ll do wonders.

And when you’re ready to take it to the next level, I hope you’ll check out my Blues Guitar Unleashed course. It’s worked for over 11,076 blues guitar players just like (and counting), and I guarantee it will work for you. In fact, if you’re not completely satisfied within a full 365 days of your purchase, I’ll give you a full refund. Do you think your local guitar teacher would give you that kind of guarantee?

Cool, now go practice and have some fun 🙂

Griff

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Leave A Reply (190 comments so far)

Neil Smith

Thanks for the new scale. It did take a little time to decipher at first, but I think I have it now and will practice it like crazy. Thanks a bunch. Neil
Jay Wright

Good stuff. This will help; thanks much.
badom_7@hotmail.com

many tanks, it will help a lot.
Doom
Jim Gillbanks

Practice make my fingers go walkies.
robert dever

so thats what they call it!
p.hawkins

I think i need more fingers,.
malcolm

very interesting !
Maurice Mason

I love you man! I’m 62 years old, and I’m learning stuff I never could learn before. 2 reasons: I’m a slow learner, and would cause a teacher to tell me to quit. Videos overcome that, because I can try with them over and over, until I get it no matter how long it takes. And you know how to make it un-boring. I’ve been putting off for 45 years or more, how to play blues progression. Now, i’m playing them. Thanks!
mike

love this stuff. i’m 66 and getting it finally. thanks man
Rick Blocher

I believe this is the most amazing instruction, I have ever seen. Your Honest is Beautiful.

I am working on this now, and I just realized, I am getting free,and be able to move around

my fret board. Before, I knew my chords, but this is different.Thanks for sharing this with

me.Rick Blocher
Jesse James

Watching him on the videos here is a true blessing. He is an instructor to meet all levels in a very comfortable way.
I would love to get together with him in person and get a few more tips. His students are the most priviledged students there is having Griff as an instructor.
Thanks Griff for all your down to earth and humble way of approaching these lessons.
Jesse
Brother Bruce

Top Notch Danny! Was always able to play and chord songs with minors but had trouble with leads in minor keys. The minor scale you presented and how you pesented it, hits home for me, thank you so much! Top Notch Danny! practice, practice, practice the minor scale
Bud

Glad I stumbled onto your site – It’s easy and informative. I just don’t know if I’ll ever be able to move as fast as u do. will keep trying
John Curbo

Griff, I have really have been learning from your instructions. I have been saving them in my email and have just now really practiced with each one sent to me….. Thank you, so much, for the easy to learn way you instruct these lessons. I play bluegrass mostly on the mandolin and I’ve been wanting to learn to play blues type music on the guitar for a while now. Your lessons have helped me to get started and I’m amazed how easy and quick I have picked up what you have taught.
Thanks again,

John
Ian

Hi,
Great little lesson.
Sorted as couple of things out for me

Cheers
Ian
michael böttcher

Hi Griff,
many thanks for your lessons. It helps me to learn guitar. Sorry, my english is not the best.
Many greetings from Germany
Michael
tim lossner

It plays on my kindle also.
Bob Malin

THANKS GRIFF!!!
wally mclellan

Thanks I play only basic guitar and want to learn to play the blues You videos make it easy to follow Ill keep practicing
NEAL TAYLOR

Good one brother,
hoping to put a rockn’roll band together an’country
SO puting blues, to the songs is one thing i’m working on,
Bob Carr

Much appreciated. Very helpful indeed.
Dr Bill Fetter

Hello Griff

I love your blues guitar lessons. They are informative and easy to follow. I am searching now to buy a good blues guitar. So far I am contemplating the Epiphone Sheraton II and the Martib Blues Master. What are you playing in your lesson videos?

Thanks Bill
Karol

@Bill…in most of his videos Griff plays a John Suhr strat. I never seem to see Griff answer questions in the comment sections, so I thought I would throw that out there. I’ve also seen him use a Fender Telecaster, and he owns a Gibson ES 335.
Carlos

I do like the way you teach,but I’m interested in jazz which was what cut my eyes when I did see
your blog on line.
Kerry

hey Griff, thanks so very much for giving me a lot of good advise, mate you rock!!!!
Ron

Hi, I have enjoyed your little lessons everyday. I know a lot of these scales and stuff quite fluently, but I am a bit musically dislexic I think I need rythum and feel , I mostly play by myself without any other music , just calling sounds to mind that Ilike. But it would be good to be able to play in time and play a song as its meant to sound , I always change it to make it fit my dislexia.

Ron
Mo Man

Thanks Griff.I didnt know you could play in those different possitions.I would only play the A position up down.I didnt know you could play in different fretts.onece again thanks. mo
Radha Algoo

Hi Griff. It took me a long while to open up your lessons.I have practiced the 4 note blues and it is cool.I am just practising you 7 chords blues
and I have just stumbled upon your blue guitar scales and I am going to practice on that.I watch the repo man and I would like to play like that.I
would also like to learn finger picking like in the repo man.Do you have some advice on that.Thanks very much Griff. Looking forward to hear from you
Samsamidapugh

Griff once again you have amazed me with yor lessons ur awsome!
Ray

I think your neck drawing is upside down and backwards on this site. Other than it is a great lesson thanks
Brian Johnson

Hey Griff,
I am enjoying your lessons, but I have to improvise… My pinky finger on my left hand doesn’t work, its just there for looks, but my playing is coming along!! Thankyou!!!
Nola

Thanks Mr. Hamlin…your videos are so very helpful. I’ve made a home made copy of the guitar neck and I am able to take it to work and practice, practice, practice… Your technique of teaching is sooo laid back and easy to learn…
Ken Hoolaeff

I have never had anyone teach me that was as in depth yet made it so enjoyable thank you so much
juan benavidez

thanks griff…good stuff ,really learning alot . enjoy all the extra material makes it easer to learn to play the blues.
ug p

not over complicated lessons makes for easy learning. thanks for the free video’s, mp3’s, and backing track’s, turns practice into playing.
Peter Ruffy

You make palaying look easy thanks Giff
nanakojo

i love the way you are. you honest and so generous
please i want start the Blues Guitar Unleashed course. thank u.
juno

Real good stuff Griff …i think I will learn a lot from you .. Thanks !!..
Anne

I get this! thanks, I’m having fun!
Richard Tatro

You know the old saying you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, well I want to let you know that is not true! With your method of teaching the A & C Blues this old dog became very familiar with those blue scales. Not fast, but slowly getting the hang of both, and feeling good about some real accomplishment! Griff you are number one in my book! I have wanted to learn blues, and as a beginner without pro-help it’s almost impossible for me without guidance from the DVD and the books! I can read Tab a little, and every time you put something up I try it to the best of my ability! Thank You so very much! I wish I could afford the Blues DVD package you offer, but I am really unable to spend the $49.00 as a beginning cost! This old dog (75) is just trying to learn for my own pleasure, and maybe play a few songs down the road for my family! I pick up pointers from you on everything you send to me, Thank You very much for those bits! God Bless You, as I feel you are a very talented individual, and sharing your knowledge even in only small amounts must be very rewarding to you! The little I gain with your help really makes me feel good!
Sincerely,
Richard
mark

Thanks Griff I think i will forget all the other stuff and just stick to the blues you are a great teacher the good thing is i understand what you are teaching i have never been a wizz at music but its like something has just clicked so i have ordered the CD set so i have some late nights coming up. Cheers Mark
les

thanks im finding the lesons very easy to understand and learn not complacted im more mechanily minded so if its in plane ingelish and simple ican understand it easily after all i was only a coman truck driver when i was working les
Kenny Zee

Hey Griff
Thanks for the link to Keb’ Mo’ on you-tube. That vid and a couple others by him really helped me with stile, rhythm, and syncopation. What a great help. This is telling me if you want to learn blues spend some time listening to blues and try what, or at least some of what, your hearing. Da.
I’m getting it. Thanks again.
D. Graff

Played this along time ago and forgot. Thanks for the refresh!
dboulet@bellsouth.net

looks like the fret board diagram is for a left-handed player?
Dennis Sutton

If I could make my fingers do what my eyes see icould play like that also. thank you for the lesson.
tony carvell

thanks griff it`s all comming together, ive just gotta keep pluggin away.
Keith

Thanks for the lesson still playing with the small cords
Maria Riberdy

I am new at ALL of this but love playing my guitar. The blues just seems to be me. I need to know where to place my finger pattern & so on to actually KNOW where to place my fingers for the chord as it is so hard to tell on the video as it stops moving at the most important changes.
Phil

Great lesson and very helpful ideas of how to actually practice it. Thanks.
johnnyboy

Great warm-up excersize also,….Thanks
Bob

Thanks for the refresh on just the blues minor scale. I’ve been watching your lessons here for awhile and I can noodle most of the entire fretboard.(THANKS TO YOU). Got into a chromatic mode on scales and veering off course so this brought me back to ground control. My left hand still has some trouble with the little finger because of nerve damage but I’ve been told by some family members that I am starting to rip some songs up(meant in the good way lol). Thanks Griff, you’re the best teacher. PERIOD
Andrew Lamb

This is so cool, I’m slowly getting putting the pieces together and it’s great. Thank you.
isaac

Great, clear lesson ..Just starting …. Wow-this was a big jump in my ‘understanding!

Thanks….Isaac
Llewellyn

Thank you Griff for the Awesome and cool lesson. Its always been a pleasure learning from you.Great!!
Llewellyn

Hi Griff, Thank you for the scale. It is awesome and really cool. It’s a pleasure learning from you. Great!!!
Geoffrey Lyons

Terrific…
Of all the Internet teachers, I enjoy your stuff the most. It’s fun, informative, and always positive. I’m a golf teacher and I understand how difficult it is to tackle a complex subject, and to introduce ideas that won’t confuse and discourage a student no matter the ability level.
I think a lot of it has to do with the sequence in which things are introduced and you do an outstanding job of that. As soon as things loosen up financially I’m going to order your CD lessons…maybe even before that, because I’m tired of ‘sucking’ !
Thanks for this,…I practice, or at least ‘noodle’ every day, and my limited ‘repertoire’ is soon exhausted, but this will give me something constructive that I can practice and hopefully just keep getting better at. Thanks again.
steve

Griff – Geoffrey Lyons speaks exactly for me too. Your face & personality is much appreciated on my screen.
Thank you for what you do and offer. Keep up the good work. Be well, S.
Tom

I sure hope you don’t run out of stuff to teach love it.
dandy dan

the fretboard diagram of the scale is upside down could be confusing if you don’t really understand what is going on ! A minor blues scale
Michael Galloway

Thanks, Grif. As well put as anyone could hope for. Very straitforward. Several bells and whistles went off when you explained the minor blues scales. You are a great teacher, and I’ll make you proud of this student. (Thanks to you.) (I’ve been playing for 44 years, and you are so clear and competant.)
Merl

Such an eye-opener. I love what and how you teach the art of the blues guitar. I am sure to get the course when i am able to do so.

Thanks Griff
Jay

Thanks Griff, learning heaps and I thort I kew it all .
Dr Paul Guy

Griff, do you have details of how I can purchase your course? Thank you Dr Guy UK
William Goodman

awsome
lloyd

yes GRIFF I do like the way you explain the blues or I say how to play it with a bit of spice to it keep up the good work & keep coming with your new ideas it works for me & thanks again see you’
turkturnet1960@gmail.com

No i dont want to log out sorry
turkturnet1960@gmail.com

i enjoy your lessons very much thank you turk
robert

I’ve been enjoy each lesson thank you.
james

hi griff,i never really bothered with scales until i started getting your lessons.wish i had, starting to hear blues from my guitar,thanks i enjoy every lesson now.
Bar

Thanks Griff,

Best example of how to do that I’ve ever seen. I would like to say more but I have to get practising.
I won’t give up my rhythm gig yet, but I can feel the vibes leading me on to new country.
Alex

Wow I had put the guitar away twenty years ago for loss of intrest, but now thats changed. Because you have reminded me of how entertaining playing is I picked it up again. Those scales are something I will work on playing well.
Bar

Can’t say enough. Great stuff. I have read about that pentatonic scale for 40 years and after 15 minutes of your lesson the light went on. My jamming partners are getting suspicious; however, when an interlude in a melody section the other night someone said take it Bar. Yikes! What can I say. I did and nobody screamed and ran out of the session room. One small step for a man…….One giant leap for the Blues.
Thanks Bro,
Bar in BC
Gerald Irwin

I am an ex-science teacher and like progressions to be linear, based on what has gone before so that new ideas are based on a firm foundation.

That’s why I enjoy your course. I am learning theory more easily than the physical skills, but I am working at it.

Practice may eventually make competent, but probably not perfect!

I am competent at rhythm, but will probably never make lead, despite your marvelous lessons.
dave.roginski

Griff. All these people are looking at it wrong. The tab is right. In the pic the low e string is on the bottom (correct) if the notes had numbers as i have seen elsewhere it would be, starting on low e : 1-4, 1-2-3, 1-3, 1-3, 1-4, and finally 1-4 on the high e. Hope this helps!
dave.roginski

I messed up one or two of the notes but if you refer to the tab it is correct. Starting on fifth fret, low e (bass) 1=index, 2=middle, 3=ring, 4=pinkie…1-4, 1-2-3, 1-3, 1-2-3, 1-4 and 1-4. Hope this helps, again!
ken

Hi Griff,

as you know I am very interersted in purchasing your lesson plan for learning blues acoustic guitar. The questions I need to know………

I reside in the United Kingdom and wonder if you ship outside the USA (Will wait until the Xmas rush is over so package doesn’t caught up before purchasing online) if you do ship outside the US.

Also I see you only play electric and wonder if acoustic is compatable to your method. I would like to learn to play the music of such masters like Robert Johnson etc.

thank you for your attention,

Kind regards,

Ken
michael

thanks griff, have not seen it said any better
Guitar Dan

Thanks a million Griff! I write and play acoustic Americana and can tear up the blues on a harp, but, I always wanted to learn the blues on the guitar. Now I’m learning how thanks to your videos. My brother and son also play guitar and I am sharing your lessons with them on facebook and they love it as much as I do. Please give us a link to facebook so we can share with our friends and family? Thank You so much and may Jesus Christ bless you and yours this holiday season. God bless you, Guitar Dan
Don Bender

Good lesson. Quick question. What makes it minor?
RayF

Folks are commenting that the fretboard diagram is backwards. I just see it as if I’m looking in a mirror. It makes it incredibly to use! Please don’t “fix” it.
michael e. burns

Griff, thanks for another great lesson.
tommyrp@hotmail.com

Wow!This really starts to open your eyes and ears.Things make more sense now.Thanks!
rickeybarton@ymail.com

hey Mr. Griff Hamlin i love the videos i have leaned more the last month than my hole time of playing the guitar u c i could play but did not know how to put things together did not know scales or nothing i have leaned a lot. I am going to get blues guitar unleashed when money is right 4 me thank u .
Tanya McIntyre

Griff, i’ve been really enjoying these lessons. i do take private lessons with an awesome teacher and guitarist and your lessons compliment what i learn with him. i show him what u teach and we incorporate it into my playing. your lessons are easy to follow and because i can play the lesson over and over, i can really get it. great stories and presentation. I always look forward to the next lesson. thanks for giving me ur time and knowledge. Sincerely, Tanya
flombardi752@gmail.com

Hey griff Happy Holidays I Love your Material good Job I haven’t picked up aGuitar in a long time .I ordered. SomeDvds from you awsome…
Keep in touch. Frank Lombardi. N.J
Rodgers2@hotmail.co.uk

Hi griff.im 55now always been around bands and played drums a little years and years ago,have always wanted to play guitar….so I bought myself a little acoustic and logged onto you via tube….I can’t thank you enough as I am just beginning my journey on the guitar…you make it look so simple and with a lot of hard work I’m hoping by next year I can thrash out some rockin blues tunes for my family and friends at our usual Scottish new year party.thanks again griff.jim the rookie(lol).
friscofog@yahoo.com

hey griff,,,,,,,,,,No hesitation when it comes to your GENEROSITY….you understand the DEPTH of GIVING something as valuable as the BLUES……….any tips on singing the blues? friscofog@yahoo.com
ivan-clarke@outlook.com

Love the way you present everything. Learning lots in no time flat. Thanks man.
Ron

If I wanted to hit every note in the scale and make it fit within the jam track what setting would I set the metronome to and would I hit each note once or twice?

Thanks!

As always your lessons are far and above everyone elses!

Thank you!
hirise17@gmail.com

Your thinking and approach is pure brilliance. I know blues, been at it since early 70’s. What I saw with you do on 4 notes is the heart of it. Its minimalism, resourcefulness and creativity……you’re in a corner with limits now how good are you at working your way out of it?…..great teaching!
paquito5411@hotmail.com

Oh Boy! I love “blues music” since I recalled my childhood years growing up in Mexico! Some of my friends would bullying up for liking this kind of music. They never understood my love for it-neither did I, and yet I’ve been struggling all my life to learn to play at least a couple of blues songs from the great masters! I think honestly that finally I probably will be able to see some light from the free lessons I’m getting from you. Nevertheless I feel kind of sad for not being able to purchase your course at this moment, but I know I will eventually. Thanks a lot Griff, you’re one of the greatest blues teachers I had ever known!
offgridcabin@Hotmail.com

I’ve been playing “scales” for a while… just need to think out of the “box” … I like your style of teaching… guess I’ll have to work 3 hours overtime to pay for the course.. Preston… fender strat hss usa,, epiphone matsasouka Gibson les paul custom, Washburn HB30DL w/humbuckers, SX tele…..
joefazzari@hotmail.com

never played the guitar, I want to learn the blues, do you have beginner course?
thanks
joe
markandpam2007@msn.com

Thanks Griff,

This will help me with the foundation of playing the blues.
Travis

Griff your awesome thanks for the things you do for all of us out here in guitar world
fraser@fwilson.net

Hey Griff, thanks for helping me get over the waiting period for the BGU dvds. How’d you know I was running to the mailbox everyday. Love the followup support…….feels like I have a “1 on 1” instructor. Vids are excellent. P.S. I’m self-employeed and would like to know if I can be on commission?…….I’m telling everyone about you and your program LOL Take care. Fraser, Canada
robertpalmer1514@charter.net

I like it
jamacmillan@shaw.ca

Thanks
chucktop03@aol.com

Griff — Very good basic scale for newbies. I really like your videos. But for those of us who are a bit passed the Am pentatonic scale, we look to escape from the “pentatonic prison.” You make the scale much more interesting by adding the flatted fifth. That does make it a blues scale. What about the Amajor pentatonic scale?
kingphantas@btinternet.com

Griff..
You are a really great teacher.. I am now 79 years old/young and enjoy just playing for my own amusement; have no musical knowledge except that a grand piano is different in structure from a tambourine !
Your lessons and little tips are really so useful and have made my clumsy attempts just that little less clumsy. I have an 80th birthday gig coming up, friends and family and hope to wow them with some of your suggestions on this blues scale.. am getting there , slowly but surely
More power to your fingers
Regards
Gerry
merrillburroughs@yahoo.com

Thanks for the new scale . Will get right on it . Thanks !!!
jlabruna@hotmail.com

This is a great exercise for beginners. That you
shanehanie1973@yahoo.com

Hey Griff,could you please send me the 4-note solo lesson,I think mine got deleted by accident.It’s the first lesson you sent out.Thank’s. Shane.
janet.jmattox.mattox@gmail.com

very good advice thanks.
Muddskipper1@msn.com

Hi
Thank you very much. I am 58 years old and am learning to play. I am slow but I was learning the pentatonic scale and the miner pentatonic scale. And the 3 BOXES on the neck.
kireland1954@outlook.com

This is a great scale Griff! You have once again hit the mark! Kevin Ireland
richard47@live.co.uk

thank you so much I was a pro musso until a broken back put a stop stop to it all. My wife gave me a new guitar for chrismas and thanks to your videos I’m back into playing again. Thanks very much. Richard.
DAVIDCAVELL@BTINTERNET.COM

Great lesson
Thank you
Dave
Uk
dennyrey@wctatel.net

wow!!!!! That was a real hoot jamming with some backup. Can’t wait to get the CDs!!!
malcolme53@gmail.com

Thanks Griff u have been a big help hope there’s many more tips to come .Mal
Sylvester L. Hunter

Thanh you Griff, grate lesson it has been a great help to me, in learning to play guitar.
mike savard

I’VE BEEN PLAYING AXE FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND THIS FELLOW GRIFF HAS GOT SOME NEW WAYS AND INSIGHTS TO TEACHING STUDENTS ON ALL SORTS OF LEVELS. HE KEEP IT FRESH AND INTERESTING WITH NOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF GABBING BETWEEN EACH OF THE VIDEOS. I HAVE TRIED QUITE A FEW OF THESE ON THEINTERNET AND MY BIGGEST BITCH IS THE TALKING BEFORE THEY GET TO THE ACTUAL LESSON, GRIFF DOES TALK, SOME VERBAL INSTRUCTION IS REQUIRED, BUT UNLIKE SOME THAT I COULD MENTION, BUT WON’T, HE STICKS TO JUST WHAT IS NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND THE UPCOMING TEACHINGS ON THE VIDEO. MY HAT IS OFF TO YOU BRO, KEEP ON KEEPIN ON……………………..FRITZ ” THE KHAT ” SAYS THANKYOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE HELPED ME ACCOMPLISH IN SUCH A SHORT TIME……
Frank

Thanks a lot! I really appreciate it very much.
ken

thank you very much I seem to have got the idea,but I need to practice more.
samuel moses

Thanks Griff, that’s cool.
Tammy Turner

I’m a beginner with this but a fast learning to what seems to come to me natural but at the same time still not so easy but determined to learn this so I can release all these lyrics with my passion for music and for others to know they are never alone or the only one that has ever been where they might be in life or have been and just what it takes to forgive and grow without regret. thank you so much. Anit got it down yet but working on it.
Thomas Williams

I can’t afford your guitar unleashed ? I like to thank you for helping me to at least get an idea of how the house is played.
Dar Guitar

Thank you again you lessons are top banna man Question to you where do you srat blues scale on 5th fret ex. C scale instead on waY up on 6 string
thanks to an awesome teacher
Doug, "the bug"

Yea, MON! this is good stuff, MON.. thank you.. !
Michael Spangler

This really helps to put the scales in proper perspective for me. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! Mike
alan davis

Hi Grif I am familiar with a fair bit
of the lessons but never been able to get
fluency and ideas going, no good at
jamming, this is where I find the lessons
come in useful.
Thanks.
Al.
alan davis

Hi Griff. Can DVD’s be
shipped to Britain.
ART COLEMAN

Hey Griff
I stumbled onto your website and ive got to say I think your method of teaching is the best.I have a subscription to guitar tricks and jamplay, they are great but I feel that ythe way you teach relates better to students . You exactly descibe ME when it comes to the pentatonic scales, I want to understand why you play what you play, not just copy someone else, thanks
ART C
Sonny Mauriello

I never played blues before, thought the chords were too hard and so were the scales.
Not true… I am learning this as a result of your amazing lessons.
Thank you so much!

Mark “Sonny” Mauriello
John Morgan

Griff,
you’re a great teacher. Only you should smile occasionaly. What does box 1 mean? Wish I lived close enough to have private lessons.
Ed

Griff, I really look forward to your instructional videos…This is great stuff. Thanks so much!
Mark Arnold

This scale is one of the first I learned but I was not familiar with the flattened fifth notes that is something new for me to add maybe you could talk about why the flatten fifths add a more bluesy sound thanks for the great info Griff good stuff !
Joe D.

Saving monies. Trying to get for Christmas. Excellent Approach.
Max Carr

Nice lick! Now i can play my first lick, any where on the neck. For the first time in 40years exactly! Never learned one, or gave up before i learned one.
Aussie Ian

Great work Griff. these lessons are making it fun to learn the guitar again (at age 51)
Thanks man.
gary

hi griff
ive gone back to the beginning learning the proper way ive digested your blues scale and nearly got it off to a T NOT ACCOMPLISHED WITH MY EYES CLOSED YET almost there just bought your theory coarse both really excellent I think your teaching is first class
Jimmy

Hello,

I will be purchasing my new (beginner) electric guitar within a week or so; any advice on what to purchase? A friend told me to check out some Pawn shops first. Any suggestions will help.

Thanks,
Jimmy
RollyS

Now that I’ve ordered BGU on the weekend and have seen this little VERY informative video, I can hardly wait to get started on my lessons!
Thank you, Rolly
dave

A side advantage to this lesson is that it is a great tool to also learn to be able to play any tune in any key. Great teaching. A common trade school mission statement is, ” We Learn by Doing.” Conversely, doing is a solid, information into the computer method of learning. The exercise to be performed is the warm up to prepare for the exercise to be practiced.The four stages of competence: unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence, finally leading to, unconscious competence – the GOAL. I’ve asked unconsciously competent players, what they had just pulled off, wanting to copy that bit. They have to think to reconstruct it. That, for me, is the WOW FACTOR.
Thankyou for this exercise.
GREG ADDINGTON

Hello, I have fallowing you videos. They are very good I am playing reythem guitar. I no the cords but I do not know how to play lead. So when I see your note charts all I see is dots. I have no idea even where to start, I want to learn to play the blues so bad. I can fast it, if there is anything you can do to help me out. It would be much appreciated.

Thank you!
Greg Addington
pete

this stuff,s just unreal, ive been trying to make progress with my guitar for a long time now ,and spent a lot of money on so many books dvd,s cd,s you name it ive got it.But its always ended the same way ,disapointment and frustration,thanks so much griff. pete.
Jeff Clark

Thank you Griff,
Played some rock n roll as a kid. Gave it up for 40 years. Didn’t have the drive to really apply myself way back then. Now at 63 I’ve rediscovered a lost passion, the Blues. Your emails have paved the way. Just ordered your full lesson plan and feel like a kid on Christmas Eve.
Thanks again
Vaughn

I really appreciate the time you put out for everyone. You and Marty Schwartz are two of the best online teachers and good friends. On this A minor blues scale, knowing the A minor pentatonic scale really helped me pick it up quicker. Thank you guys soooo much.
Daniel Vellemu

Great! The blues! Must practice this
Freya

Hi Griff,
I really like how understandable & motivating your lessons are; I even like the rapid rate they arriving. I am only beginning to play with the grips. Next step is playing with you on your videos… probably summer vacation.
Thanks,
Freya
mike

Thanks for the insight tha has eluded me for years.
chris

Tanx sir, please can you send me de lesson and video clips for de major scales?
da big kahuna

Incredible………been playing for over 35 years and am sick of playing the same three chord songs over and over. This has absolutely sparked my imagination and interest and I’ve learned more in two weeks than all the past years combined! This is very well done and I appreciate your focus on the essentials and explaining them in an understandable manner for those of us without a strong musical background.

I plan to upgrade my equipment and stick with it until I’m able to at least play at a passable level. Keep up the good work.
aibude selokisa kago

Hei dis quiet incredible experience,kip it up mate
Allen

Many thanks for the lessons you have been sending me over the last week. After several years of just occasionally messing about on the guitar they have given me the direction and focus for some serious study.
James T Garnett

I really like how you define the 1st position as being a Box position. I usually play in box position whether or not I’m improvising or soloing. It is good to know that some one else other than my self Call it The box position .
…
Mark A Wales uk

Thanks Griff for the lesson I’ve had a few private lessons with different tutors over the years and all of them have taught me the major scale I will now put this into my practice routine thanks for the jam track it comes in handy to practice with I have received my order BGU 2 and have started the lessons I’m very impressed with the lessons my playing and understanding of the blues as improved with every lesson thanks again all the best mark
William Fischer

This is right where I’m at in my own studies I am currently finding stuff on the Net to teach myself blues and to further myself on guitar. The blues scale is exactly what I’m trying but no one I’ve seen thus far broke it down the way you did and made me understand it. Griff your lessons are easy to understand with just my limited knowledge of guitar. I will be buying your set thank you for making it worth watching and taking the time to teach and pass on your knowledge.
Walt Watson

I’ve been learning the pentatonic scales out of a book. After watching this video it sure has made it a whole lot more interesting.
conrad

thanks heaps,leaning a lot faster now
how much space on my hard drive do I need to download your blues guitar unleashed to my lap top?
Elijah Thompson

Dear Griff,

In 1937, my mother and I made a trip from Tucson, AZ to Los Angeles on a Greyhound bus. We went to 5 points to listen to a cowboy singing band. I was 5 years old and was asked to sing with that group. The leader was Stewart (sp) Hamlin, who asked my mother to let me train with him. Of course, it was not possible but I gained a hero there. I was wondering if you were related to this man, he changed my life, gave me great confidence all through my life. I never met him again, but he wrote songs such as “This Old House”….your technique and personality remind me of him. You do a good job teaching, I have learned alot from you, but at 83 years young my fingers do not have the strength needed to do the hammering, bending, and actions to play. I hope you have great success, God’s Blessings on you and your family. Thanks for listening. Jim Thompson
Terry Heird

I am a late beginner, but I was a vocalist for some years doing rock-n-roll.

I can see Grif has a good grip on his guitar, and is giving some nice down to Earth guitar lessons;

Thanks Grif,
.
Kimberley Christie

Cool!!!!
Thank you
steven

Really cool, well explained lessons.
Robert Lowe

So if I add the Eb’s to the Am pentatonic box 1, I get the Am Blues scale at fret five…???
John Hogen

Loving it! learning a little slower than the lessons come but winter is soon here and I’ll catch up. Appreciate the clarity. Thanks.
tony

hey man just want to say that this is something i just never got to in the bgu course. this is so important to remember . thing is that i just did not get it THE BLUE NOTE STUFF . WHAT MAKES IT A AM OR C MAJOR SCALE . IT IS K FOUND BY WHAT NOTE YOU START ON .
Mark A Wales uk

Cheers Griff
Working on all five positions and mixing the major on the first minor on forth and fifth
Thanks to BGU2 I couldn’t play the box 1 four months ago
Tracy Wever

Talk about an aha moment. I could play the e scale but would have to look up the others like a or c etc. Stupid me not realizing the patterns were exactly the same. I am working my way through the beginning blues guitar course(very slowly I might add) and got this email from Griff and it has turned the fret board into a whole new place for me. Griff thanks thanks thanks. Can you tell I am excited.
Bolduc jack

i am very happy to could see your course Griff thank you very much
David

I Like watching you picking, it`s going to me a little longer to play it like you because, it`s all new to me and my finger`s are a little stiffer than your`s , it`s been a while since i have done any playing.
Warwick Smiley

Thanks a lot.At the moment I’m sick of my own playing . Every time I pick my guitar up I end up playing the same things.I guess it really isn’t that bad cause I remember when I couldn’t play these and was happy when I could.I think I mean I’ve gone stale.You must know what I mean.
Larry

Starter playing guitar in 67 and loved the blues but coupé never get it under my fingere (it seemed too complicated) 60 years later learning from you Im getting it!!! keep shining Grif!!!
David Durham

Thank you for your great teaching talent. I’ve looked for a good site for a long time and now know the best one to date. I’ve been trying to learn blues for about 10 years. Now, at age 77, this promises to be a well organized, logical order to really learn. I have a Fender American Special Strat, a Fender Jim Root Tele with 2 humbuckers and a Yamaha acoustic along with the Fender Blues Special and Fender Princeton Reverb amps. After first playing basic chords and singing popular songs in my 20’s I took weekly lessons for about 5 years at age 67 with a great teacher in Crossville, Tennessee, Drew Robbins, a graduate of Atlanta Institute of Music, but had to move to Florida 4 years ago, due my wife’s health and have since been trying on my own through many, many DVD’s and books, very difficult. I’m also trying to learn to read music, also very hard for me, but have been successful with tab. Thank you again for your site and I’m looking forward to many good blues sessions with you looking over my shoulder, so to speak.
papini jean

bonjour, Griff je connaissais la gamme pentatonique “normale” mais il est vrai que celle du cours sonne réellement blues comme l’on dit ici la note bleue, the blues note, arrange bien le jeux et permet bien plus de “plans” pour les solos, merci beaucoup il me reste plus qu’à la travailler afin de pouvoir l’appliquer
HOLY

Thanks Griff… for the Barre Chords too.. really opened my eyes to something which seemed hard..But now Its doable and I am on my way.
I will be the best guitarist around..You watch me….
hey

yo
timothy

Wow i love it.
i think this lessons are good for me to improve blues
Dave. Sth Australia.

Cool scale Griff, thanks.. It looks similar to the minor pentatonic with a couple of extra notes? You say the scale (The same pattern) is movable which ever note it starts at on the sixth string is the key the scale is in, does this also apply to playing the same pattern from the fifth string? Thanks again for all the cool knowledge. Dave Sth Australia..
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paul kelly

Thanks for the scale Neil and the way you explained things lost my way hen my son was killed getting back into it so will work thistill I can play them all in my sleep lol
perry

never got the first lesson now you r on 15
Best MMO

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Jackie

Thank you, just an FYI, I saw Howlin Wolf in person when I was about 17, he looked real old and sat in chair. Right now I feel thankful I got see one of blues greatest even though I didn’t know what “the Blues” was. It’s cool to remember!! I am from Chicago so there is tons of blues around here. Thanks again .
alan

Griff I find your videos very helpful looking forward to more thanks
F.M.v.Keulen

This overhere is a website which is far from ideal. The tablatures look nice, but also I am not allowed to sit with my guitar near the computer/intenet. They have the feeling, that wou,ld distract them. I think they’re perverts.
Furthermore I’ve had a huge amount of problems with psychiatry and psychology. My most important familymember is missing.
I played a lot of standard notations from a sort of French guitar lessons book, this morning and afternoon.
So I won’t be concentrating on the video, though I hear it right now, but to follow the tips or lessons is momentarely impossible.
Troy Tacket

Thanks for the validation on my playing so far. I have been using this box as I also have been taught to call it. I have a guy that plays in our praise band (he thinks he Clapton) and when he heard me play he told me I wasn’t playing that blues scale right. I told him well that’s how I’ve been taught . Then I see you play the same pattern/box I was playing and it just made me feel whole again. Your awesome and hope to be able to get your whole lesson package soon. Thanks for the ones you seen by email. IT HELPS
Willem van Dijk

Hoi, I’m from Holland,
It’s nice to practisch some blues scales.
This scale I knew already a little bit, but your teaching is better than I was learning from books.
So thanks for this. Willem
Dwayne

Thanks so much. I bought your blues unleashed I practice it every. Night. I have many many guitar DVDs but I got to say you are the best teacher. Thanks again
Rob Shaffer

Thanks Griff that made things a lot clear for me since I am new at learning how to play the blues
Stas

Well Griff I have a really dumb question that I have held off asking for quite awhile. Where does the term “minor” fit into the Am Blues scale???
You start the box on the A note?

Stas
Jim

It’s been about a year since I first saw this lesson and was just reminded how perfectly accurate you are in teaching this incredibly important (MOST?) aspect of blues (all) guitar soloing. Your “thousand times…” joke, is really not. This really opens up the world improvising!
Claudia Lenoir

This old gal is loving what you’re teaching. Thanks so much.
jerry searcy

Great video lesson. Fortunately I know this box very well and am in the process of learning boxes 2 through 5. What I really need is a lesson on chord numbers (1 chord, 4 chord, 5 chord [6,7,8,…etc if they exist]). I’m always flustered when you make references to these numbered chords. I don’t have a clue what you are talking about and why they are numbered.
John Eisner

Griff, I am a beginner – reaching 70 next April – never to late to learn.
I purchased your “beginners Blues Guitar” – great stuff and I hope I will succeed.
I see and look at all your blogs and videos that I receive by e mail. Thank you.
I think my problem is that my fingers are too thick and wide for many of the chords.
I have a classical guitar, should I get an acoustic?
Many Thanks & Merry Christmas
John Eisner
Kalim

Thank you so much for the new TAB, I will practice, your are great musician and friend, I really want to share with you too
Thank you Again.
steven

I have practiced A different type of scale pattern. But I like your method of arrangement. Now I just need to coordinate my fingers to go alone with your method of playing.
Fred Mueller

Great lessons for blues guitar
Steve

I just learned that I have been playing around with this scale for years not knowing what it was. But now, I have to take it up a notch with your instructions to move it around, forward, back, skip strings, etc. Cool. Thanks Griff.