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Corey Congilio and Erich Andreas

Welcome to Intermediate Blues Rhythm Guitar. That's right, no fancy titles or gimmicks here...just straight up blues rhythm. I developed this course to be a direct companion to my Beginning Blues Rhythm Guitar. This course will be a natural progression from the basics you may already know and, will fully prepare you to play just about any blues song.

The chords, grooves and concepts I teach in this course are ones that I continue to use to this day. Even though this is an Intermediate course, I'm confident you can use any of these ideas to play in a band, along side backing tracks, or even accompany yourself.

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Welcome to Intermediate Blues Rhythm Guitar. That's right, no fancy titles or gimmicks here...just straight up blues rhythm. I developed this course to be a direct companion to my Beginning Blues Rhythm Guitar. This course will be a natural progression from the basics you may already know and, will fully prepare you to play just about any blues song.

The chords, grooves and concepts I teach in this course are ones that I continue to use to this day. Even though this is an Intermediate course, I'm confident you can use any of these ideas to play in a band, along side backing tracks, or even accompany yourself.

Most players that want to play blues understand that you'll need to know many types of chord shapes. They also get confused as to when to incorporate 9th chords and riff based rhythms. I cover all of that in this course with the same type of thorough explanation you may have seen in Beginning Blues Rhythm Guitar.

Here’s what you’ll get inside this comprehensive intermediate blues course:

  1. 3.5 hours on-demand video

  2. 62 downloadable resources

  3. Full lifetime access

  4. Access on mobile and TV

  5. Certificate of completion

  6. Answers to any and all questions you have by myself (Corey) and other students in the program 

I'm excited for you to take this journey with me to becoming a better blues rhythm player. I'm extremely confident in the material and teaching as the blues are near and dear to me.  Speaking of material, I've included the same backing tracks you'll hear in the examples as well as TABS and Transcriptions for all examples.

Thanks so much for checking out this course and I look forward to helping you become a better blues rhythm guitarist.

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What's inside

Learning objective

Blues rhythm guitar

Syllabus

Introduction
New Dominant 7 Chords!
Inversion Explanation and A Shuffle
E Straight
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Builds upon existing knowledge of blues rhythm guitar, making it suitable for guitarists looking to expand their skills beyond the basics
Focuses on practical application, preparing learners to play in a band, alongside backing tracks, or even accompany themselves
Explores various chord shapes, including 9th chords and riff-based rhythms, which are essential for playing a wide range of blues songs
Requires prior experience with basic blues rhythm guitar, so learners without this foundation may need to take a beginner course first
Includes backing tracks, tabs, and transcriptions, which are valuable resources for practicing and learning the material
Covers a variety of blues rhythms and styles, such as shuffles, straight rhythms, slow blues, funky rhythms, and swing rhythms

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Reviews summary

Intermediate blues rhythm guitar mastery

According to learners, this course offers excellent instruction from Corey Congilio, who is widely described as a clear, engaging, and knowledgeable teacher. Many students praise the practicality of the examples and grooves taught, finding them immediately applicable to playing blues rhythm. The included resources, such as high-quality tabs and backing tracks, are highlighted as being extremely helpful for practice and reinforcement. While the pace is generally seen as appropriate for intermediate players and a solid follow-up to Corey's beginner course, a few mention it can feel slightly slow or repetitive at times depending on individual background. Overall, the course is considered a valuable resource for deepening blues rhythm skills.
Pace is mostly good but can feel slow sometimes.
"While thorough, the pace sometimes felt a bit slow for my learning style."
"The course is well-paced for intermediates, though some parts feel a little repetitive."
"Good pace for the level, covers concepts well without rushing."
Natural follow-up to Corey's beginner course.
"This course felt like a natural and logical progression from the beginner blues rhythm course."
"If you took the beginner course, this is definitely the next step to take."
"Builds effectively on the foundations laid in his previous course."
Tabs and backing tracks are high quality and helpful.
"The included tabs and backing tracks are invaluable for practice and solidifying concepts."
"Really appreciate the quality of the backing tracks and the comprehensive tabs."
"Having the tabs and backing tracks makes following along and practicing much more effective."
Grooves and examples are practical for real blues.
"The examples are practical and I can use them immediately when playing blues songs."
"I learned grooves and rhythms that are directly applicable to many blues standards."
"The focus on practical rhythm playing is exactly what I needed."
Corey Congilio is an excellent, clear instructor.
"Corey is an excellent teacher, very clear explanations, easy to understand his points and examples."
"Corey is a wonderful teacher and explains things clearly."
"Fantastic teaching by Corey, easy to follow and makes learning fun."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Intermediate Blues Guitar Lessons Rhythm w/ Corey Congilio with these activities:
Review Basic Chord Shapes
Reinforce your knowledge of basic chord shapes to prepare for learning new dominant 7th chords and inversions.
Browse courses on 7th Chords
Show steps
  • Practice transitioning between common major and minor chords.
  • Review the finger placements for basic dominant 7th chords.
  • Play along with a simple blues backing track using only basic chords.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing the Guitar
Supplement your learning with a comprehensive guide to guitar playing, covering essential techniques and music theory.
Show steps
  • Read the sections on chord construction and music theory.
  • Practice the chord diagrams and exercises provided in the book.
Chord Transition Exercises
Improve your ability to quickly and smoothly transition between different blues chords.
Show steps
  • Choose a set of chord progressions from the course material.
  • Practice transitioning between the chords slowly at first, then gradually increase the tempo.
  • Use a metronome to maintain a consistent rhythm.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Record Yourself Playing a Blues Rhythm
Analyze your playing and identify areas for improvement by recording and reviewing your performance.
Show steps
  • Select a backing track in a blues style.
  • Record yourself playing along with the backing track, focusing on rhythm and timing.
  • Listen back to the recording and identify any mistakes or areas where you can improve.
  • Practice the difficult sections and re-record yourself.
Compose a Short Blues Rhythm Piece
Apply the concepts learned in the course to create your own original blues rhythm composition.
Show steps
  • Choose a key and tempo for your piece.
  • Select a chord progression using the chords and rhythms learned in the course.
  • Write out the chord chart for your piece.
  • Practice playing your piece until you can play it smoothly and confidently.
  • Record yourself playing your piece.
Blues Rhythm Guitar (Guitar Educational)
Deepen your understanding of blues rhythm guitar with a specialized book covering various styles and techniques.
Show steps
  • Read the sections on different blues rhythm styles, such as shuffles, swing, and funk.
  • Practice the exercises and examples provided in the book.
  • Try incorporating the new techniques into your own playing.
Explore Advanced Blues Rhythm Tutorials
Expand your knowledge by exploring advanced blues rhythm techniques and concepts through online tutorials.
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on specific blues rhythm styles or techniques that interest you.
  • Follow along with the tutorials and practice the exercises.
  • Try to incorporate the new techniques into your own playing.

Career center

Learners who complete Intermediate Blues Guitar Lessons Rhythm w/ Corey Congilio will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Band Member
A band member often focuses on rhythm guitar, and this course may be particularly helpful for this role, as it develops intermediate blues rhythm techniques. The course emphasizes the types of chords, grooves, and concepts that are vital for band performances. The course's focus on playing along with backing tracks helps a band member hone their skills in a band context. The detailed explanations of 9th chords and riff-based rhythms, along with the exploration of time signatures such as 12/8, helps build the skills needed to play successfully in a band. Furthermore, the specific song examples included may enhance a band member's repertoire and versatility.
Amateur Musician
An amateur musician may wish to expand their skills by exploring new genres. This course, which focuses on intermediate blues rhythm guitar techniques, may allow an amateur musician to enjoy playing the blues. The course focuses on chords, grooves, and concepts which are vital to the genre. The amateur can use the backing tracks to play along and practice in a more structured way. The course, which focuses on 9th chords and riff-based rhythms, may be useful in developing new skills. By taking this course, an amateur musician will be able to confidently play blues rhythm guitar.
Professional Musician
A professional musician often needs a wide range of skills to perform successfully, including proficiency in rhythm guitar. This course, focused on intermediate blues rhythm guitar, helps you develop the necessary skills to play in various blues styles and with different chord shapes. The course's emphasis on 9th chords and riff-based rhythms, as well as its focus on different time signatures such as 12/8, are directly beneficial. The provided backing tracks can help musicians practice with more structure and improve their timing. This course, featuring a detailed approach and accompanying resources, may be particularly useful for musicians looking to expand their repertoire and enhance their rhythm skills.
Guitar Instructor
A guitar instructor needs to possess a thorough understanding of different styles and techniques in order to teach effectively. This course may help a guitar instructor to develop teaching materials for the blues. The course focuses on intermediate blues rhythm guitar and the practical application of chords, grooves, and rhythms, which is directly relevant to teaching. The comprehensive coverage of 9th chords, riff-based rhythms, and time signatures like 12/8 provide a robust framework for teaching. The instructor can use the backing tracks, tabs, and transcriptions from this course directly in their lesson plans. A guitar instructor should take this course to enhance his or her understanding of blues guitar and use it as a tool for teaching.
Session Guitarist
A session guitarist needs to be able to quickly adapt to different musical styles and play with precision and feeling. This course on intermediate blues rhythm guitar helps build the foundation required of a highly adaptable guitarist. The course covers a variety of chord shapes, grooves, 9th chords, and riff based rhythm, all skills that are highly relevant for a session guitarist. The backing tracks and transcriptions provided with the course can help a session guitarist learn new material quickly and effectively. Because the course explores multiple keys and time signatures, it may be particularly useful for session guitarists who must be versatile.
Music Teacher
A music teacher needs a strong understanding of music theory and practical application to effectively convey information to students. This course on intermediate blues rhythm guitar may help a teacher build a structure for teaching the blues in particular. The course's focus on inversions and various shuffle feels are useful in providing a rich educational structure. The detailed explanations of chords, grooves, and concepts are also beneficial to music teachers who need to break down complex ideas into simpler components. The structured approach of the course, with its mix of video lessons and downloads, is also a useful model for teachers to emulate. The course is helpful for music teachers who specialize in guitar or blues music.
Music Arranger
A music arranger needs to be able to create musical arrangements that are both creative and technically sound. This course, focused on intermediate blues rhythm guitar, may help a musician create arrangements in a blues style. The course emphasizes various chord shapes, grooves, and concepts, equipping an arranger with the tools needed to create compelling musical structures. The focus on 9th chords and riff-based rhythms may be valuable in creating rich harmonic and rhythmic textures. The exploration of different time signatures like 12/8 also broadens the arranger's toolkit, enabling them to work with a wider range of musical styles. The backing tracks, tabs, and transcriptions included in the course allows the music arranger to explore and analyze effective blues arrangements.
Musical Director
A musical director often needs a deep understanding of different musical styles and the ability to work with a diverse ensemble. This course on intermediate blues rhythm guitar may help a musical director to understand the blues idiom more thoroughly. With its focus on chords, grooves, and concepts, this course helps develop expertise with the specifics of the blues. The focus on 9th chords and riff-based rhythms can enrich a musical director’s understanding of harmonic and rhythmic detail. The exploration of various time signatures, like 12/8, may help the director appreciate the rhythmic possibilities of different time signatures. The course may be useful for a musical director who needs to work with blues or blues-influenced music.
Songwriter
A songwriter often draws inspiration from different musical styles and needs to understand rhythm and harmony in order to compose effectively. This course on intermediate blues rhythm guitar is may be a useful tool for a songwriter. The course focuses on chord shapes, grooves, concepts, 9th chords, and riff-based rhythms, all of which are an integral part of songwriting. The course’s exploration of blues rhythm may be useful to songwriters who want to add blues elements to their work. By having a richer understanding of rhythm, a songwriter may be able to write more compelling songs. A songwriter may benefit from learning the concepts and material taught in the course.
Music Producer
A music producer often needs a deep understanding of different musical styles and the ability to shape a recording to meet the needs of the artist. This course may help a music producer who wishes to work with blues music. The course focuses on intermediate blues rhythm guitar and various chord shapes, grooves, and concepts. The course’s emphasis on 9th chords and riff-based rhythms are important for a producer to understand. By taking this course, a music producer may be better equipped to work on projects that feature the blues or blues-influenced material. Because the course includes backing tracks, the music producer may also have additional material to play with.
Sound Engineer
A sound engineer needs a thorough understanding of different instruments and audio sources in order to record and mix effectively. This course on intermediate blues rhythm guitar may help a sound engineer who works with blues music. The course emphasizes the nuances of blues guitar playing, including chord shapes, grooves, and concepts. The engineer can use the course to understand the rhythmic and harmonic foundations of blues guitar. The course includes various time signatures and rhythmic ideas that are important for the sound engineer to understand. A sound engineer who has a deeper understanding of playing will make better recordings.
Guitar Technician
A guitar technician needs to have a good understanding of how the instrument is played, in order to accurately assess its playability and sound. This course may be particularly helpful to a guitar technician who wishes to specialize in instruments used in blues music. The course on intermediate blues rhythm guitar will help them understand the technical aspects of blues guitar playing. The technician can use the knowledge of chord shapes, grooves and concepts acquired through the course to identify issues affecting playability. The technician may also use the knowledge of rhythms, including 9th chords and riff based rhythms, to better communicate issues to a customer. This course may help a technician refine his skills and better understand the nuances of blues guitar.
Live Sound Engineer
A live sound engineer needs an understanding of musical instruments and their role in order to do their job effectively. This course, which focuses on intermediate blues rhythm guitar, may be useful for a live sound engineer, particularly one who wishes to work with blues music. The course covers chords, grooves, and concepts that are the foundation of blues rhythm guitar. The course’s focus on techniques with 9th chords and riff-based rhythms improves the engineer’s understanding of how these techniques affect the sound of the instrument. Taking this course provides the opportunity to better learn how to mic a guitar on stage.
Music Journalist
A music journalist needs a good understanding of different genres and musical techniques to write informed and engaging articles. This course may help a music journalist who wishes to specialize in blues or guitar-oriented music. The journalist can draw a deeper understanding from the material taught which focuses on the finer points of blues rhythm guitar. The course may be beneficial by providing more in-depth knowledge about the technical side of music. The course material focuses on 9th chords, riff based rhythms, and various shuffles, which will help a journalist write more detailed and accurate articles. A course like this is a stepping stone to becoming an expert in this field.
Music Therapist
A music therapist often needs a broad base of knowledge about different instruments and musical styles in order to connect with clients. This course, which focuses on intermediate blues rhythm guitar, may be helpful for a music therapist who is trying to improve the range of musical techniques they can offer. The course, which explores various chord shapes and rhythmic concepts specific to blues guitar, will improve their ability to help clients who enjoy this style of music. The course may also be helpful in understanding how the blues expresses emotion. The music therapist will have greater flexibility and versatility by taking this course.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Intermediate Blues Guitar Lessons Rhythm w/ Corey Congilio.
Focuses specifically on blues rhythm guitar techniques, covering a wide range of styles and approaches. It provides detailed explanations and exercises to help you develop your rhythm playing skills. This book adds more depth to the existing course. It useful reference tool for intermediate and advanced players looking to expand their blues rhythm vocabulary.
Provides a comprehensive overview of guitar playing, covering basic techniques, chord shapes, and music theory. It's a helpful resource for beginners and intermediate players looking to solidify their foundational knowledge. While not specifically focused on blues rhythm, it offers a solid base for understanding the concepts taught in the course. It is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference.

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