The premise behind today’s lesson is this situation…
You and a buddy are hanging out to play some guitar, but neither of you knows the same tune so you figure you’ll just play, “Blues In E.”
That means, one of you will play rhythm while the other plays lead, then you’ll switch. Common courtesy is 2 passes through the 12 bar blues form (2 choruses) and then you switch (that’s not set in stone by any means so if someone is going for it and takes more, they’re not wrong, they just had more to say…)
So if you’re the one playing rhythm right now, what do you play? You hopefully know the basic “blues in E” pattern, but wouldn’t it be nice to spice it up a little? This might help.
Downloads
The TABThis is the TAB and notation for what I played. PLEASE modify it to suit your taste. (PDF)
This VideoWant to save this video for later? You can download it with this link. (MP4)
46 replies to "Blues With A Buddy – Slow Blues In E"
In addition to the tips Griff gives about making the B stretch, I found it very helpful to tuck my elbow in to my body. I got this from watching Griff do it, even though he doesn’t mention it with his other tips. It rotates your hand and enables you to stretch further.
ok here’s the deal I really enjoy your videos and courses, however I find your e-mail videos lacking in that you say in the next video I will do this or that and I never see the next video. In other words there is no linking the videos together. For instance the other day you did a video on blues box 1 and finished by saying in the next video I will show you blues box 2, where is the next video?
Just an observation.
As always Griff, love your work.
I’m one of your members and slowly going through the courses
but still love these little videos you do, love to see more buddy system ones
I’m one of those that have a problem with the pinky stretch. Is there any reason the V chord (B) can’t be played on the 7th fret sixth string? I can make that stretch up there higher on the neck. Thank you in advance. Cheers! 🙂
Sure, whatever works. I have short fingers that don’t stretch well.
Aloha from the Big Island! I do have the pinky problem as I injured the pinky playing football in 1971. Did,nt have the money to see a doctor. I have never been able to do that stretch on the lower fret board. I do exactly what you said and just stay on the V and have fun!!
Great lesson! Just what I need at my level. Another basic video like this to teach playing lead over the same progression would be fantastic. Thank you!
Basic, but good !!
Thanks Griff. It seems I have been dropped from your email list as you mentioned the other day . I am a subscriber to BGU. Please get me back on your email list. wbellinzoni@sc.rr.com
Thank you,
Bill Bellinzoni
9509 Indigo Club Dr.
Murrells Inlet, Sc 29576
This comes at the perfect time as I’m working on rhythm and soloing in E. Thanks Griff.
This is really good stuff…..trying to spice up the shuffle is something that I was wanting to do. Many thanks!!
Griff,
Laser clear instruction on this! One of your best. Hope to see a lesson on the melody to accompany it soon.
thanks for sharing your talent.
Great lesson and yes – more please!!
I really like the ideas You demonstrate here . There are at least 4 I have never used . so that`s great and I will keep this and study it more. A idea here when making that move on the B this may be strange but leave out the 5th string and I know it`s a B but a B note is on the 4th string on the 4th fret so You can slide up to capture the same feel .This is for the persons with issues stretching . What You think Teacher?I have issues with my hands and this is what I do. Before writing I went and picked up my acoustic to be sure of this before putting this comment in . Okay buzz buzz buzz buzz . I wish I lived near Corona and You came to Me with Your guitars for set ups. I have set up many and it is because I have yet to find someone who can set up well. I guess some like the buzzing it wears out the strings faster. Not to mention the frets . Just the way your guitars sounds tells me the neck seems off too flat ever see a guy who looks at the guitar from base to top he is looking at the bow or curve. it needs a slight bow. i shut up now. late
Now we can all sleep.
Griff, just what I’ve been waiting for, to play solo with another guitar player playing rhythm. Thanks, for teaching us how to play. You are the best thing that has ever happen to all of us who want to play blues.
Cant open the download option for the pdf but other wise brilliant lesson as always thank you
I really enjoyed this video. Many videos show lead riffs but never focus on rhythm patterns. For beginners you might want to mention this is a “shuffle” rhythm – a rhythm form that Clapton made a career out of. Also if you get good at playing this pattern you can then start to try alternating between the rhythm pattern and small lead fills. This is also a thing that Clapton does. BTW there are many great free metronome apps available for android and IOS devices for anyone who wants to experiment with playing with one.
Hi Griff,
This is an oldie but a goodie and a great refresher and with the variations too..someone above said you can do it with a looper yes but only once you get the timing on spot but it is better with another Guitarist Buddy. The B stretch simplified as you showed is good to know as when jamming a lot my left hand gets tired. But as someone else suggested start from 7th Fret which is cool as well. So all the BGUer Buddies are right here with their comments. I have been learning from most of your BGU Courses as well as these email lessons since 2013 and I am progressing…really getting into it since I retired back in 2015. Your are a great Guitar teacher Griff..
Thanks
Michael-Sydney-Australia 27th Feb 2018
hey griff, thanks for this one, but i open my emails sometimes days after youd sent it. but eventually I PRACTICE it.thanks
Great lesson thanks Griff, I do like those little walk around’s between the chords making it more interesting for the rhythm plus I believe helps the lead player as well. Love the ASAT too.
Top stuff again Griff thanks for your inovation on teaching interesting bits of wisdom
thanks Griff
Same here, more stuff like this. This is great practice and I needed it!
thanks Griff
Great lesson! I would love to see more on the playing with a buddy theme.
Thanks again Griff. As an advanced beginner I’ve been looking for instruction on playing with a partner. When I was first asked to play with another guitarist, I just bumbled through the “blues in E” shuffle monotonously, not really knowing what else to do.
It would be great if you continued this lesson, How about who takes the intro/turnarounds???
Great lesson, thank you.
Yes, please continue with these. Good stuff and a variation that isn’t in the 52 Rhythm Fills & Variations Course. Thank you!
Thanks Griff, Great concept. Using a looper for practice is a great idea too,but there is a confortableness that cones with working/sharing with a friend of like mindedness. Besides, a looper won’t buy you a cup of coffee 🙂
Dick, aka fearless freddy
Griff,
THANK YOU for all the lessons !! you are such a great teacher and player !!! how awesome it is that you share your knowledge with us less gifted players..I have learned a lot from you, and truly appreciate you taking the time to post these videos. I am an intermediate player..jazz, blues and rock..and ALWAYS learn from your videos !! keep em coming your the BEST !! the pdf are great tools..my buddy is coming for a visit next week and we will be jamming and trading fours with this blues lesson !!! rocking ..Jim Chironna
Always enjoy the daily lessons that you send.. I appreciate everything that you do to make sure we learn the blues properly. Keep the lessons coming.
Wonderful job, lookin forward to how to start soloin
Yes the stretch you make with the B on the 5th string to the A on the 4th is large (2nd fret to 7th fret)- another way to simplify this would be to start the pattern at the 7th fret of the sixth string (7th fret to 12th fret is still a 5 fret differential, just that as you move up the fretboard the width of the frets decrease significantly)…. if you follow- Griff could better explain this.
Thanks Griff for all your great work.
Excellent Griff! Can’t wait to start jamming on this. And I can use my Looper to be own buddy!😀
Thanks Griff…like this one … hope to see the ‘solo’ section in a future video. Appreciate your efforts !
Nice lesson Griff! Its nice to spice it up a little bit. It will be really fun to play with a buddy. Looking forward to the solo lesson to play along with this. Thanks!
Love it Griff, nice and slow and simple…keep me coming!!
Excellent lesson. Thank you.
Yea! Alright! Play dem Bluz!
Ya great stuff there. Simple and fun. Nice to show this to friends so they can get started on it and gives me people to play with. Can wait for the little Lead part to show them. Thks coach.
Griff – another great training lesson. Love the simplicity and focus on timing and embellishments. Keep the lessons coming and enjoy.
Hey Griff — nice variation here! However, the tab does not include the chromatic walk up from the I to the IV chords.. Can that be fixed up? Cheers!
Oh never mind — my old eyes are working this morning!! The tab of course DOES have it.. LOL 🙂
Nice lesson. I don’t count beats. Been jamming for years, don’t no theory but enjoy your teachings. Would love to have you talk about your choice of equipment, amps, guitars, etc. in your teaching studio. Thanks again for your great style of teaching, Lance