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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/21/2007 11:18 PM
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| | Ok, here's my deal. I'm 19, been playing casually since I was 8. I can read music at the very elementary level, have knowledge of where notes are on the board, but am one hell of a slow reader. Anyways, I guess reading isn't that im[prtant for blues playing. I played in jazz band in high school, but I like to play blues licks to my favorite blues rock and classic rock. My lead playing is slightly stronger than my rhythm, which is kinda sad. How did you better yourself as a blues player. I am listening to older blues right now, trying to absorb the "roots," which I have never done. I am going to learn more positions, appregios, scales. I am trying to find people to jam with. What's the best way to practice to be a great blues player? The blues is essentially the only style I REALLY like. I like jazz and rock too, blues the most. |
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/25/2008 2:48 AM
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| | If you're good at playing by ear, then reading sheet music isn't as important. Blues and Jazz use a lot of improv, anyway. My advice would be to grab as much old blues as you can - especially old vinyl. Jam along with that, and it should be helpful. This is also a great way to brush up on your rhythm work. For melody and riffs, trying to match the vocalist's notes with your guitar can be useful for practice. Although I'm not a blues artist, this has helped me in other music genres.
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McSpadden M-12W, SH-12CRs, SH-12KKc
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| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 9/20/2008 8:00 AM
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| | Blues is the root of all other American music and it is the ONLY true form of American music. Rock and Roll is the same basic 12 bar pattern that blues are played in. While you do need to "feel the blues to play the blues" most people don't even know what the hell that means. People have the misconception that blues music is all about sad times, and it is anything but that. Blues is based on old gospel call and return phrasing whether with lyrics/singing, or guitar licks, or a combination of both. Don't get yourself locked into any one sub genre of blues such as Delta, Chicago, Boogie, Texas, or Swing which all have subtle differences BUT are still BLUES. Listen to as many of the older cats as you can find, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Hubert Sumlin, Freddie King, T Bone Walker, Luther Allison, Otis Rush, Little Walter, John Lee Hooker (the originator of the boogie beat often imitated, but never duplicated), Jimmy Ree, Ruth Brown, Koko Taylor, Taj Mahal, Muddy Waters. Jimmie Vaughan is probably the best modern day blues guitarist bar none, he plays with a pureness of traditional blues that NO ONE else can come close to matching. Here is a good site that will help you with getting the basics down as well: http://www.petethomas.co.uk/12-bar-blues-chords.html
Liqour drinkin' dope smokin' mother ****in' Bluesman. www.billchristyproject.com |
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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/21/2007 11:18 PM
Posts: 6, Visits: 17 |
| thanks for the replies, everyone. One thing I dislike about some of the listening sessions I have been doing is the ample amount of horns playing in the background. It just ruins the mood for me. I know I'm gonna have to get used to it if I am ever gonna gig, but I kinda don't like the way they play background. I love a good sax solo, but don't like it in the backgorund. Am I alone on this? I've been listening to the Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy a lot. As well as B.B. and Albert King. Also, Robert Johnson. The guy amazes me. I can't imitate how he plays, maybe I need a slide, but he plays rhythm and lead so well at the same time. As far as open scales, I only know the Open E scale. Should I learn more open scales to play like Robert Johnson? I've got enough moveable scale down to get by.
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/25/2008 2:48 AM
Posts: 701, Visits: 1,266 |
| | Horns trying to play rhythm get on my nerves, too. For some excellent blues, grab the frist couple albums of Creedence Clearwater Revival. The unreleased stuff off of those were pure blues, and they were heavily influenced by Muddy Waters:
http://www.amazon.com/Creedence-Clearwater-Revival/dp/B000000XC8/
http://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Country-Creedence-Clearwater-Revival/dp/B000000XCA/ Actually, if you like these guys as much as I do, grab their boxed set instead. It has all 7 CCR albums in it, plus a bunch of their earlier pre-CCR stuff. They actually had a grunge sound on a couple of their pre-CCR stuff!:
http://www.amazon.com/Creedence-Clearwater-Revival/dp/B00005OM4K/ Try to find some Screamin' Jay Hawkins stuff if you can! He's another good blues dude!
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McSpadden M-12W, SH-12CRs, SH-12KKc
Custom LR Baggs Piezo Bridge Pickup on SH-12KKc
LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI Preamp
DigiTech & Boss Effects, Planet Waves Cables and Picks, D'Addario Strings
SWR Super Redhead 450w Combo Amp with SWR Goliath Jr. III Extension Cab
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| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/7/2008 5:08 AM
Posts: 961, Visits: 5,663 |
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/25/2008 2:48 AM
Posts: 701, Visits: 1,266 |
| | Nice! If you've recorded a cover or two of the old CCR songs, I'd love to have a listen! Penthouse Pauper has got to be their best blues tune! Not many people are familiar with their songs that weren't released as singles, which is a shame...
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McSpadden M-12W, SH-12CRs, SH-12KKc
Custom LR Baggs Piezo Bridge Pickup on SH-12KKc
LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI Preamp
DigiTech & Boss Effects, Planet Waves Cables and Picks, D'Addario Strings
SWR Super Redhead 450w Combo Amp with SWR Goliath Jr. III Extension Cab
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