Since I’m often asked for some simple country lessons… I thought it fitting to show you my favorite little country blues scale pattern.
It’s just a major pentatonic idea, but it fits so well under your fingers that it gets used ALL… THE… TIME… by country guys and the Allman Brothers alike (you’d be amazed how many Allman melodies are right out of that major pentatonic scale.)
Anyway, hope you enjoy it!
Downloads
The TAB (PDF)The TAB for the lick all the way through the 8 bar progression
56 replies to "Country Style 8 Bar Blues Lick In Major Pentatonic"
Griff…..How about doing a country. blues course? You might be surprised how many country players there are out there…..,You might be able to take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy. 😉 John
Please teach a Frank Marino lick!
Thanks!
Yes yes yes, I remember seeing Marino at the Dallas convention center theatre,small venue,sitting just a few rows back and everyone there in their seat mesmerized,,,,twice…ge played that venue 2 times in about a year,,,wow,that was a long time ago.
I’ve been playing Country, acoustic, finger picking, unplugged for close to 50 years now. Came to BGU to learn the blues, took the acoustic course and loved it, bought a few more courses and play some blues.
BUT every time I sit down to just noodle I find myself picking 8 bar country blues. I have to admit this is my true love.
If you ever do a country blues course or just country blues licks, I’m in.
Thanks for all you do.
Please do MORE Easy country style licks like this!
I like that delay. what is the name of it so I can get one?
Trying to figure out the scale. Oddly enough if I use box 5 of E not G I get the same notes you are playing. WHY DOES THAT WORK? Anyone.?
It is the the result of the miraculus connection known as the relative scale …play F# blues scale when the song starts with an A chord ( key of A )
Use the B blues scale for the key of D
Great teaching style!
I love a little bit of country. Have been playing something like that . You showed me a different way to play it thanks griff keep it coming
I think it’s cool when I can play another person’s music or song in the style that they play it.
Thanks for this wonderful post. The information in this article is very helpful to me. Thanks a lot for sharing. Keep blogging.
Hi. Kind of a happy hue put on our blues. Thanks Griff. God bless you, your family and the rest of you hammer’n, pull’n, and bend’n pickers out there. fearless
Always find new things on internet. However, thanks for sharing useful stuff.
Hey Griff,
Nice and Country feeling cool, great lesson.
It would be great if you could do a Course around say 50 Blues & Country Blues, and Rock n Roll songs that all roll around Blues 12 Bar and 8 Bar into a BGU version… I am sure us BGUers would jump on it and purchase it or it could be bundled with some of your BGU Courses. Just an Idea.
Just imagine, us BGUers Standing on stage with our Laptop or iPad on the stand with our BGU Repertoire of songs to play outside of what ever band we are in and absolutely rattle the audience and even maybe the band.. something to think about..
All great.
Michael -Sydney-Australia
Really cool, easy to play. Keep ’em coming maestro! Thanks heaps!!
Excellent stuff. Both kinds of music – country AND western!
Very cool little idea and those Almann brothers licks are just gems.
Keep socking us with angles Grif, it’s making me a little bit better every day.
I look forward every morning to my mailbox giving me these great treats.
Cheers mate!
Luv this country riff! Thanks Griff!! Seems like I can’t away from country in my area, so hope to get a chance to work it in!
Just pick-tacular.. Is nice that you share your talents with us wannabees.Thanks Griff
Maybe worth while griff putting a lot of his videos onto a dvd which we could buy.
Just a thought for those of us who cant watch them on on our devices
he has full courses on dvd
This is probably the simple most important riff I have received on the internet
And the reason is that I got it spot on…. I am using it on my classic and even without the delay stuff, It is already revolutionizing my music. Thanks a million bro
Griff is the gift that keeps on giving, thanks Griff…
WELL SAID!
Old School & Still Rockin’
Nice lick to know , thanks Griff.
hello buddy ,
It is really a nice and helpful piece of info. I am happy that you just shared this helpful information with us.
Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
Hello Griff thank you for your lessons been having fun with country lesson in Independence Star Spangled Banner it’s becoming easier thanks again
Gary
Thanks again for all you do for us Griff am really grateful for the theroy lessons you just sent out the past couple days extremely useful want to get that course as soon as I get funds for it ! There’s always gonna be nay sayers just know you and your efforts are hugely appreciated keep up the awesome work !!!!!!
Hi Griff; Well, I enjoy your lessons, and you are a good teacher, I got your 5 blues solos, and inbetween working on my normal rock stuff, which is my major intrest, I have found your blues lessons helpful ! I am dealing with a bad left hand, and arm problem, which is really hindering my playing at this time ! I still have been playing long enough to work out some of your lessons, since 1963 ! I cannot wait till I can get my left arm, and hand back to use, and have to practice a lot to catch up to where I was, but with the new skill’s I have got from you, I’m sure I’ll be a much improved player, and more comfident with taking some lead, and also writing more song’s with the new skill in hand ! Keep em comming, and thank you ! Drake !
so simple yet so usefull,,,thanks
Griff,
Hi Griff,
That is a really cool lick. I’ve used it in a similar fashion, but using that lick with a country feel is really cool. I’m going to practice with it and add it to my repertoire of my licks in my solos. Again thanks for the good lesson and tips.
Gregory A Burrow, Guitar/Keyboards/Vocals
I love a little bit of country. Have been playing something like that . You showed me a different way to play it thanks griff keep it coming
Really, really liked this Griff. Exercised my fingers, finger tips, stretched my brain. Great muscle memory exercise + it’s way cool IMO.
I’ll be playing / practicing this, add into it, adding it in different places. It expands my knowledge and familiarity of the fret board.
It’s short & gets right to the check this out point.
I imagine you can tell by now that this is much appreciated.
More like this wouldn’t break my heart.
Thanks again.
HOW FUNNY. I LEANED THAT LICK FROM GUITAR TRICKS LAST YEAR. SOME BRITT NAMED ANDY. SORRY IF I CHEATED ON YOU. LOL! I ALSO LIKE PLAYING THIS WITH OUT A PICK. SOME THING TO USE AS A SECOND LEAD GUITAR. THANKS GRIFF. PUT THIS IN MY MUSIC FILE FOR LATER.TRY USING ECHO INSTEAD OF THE SLAP BACK. VERY LOW SETTING. SOUNDS FUNKY.
A couple of years ago, I’d have had no idea what “8 Bar Blues Lick In Major Pentatonic” meant! Now, thanks to Griff, I “git” it!!! One question, though – when you’re playing a minor pentatonic solo over a I chord, you don’t change (keys) when it moves to the IV chord – here, you moved (keys?). Could you have just stayed in the same position for all 3 chords? It almost seemed like a “chord tone” solo (?) vs. major pentatonic scale. (Or both?) So much to learn….
In some of your other video lessons you tell us to keep our fingers close to the fretboard, but in this video, you don’t do that. I’m having a difficult time with the keeping my fingers close to the frets and I don’t know how to deal with it. Also I can’t play or practice very long until my left wrist begins to ache!!
I know griff said that, but I wouldn’t worry too much about that. I think if you practice it just a little bit, short time periods, it should get easier over time. And don’t do stuff that hurts your wrist. Come back to it later. Have an experienced player or teacher check out your technique, especially with regard to the “moves” causing you pain. Mainly work on and play what you enjoy, and your technique is bound to improve. Hope this helps. Good luck.
Griff, sometimes I get in such a funk trying to learn to play my wooden love. My guitar. I buy new ones. Used ones. New gadgets you name it. But what keeps me coming back with excitement are these little lessons of simple fun. You are helping in ways beyond your intent. Thank you. Thank you.
Cool little lesson Griff … Thanks again
Griff. It is so amazing to me how you explain things in such a simplified way. Just that little country lesson turned on my country light bulb that had been a little dim for a while. I v been doing mostly rockin blues. But this puts a little twist on that. I love it. Thanks so much. Ish
Really enjoy your lesson.Would like learn little more country.You teach well and learn a lot, most other I don’t listen to but you explain so well I always see what new stuff you have.
thank bob
I also have noiced Griff that You tend to like that G note for your first note . Hendrix had a special first note also. A signiture sound or style of impression . Thats all cool I think. I got to play around with this one for awhile C U next time .
Griff,I am not really a lover of country music,but this is really cool. It still is a blues lick,and fun to play. Thanks again for another great lesson. Mike
Is it just me or does that lick sound a lot like a BB King lick ?
Great lick Griff! I kind of like this country blues style. I do like that pop you get from using your fingers. I just wonder if I can get that same pop from a strat. I’ll have to try it when I get home. Can’t wait to try it! Thanks!
As always Griff, another great lesson. I so enjoy the country flavor!
Thanks for all you do for us new guys.
Giff,
Quite simple and easy yet adds a very nice flavor to country…
I’m gonna have fun using this one and the guys in the band will love it.
Thanks
I like country licks. And this is a good one to start with.
this was great Griff, I will have fun learning/playing this lick for a long long time. Thank you so much.