Mixing up the Major and Minor Blues sounds can be essential to really nailing the blues sound…

… but it can also be a big pain in the neck!

When do you change? How do you change? How do you practice it?

All of that and more in today’s video…

If you want more info on Major Minor Blues Shapes (that I refer to in the video) it can be found HERE


    20 replies to "Mixing Major And Minor In 1st Position"

    • Frank

      I don’t ever write in but I had to on this one Griff. You expanded my mind a bunch to understanding both the minor and major Pentatonic relationships and how to play them together by using the 1st and 2nd position. Gonna study now so I can burn it into my noodle. Love your teaching ways. You’re the brother we all longed for. 🙂

    • William West

      Coolest stuff always. Never thought of playing position 2 on top. Great. thank you

    • Raymond loffredo

      Really, really, really useful and very, very applicable. I will use this often and put this into daily practice routine. I wish I would have watched this video sooner. Thank you for your quality teaching style. Keep Going.

    • Suzanne Shafer

      Thank you for this, Griff. It was serendipitous! Yesterday I spent several hours with a Mixolydian Blues hybrid scale, trying (unsuccessfully) to figure out how to use it to solo. Now, after tabbing out what I saw you play, I realize that you used that same hybrid scale on the top three strings—but I needed your explanation of it in terms of the Boxes 1 & 2 combination to make it click. I never would have come up with that on my own—and it made it all seem so easy because I already know those two patterns reasonably well and had no trouble combining them. Also, your instruction to use the major pattern only over the I chord explained why I didn’t like many of the sounds I was producing yesterday. This is one video I will definitely revisit until it’s rock solid in my fingers and ears.

    • Casey Brose

      Thanks Griff! This does make sense now. You are right about the amount of brains it takes to play box 1 and box 2 easily. I only have one brain cell working out as hard as it can to try and keep up.
      Thanks again.

    • kim

      Very timely for me. This year my goal is going from major to minor and back.

      I assume that you can continue the pattern through the A D & E strings.

      I believe in mapping out my on tabs – that will help with this kind of thing.

    • Marc

      Griff, thanks for this excellent secret sauce!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • DaveyJoe

      Once again…Very useful stuff, Griff! Keep reminding us…Thank you!
      6/2/19

    • Dick Frederick

      Hi again, Please tell Laura and the guys in the brass ( Jon & Tim too) that their horn lines are very tasty. My ears are luvin’ this CD.
      Dick aka Fearless Freddy

    • Dick Frederick

      Hi Griff, This lesson was a good way to relate this important concept to me. It makes sense to me now and gives me a good action plan to learn it. Thanks.
      God Bless you and your family, Griff. And God Bless djRayC.

      Dick aka Fearless Freddy

      • PAUL

        EVERY SUNDY, I LSTEN T KJAZZ LISTEND TO YOUR CD. IT WAS GREAT. THE BAND I’M IN IS CALLLED FUMBEL FINGERS. WE ARE ON I TUNES. MY CO-WRITER IS THE LEAD SINGER I DO THE VOCAL ARRAGEMNETS . USE TO BE LEAD SINGER AND SSECON LEAD GUITAR. WE WILL BE PLAY PZZA OIAZA ON PSCHWY IN LONG BEACH , ABOUT A MILE SOUTH OF THE AQURIUM.
        I KNOW ALL THE BOXS. I ONLY USE BOX 1 AND 2 THIS IS BURNED INTO MY HEAD. PLAYING UP, PLYING DOWN . ALSO I MAKE SURE TO STAY IN TIME.
        ALMOST A ROCK STAR THERE GRIFF!

    • Mike Kessler

      I love hearing your new album being played on Sirius Radio, “ The Blues Channel.” It makes me proud of you for your success. GOD bless you.

      • djRayC

        No need for the god thing, please. Sorry!
        There is no such thing, especially in the devil’s music.
        By the way, there is no such thing as the devil either, but they both make great material, including gospel.
        Moved by Aretha’s Amazing Grace
        Just humans being inventive again.
        Griff is great!

    • Tom Hopsicker

      👍🥃

    • Mike

      Hi Griff, very useful lesson as always. I have your new CD and I love it. I am spreading the word here in the UK.

      Many thanks. Mike

    • David

      One of the most practical lessons I’ve ever seen. Foundational building block stuff. Really helpful to get you venturing out of the normal lanes. Great work, Griff!

    • chris clemans

      Great lesson Griff by the way Sirius bues channel 74 plays your new CD several times a day (SOMEONE) I also have the PRS MCCARTY 594 SWEET

    • Joe

      Awesome lesson. What is the brand of your looper pedal? I need one of those.

      Thanks

      J

      • Griff

        It’s a simple Boss RC3. Just the one pedal version.

    • Sean

      Phenomenal lesson Griff! Very eye opening and I can’t wait to give it a try. I see it as a great way to add some variety to my attempts at soloing. Lol. Thank you buddy!!

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