How to Play the Blues on Guitar

How to Play the Blues on Guitar – A Beginner’s Guide

Do you want to learn how to play the blues on guitar? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this beginner’s guide, we’ll show you how to start playing the blues on guitar, covering everything from the basics of blues guitar chords to essential blues guitar licks.

Introduction

The blues is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of the Southern United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It developed from roots in African musical traditions, African-American work songs, spirituals, and the folk music of white Americans of European heritage. The blues has been a major influence on later American and Western pop music, finding expression in jazz, big band, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and country music, as well as conventional pop songs and even classical pieces. The blues idiom has been adopted as a musical style by many non-African-American musicians.

There are many different ways to play the blues on guitar. In this article, we’ll focus on the 12-bar blues, which is perhaps the most common form of the blues. The 12-bar blues is a chord progression that is commonly used in blues music. It consists of 12 bars (measures) of music that repeat over and over again. The chord progression contains three different chords: the I chord (1st), the IV chord (4th), and the V chord (5th). In the key of C, these chords would be C, F, and G.

What You Need to Know About the Blues

The blues is a genre of music that originated in the African-American community in the southern United States in the late 19th and early 20th century. The blues is characterized by a call-and-response format, in which the singer sings a line and is then answered by the guitar.

The 12-Bar Blues Form

In its simplest form, the 12-bar blues is built from three chords, usually from the following family of progressions:

There are three primary chords in any 12-bar blues: the I, the IV, and the V. In the key of C those would be:

C = I
F = IV
G = V

Now let’s look at how to put those together in a 12-bar progression. We’ll use the key of C as our example:
“`
I I I I
IV IV I I
V V I I
I I IV IV
I I V V
I IV IV I
I V V I

The Three Essential Chords

When you’re learning how to play the blues on guitar, there are three essential chords you need to know – A7, D7, and E7. These are the chords that define the root, third, and fifth of each blues progression.

A7 is the I chord, D7 is the IV chord, and E7 is the V chord. These chords are built on the first, fourth, and fifth scale degrees of the major scale. In the key of A, these chords would be A7 (A-C#-E-G), D7 (D-F#-A-C), and E7 (E-G#-B-D).

The A7 chord is typically played as a barre chord shape on the fretboard. The D7 chord can be played as either a barre chord or an open position chord. The E7 chord is typically played as an open position chord.

Once you know these three chords, you can start playing blues progressions. A typical 12-bar blues progression would look like this:

| I | I | I | I |
| IV| IV| I | I |
| V | IV| I | I |

The turnaround

In music, a turnaround is a passage at the end of a section that leads to the beginning of the next section. A turnaround can be as simple as a single chord or a more complex series of chords. In the blues, turnarounds are often used to move from the end of one chorus back to the beginning of the next.

There are many ways to play a turnaround, but one of the most common is called a I-IV-V-I progression. This progression uses the first, fourth, and fifth chords in a major key. For example, in the key of C, these chords would be C, F, and G. To play a I-IV-V-I turnaround in the key of C, you would simply play these four chords in sequence: C, F, G, C.

Of course, you don’t have to play all four chords every time you play a turnaround. You can mix and match different chords to create your own unique sound. Just remember that the I-IV-V-I progression is a great starting point for any blues guitarist.

How to Play a Basic Blues Riff

The blues is a genre of music that is often associated with the guitar. The blues can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and it has been a popular genre of music ever since. If you want to learn how to play the blues on guitar, there are a few things you need to know. In this article, we will cover how to play a basic blues riff.

The 12-Bar Blues Progression

The 12-bar blues progression is one of the most commonly used chord progressions in popular music. The chord progression lasts for 12 bars (thus the name), and has a very distinct form in terms of chord changes. It is made up of three different chords, which are played for four bars each.

The 12-bar blues progression is a fantastic way to get started with playing the blues on guitar. Not only is it easy to learn, but it’s also a great foundation for learning more complex blues progressions. In this article, we’ll take a look at the basic 12-bar blues progression and how you can apply it to your own playing.

The first thing you need to know about the 12-bar blues progression is that it is made up of three chords: the tonic (or “root” chord), the subdominant, and the dominant. These three chords are played for four bars each, which gives the progression its distinctive sound.

The tonic chord is typically played on the first and fourth beats of each bar, while the subdominant and dominant chords are played on the second and third beats. This gives the progression a strong backbeat that helps to drive the rhythm forward.

Here’s how the 12-bar blues progression would look using some common chord progressions:
I I I I IV IV I I V V I I
I I I I IV IV I I V V II II

The I, IV, and V Chords

The I, IV, and V chords are the basic building blocks of blues and many other styles of music. These three chords form the basis of a huge number of popular songs. If you’re new to the guitar, these chords are a great place to start.

The I chord is typically a major chord, the IV chord is typically a minor chord, and the V chord is typically a dominant 7th chord. In a 12-bar blues progression, these chords would be played in this order: I, I, I, I, IV, IV, I, I, V, IV, I.

One of the things that makes the blues so enjoyable to play is that there are endless variations on this basic progression. You can mix and match different chords in different combinations to create your own unique sound. And once you’ve mastered the basics, you can start experimenting with more advanced techniques likeAdding ninths and sixths to your chordsor using chromatic notes to create tension and release.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to playing the blues on guitar!

The turnaround

A turnaround is a riff or phrase played at the end of a section of a blues song. The purpose of a turnaround is to lead the listener “back” to the beginning of the section (or sometimes to the beginning of the song). A turnaround can be as simple as one chord, or it can be a more complex phrase.

There are many different ways to play a turnaround, but one of the most common is known as a “call and response” turnaround. This type of turnaround features two parts: the “call” and the “response.” The call is typically played by the guitar, and the response is usually played by the harmonica.

To play a call and response turnaround, start by playing four measures (or one full chorus) of your chosen chord progression. At the end of the fourth measure, play the “call” part of the turnaround. The call is typically a single note or chord that is repeated two or three times.

After playing the call, wait for your bandmates to play the “response” part of the turnaround. The response can be anything from a single note to a more complex phrase. Once your bandmates have played their response, repeat the entire process four more times.

How to Play a Blues Solo

The blues is a style of music that originated in the African-American communities in the United States around the end of the 19th century. The style is characterized by a call-and-response pattern and a focus on the personal and emotional expression of the artist. The blues has been a major influence on other genres of music, including rock and roll, jazz, and country. In this guide, we’re going to focus on how to play a blues solo on guitar.

The 12-Bar Blues Progression

The most important thing to know about playing a blues solo is the 12-bar blues progression. This progression is the bread and butter of blues music, and every great blues guitar solo must adhere to it. The 12-bar blues progression is simply a repeating pattern of chords that lasts for 12 bars, or measures. In its simplest form, the progression consists of the I, IV, and V chords in a given key. For example, in the key of A, these chords would be A, D, and E. In the key of C, they would be C, F, and G. And so on.

In order to play a proper 12-bar blues progression on guitar, you need to know three things: 1) how to play power chords; 2) how to play barre chords; and 3) where to place your fingers on the fretboard to form these chords. If you don’t know how to do any of these things yet, don’t worry! We’ll cover them all in this lesson.

The I, IV, and V Chords

To play a blues solo, you need to know the I, IV, and V chords. The I chord is the tonic chord, the IV chord is the subdominant chord, and the V chord is the dominant chord. These three chords are usually played in a 12-bar blues progression.

The I chord is typically played on the first, fourth, and seventh beats of a measure, the IV chord is played on the second and fifth beats, and the V chord is played on the third and sixth beats. To play a blues solo, you need to use these chords in an interesting way.

You can start by playing the I chord on the first beat of a measure. Then, you can play the IV chord on the second beat of that same measure. On the third beat, you can play either the I or V chord. On the fourth beat, you can play either the I or IV chord. And on the fifth and sixth beats, you can play either the IV or V chords.

To make your solo sound more interesting, you can add embellishments to these chords. For example, you can add ninths, sevenths, or other notes to create different sounds. You can also use different rhythms to create interest. For example, you can play eighth notes or sixteenth notes instead of just quarter notes.

Last but not least experiment with different dynamics (how loud or soft you play) to create even more interest in your playing!

The turnaround

In music, a turnaround is a passage at the end of a section that leads to the beginning of the next section. In blues music, turnarounds are often used to end a chorus and lead back into the verse.

There are many different ways to play turnarounds, but one of the most common is known as the 12-bar blues turnaround. This turnaround uses the chords from a 12-bar blues progression, and it can be played in any key.

To play a 12-bar blues turnaround, you will need to know the following chords:

E7: 022130

A7: x02223

B7: x24452

Once you know these chords, you can start practicing the turnaround. Here is how it sounds in the key of E:

E7 A7 B7 E7 A7 B7 E7 A7 B7 E

Conclusion

Now that you know the three essential elements of playing the blues on guitar, you’re ready to start jamming! Just remember to keep it simple, focus on the feel and don’t be afraid to experiment.