Do you dream of playing blues on guitar, a genre that appeared in the 19th century in the United States and became popular on the eve of the 1960s? As with all styles, you should ideally select a suitable instrument and master a few basics before getting started… Here are some useful tips to take into account to get into the blues very soon!
The notion of “shuffle”, a prerequisite to master to play the blues
On a purely rhythmic level in the field of blues, we generally place ourselves on a rhythm described as a “shuffle”, or sometimes “ternary”. Very concretely, to shuffle means “to drag your feet”. In this sense, every time you see a group of two eighth notes on the score, you must make the first one last And delay in playing the second.
On a score, an eighth note which must be played in ternary is often materialized by the presence of the number “3” above. At the same time, we recommend playing pick strokes down, in order to have a slightly heavier tone and more appropriate to the genre.
Do not hesitate to search for video tutorials on the web, they can help you step by step to discover and familiarize yourself with this specific genre.
What guitar can you play blues with?
Ideally, we would rather request a electric guitar for the blues. Then, you must have an amplifier as well as a microphone, knowing that two configurations are possible:
- H-H: two single microphones
- S-S: three single microphones
Favor them thin sleeves, knowing that this advice applies to many genders: the goal here is above all to simplify your movements and avoid generating muscle or tendon pain after long workouts. This handle must also be right and the body must be full.
If you aspire to take guitar lessons and learning the blues, avoid choosing a microphone that is too powerful, and pay close attention to the curvature of the neck when buying your instrument (a flat neck, for example, can generate false or metallic sounds which will not be suited to the rendering wish).
Learn a riff based on E, A and B and the pentatonic scale
In the field of blues on guitar, a riff with an E, A and B chord is a good basis to master initially. We hear it on very popular tracks in the genre, like “Rock me Baby” (BB King).
The challenge here is to achieve rub the bass strings with a pick and the medium strings with your ring finger. This manipulation may seem quite difficult at first, because it is a gymnastics that is not entirely natural. Take the time to practice and make sure you master this sequence correctly, because it is a basis that will be very useful to you later.
At the same time, you will also need to know all notes of the E minor pentatonic scale.
The benefit of guitar lessons at home for learning the blues
If you take group music lessons, you will not necessarily have the opportunity to choose the genres in which you will position yourself. By contacting a home teacher to follow lessons at home, each course becomes customizable as desired.
So if you want to learn the blues on the guitar, or challenge yourself in other targeted genres, take advantage of private lessons that will allow you to have fun, progress at your own pace and flourish in your practice.