Master the Blues: Blues Lead Guitar & Licks Course from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to play in major and minor blues
Construction of the 12-bar blues chord progression
Boogie-woogie riffs for blues rhythm playing
How to create that classic gritty bluesy tone
30 classic blues licks to add to your vocabulary

How to slide within riffs
How and what to bend when playing the blues
Double-stops riffs
How to resolve your licks

How to play in major and minor blues
Construction of the 12-bar blues chord progression
Boogie-woogie riffs for blues rhythm playing
How to create that classic gritty bluesy tone
30 classic blues licks to add to your vocabulary
How to slide within riffs
How and what to bend when playing the blues
Double-stops riffs
How to resolve your licks

Syllabus

Welcome / Start Here

Welcome to the most comprehensive Blues course yet! We will go step-by-step through everything you need to know to Master the Blues.

In this video, we cover the basic differences between minor and major blues.

In this video, we discuss a foundational song form for blues music: 12 bar blues.

You can also find the jam track that we will be using throughout this course attached below. You will want to download this as you will be using it often.

Here are two ways to play rhythm guitar over the blues in any key.

This is the most important scale to know for soloing over blues progressions!

In this video, we cover the basics of getting that perfect blues tone.

This video covers how to use the next group of lick videos in the series.

This lick has it all: hammer-ons, pull-offs, and a slight bend!

Stay focused on the root note for this lick!

For all you scale nerds out there, this is your time to shine.

Pick each note in this lick! No hammer-ons or pull-offs.

These bends are all about targeting the A note.

You'll hear this pattern everywhere in blues and rock. Now you can make it your own!

Here is a simple variation on the Classic Low A Resolve.

Here is another variation on the Classic lick.

Here is a third variation on the Classic lick!

Here is a final variation on the Classic lick. See if you can create more variations after learning this one!

This is Bend E. Here we emphasize the bend which can be a little tricky. Slow and steady wins the race!

Chuck Berry popularized this type of double-stop riff.

Just leave out a few notes of the scale for this lick.

Grace notes can redeem boring patterns.

Remember the tortoise and the hair? Slow is soul.

This lick uses a whole step bend with the pentatonic scale.

This lick is all about that bluesy rhythm.

This lick uses everything in the bag of tricks.

Music is all about repetition. This lick is no exception.

Let your ear guide you as you incorporate this lick into your playing.

The slur is a new technique here, but it's really just a variation on hammer-ons and pull-offs.

Sometimes you need two fingers to make big bends happen!

Here is another bend you may not have considered before.

Sliding between scale forms is a great way to stretch yourself and find your own sound.

Get your whole hand moving with this lick!

"Call and Response" is one of the most natural ways to create interesting musical phrases.

Here is another call and response style lick, with some extra juice.

In this lick, we get creative with call and response phrasing.

In this lick, we use a careful slide to add flavor to a single note.

This lick uses two techniques to add flair to the same note pattern.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches 30 essential blues licks, which provides a solid foundation for building a blues guitar repertoire and expanding one's musical vocabulary

Explores the 12-bar blues progression, which is the fundamental structure in blues music and essential for understanding and playing blues songs

Covers minor and major blues, which allows learners to apply the same scale in different contexts and expand their understanding of blues tonality

Includes rhythm examples and boogie-woogie licks, which enhances learners' ability to play blues rhythm guitar and provides a more comprehensive understanding of blues music

Focuses on a widely used blues scale, which is prevalent in many classic solos and provides learners with a practical tool for soloing over blues progressions

Explores how to achieve a classic bluesy guitar tone, which is a crucial aspect of playing blues guitar and helps learners emulate the sound of their favorite blues artists

Reviews summary

Mastering blues guitar licks

According to learners, this course is a highly practical guide to learning classic blues guitar licks, praised for significantly expanding their blues soloing vocabulary. Students found the instructor's teaching style clear and easy to follow, making complex techniques accessible. The course successfully focuses on getting learners playing quickly, emphasizing hands-on application over extensive theory. While overwhelmingly positive, a few reviewers noted that the pace might be challenging for absolute beginners without prior guitar experience, suggesting it's perhaps best suited for those with basic guitar skills already. Overall, it's considered an effective resource for building blues lead skills.

Includes rhythm and tone basics.

"The sections on tone and rhythm were helpful additions."

"Learned some useful boogie-woogie riffs."

"Tips on getting a bluesy tone were appreciated."

Focuses on playing licks immediately.

"Gets straight to teaching the licks without unnecessary theory."

"Great for getting hands-on and playing blues quickly."

"I appreciated the focus on practical application."

Good audio and video clarity.

"Video and audio quality are excellent, easy to see and hear."

"Can clearly see what the instructor is doing on the fretboard."

"The production values are very good."

Instructor is easy to understand and follow.

"The instructor explains things clearly and demonstrates well."

"His teaching approach is very easy to follow."

"Great teacher who breaks down the techniques effectively."

Provides useful blues licks vocabulary.

"Gave me a solid foundation of blues licks that I can immediately use."

"The 30 licks are classic and sound great over a blues track."

"Significantly expanded my blues soloing vocabulary."

"Loved learning these essential blues patterns."

Pace might be fast for raw beginners.

"Might be a bit fast if you are a complete beginner with zero guitar experience."

"Best suited for someone who already knows basic guitar."

"I needed to pause and practice a lot to keep up."

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 Master the Blues: Blues Lead Guitar & Licks Course with these activities:

Review Basic Music Theory

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Strengthen your understanding of music theory concepts like scales, chords, and progressions, which are foundational to playing blues guitar effectively.

Browse courses on Music Theory

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Review major and minor scales and their construction.
Study chord progressions and common chord voicings.
Practice identifying intervals and their relationships.

Read 'Blues You Can Use' by John Ganapes

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Supplement your learning with a well-regarded book that covers blues guitar techniques and theory in detail.

View Blues You Can Use (Music Instruction) on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Blues You Can Use' by John Ganapes.
Work through the exercises and examples in the book.
Apply the concepts learned from the book to your guitar playing.

Practice 12-Bar Blues Progressions

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Reinforce your understanding of the 12-bar blues progression by practicing it in different keys and variations.

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Choose a key and play the standard 12-bar blues progression.
Experiment with different chord voicings and rhythms.
Improvise solos over the progression using blues scales.

Four other activities

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Record Yourself Playing Blues Licks

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Improve your playing and identify areas for improvement by recording and reviewing your performance of blues licks.

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Select a few blues licks from the course or other sources.
Record yourself playing the licks at different tempos.
Listen back to the recording and analyze your playing.
Identify areas where you can improve your technique or timing.

Compose a Short Blues Solo

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Solidify your understanding of blues guitar by composing and performing your own blues solo.

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Choose a backing track or create your own 12-bar blues progression.
Select a few blues licks and scales to use in your solo.
Compose a solo that incorporates the licks and scales in a musical way.
Practice and refine your solo until you are happy with it.
Record yourself playing the solo and share it with others.

Study 'The Guitar Handbook' by Ralph Denyer

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Expand your knowledge of guitar playing with a comprehensive handbook covering various techniques and styles.

View The Guitar Handbook on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The Guitar Handbook' by Ralph Denyer.
Browse the book and identify sections relevant to blues guitar.
Study the techniques and concepts presented in those sections.

Explore Advanced Blues Guitar Techniques

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Deepen your understanding of blues guitar by exploring advanced techniques such as hybrid picking, sweep picking, and tapping.

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Search for online tutorials on advanced blues guitar techniques.
Practice the techniques demonstrated in the tutorials.
Incorporate the techniques into your blues playing.

Career center

Learners who complete Master the Blues: Blues Lead Guitar & Licks Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Guitar Teacher

A guitar teacher instructs students of all ages and skill levels in playing the instrument. They guide students through music theory, technique, and repertoire. Studying blues guitar with this course provides a focused expertise that may be marketed to students. A guitar teacher could use the licks taught by this course to guide their students through blues guitar playing. The knowledge of blues tone, boogie woogie rhythms, and the 12-bar blues progression from this course will help develop a curriculum. The course provides a structured approach to teaching blues guitar, saving preparation time for teachers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Guitar Teacher

Session Musician

A session musician is a versatile instrumentalist hired to play on recordings or live performances. These musicians need to quickly learn and perform various musical styles. This course can benefit a session musician whose work involves Blues music. The course gives the musician a vocabulary of classic blues licks and an understanding of how to apply them in different contexts. The course's focus on the 12-bar blues progression and major and minor blues scales means that a session musician can be prepared for recording quickly in this style. The course also provides insight into achieving a classic blues tone.

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Band Leader

A band leader directs a group of musicians. They are responsible for rehearsing the band, arranging music, and leading performances. Band leaders could lead blues bands, and the knowledge gained from this course would be valuable. The band leader may find this course useful to master blues licks and communicate these parts to the guitarist. The band leader may also develop their understanding of the structure of the 12-bar blues progression, applying boogie-woogie riffs, and understanding major and minor blues.

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Songwriter

A songwriter composes original songs, including melody, lyrics, and chord progressions. This course provides a deep dive into blues guitar techniques and structures that inspire songwriting. The detailed breakdown of 30 classic blues licks can give a songwriter new ideas and inspiration. The course will help a songwriter understand the 12-bar blues progression, minor and major blues scales, and boogie-woogie rhythms. This may greatly enhance a songwriter's ability to craft authentic and compelling blues songs.

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Music Producer

A music producer oversees the recording and production of music. They work closely with musicians to shape the sound and feel of a song. For a music producer working with blues musicians, this course provides a valuable understanding of the genre. The course on mastering blues licks, understanding the 12-bar blues progression, and achieving a classic blues tone, will help a producer communicate effectively with guitarists. Understanding these elements allows a producer to make informed decisions about arrangements and sound design.

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Music Director

A music director is responsible for the musical aspects of a performance or production. This can include selecting music, rehearsing musicians, and ensuring a high-quality performance. If the performance includes blues music, a music director can benefit from this course. A music director may find this course helpful to understanding the genre and making informed decisions about arrangements and sound. The knowledge of blues licks, the 12-bar blues progression, and blues tone means the director will be well-equipped to lead performances.

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Composer

A composer creates original musical works, often for film, television, or video games. For a composer interested in incorporating blues elements into their compositions, this course provides a foundation. The composer may learn classic blues licks that can be adapted into their scores. The course will familiarize the composer with the 12-bar blues progression, and ways to play major and minor blues. This course will expand a composer's palette and enable them to create more diverse and expressive music.

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Music Therapist

Music therapy uses musical interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship. A music therapist needs a broad understanding of different musical genres and instruments. This course may be particularly useful for therapists who want to incorporate blues music into their practice. Knowing and mastering blues licks is useful for connecting with clients who enjoy or respond to the blues. Familiarity with minor and major blues, the 12-bar progression, and boogie-woogie rhythms are also helpful. This course could also serve as a creative outlet for the therapist.

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Music Supervisor

A music supervisor selects and licenses music for film, television, and other media. This role requires a broad knowledge of music genres and a keen ear for matching music to visuals. This course gives a music supervisor a deep understanding of blues guitar and its nuances. Music supervisors may find this course teaches them more about blues licks, scales, and progressions. This knowledge will inform a music supervisor's choices in selecting the right music for a project.

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Music Journalist

A music journalist writes about music-related topics, including album reviews, artist interviews, and music history. A background playing blues guitar can enrich a music journalist's understanding and perspective. This course provides insights into blues guitar playing, the 12-bar blues progression, forms, and styles that may inform a journalist's writing. This course may aid a journalist in articulating the nuances of blues music to their audience. The knowledge of classic blues licks and tones will also provide a solid foundation for analyzing and discussing blues music.

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Guitar Technician

A guitar technician maintains and repairs guitars. This role requires a deep understanding of the instrument's mechanics and sound. While this course focuses on playing techniques, it also offers insights into achieving a classic blues tone. This understanding may help a technician in helping guitarists achieve the sound they desire. The technician may gain an appreciation for the nuances of blues guitar playing. They may find themselves better prepared to troubleshoot tone-related issues.

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Acoustic Engineer

An acoustic engineer studies and manipulates sound. They ensure the best sound quality in venues and recording studios. Though this course is about performance, it may provide useful vocabulary. The acoustic engineer may develop specialized knowledge about blues grit. This knowledge may help the engineer optimize the sound for blues performances and recordings. An understanding of how to play minor and major blues may prove useful.

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Talent Agent

A talent agent represents performers, such as musicians, actors, and comedians. They find work for their clients and negotiate contracts on their behalf. Knowledge of specific musical genres, such as blues, may help an agent connect with their clients effectively. This course provides a solid understanding of blues guitar playing and music theory. The agent will be able to identify with and assess guitarists and other musicians. The agent stands to improve their client's careers.

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Instrument Retailer

An instrument retailer sells musical instruments and accessories. This job requires a deep knowledge of musical instruments. This course could help a retailer who specializes in guitars understand the needs of their customers. The retailer may learn about blues tone and how to play blues licks. This course will also teach the retailer about the 12-bar blues progression, and other aspects of blues guitar. This knowledge may help the retailer guide customers in selecting the right equipment for their playing style.

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Entertainment Lawyer

An entertainment lawyer provides legal advice and representation to clients in the entertainment industry. This role requires understanding intellectual property, contracts, and negotiations. This course on blues guitar may be useful for an entertainment lawyer who represents blues musicians. The course may help them understand the creative process and appreciate the nuances of blues music. This understanding can inform their legal advice and negotiations on behalf of their clients.

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Master the Blues

Blues Lead Guitar & Licks Course

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Mastering blues guitar licks

Activities

Career center

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