THIS Is How the Pros Play the Blues for HOURS (and You Can Too)
THIS Is How the Pros Play the Blues for HOURS (and You Can Too)
Hey guys, Brad Litton from SimpleGuitar.com. This blog post transcribes my YouTube lesson on three levels of blues shuffles — from a beginner open-A shuffle, to moving it around with power chords, to the easy way the old blues pros last all night without their hand dying.
Let me know in the comments which shuffle you're most excited to learn.
Level 1: Open A Blues Shuffle (12-Bar Blues)
We're using open power chords. You can do this with just your first finger, or first and third.
A: fifth string open + second fret on the fourth string. Play those together. Then leave the first finger and put your third finger on the fourth fret of the fourth string. If the stretch is uncomfortable, slide your first finger up to the fourth fret.
Play second fret twice, fourth fret twice, second twice, fourth twice. That's one measure of eighth notes (eight notes).
D: next set of strings — fourth string open, first finger second fret of the third string, third finger (or slide) to fourth fret of the third string. One measure.
Then back to the open A.
Form from the lesson:
- A — 1 measure
- D — 1 measure
- A — 2 more measures
- D — 2 measures
- A — 2 measures
- E: open sixth string + second fret fifth string, and the fourth fret on that fifth string — 1 measure
- D
- A
If you're ending, play A one more measure and end on that chord. If you're repeating, after that last A go back to E, then it starts over. Whenever you end, end on the first chord.
That's the 12-bar blues. Bar = measure. This pattern is required learning. A college professor told me he'd have people audition for the guitar program who didn't know a 12-bar blues. That drives me crazy.
Swing vs straight: I played it syncopated — long short, long short. That's swinging / staggering the eighth notes. Play it swung, you've got the blues. Play it straight, you've got rock and roll. Try both.
Variations once you're comfortable: play the fourth fret for just one note instead of two. Or play the fourth fret, slide up to the fifth fret, back down to four, back down to two. Have fun — after the basic way is solid.
Level 2: Move It to Any Key (Power Chords)
Once open A is comfortable, move it around.
A normal power chord might be first finger on 5 of the sixth string, third finger on 7 of the fifth. For this shuffle, put your second finger where that third finger was. It's a stretch, so start as high as you can. Electric: first finger on 10 sixth string, second finger on 12 fifth string. Acoustic: as high as you can (cutaway helps).
Tenth fret of the sixth string is a D, so that's a D power chord. Use your pinky to play 14 on the fifth string: 10, 12, then 14.
Thumb: don't put it behind your first finger (that makes the pinky stretch miserable). Put your thumb behind your second finger and stretch the first finger back. First finger reaches back easier than the pinky reaches up.
Four chord: shift strings. First finger on 10 of the fifth string (that's G), second on 12 of the fourth, pinky 14 of the fourth.
Five chord: stay on those strings and slide up two frets — first finger 12, second 14, pinky 16. Acoustic: as high as you can.
Then back down. Same 12-bar idea, now in D.
Place the root anywhere on the sixth string and you can play in any key. Sixth fret = B-flat (very common in the blues). Second and fourth fret is harder because the frets are farther apart — Level 3 makes that easier.
The pattern: one chord on the sixth-string power chord, four chord same fret on the fifth string, five chord two frets higher. Example from the seventh fret: 7 and 9, then 7 and 9 on the next strings, then 9 and 11.
Level 3: The All-Night Version (No Stretch)
Levels 1 and 2 will tire your hand. Great blues players make it easy.
In D again: second finger on 10 of the sixth string, pinky on 12 of the fifth (unconventional little power chord with second and fourth fingers). First finger on 9 of the fourth string.
That 9 on the fourth string is the same note as 14 on the fifth string. Play the 10+12 power chord, then lift the pinky. Let the first finger touch the fifth string to mute it, and play the root plus that first-finger note (the sixth).
You're lifting a finger to get the sixth, not stretching to put one down.
Move it around with roots on the sixth or fifth string. That's how you make an F-sharp shuffle easier too: second finger on F-sharp, pinky playing the fifth, first finger catching the sixth.
What to Practice, In Order
- Get comfortable with Level 1
- Then Level 2
- Then try Level 3
If you're going to jam blues for a long time, Level 3 will save your hand. You won't believe how much easier it is. If you want a simple place to start, grab my free Top 10 Things to Learn on Guitar First at http://simpleguitar.com/top10.
And hang out with other adult guitar players in the Simple Guitar Facebook group: http://facebook.com/groups/simpleguitar.
About the Author
Brad from Simple Guitar helps adult learners play the songs they love without the frustration. Visit simpleguitar.com for more free resources and lessons.
