A lot of times, if you’re new to playing the blues, or new to guitar in general, and you’re trying to solo it’s super easy to get lost in the form…
So here’s a little live lesson I did yesterday on the YouTubes and Facebooks where I’ll give you some ideas on some ways to “own” the 12 bar blues form, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience with it yet.
27 replies to "Owning The 12 Bar Blues"
Great lesson
Hey Griff, I like Jazz 111s as well. Can you just clarify if you are using the black ‘XL’ Jim Dunlop Jazz111 on this one. It didn’t look like the very small one. When you said they are ‘a little smaller’ that would be the XLs, but most of the Jazz111s are a lot smaller.
Thanks as always for the lesson. Great way to spend a Saturday morning with a cup or two of coffee. 🙂
Just wondering what chord shape that is being used for the 5 chord?
It’s B power chord (B and F#).
E7 in the C-shape at fifth fret. I was wondering about the IV chord in the turnaround because it’s different than the D7 used in bars 5 and 6
Hey Griff, As usual a great refresher but I know the 12 bar blues and to get use to it, but you really have to count the bars and know the formular of the 1 IV & V chord in each key.
Way back you sent an email lesson called Blues Guitar Unleashed – Blues Chord Calculator which gives you 1 (1), 4 (IV), 5 (V) and flated 6 (bV1) Chords in any key. In that lesson you show a Chart in all Keys the 1 Chord , the IV Chord and V Chord as well as the bVI chord in minor blues. Maybe you could show this table next time around it would certainly get students interested in the BGU V2 Course..which I have and it is amazing.
Keep safe and thanks
Michael- Sydney- Australia Sept 2020.
Where would that course be right now. I looked on YouTube, didn’t see it
Thanks Griff – from Belgium.
Look forward to your daily mail, always good stuff!!
thank you griff, this lesson is so worth it for me because I feel I was trying to study my way into learning the 12 bar blues instead of playing it with the jam track and just playing ! Great advice I feel and thank you again!
Alexander
Guitar is a Suhr
ocala fla. the sun just came out and i ‘m playing the blues ty
Griff….Great stuff,I really can learn from you.I like the way you make me understand! Thank’s Gene.
Can you spell the name of the guitar you are playing in this video. I can’t read the name on it.
Thanks,
SULA!
Suhr
It’s a Suhr
Enjoyed the video. Being so new (playing for about six months now) I struggle to organize practice sessions. Looks like I could easily spend an hour on this each session.
I am in love with you… thank you for helping me improve so much. If i had money, i would buy all your lessons. I thank god you give me free ones! Really. You are amazing!
Cool!
1/26/19
Greetings from Atlanta, Georgia. You really are the best of the best. I don’t even play guitar….I’m using your lessons and insights to learn ukulele. I’m using entirely different chords but everything you say from a life lesson standpoint and practice in general is so applicable, that I listen with great curiosity until the very end! Keep doing what you are doing!
Great lesson opened my eyes
Great lesson Griff.
I am amazed how you are able to play, count (especially syncopated licks)
and sing all at the same time.
Griff, I’ve been following you for the past couple of years. Signed up recently for your blues program. In fact your Key to the Highway video hooked me! North (well) north of 60 and am determined to be better at blues…your lessons are spot on! Thanks for your efforts!
Thanks griff, I have the 5×5 blues and use it almost daily as part of my freestyle practice time. It helps having real music backing tracks not the computer generated ones you mostly find on you tube. Thanks again and enjoy your day.
hey
Hi Griff From Canada Niagara Falls…. you are the best of the best teachers . It is with great dismay that i did not have you as such in my youth. Life got in the way i am 73 and you are such an inspiration that i picked up my guitar from a room somewhere and religiously learn notes and follow your instructions every single day. Thanks much ….. Fritz.