How To Play Blues Songs At A Jam Roadmap - Stop 2 Soloing
Downloads
This Video (MP4)An MP4 version of this video
- This Video (WMV)
A WMV version of this video
Play Along Of The Final ExampleDownload this file to play along with me and see if you've got it right.
- Jam Track (no guitar)
When you think you've got it, try playing it by yourself without me... just with the band.
The TAB and stuff...TABs, scale patterns, etc. from the video.
A tip - listen to the solo several times before you try to play it. If you can hum along with it, it'll be much easier to play.
Once you've got the hang of the individual licks, try putting them in a different order like 4, 1, 3, 5, 2, 4... just try it!
Hi, Griff. A big problem I have with soloing is finding something new to play over the same backing track. I always come up with the same licks/rhythms when I hear the same beats/tempo/style.
Is there a way to break out of that rut?
Get more jam tracks. I have two of the same chord progression in two different keys. I always try to do the second one differently.
George, try changing the speed of the jam track. I use VLC Media Player which is a free download, and it has the capability of slowing down or speeding up the playback. Some MP3 files get a bit glitchy if you slow them down a lot, but I find that varying the speed is about as good as having a different song. BTW, the speed changes but the pitch (key) stays the same. Cheers, ChrisG.
Hey this sheds some light on your house pattern . Also very good to see where the patters link together . Another superb video ! Thanks gotta get that paso fino going.
Another great lesson! It showed how you can mix licks to get a different sound. This is a great lesson if you want to get out of the “same lick rut”.
I love Muscle Memory. I must have tried that second lick a dozen times and wondered if my 64 year old brain was connected to my fingers or my hands could sync together at all since they obviously were not doing what I wanted them to, but my need to succeed had me do it over and over very slowly and before I knew it, it was flying from my fingers like I had done it forever. What a log strange trip the past months have been with you and I appreciate all your lessons in BGU and otherwise. Old dogs DO learn new tricks and you are a great teacher! Another fun lesson. Thanks!
Hey Griff, really enjoying this little “road trip”, and it certainly is helping me to understand some of the patterns involved and licks available for jamming with the blues in A. Thanks for putting this together, and keep it coming! Given that the chords used are A, D and E, can parts of the other two scales (D and E) be used at the appropriate times (during the shifts in the 12 bar blues pattern) to compliment the A blues scale while soloing to add some different tones? Looking forward to the next video.
Hi Mark,
The only judge will be your pair of ears. Try it (and ideally record it)! Your cat or dog might climb the curtains but that’s the worst that can happen 🙂
Generally you can as long as you stay close to the chord notes around the chord transitions (but you guessed that already). It can add more colour to the solo.
Griff, this roadtrip might be the most usable set of lessons of all of them. I’ve never seen anyone attempt to teach something like this, and in just a few short videos.
Griff, I’ve completed BGU (have posted 5 of the 6 exercises on the forum), 5 easy blues pieces, have posted “I Believe” from BGIAB on the forum, working on ABGU and SWS. But in spite of the rudimentary level of this series of videos, it fills in some of the gaps especially as it relates to playing with the jam tracks. I’ve tried a few times but it always befuddles me. But now with the SWS and this lesson, I think I can actually have some fun with the jam tracks instead feeling like I’m wasting my time trying to improvise anything! Great insight,I’m looking forward to working through this example and then trying a jam track or two. Again, thank you for all that you do!
Having lots of trouble with playing chords. Yesterday’s episode was helpful. I also can’t seem to play the A minor scale very fast either.
Thanks Griff! These videos are really helpful for me.
it’s gradually coming together! Thanks.
The most painless way I’ve found to get out of a rut is to learn new songs and licks.
Youtube is a great way to add to your grab bag of material. After you get the new lick down so it comes anytime you want it to, add it in, or part of it, etc.
Learn a lick like Secret Agent Man and add it in from time to time, learn a few more, add them in, play them backwards, etc.
Take from others, play from others, woodshed and make Youtube your library, start slow and get after it.
Can I have your guitar when you’re done with it? The Marshall amp too? Thanks ;-).
Griff,
Great material and video. Really appreciate all the good stuff you send us. I have your Blues Guitar Unleashed course and your Blues Rhythm book. Both are superb. Matt.
Griff,
Great material and video. I have your Blues Guitar Unleashed course and your Blues rhythm book. Both are superb. Thanks for all the stuff that you send us. Matt.
Really like this road trip Griff you answered some more questions with todays lesson I’ve been using that house Patten with box 1 for a while now and it flows nicely another home run lesson many many thanks !!!!
Thanks for the video. I will definitely try it out today.
Wow!! (again) Now, your giving away the HOUSE!!! Nice little solo lesson – enough there for days (or weeks) of noodling! Definitely good prep for some of your other Solo courses!
I always determined who my favorite guitar players were by the difference in their solos as per songs they did their lead solos on. An example was Warren DeMartini of Ratt, or Vivian Campbell with Ronny James Dio, Van Halen, and several others. I, like others, go to YouTube when the well feels dry as to ideas in playing lead solos. I also read sheet music. I work on lead soloing a ton with continual practice of scales and the development of my own guitar instrumentals. I even work on playing notes outside of the key I am playing and see if I can modulate back to the key without it sounding off. I do the same with trying to mix Jazz and Rock chords. Sometimes I will be outside and I will hear something in my mind that would go with a song I am working on, and I rush in to work on it before I forget what it was I heard in my head. I like real melodic lead solos.
All this stuff you show us is great stuff and it is always wonderful watching another guitar player who knows what he is doing, as you do.
Griff,
I really appreciate you giving us the things that will work every time. It may not be the best or the most clever but it works.
THIS is the Holy Grail that I have been looking for!
Thanks Griff, great lesson, looking forward fort the next e-mail.
Can’t wait for the next episode..
Thanks Griff, another great video lesson. It is all starting to come together at last. When are you coming down to Australia I see you have a few devotees down here.
This is probably the most valuable blues video EVER!! As a rhythm player doing my best to transition to lead, this video answers about a million questions about the blues scale, mixing licks, how to use bends, and, of course, starting on 2 (or maybe 2 and?). You give us groundwork for expanding the vocabulary of notes that can be used to invent our own licks. Just awesome. Thank you, thank you, Griff!!!
I liked the D 3/7, Ef 3/8 then E at
2/5. It opens the way to box 5 for just a little variation then back to box 1.
Hi Griff, you’ve also mentioned in previous videos the “house” pattern’s “evil twin” which you can play over the 4 or 5 chord. Does this give the user a little more “Real Estate” on the fretboard?
A small note. @17:20, on that lick, you end on a G, second string 8th fret, as well as each subsequent playing of that lick. On the tab it shows a C, 1st string 8th fret. I believe it is the same on the tab from the third video. Just to let you know. I was actually following the tabs and realizing we clashed at that point as I played along with you. G sounds better than C.
A great lesson at just the right time. My teacher and I were working on building solos from the A minor pentatonic scale in our last lesson. Now I have a few more licks and a jam track. Thanks for the roadmap. As the poet said, “if you don’t where you’re going, any road will take you there.”
Another great lesson ! Thanks a million Griff !
Hey Griff: Great lesson. Any road trip has its roots in someone having a vehicle and being able to drive…and you covered so much here about readying oneself for the open road. The attention to detail, the offering of the ABC’s of performing the blues…aka playing a blues tunes with anyone….and demystified and clarified so much. That’s a great way to give people wings to fly. Or in this case, find a new driving experience.
Thank you for loving to teach. It really shines through here.
Sue
This is one of the most powerful lesson I have seen! So much theory in a short lesson as well as a review. I can certainly use it.
Great lesson Griff. I have been practicing scales and limbering up after 40 years of neglect and now I am ready to start on my BGU which I purchased from you last year about this time along with some others. I have spent a year studing music in spare time and speed so I wouldn’t have to waste much time in uneducated practice time. Now I can fly thru the lessons and hopefully succeed in mastering this fretboard. This roadmap idea of yours is the best yet. It takes a lot of guess work out of writing a workable plan to put everything together. Hoo rah for Griff. #1
You talk a lot and you don’t explain a fuck of nothing!! Play a little more and tell – if you know – how the fingers should move to connect one lick to the other. Ans shorten that infinite flow of useless words. Thank you.
it’s working for me.
Thanks Griff. Now I get it about how the boxes tie together. You;;ve explained before the concept of boxes but I never really understood the relation. Now that you[ve demonstrated, I get it. Thanks for the free lessons. I’ve bought the BGU elec, and acoustic, but find myself too busy to open them But I always have time for a quick online lesson each day. Keep up the great work. Rich
If it’s any help, I view the blues scale boxes as a game of “Tetris” going up the neck! You KNOW that the highest points of one box HAVE to match up exactly with the lowest points in the box above 🙂
Griff – when it comes to teaching the blues you’re the master – no question. I’ve watched a lot of other sites and they simply don’t compare. So a very big thank you for making the blues so clear – and really, really helping me play – and want to play!
I often use acoustic so I was pleased to hear you say bends can be tricky – I certainly ‘struggle’ with them on acoustic.Thanks again
Griff – you’re simply the master teacher and push my enthusiasm to play & practice. So a very big thank you for all you put out on the net – and for your courses of which I have a couple.
Hey Griff, this video “soloing pt.2 was great. I’m not capable of putting too much effort into play I G because I I jure my left hand on a table saw along time ago. I have to take things in very small doses. Your presentation in this video was perfect. This was just my speed and it was dry inspiring. I’m going to try and get out the guitar and go over the licks etc. and see if I can string them together like you did. Maybe I can develop some momentum and get back to playing on a more regular basis. I’ll let you know how things work out. This video was very inspiring. Well done. Good job! I hope I can become a better more dedicated student. I think you can help me achieve some long abandoned goals if I can muster the energy. Thanks and bye for now. Robert Vallerand
Finally a way out of playing the same lick rutt.Great stuff Griff,thanks.
Thanks, Griff! I really enjoyed this teaching. I will keep you much in mind for the future
Sam.
That’s one beautiful ES
Good stuff. I have heard you say to start a solo on anything but the first beat but I have not heard why this is not recommended. What are the implications. Is it just to sound correct? Maybe I have missed your video on this. Keep up the good work. Thank you.
Thanx Griff. Great stuff.
Hi Griff, Brilliant tuition. Laughed out loud after the first Lick.
George C