Let’s say you’re going to an open jam, or you want to play with some friends, and someone says, “Hey, let’s play Matchbox in C.”
Do you know what to do?
What if you don’t know that song, does it matter?
Chances are, it doesn’t matter a lick (pardon the pun) as long as the song title comes with, “it’s a shuffle in C.”
Oh, and by the way, there are a LOT of songs that are “a shuffle in [insert the key here.]” Like… a whole lot.
So do you know what to play? You will…
27 replies to "How to play blues rhythm (in a shuffle)"
Love watching your videos griff
Thanks for the fantastic lesson Griff. I see how the little chords work when playing in a key based on the 6th string root note but how does it work when playing on a key based on a 5th string root? Thanks
Watch the video beginning at 1:50 where Griff says, “Next chord I’m going to use is a D9.”
Great,Many thanx,again and again!RespectfulltySWK
Very cool Griff!
4/15/19
I include these mini-lessons as part of my daily practice routines. Thanks Griff. I’m always impressed by how musicians must learn to do several things at the same time (football players too!). Counting and playing is still something I have to work on, but I’m getting better at it. It’s such a fundamental skill that I often think a course on just counting and playing would be very useful.
I played for all of my beginning years without doing any counting, and I’ve learned that’s an error that I need to correct. My innate sense of “time” is pretty good but when I try to count at the same time as I play (particularly lead lines), I must slow way, way down to a crawl.
Your skills at both teaching and playing are great. I now tell myself, “If I would only had time I should have kept his course and found the time to practice”. I returned one of your programs in 2008 and wish I would have stuck with it but at that time had a job that demanded too much of my time. I am now retired and trying to get back into guitar. Fingers are stiff but I am sure that will go away. Checking out all of your programs. Thanks for allowing me on your email list.
Another good video. Thanks Griff. I wish you would count off the “ands” between the numbers for those of us who are counting challenged. I think it would help.
3rd lick very useful. Opened doors to improve phrasing. Thanks
Hi at 3:17 theres this little lick… thats the thing. whazzit?
It’s a SUPER common move used in the bridge of Tore Down among thousands of other places – try this video it’s in there: https://bluesguitarunleashed.com/blog/the-tore-down-rhythm/
I’ve used this rhythm from time to time but I could not get it every Time that I wanted because I wasn’t counting it ( I know count everything ) now I’ll be able to use it when I want. Thanks Griff
Thanks for the rhythm lesson,Griff. Great to see you this past weekend in Austin.
Hay griff, where you going to. E in Austin nxt week. Like to come by and listen to you. Tks for all the help over the past few years. Jammen Jack
Very cool, thanks
Another excellent short lesson. My thumb wasn’t happy, but I got it down pretty well after a few minutes. Thanks!
Hi Griff.
I have made more guitar playing progress in the last 5 years of studying your courses and free videos than in the previous 25 years!
Now thanks to you I am able to competently improvise on both acoustic and electric guitar.
Hey Grif,
Great suggestion using the Digitec Trio….I have one of these pedals and will put it to good use with your lesson above. Great stuff as usual!!
I am the Drummer and song writer for theORIGINAL CHICAGO BLUES ALL STARS
your tips and lessons have made it easier for me
to communicate with my guitar and bass player.
It also open me up to new song writing options.
THANKS
Thanks Griff! Keep going with videos,I learn a little more with each.if you could have heard me play before I bought bgu 2.0 and after. You would be patting your own self on the back!. I’m very pleased my results but you never stop learning so keep them coming please! B-)
Thanks, Griff
Like I said yesterday,put out a 5 easy blues rhythms like you did with the solos to use in different feels.Better yet,combo of leads and rhythm to mix and match such as your improvised course.
Is this in 52 Rhythm Fills?
Yes, this similar (if not identical) to the base pattern in that course. It’s also in the first or 2nd lesson of Blues Guitar Unleashed.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You’re reading my ‘everything I want to know about blues rhythm’ mind, these days and am truly grateful.
yes looking at now it is the ex 2.1 minus playing on the and of beat three on bar one and adding the blues 1/2 step from BGU in bar two.
I think.
Good and simple, but the timing a little tricky.