So you want to learn how to play blues guitar. Where should you start? I’m going to give you 5 tips to help you get started. I’ll have lots more information in future posts, too, so stay tuned.
Tip 1: Decide What You Mean By “Blues Guitar”
Saying you want to learn blues guitar is a bit like saying you want to learn to cook. It’s a long way from boiling water to preparing an entire dinner. And will that dinner be Memphis style barbecue, or hand-rolled sushi?
Blues guitar includes such a wide range of players and styles that you need to narrow it down a bit in order to make real progress in your learning, and in order to learn what you want to learn.
You can start by thinking about the players you’d like to sound like. Is it your ambition to play like Stevie Ray Vaughn, or like Robert Johnson? Eric Clapton, or B.B. King?
You can also narrow it down by focusing on styles. First, do you want to play electric blues or acoustic blues? If it’s electric blues you like, is it Chicago Blues, or Texas Hill Country Blues? If it’s acoustic, do you prefer the delta blues of Robert Johnson and Son House, the Texas blues of Lighnin’ Hopkins, or the East Coast blues of Rev. Gary Davis and Mississippi John Hurt.
Spend some time listening to your favorites, and that will help you narrow your focus to a style or a player.
Tip 2: Learn The 12-Bar Blues
Many many blues songs in all styles are based on a chord progression, or structure, known as the 12-Bar Blues. No matter what kind of blues you want to play, knowing the 12-Bar blues will be invaluable. You can start by learning the structure of the 12-Bar Blues and learning to play the chord progression in one key. A lot of players start out learning the 12-Bar Blues in E, but you can also learn it easily in A, C, G, or D.
Well, it doesn’t have to be an entire song, but you should have in mind a specific piece of music to learn. It might be playing the chords along with an entire Eric Clapton song, for example, or it might be learning a specific Stevie Ray Vaughn solo.
If you’re just starting out, make sure you choose something that is easy enough that you can learn it in a few weeks, but hard enough that it will challenge you. The point here is to have a specific goal to work towards. It will help keep you focused, and when you achieve your goal, you’ll feel great.
Tip 4: Find A Playing Partner
Having someone to play with will help keep you motivated and interested, and it will also help make you a better musician.
Be sure to arrange a regular schedule — maybe you’ll get together once a week, or maybe once a month, but try to pick a schedule and stick to it.
Before the end of each time you get together, decide on specific goals for the next meeting. That way, you’ll know what you should be practicing, and you’ll be motivated to practice because you won’t want to let your partner down.
Also, if there are two of you, it will give you each the chance to learn to play rhythm guitar (that is, playing the chords) and lead guitar (while the other person plays rhythm).
Tip 5: Find a Teacher and Take Some Lessons
See if you can find a teacher in your local area who specializes in the kind of blues guitar that you want to learn. Sign up for at least four lessons.
After four lessons, I recommend that you evaluate how it’s going and decide if the teacher is right for you.
You might decide that it’s going just fine, and to continue with the teacher.
Or, if you like the teacher, but you’re unhappy with what you’ve been learning or the progress you’re making, you may want to talk with your teacher about your concerns.
You may even decide to find another teacher, or to stop taking lessons. In any case, taking some lessons will be good experience for you and you’re sure to learn a lot even if it turns out not to be a good fit for you.
If you can’t find a local teacher, or if you can’t afford private lessons, you can buy an instructional book or course. You’ll have to be more disciplined to make progress without regular lessons. I’d suggest that you still have a regular “lesson day” once a week, when you play what you’ve been working on for the previous week, and then pick out what you’re going to work on for the coming week.
I hope these tips help you in your quest to learn how to play blues guitar. Look for more tips in future posts.
How To Play Blues Guitar
Tip 1: Decide What You Mean By “Blues Guitar”
Saying you want to learn blues guitar is a bit like saying you want to learn to cook. It’s a long way from boiling water to preparing an entire dinner. And will that dinner be Memphis style barbecue, or hand-rolled sushi?
Blues guitar includes such a wide range of players and styles that you need to narrow it down a bit in order to make real progress in your learning, and in order to learn what you want to learn.
You can start by thinking about the players you’d like to sound like. Is it your ambition to play like Stevie Ray Vaughn, or like Robert Johnson? Eric Clapton, or B.B. King?
You can also narrow it down by focusing on styles. First, do you want to play electric blues or acoustic blues? If it’s electric blues you like, is it Chicago Blues, or Texas Hill Country Blues? If it’s acoustic, do you prefer the delta blues of Robert Johnson and Son House, the Texas blues of Lighnin’ Hopkins, or the East Coast blues of Rev. Gary Davis and Mississippi John Hurt.
Spend some time listening to your favorites, and that will help you narrow your focus to a style or a player.
Tip 2: Learn The 12-Bar Blues
Many many blues songs in all styles are based on a chord progression, or structure, known as the 12-Bar Blues. No matter what kind of blues you want to play, knowing the 12-Bar blues will be invaluable. You can start by learning the structure of the 12-Bar Blues and learning to play the chord progression in one key. A lot of players start out learning the 12-Bar Blues in E, but you can also learn it easily in A, C, G, or D.
For a quick lesson on how to play the 12-Bar Blues, see my article Basics Of Blues Guitar Chords: Playing The Twelve Bar Blues .
Tip 3: Choose a Song To Learn
Well, it doesn’t have to be an entire song, but you should have in mind a specific piece of music to learn. It might be playing the chords along with an entire Eric Clapton song, for example, or it might be learning a specific Stevie Ray Vaughn solo.
If you’re just starting out, make sure you choose something that is easy enough that you can learn it in a few weeks, but hard enough that it will challenge you. The point here is to have a specific goal to work towards. It will help keep you focused, and when you achieve your goal, you’ll feel great.
Tip 4: Find A Playing Partner
Having someone to play with will help keep you motivated and interested, and it will also help make you a better musician.
Be sure to arrange a regular schedule — maybe you’ll get together once a week, or maybe once a month, but try to pick a schedule and stick to it.
Before the end of each time you get together, decide on specific goals for the next meeting. That way, you’ll know what you should be practicing, and you’ll be motivated to practice because you won’t want to let your partner down.
Also, if there are two of you, it will give you each the chance to learn to play rhythm guitar (that is, playing the chords) and lead guitar (while the other person plays rhythm).
Tip 5: Find a Teacher and Take Some Lessons
See if you can find a teacher in your local area who specializes in the kind of blues guitar that you want to learn. Sign up for at least four lessons.
After four lessons, I recommend that you evaluate how it’s going and decide if the teacher is right for you.
You might decide that it’s going just fine, and to continue with the teacher.
Or, if you like the teacher, but you’re unhappy with what you’ve been learning or the progress you’re making, you may want to talk with your teacher about your concerns.
You may even decide to find another teacher, or to stop taking lessons. In any case, taking some lessons will be good experience for you and you’re sure to learn a lot even if it turns out not to be a good fit for you.
If you can’t find a local teacher, or if you can’t afford private lessons, you can buy an instructional book or course. You’ll have to be more disciplined to make progress without regular lessons. I’d suggest that you still have a regular “lesson day” once a week, when you play what you’ve been working on for the previous week, and then pick out what you’re going to work on for the coming week.
I hope these tips help you in your quest to learn how to play blues guitar. Look for more tips in future posts.