Today I have a rather long video at 32 minutes…
But don’t leave just yet, this is important.
So many people have a hard time turning their licks or rhythms into music. And along with that I see so many people making the same mistakes when it comes to learning the guitar.
You see, we call it “playing” guitar for a reason… you are supposed to “play” it and not just work on it.
One of the best teachers is experience and I’ve said that my job as a teacher is nothing more than to lead you down the path in the right way so that you can gain that experience faster and more efficiently than I did.
Well today’s video is a perfect example of that.What I’ve done in this video is to take 3 different rhythm examples and 3 different lead examples and use them over jam tracks.
In this way you’ll see how to take a short phrase or a rhythm idea that is very short, and turn it into something that you can use over a multitude of songs with different keys and feels.
I originally intended this video to be for those of you who have some of my Jam Tracks packs, but the idea is so universal that I had to expand it a little and share it with all of you.
And what you won’t find on the YouTube version of this video are the downloads… these are just for you 🙂
Downloads
how-to-use-jam-tracks.pdfThe licks and notes about this video.
how-to-use-jam-tracks.mp4The MP4 version of this video (best for Mac and some Windows users.)
- how-to-use-jam-tracks.wmv
The video in WMV format (best for Windows users.)
And did I mention that my band put together this great set of blues jam tracks you can get?
170 replies to "How To Use Jam Tracks"
Great presentation Griff, really enjoyed that! I did subscribe to your 5×5 jam tracks and it is a good place for me to start and am really learning a lot with them. It’s all good and all fun. Thanks Griff!
I didn’t read through all of the comments, so I apologize if what I’m going to relate has already been covered.
I have a looper pedal where I can upload .wav files to it. So what I do is bring in a jam track into my inexpensive digital audio workstation, Reaper, and chop off the lead-in and the fade-out. Then I render the remaining track to a .wav file. If the tempo is too fast, I load the new audio file into Transcribe! and slow it down, re-render it, and store it on my looper. The end result is a studio-quality jam track that never ends. But y’all knew that 😉
YOUR BABY ! LOL! SEEEN THIS ALONG TIME A GO. FORGOT THOSE COOL LICKS. THANKS GRIFF.
Hi Griff,
This has got me back on track. (Pardon the pun.)
Great lesson
Many Thanks
This video is very encouraging due to the fact it stimulates me to play my jam tracks following the suggestions. Thank YOU
Of all your lessons that I listen too, this one has been the most useful by far. It gets me into the game. Thanks
I haven’t been using my jam tracks — I certainly will be now.
Griff,
I always shied away from repetitive licks over a chord pattern, thinking them too mundane… but a wise man once told me that your fingers only go to places they are comfortable.
Great lesson…
3/22/18
Griff, how are you forming the 9th chords? They look different than you have in Blues Guitar Unleashed.
I strongly agree. You NEED jam tracks! The only thing better is playing with an actual band.
That was a great lesson Griff. I remember some of that from bgu 2.0 somewhere at the beginning I believe. At least some of the cords anyway. You started out very easy work your way into a little bit harder stuff that sounded awesome!! A while back maybe a year-and-a-half ago you sent a video out that had to do with less is more and it was a one-note solo. Just for grins I would love to see that again so I could show my brother that you don’t have to be fancy just have to be in time in the groove love you lessons Griff you’re the best teacher out there keep them coming 🙂
Hi Griff,
Great lesson and as you know I have purchased most of the BGU Jam Tracks over time and I note that you always show the Key for each type of Rhythm and Tempo. I am also playing along with the original songs which is fun too as I don’t have to do any singing.
All up this lesson is cool and very good.
Michael-Sydney-Australia 21 March 2018
Thanks Griff. Very helpful. Helped me get the most out of my Alesis SR18 drum machine. Loads of fun. A lot more fun that my Seth Thomas vacuum tube metronome.
Awesome thanks Griff
Great lesson as always griff. As a girl it is always hard to get to play with a band, so I loved being able to buy real band backings. I learnt a lot from the utube, hope I can download that as it will take me ages to learn everything in it. You are very generous and a great teacher. Fun and easy to learn. Thank you for these great emails and a very Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Lily
Thanks Griff for yet another inspiring informative lesson
A motivating discussion is worth comment. I do believe
that you need to write more on this subject matter, it may not be a taboo subject but generally people do not speak about these topics.
To the next! All the best!!
Griff,
I purchased several Jam Track books w/ CD’s a few years ago, but after attempting the first example in the first book, I felt like I had been thrown in the deep end of the pool without knowing how to swim! I purchased BGU about 5 months ago and am now working on Solo # 6. With what I have learned in BGU and the 32 minute video, I am looking forward to going back to the Jam Track that tried to drown me and try this out!
You do a great job of filling in the missing parts for those of us who have picked a few pieces of the blues here and there but never understood what to do next. Your teaching approach is exactly what guys like me need! Thank you for your contribution to the art you so obviously love!
Hello Griff;
You are a good teacher, but I was a little disappointed with this lesson.
I understood what you were saying. I would have appreciated a lesson where you walk through one or two jam tracks to help us understand how to get the most from each jam track.
You were just flying through chords with no explanation of how you determined the chords. I would have rather watch a video to help me determine how to select chords to play along with the track, and a demonstration of some difference solo licks. Maybe with a transition between chords and solo. Maybe that’s a difference lesson.
I believe you are one of the best guitar instructions I’ve seen online but this time to me you fell short. Oh by the way I did buy you Blues Guitar unleashed.
Rj
Hey RJ… I completely understand that you may feel some pieces are missing in this lesson, but really it’s just a matter of scope.
Assuming you’ve been through Blues Guitar Unleashed you’ll know the 12 bar blues and you’ll know where those chords are coming from and you’ll have a lot of that background on when I choose what.
Had I gone into all of that it would have been a 3 hour video instead of a 30 minute one 🙂
Great video! I feel like I learned something at last! Now to learn me some licks…..
Hi Griff,
this lesson is exactly what I was hoping you could do for the 5 solo package I purchased. Any chance you can make another video demonstrating this concept with the solos learned in the package? Thanks for the great lessons.
Griff
You did a great job on this video. Thank you.
Roger
I would like to know do I need electric Guitar for Blues just want to make sure I have the right one
to learn own Thank you Jim
Hi Jim,
Does you guitar have 6 strings? Does it stay in tune long enough to play something?
If yes to the above, you’re all set!
I often practice and play things on my acoustic that are usually played on an electric. Not to mention all the music directed specifically to the acoustic.
I wish you the best!
THIS ONE WAS LONG,BUT VERY GOOD AND VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.I THANK YOU
Hello Griff,
Thanks for this Video, after watching I purchased the Ultimate Blues Jams Digital.
Hopefully this will help me become a better Guitar Player.
Thanks
Edward
Awsome Video , hey maybe I will become a decent guitar player one day thanks to you
Thanks Griff,
Really appreciate these videos that are full of information and quite easy to understand the multiple uses.
Great lesson Griff. I have been trying to play too many notes when there is no need to. Lots of practice to do here though?
Thanks again
Hey Griff
I purchased blues jam tracks via paypal but never received dowload instructions – I also sent 2 emails to your help desk but still have had no reply
Please send link to download blues jam tracks
Thanks
Question Griff – Is this part of BGU course or can this be shared with other folks?
Hey Griff – WOW! This gives me plenty (hours) of stuff to work on – really good stuff – really pushes me. Working on BGU as well. Love learning new licks, getting through the course, slowly, but surely – I like the acoustic stuff I’ve received also – Favorite may be “Playing on the Porch” (POP) though – slowly learning how to integrate a few of these things together and makeup my own little short POP stuff. I’m addicted. My fingers are getting tough. Grrrr 🙂
This one is going in my …/Griff Hamlin/ Lessons / Favorite Practice folder.
I need to figure out how to short loop through licks that you send and BGU DVD stuff. I spend a lot of time going back, replaying… It’s actually easier on the stuff (sorry for using that word so much) you email than on the BGU disks – Windows Media Player won’t “go back” some times & I have to restart the “chapter”. I would like without being able to loop & loop & loop, then inch forward, just sayin. First World Problems, eh? 🙂
Is there a booklet that goes with the jam tracks? I know that if I want to learn new skills about playing with jam tracks, I need some type of guide otherwise I’m left to what I already know. Please tell me there’s guide or video that goes along with the jam tracks so I can order the jam tracks. Thanks!
Vince –
I have an old offering from Griff, I believe it’s called, Blues Jam Session. It’s 50 jam tracks. The 50 tracks have a pdf to go with them that shows the chords over musical staff notation. I don’t know if it’s still available. You’ll have to go on the BGU site and look at all the course listings to see if it’s still there. It may be the first purchase I made from Griff back in 2014.
I hope this helps.
Griff thanks a lot. I like this lesson and all I have to do now is apply it.
WOW!! This lesson is simply brilliant. It has certainly made things a lot clearer for me.Man ,Grif, you really are the BEST. Thanks a Lot.
Thanks Griff. I am learning so much more. I loved this lesson. Really enjoying the blues jam tracks too!
Cheers Griff What a great session this is particularly for a beginner, it has given me a lot to mess with while i’m learning the basic stuff. Love the relaxed manner you put your teaching across with! Many Thanks
While I was wathing this video it just stopped but the audio kept going. Maybe just my computer. Anyway, though I didn’t det to watch it all, Ilearned from it. Thanks Griff.
Very good,Gtiff! I was wondering if you could demonstrate use of the Mixolydian scale in a Blues format as you mentioned using in your “29 jam tracks” book.
Thanks,
David
G’day Griff
Bloody well done, your teaching technique is fantastic, keep up the good work
Cheers
I have to check this one out when I do my computer lessons
hey griff I`ve playing for along time. I played guitar on all THE STRANGELOVES stuff and the mcoys album with rick derrenger . I haven`t played for about 20 years .Iv`e been getting back to it in the past few years with your help.After listening to your blues jams I lost intrest again. Did you sell your soul to the devil or something.You blew me away keep up the good work. J.R.
Griff
What is playing in the pocket
Everything you put out Griff , teaches me so much in such a relaxed way , that I get it much quicker than I ever thought possible . You are very good at your craft .You make a difference in peoples lives and that’s something to be proud of .
Very nice, a little hard for me to keep up, but very good incentive to get up and down the neck.
Some really nice tips, just what I needed to help open the door to using the jam tracks.
Thanks
WOW…..whos says you can’t teach an “Old Dawg” new tricks?
Thanks dude…….my licks are improving all the time thanks to you!
great licks
Once again… great stuff Griff. Timing is my biggest issue. I have a good feeling that this will help a LOT! Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Great stuff !!!!
Showed off to my friends over the weekend and they where really impressed, me to !
Thanks
62 and still Rocking
Griff,
I left you a favorable response the other day and now I have a question. I love the jam tracks and ask is there anyway you can make them available on a CD???
Old School and Still Rockin’…Gary
absolutely FANTASTIC! My fingers are sore from playing with this over and over! I cant wait until they stop hurting so I can get back to it. This has been one of the most useful lessons I have tried. EVER. Thank you thank you
Hi Griff
A well thought out lesson. This needs to be taught more. Using the licks to different tunes is a skill that most people have to be taught. Thank you
Hi Griff, Another awesome video lesson. You ROCK! But I’m having trouble reviewing the video while I practice it. I need a third hand to hit pause or rewind/replay. Is there a foot pedal that can control these functions so that my hands are free to cord and strum without delayed interuptions trying to <> ??? Maybe you could market one. I know I’d buy!! Thanks. Keep on jamming.
Glenn
Griff,
That is a very good video that, along with the tab I will study a lot.
On the other hand your backing tracks sounded a bit too advanced for me. I’ll give them another listen and attempt to play along and get back to you.
thanks for the video, Much appreciated,
Murray Charlton
Griff, I haven’t practiced my lessons for several months due to circomstances. Ijust watchec your video on “Jam Tracks”…I play my gigs(Hawaiian, Contemporary, Latin,Jazz..if you will?) on jam tracks. I would like to know how I can get some of your “Blues” jam tracks?…I feel that it would be helpful & encouraging for me who know nothing of playing Blues…Your demo is excellent!
Loved the video for the Jam Track download.
Is there still a student discount code? I’ve bought a few of items in the last few days and saw a place to enter a code but didn’t remember what it was.
John… it’s useful to ‘listen’ to the other guys and ‘show’ them your key or guitar and keep your level within their range of hearing . Good luck.
I play with radio, or Beggars Banquet etc. Thanks for sending me these carefully and helpfully crafted bits, your a nice guy buddy
I play (basic chords) in church. But I’m trying to learn solo blues guitar. your lessons
on the internet are outstanding. I like the fact that your down to earth with your lessons.
You seem to have the patience it takes for someone like me who’s had a hard life,
but can feel the blues in their soul. Please don’t stop your sharing! Norm.
Hey, griff, that was gr8, so much to conjour with. right now im feelin the groove– hope it lasts.
thanks a bunch.
Dear Griff, (may I call you griff)
Thank you for the video. I feel as though I am very privileged to have received it.
I find this video very instructive and I must say that, after watching it a couple of times I am able to jam with you and the backing tracks, with only a few mistakes. This is pretty good for me as I have only had your “Blues Guitar Unleashed for a few weeks.
It has given me confidence to play with backing tracks, which I have never done before.
Could you say hello to your twin David for me:0)
From:- Leslie, Nottingham, Great Britain.
Thanks friend. Not heard from youin awhile hope you and your little family have a great holiday season thanks forall youdo .thanks griff
Griff; fun wow, this is what gets the juices flowing again, loved this video. It’s to bad the only guitar I had to work with today was my Classical but, still got every part of the lessons down. Just wanted to let you know I could not bend the nylon strings up 2 notes, either it is me or it can’t be done, so i just went to the proper note and places it in. Back tracks are definately the way to go. Jamming to the radio is just to busy to hear what you are doing. Guess what is on my Christmas list, or
Excellent video/lesson. Thanks so much for what now seems obvious (after watching the lesson of course) as to how get great benefits and practice from using jam tracks.
Also just got the jam tracks, thanks.
I have learned a lot of great stuff from your emails – it is easier for me because of some learning disability to have everything broken down. Even though I bought BGU, I found once when I was writing down something from one of your emails, hmmm… wait a minute, this looks like the BGU book. And sure enough, there it was in the book.
Love the glasses, makes you look like Professor G.Hamlin, PhD, All Styles Unleashed Studies.
I have been playing for over 40 years and still going. I think if you are not growing, you are dead.
Or a rock. Or above it all. Wish you were around sooner. The world needs real teachers. You are like Jamey Aebersold, kicked up a notch, of blues guitar. People ask me for lessons, and I just tell them to get your stuff, which would probably be what I would show them anyway. I don’t steal.
I have a suggestion (don’t we all?). I am involved with open mics/jams in Long Island, NY.
Pretty mild compared to Big Ed Sullivan’s open blues mic at the Red Lion on Bleecker Street.
This is a joint where guys like Griff Hamlin go on Mondays to hang out and play. You never know who is going to show up. All are welcome. But you need to know some things.
Playing solos is great, but I find sometimes when it’s my turn to, some folks can’t seem to keep the “backing tracks” going – forget about being inspirational or driving. You know, when the one guy stops playing, the whole thing dies. Sometimes even the drummer gets lost.
The sailboat race is on even if the foredeck position guy is seasick.
When you try to play something that worked great with the BGU tracks and it flops because of the live backline, it is frustrating. Especially if you sing. For example, some players can not anticipate “stops” let’s say, and do not know the signals or even if they did, do not ever look up from their instruments to see what the heck is going on. Very embarrassing when the leader is screaming your name in the middle of a tune (everyone hears but you), and good luck getting asked up again. Rule #1: NEVER have the leader screaming at you. The leader should always be nodding their head appreciatively at you. And asking you up again. Even better, the audience asks for more.
But always respect the leader. Until you have a gig of your own, making those who do look foolish is not wise. Nobody knows why, but sometimes the worst players have the best gigs, and great players can’t get one. EVEN WORSE: the club owner is yelling at the or giving the “cut” signal to the leader because of you. People are leaving. They are trying to make money.
As for stops,I learned by always being prepared for one, just in case. It’s like musical chairs. When the music stops, don’t be without a chair. The rules are that you can’t stand in front of an empty chair and wait for the music to stop though.
When others are soloing “out of the box” do not be distracted. Keep the beat. If they are intentionally playing out of the box, you can be sure they know how to get back in, so keep the box there. Don’t move it.
Also, if you like to play 20 minute solos and you are not Johnny, Jimi, or Stevie, you are toast.
Not playing like them, as good or better. Unless you are in a tribute band. You may not see the eyes rolling, hear the leader screaming, but will wonder why you do not get asked to play again. And it has nothing to do with the fact that you mastered the blues licks.
How to recognize when someone is going to complete a solo and pass things along, with or without a nod or a wink, so soloing does not go on painfully until everyone leaves. We have all been “done” soloing, and because no one recognizes this, are forced to come up with more stuff. Sharing. Knowing when it’s time to go “back to the head”. (Geez, I’m only on #37 of 73 blues licks to play over this!)
Is the audience clapping because your solo was great, or that it is over?
Are you pruning shrubs with a chain saw? How do you know the difference? Why is someone always saying lower the volume? Just because you can afford a 12,000 watt head and cabinets to the ceiling does not mean you can bring them everywhere, unless you play out at MSG most of the time. If that is your tone, find another way. Also, open jams sometimes require you to use some amp that you dread. In NYC clubs, there is no room for ANY amps. Do not bring yours unless asked. Do not waste everyones time setting up stomp crutches. Effects will turn on you, even though they sound great at home. If your solo sounds good on an acoustic, you are safe. Learn how to deal with it. Shut up, plug in, and play. In tune.
Go to open mics/jams and observe before plunging in.
Anyway, you get the point. I have more, but I will shut up, as no one may even read this.
I was wondering if you are going to address these “etiquette” issue at some point. All these blues guitarists dressed up with no place to go, need to learn manners. And comping.
Great video. The lesson is taken at the right pace with Griff explaining everything with his usual clear and easy going style. I love this stuff. Keep it up!
Great stuff, you make it look effortless, it’s simple enough to play, but like the man says, ‘it’s all in the timing.
Keep up the good work……..
Really enjoyed that.I pick up my guitar and this stuff came to me and I can play them, but now I need to put them all together. Really something when they are played together, i’ll have ths mastered today. Thanks for all these e-mail lessons you send. I have had some friends tell their friends (while I was with them) how good I could play, but did not have a guitar with me, and now with just these runs put together, I will sound good (hopefully). Sometimes I dought myself and my wife says I need to stop that. But with practice, every one can get better. One of the best things I have done is to take one of my guitars and just put it in a stand and when I walk by it, I will pick it up. If your guitar is out of site, you will most likely play less,so all of us needs to do that. Thanks again Griff.
Pulled all the stops out for this one Griff. Really good stuff,cheers mate.
Hi Griff,
I’m really enjoying these lessons and this one couldn’t be more timely. I’ve just received my 29 Blues Jam Tracks yesterday to complement my Accoustics Blues Unleashed Course that I purchased a while back after sampling the freebies for quite a while. But these freebies that regularly drop into my inbox keep me strumming and picking daily. And , I might add that at long last I’m improving.
Seasons greetings, from me in the UK, to you and yours and also to the many ‘Griff’ devotees out there. Sloop.
Hi Griff.
I thought that the Blues Jam tracks video was really helpful. It really helps to see how a technique can be applied to different music styles. Really enjoying it. Many thanks. David
OK this is the second time I’ve raised a comment on this lesson. But I’ve just got to say it again for all the people out there. If you haven’t got hold of Griff’s BGU acoustic package then you’re missing out BIG time. And no, I don’t know Griff personally – it’s just that if you really want to play the blues (or other styles for that matter) this is truly a no brainer. Brilliant teaching Griff – you’ve enabled me to make that sudden leap forward after many years of ‘playing’ the same old limited stuff that I guess we all do – and going nowhere. A very happy Christmas to you & yours Griff and thanks a million.
Thanks Griff as always some more great licks to add to all your lessons,and you are right jam tracks helps keeping in time and rythm.
I really liked this video, gave me some things to think about. As I have never played with others, this gave me some excellent direction and tools to work with. Thxs very much!
Thanks Griff
I was able to save your video to my desktop but was unable to save the PDF with the TAB for the rhythms and licks in the video. It would only allow me to save it as a webarchive which you know is just a pointer to the web address. Is there something wrong with this file? Let me know.
Carl
Griff!
Awesome lesson!! I learned a bit more on soloing with jam tracks.
Hey Griff,like the Video im orderning ur Jam Tracks the only thing is since it’s a dwn load program
if for any reason my system won’t dwn load the tracks will it stop the process and not charge me or will it ask me not compatibe with software? Anyway thanks for everything,one day,one day Griff I will play like that…………….Merry Christmas to your Family and Friendss.
great stuff griff! thanks for making it available to all ,including those of us still working through your beginner course.i may not be able to play this stuff too well(yet!)but you’ve advanced my understanding of it immensely.best of the holidays to you and yours,from up here in canada.
Hey Griff:
Love it. I have so much confidence the past 3 months thanks to you and all your help a special thanks. Hey if you have printers (HP) or others and need cartridges at cost I have been doing this for 30 years I will help you out all my cartridges are made in the USA and have a 2 year warranty even if you buy them at my cost which is about a ton less than a new cartridge and are truly awesome just like all the info you send me daily. I thank you my family thanks you and my friends thank you. Have a Merry Christmas to you and your wife and children.
Love
the Milligan’s
very nice licks will use when hand is better thanks again
Griff,
After all these years, it’s like the light just came on. One of the best guitarist I ever had the privilege of knowing and performing with said to me one time, “When are you guys ever gonna figure out I’m playing the same lead over and over? I just change the rhythm.” Well I’m sad to say that he has since passed on, but hopefully he is looking down today and saying, Thanks Griff for helping Gary figure it out.
As always Griff, I thank you for helping those of us who play guitar – play a little better!
Old School and Still Rockin’…Gary
Watching this at work on lunch break – can’t wait to get home to my guitar! Thanks!
I have just started playing, I have an acoustic fender guitar, I love the blues but it just doesn’t sound the same as an elec. have tried an Elec. just doesn’t seem to fit my hand the same as an acoustic. what should i do to solve this.
Hi Griff,
Love the video,you have made the process of using licks over jam tracks come alive.
Many Thanks and Happy Christmas to you and family
Griff you have been amazing. I really love your style of teaching and have learned so much from you. I just downloaded the jam tracks and I am going to start to play with them. A very fair price by the way. Keep up the good work my friend. (I am one of those guys that played in a band starting in the early 60s for about 6 years so I am enjoying getting back to my guitar and learning somthing new from you).
Great Lesson Griff
In addition to the obvious of being able to use the same phrases over different grooves, it also demos how you can use a single idea over all 12 bars and it sounds good…next step would be to have slight variations on the basic phrase as you move along in the 12 bar.
I know when i have played in jams, when i get nervous and insecure, I feel a need to move onto a different phrase, when Im feeling relaxed..just work on variations of 1 phrase… and it feels and sounds good and gets you more connected.
Thank again Griff…this lesson is invaluable !
Wow! I’ve been vacillating trying to decide if I want to buy into your lessons or not but this was the “freebie” that does it for me! I learned about 3 years (if you count the way I’ve BEEN learning) worth of material in this one session from you. I’M IN!. Thanks to your expertise and, maybe just as important, your generous sharing of your knowledge, you have gained another student. Thanks Griff! Check’s in the mail.
jimmyd
Great stuff, Griff. This is the way to help us along. Very much appreciated.
Thanks again,
David
Great lesson!!! You always seen to teach what I need to enhance my playing skills. Your videos are informative and easy to follow.
Griff , Thanks that is a lot of info, I loved the licks especially the last one. I have experienced the timing issue big time. I need some more lessons on theory and counting out the time for sure.
Thanks again Craig
Great video! Explains quite a lot of things that new and even more experienced players need to know. A lot of us have trouble fitting different licks to different beats and this video shows how that’s done very well.It also teaches some good licks and different styles of rhythms.
Nice lesson! Have invested in several of your products and enjoyed them all. Will probably get the Jam Tracks shortly (just had a major surgical operation and can’t play for the moment).
One question: How did you get that tone with your Les Paul? Hope it isn’t too expensive knowing your love of gadgets!
Andrew
Great lesson Griff, you remind me why I love the blues so much, simple licks, some std rhythm feels and what have you got, hours of fun and something that will impress the neighbors and even my wife for a change! I look forward to more of your lessons as I’m still working through BGU and learning heaps from the course as I go, lets hope I have a little more time left to me beyond the 21st of this month as I don’t think I’ll be the perfect blues guitarist before then! Keep up the great work and thanks for passing on your passion to all of us devotees….Merry Xmas to you and your family……..Cheers Dale.
Yet another excellent lesson. Many thanks Griff.
You inspire me to play every time I receive one of your lessons.
I wish you and Laura a very happy Christmas. Thank you again.
Great video Griff and it will help me a lot, just what I needed but I still have one problem using Jam Tracks. I am not the best at counting and I know that I have to work on that. However, in using jam tracks I have great difficulty trying to find the right place to start the count and often get it terribly wrong. Is there any way you could help me with this problem?
At the risk of sounding presumptuous, some times you have to go back to the basics to make progress on where you are at the time. It has been my experience that the metronome is hated by guitar players and they will use all kinds of excuses not to use it such as “It makes me sound mechanical”.
Learning to play with a metronome can be intimidating because it does take a certain amount of effort to get over the hump. But once you have mastered how to use it, it is an invaluable tool to help solve both solo and rhythm problems. As Griff has pointed out numerous times, you must learn to “count” and not rely on “feel”. “Feel” will come naturally after you have learned the mechanics of counting and can use the metronome to learn a lick or rhythm slowly and then increase the speed incrementally.
When you can do that, it is quite rewarding. I am currently working on Solo # 6 in BGU and can honestly say that the metronome and the “Slow Down” device I use has allowed me to make progress much more quickly than I thought possible when I first listened to Griff play it in his online lesson.
Good Luck, go forth and prosper, and may the force be with you.
Thanks for this info. I have been wanting to get some sound tracks to work on my music but was unsure where to get them and how to use them and when. Thanks for the help, again. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christ filled Christmas. Your help has always been a blessing to be. Keep it simple and keep it great
Gill
Hey Griff, superb video as always. I’ve still a massive way to go yet, and I have most of your courses but getting the time to practise is a major problem. Could you perhaps give some advice on how to go about using the jam tracks. I mean what sort of equipment do I need, for example CD player , foot pedals generally that sort of thing?
Thanks for all you do man you are an inspiration.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and to all my fellow guitarists out there.
Thank You! Thank You1 Thank You! as you stated you did do something that will help change my guitar playing for ever. I have never played with a band, marrage and work and children, need I go on… but have been enjoying my bedroom guitar playing for many years almost never with any amplification, wakes up the kids ya know small house. However with PC’s jam traks are very available but I never really understood how to use them now I do Thanks so much !!
I really enjoyed your video . Very informative. I have been wanting to learn how to play the blues for years. It is my favorite type of music really picks me up when i’m down. I have the guitars and amp, still don’t have my own space yet but am working on it. My favorite instrument is the harmonica . I also wanted to learn how to play the blues on that as well, i also have few harmonicas.But crap happens and i keep hoping that one day i will have learned how to play i am almost 60 now. It has been my fovorite music all my life. Thank you for putting this on the internet. Keep up the good work. Happy playing and hpoe you have many good years ahead.
Griff, I appreciate all that you do to improve my guitar playing.
I have been studying B.G.U for 5 months in my spare time almost every day and I have advanced my abilites in a large way. But I I’m not able to keep up with this fast paced video in a very meaningful way. I will have to view it many more times to grasp all that you have laid on the table for me to absorb and apply it to my guitar.
I hope it will still be available in the future for me to revisit and replay when I’m most ready for it.
Happy Holidays my friend!
P.S. I dont think the old Mayan Indians could predict the future of our planet any better than we can. The 21st of December should come and go like any other day. And your fine efforts to teach us how to play guitar will continue uninterupted.
Thanks Again!!!
jw
Thank you Griff. That was great! You really have an unique teaching style, very easy going straight to the point. I like the way you broke the solo down in pretty easy licks and then played it over the jam track. I’m glad I bought the BGU, keep em coming my friend! Thank’s again.
Olle Eriksson
I bought the Jam tracks W/ CD & book a coupke years ago ,so this was enough of an incentive to pull it off the shelf and make some use of it. thanks
Griff, I haven’t played in years, but I am getting the bug again and these tips and tools are great. Watching these clips I caugh myself saying out loud… I can do this… the fingers are much older… I’m 57… but I’m looking forward to playing again… even if it’s only with the jam tracks… Thanks… Ed
Hi Griff: Thoroughly enjoyed this 32 minute video where you actually show us the three riffs then put them altogether with a jam in the end. I bought your blues course about six months ago with good intentions but, unfortunantely somehow life gets in the way and I have not applied myself. Do you have more of this type of video where you show us the individual riffs and then put it together in the end. I would be interested in purchasing. Thank you for all your kind and encouraging words. Even though I have not taken the time to practice, I do take the time and listen to many live tribute bands from the L.A. and Bay Area that come and play on week-ends at the local casino, so I am highly motivated and 2013 could be my stage debut cause I will learn these three riffs. Wishing you and your family a merry christmas with peace,love and health for the coming year.
Great video Griff. I found myself playing some lead licks of my own along with yours. As for ordering the jam tracks, like you said, a no brainer. Those with no brain will not order. For myself, I’ve spent hundreds on tunes priced anywhere from $.50 to $1 each, including backing tracks and, in truth, you don’t always even get what you pay for. However, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a 365 day guarantee. Thanks much and I hope you bring more such “Griff Riffs.”
great job Griff. you had me glued to screen like a kid at a candy store. great lesson, really inspired me to think more seriously about my rythm as well a lead………….like so many others, this is a tight time of the year. hope to get one of your courses soon. Thanks and keep up the fine work…
Dale
Griff – this is excellent material & very generous of you. Top teaching style as ever. So glad I found your site & bought some of your BGU packages. Far & away the best teacher out there.
My first note. I listen a lot. thanks your video’s are great. Luke
Great as usual Griff, my guitar playing is improving all the time
and this is where I’m at now, so this will be handy. Thanks
Thanks for the lesson Griff.(how to use jam tracks)What I don’t understand is you start a lick using a “d” on the high “e”string.then you do the same lick using a “d” on the “g”string.Thats when I get lost.
Thank you Griff !
That was wonderful!!
Do you know that your name means grip in German?
How appropriate : you have a good grip on things, especially your guitar neck!
Cheers to you from up North, on this 12/12/12
Klaus
Hey Griff if the world does come to an end I bet the blues still lives on 🙂 As I am heavily into your excellent BGU courses as well as the Soloing Without Scales I will be bookmarking this to come back to as and when.. There are tons of licks in SWS that could be moved around over various jam tracks but like you say it is the timing of the notes and phrases that seems to cause problems so thanks a lot for the additional insight.. Keep up the great work and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year with your family..
Griff:
I’m way ahead of the class on this one: my two previous courses (BGU & SWS) have had me improvising along the very musical lines that you discuss in this video lesson. Although the PDF you provided did not diagram the fingerings for the chords you were playing, I was right there with you…thanks to BGU and SWS! Your newer students however, may benefit from being able to view the diagrams for the chords you played in the video.
BGU & SWS will force the student to learn (unwittingly), as they did me, the name and location of every note on the guitar; the same holds true for the chords you played…I knew where every one of them was at, and how to play them CLEANLY!
I’ve still got quite a way to go, however, with my timing…it still sucks! I really need to put more time into the timing exercises…but I’m so tired after work. This ENTIRE HOLIDAY SEASON will be spent in the woodshed (…one of the advantages of being a Buddhist!) Thanks again!
Tarquinnian
Hi Griff,
Thanks for the video. Great job. Makes so much sense when you learn the small parts and then combine them in a jam track.
Merry Christmas
Thank You Sir. On that 12/21/12 thing I just think we need another Mayan to make another 5,000 year calendar since they ran out of room on the old one.
Now did I just hear part of the 4 note solo you sent? Licks are going in circles and how they can be play in so many different ways. Depending on how you Feel at the time your playing around with the lick.
Interesting this video came along when it did as I’ve been working on this very area of my playing. Timing/playing in the pocket etc right now is my Achilles heel so to speak. BGU is doing a lot in helping me improve in this area but if there are any other tips or lessons geared toward this topic I certainly will dive in. Fortunately I at least got to see the video through once before the “end of times” now I just hope I’ll be around long enough to reap the benefits?
Griff: I recently ordered your 29 Jam Tracks in lieu of the recent offered downloads jam tracks you had offered. I prefer the DVD type teachings as I can use my lap top or even smaller note bok size laptop to play anywhere I like. I’m still working with the Acoustic Blues Guitar DVD’s and take a break just to play the jam tracks. I’m hoping that the jam tracks you had offered in November 2012 will become available on CD/DVD soon so I can order them as well. I just ordered the Little Wings teaching.
This is also another grew video and example of your great teaching style that has made me a much better player in a very short time. Merry Christmas and thank you.
Very helpful thanks so much for all your lessons!!
Happy holidays to you and your family!!!
I wll be buying your course BGU
Thank,s for all the cool lesson,s I’m geting a lot better on my Guitar.
Thirty minutes well spent.
thanks hope it is not the end will not have time to play all
cheers griff,great stuff,ill be replaying this lesson over and over for a while,lovin it. cheers mate much appreciated.
Really enjoyed the lick section of the video. Many thanks Griff.
But I’ve got a question. I started playing along with you on the first lick using my little finger on the 10th fret and my index on the 7th fret (which is the hand position that I think I picked up from some of your other videos). Looks like you aren’t using your little finger at all. What is the best way to practice this??
hey Griff ur such nice guy to share all that great guit. work thanks
Griff you r great thanks for the lesson and thank the band for the great jam tracks merry x mass
Always good to watch and work with you
Great stuff Griff. Thanks, and have a wonderful Christmas,
really found this very usefull many thanks all the best tony.
Oh! and happy holidays to you and yours.
Great lesson, thanks.
I love Griff Hamlin… This is so generous to share this kind of lesson. Thanks!
Thanks Griff. These lessons are always very helpful and much appreciated.
So timely, as I have been thinking about this recently. Two things. one is that many jam tracks, (I don’t think any os these are yours) have no count in which makes it difficult to prepare for when to start, and where you come in depends (I think) on your knowing the song or having the music in front of you so you can see if there are rests in the first measure, or knowing something about the jam track to determine if there is an intro, and when to come in. Could you clarify that in a future lesson?
Thank you for this lesson as it is something I can really use.
Wow, is it just me……….looking at the frozen video pic with your glasses, i thought i was looking at Mulder from the X-Files…..[ david duchovny….]…..californication! back on the music side, well done again, great lesson. Hope one day you may do some licks and solo runs from some of the Big O hits,mainly from that well known Black and White concert with James Burton on Lead guitar
Hi Griff . I am listen to your lesson for a long time and i am sorry that i have never ordered any thing from you , i feel somehow bad , because you make a living from this – yes ? and guys like me just take – take . I have so a small pension , that i can not afford a lesson ! I had to tell you this for a long time . Sorry again Gunter Canada Merry Christmas & happy new Year !
Thanks again Griff. Your lessons are always spot-on. So far I have 3 of your courses and I’m making progress. My family say so at least and that who I play for the most. Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and Very Happy New Year.
Great, a really cool lesson comes out just when the world is ending – just my luck,
Thanx Griff, I love your vids I wish I could afford your complete course maybe things will get better in the new year and I will be able to invest,thats if we are still here,those pesky Mayans and their calendar of Doom.Anyway on a positive note a happy holiday and New Year to you and your family and once again Thanx.
Hey Griff! Thank buddy – that was great. What sounds difficult when EC or SRV plays it is revealed as good ol’ blues notes played a certain way. Inspiring stuff. Cheers Mate!
Thanks for the video’s Griff!
Thanks Griff for an excellent lesson combining rhythm and lead playing.
Griff,
I feel guilty – like I just got a $75 guitar lesson for free! Thank you!
Like the way you taught the 3 licks and then tied ’em together for a final solo. If I could just play that final solo I will have improved immensely! Thanks again!
Hey Griff,
at first i thought i am a bit passed the content, but sitting thru it found a couple of gems. Thanks, it’s always educational listening to what you present to us. Happy Holidays wohooo!!
All your lessons are tops Griff but this one is the best one I’ve seen as far as how important the simplicty of a lick can be no matter what the preferred style of Blue music. Too many notes too often are too bad Thank you for making it so understandably clear. the rythym segment is equally as informative and usable!!!! We just like to feel how we play it.
Hey Griff!
Great lessons from a man that has a Great way of teaching! Thank You for all of your inspirational material that you share freely!
On the “End of the World” thing… Some think it will be the Beginning Of A New Era of Time… I haven’t a clue! But, I remember in 1982, the year of the Great Harmonic Convergence… The planets all lined up neatly… Gravity was supposed to go nuts… Horror stories were being told… 300 mile an hour winds… Earthquakes…Etc. As far as I know, nothing unusual happened at all.
So… “Harmonic Convergence”… Sounds like a great name for a new Blues Piece… Or, is that Blues Peace (like for once, maybe?)…:-)
The Best to You & Family This Holiday Season!
Steve
that was awesome and very helpful. i now see how you started in box 3 went to box 2 and box 3 and that will start to put feel in it .
griff again thanks for the lessons much appreciated,and have A merry Christmas and A Happy new Year And God bless.
i really enjoy your lessons and tips,i got your blues course. Keep up the good work. I am in a band called under the son,(utsmusic.com) I hope you and your family have a merry christmas
Hey Griff,
An afterthought from my previous comment…..How about using a couple of old fashioned blues songs like “The St. Louis Blues” or “Basin Street Blues” in one of your future lessons. Give us a new view of Rythm, Lead, and Hokum to use in some songs us Old Geezers can show off with while we try to entertain the audience at the retirement home.. Keep ’em simple, please..
Thanks,. RCK
Thanks Griff, these really help!
Hi Griff,
Thanks for this great lesson, just what I have been waiting for ! A really useful set of tips and looking forward to putting them into practice.
Hope you and your family have a Happy Christmas and A Happy and Healthy 2013 !
Tony
I am almost pushing 80, and my background is self-taught C/W so I am not really familiar with the blues stars and songs that you use for references in your lessons. That being said, I do wish to complement you on your style of teaching. The method of showing and telling the student what finger to use and where to place it is sure a lot more understandable than the method of simply displaying a fast-fingered version of how good the instructor can play it.
I do find that over the years I have accidently picked up a few of those licks and can use them in the music I am familiar with. I have your DVD set on accoustic blues and hope to devote a lot more time learning from it in 2013.
Thanks for your email lessons, and have a Merry Christmas and a Great New Year.
As usual, brilliant!! your a great teacher. have a happy holiday with your family.
Excellent lessons! Thank you and Mele Kalikimaka e Hauoli Makahiki Hou! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Very good Griff ,loved that video and thank you so much for those jams ,they sound so good .If i dont talk to you soon i hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year
Griff,
Thanks again. Not only are you sharing what alot of musicians would never let the normal, (can normal and muscian be used in the same sentence?), musician get to learn from another musician. Thanks for being so open with your knowledge and for the gifts you give to us to preserve the art.
Thanks again,
Rusty
Thanks Griff,your licks went easy,easy,easy then suddenly harder..but i was able to stop/go/repeat and get it..love the clapton lick all the best,Greig
Very…very nice lesson…Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone….and if the world is going to end…hopefully it will happen before all the monthly bills come in…. 🙂
Dude! LIke the new look! Really appreciate the lessons & tips, too.
Hey Griff,
I love watching the video lessons you put together. Always full of great stuff to try out and practice with. I hope you and your family have a wonderfull Christmas and, if we’re all still here, I hope the new year brings you continued happines in your family, friends and work.
Take Care,
Pete
Very helpful, you demonstrate how to use rhythm with both the chords and lead parts, and how they interact. Your focus on counting the timing is very helpful, and I’ve found it to be one of the overlooked aspects of other guitar courses. Thanks, -c
This is right up there as one of the best and down to earth!
Griff doesn’t just show HIS chops but helps put us at ease while we develope our own chops!
Or perhaps Choppettes? 🙂
Great job Griff!
Thank you , makes an old man feel good. God Bless
hello Griff,
Merry Christmas..I have not given up on your great lessons .I have just taken a break to get some other must happens taken care of.. Keep up the great vids and lessons…
I know you love it………..and….we do appreciate it cuz we love it also.
GH
Hi Griff have enjoyed the lessons , Not yet up to standard , But found them useful. Thought I would thank You , Now before we all sail into Oblivion. Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. : ) Bill