While this might not be a difficult riff for you to play, if you’re a beginner it can pose some challenges…

More importantly, most beginners I see play this a little too…. timidly.

Instead, I’d like to show you how to use your picking hand to keep things more consistent, start some alternate picking, and get a more aggressive sound out of the riff. In my experience, this is a lot more the sound you’re probably looking for 🙂

If you have trouble watching the video, you may be on a VPN or have some other security settings that will make YouTube ask you to identify yourself as not being a “bot”…

You can view the video directly at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se_2kx291Vw


    8 replies to "Beginning Picking Blues Riff"

    • Norm violette

      I’m a 10-year army vet that’s got 100% disability for PTSD. Your lessons make me try to memorize. Remember your lessons the sound of me playing guitar. Soothes my soul and makes me focus. Thank you. Appreciate your lessons. Norm

      I have four guitars. Two acoustic two electric do not know how to play. Neither one of them all I know is on paper plying all that information on the guitars. Totally different animal but I’m learning. Thank you

      • ACE DRAGON

        YOUR HOME SAFE, NORM. i STILL HAVE PTSD FROM VIETNAM. Had a HIT SONG IN 1965 BUT CAME HOME AND JUST STARTED PLAYING. Yes, THE BAD DREAMS. IN MY PARYERS, NORM. GLAD YOUR HOME SAFE.

    • Malc

      Same as last comment, I am not a bot, but I can’t get past the sign in request. If this keeps happening, I shall lose interest altogether.

      • Griff

        Can you tell me when that happens? Is it when you click on the video itself to play it or when the page loads?

    • James Wiley

      Why when I try to view a video, as I’ve done many times in the past, am I now asked to “sign in” to prove I’m not a bot? Attempting to do so goes nowhere.

      • Griff

        Can you tell me when that happens? Is it when you click on the video itself to play it or when the page loads?

    • Jami

      Always helpful, especially for newbies like me who need the reminders – things seem simple until you pick up the guitar and have a lot of things to think about. Thanks Griff!

    • Tug

      Thanks Griff,
      Another great lesson.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.