So, this doesn’t always happen, but I have been at blues jams where “Cissy Strut” was called… and it’s not really a blues.

However, it’s a one chord vamp and is sort of “blues-y”… and 1 chord vamps are fun because you can play… well… anything!

So not only do you have some freedom (which can be a bit scary, I know) but it’s also a great time to try out some new sounds and start mixing sounds you know together.

I’ll throw down some ideas here… you take it from there 🙂


    27 replies to "Soloing Over A 1 Chord Vamp"

    • Jeff

      Great stuff as always.
      Thanks

    • John Urbaniak

      Great lesson! If you listen to the Layla and Blind Faith albums with the extra jam tracks Clapton does these one chord vamps for 10-12 minutes where you can tell he’s just scooping in the ideas. Often wondered about how to go about doing that and now I’m inspired. Thanks!

    • Barry

      I may be giving away my age but I have the Meter’s album with that song. Bought it when I was in high school. Guess I need to dig it out and give it a play

    • Clem

      Hey Griff
      Hoping you can lead me to some simple, I mean simple, play by yourself songs. I don’t want to play a backing track. Just want some back porch stuff that I can impress myself with. I love your new CD, have it in my truck and play it on the way to work each day.

    • Clem

      Hey Griff
      Hoping you can lead me to some simple, I mean simple, play by yourself songs. I don’t want to play a backing track. Just want some back porch stuff that I an impress myself with. I love your new CD, have it in my truck and play it on the way to each day.

    • DaveyJoe

      Cool!
      9/18/19

    • Royce

      one cord vamps are a good way to practice

    • Fran

      Griff. You’re just showing off.

    • Anthony

      Your best sounding guitar

    • Mark Matthews

      Never gave it a thought before, I will now though.

    • Gene

      .hey Griff..gene from Hawaii..really dig this lesson on one chord vamp solos..been wondering bout using all the different tools ( modes, minor major pentatonics, blues, harmonic minors, etc..) over a chord..seems like a good way to practice all the tools..like you read my mind, been practicing the same..last question..what is the best way to learn to play over a progression..is it learning the scale so well, or hearing cord changes well enough to know when to change, or both?? mahalo so much for the knowledge.. I also dig the way you speed pick. ..your right hand hardly moves as you speed along..incredible, I keep practicing that style,,is it just one note difference between the Dorian and Mixolydian modes, and why does the Lydian mode differ from Ionian by just a sharp/flat D note, even when being in the same key of A,,?or is that a stupid question??

    • William Domato

      Giff, It may help a lot of your students (like it did me) if next time you post this you mention that your CAGED course expands this into all the cords. ( once you learn the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 6, 7, 8th concept. )

      I found that course extremely useful.

    • Don Hall

      Very advanced stuff, but I love that “pentatonic 6th” sound and want to pursue it. Any of that in the BGU lessons?

    • Chris

      Hi Griff the Meters also did Sophisticated Cissy Iremember them from back in the 60 s

    • Mike

      Having been a Dead fan forever, this is great! Wow!

      • PAUL

        NICE! JUST ONE THING, I CAN HARDLY HEAR YOUR LOOPER. SO THAT TROWS ME OFF.
        KIND OF LIKE PLAYING THE BIG CORDS AND STEPPING ON THE BASS PLAYER. THAT BACKING TRACK NEEDS TO BE OUT FRONT JUST A BIT MORE. THANK YOU GRIFF.

    • Ian

      Thanks Griff, there’s a lot of useful ideas in that. Around these parts Superstition by Stevie Wonder sometimes gets called. That stays on one chord for a long time and my ideas and inspiration quickly run out. This is definitely going to help.

    • Jack Flash Flash

      very interesting…

      • PATRICK

        Lost

    • Anton

      I had discovered something close of this some time ago without knowing or understanding what was going on. When I brought it up to another guitar group, the reply was “Whatever keeps you playing”.

      Thanks Griff for inspiring me to explore this again under a one chord vamp.

    • Eel1948

      I’ve always found it interesting ( not being a guitar player) how when determining what notes can be used when improvising in a certain key, is explained in terms of various scales. From a theoretical standpoint, it accounts for those notes, and it gives students a framework, and a place to start from and expand. I have found that eventually all 12 notes will work, depending how you and when you use them, and how and when you approach and leave them rhythmically, and like Griff said, where you land!

    • tony

      Griff be nimble Griff be quick. The one cord thing in a tune I can name two SRV`s stranded and creedence`s keep on choogling . I will have to check out these tunes and hear whats going on . Just wondering how many tunes are done this way .

      • tony

        see what happens when the brain is not awake . cross fire . sissy strut is a tune did not realize that . doooo

    • john allen

      Thanks Griff
      now I am going to go try all this , here I thought it was going to be a boring day 🙂 I feel a new course coming out on how and when to mix scales. keeps me busy

    • Pete Maiers

      Excellent example of showing the concept of “pivoting” around the root. Many possibilities…very, very nice. Thanks.

    • Interstate slim

      Thanks, but now I have mode overload and I’m going to go lie down and try to have visions of extended box 1 dancing through my head. Enjoy your day

    • Rod

      Reckon we will have to start calling you “Slow hands Griff”. Your fingers were pretty nimble there at times! Some of the faster passages even sounded like a trumpet playing to my ears! i

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