The Complete Guide to Playing Blues Guitar Part 3

Intermediate Techniques

Once you have mastered the basics of blues guitar, you can start to explore more intermediate techniques to enhance your playing. These techniques will help you to create more expressive and sophisticated solos and rhythms.

The Complete Guide to Playing Blues Guitar - Book Three: Beyond Pentatonics (Play Blues Guitar 3)

by Joseph Alexander

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	25963 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
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Slide Guitar

Slide guitar is a technique that involves playing the guitar with a metal or glass slide on your finger. This technique creates a smooth, ethereal sound that is often associated with blues music. Slide guitar can be played on both electric and acoustic guitars.

To play slide guitar, you will need to purchase a slide. Slides are available in a variety of materials, including metal, glass, and ceramic. The type of slide you choose will affect the sound of your playing. Metal slides produce a brighter sound, while glass slides produce a mellower sound.

Once you have a slide, you can start practicing by playing simple notes and chords. As you become more comfortable with the technique, you can start to experiment with more complex licks and solos.

Here are a few tips for playing slide guitar:

• Use a light touch when playing slide guitar. This will help you to avoid creating unwanted noise.
• Keep your slide in contact with the strings at all times. This will help you to create a smooth, even sound.
• Experiment with different slide positions. The position of your slide on the strings will affect the sound of your playing.

Double Stops and Triple Stops

Double stops and triple stops are techniques that involve playing two or three notes at the same time. These techniques can add a lot of color and interest to your solos and rhythms.

To play a double stop, simply fret two notes on different strings at the same time. To play a triple stop, fret three notes on different strings at the same time.

Double stops and triple stops can be played in a variety of ways. You can play them in open position, or you can play them with one or both notes fretted. You can also play double stops and triple stops with bends and slides.

Here are a few tips for playing double stops and triple stops:

• Start by playing simple double stops and triple stops. As you become more comfortable with the technique, you can start to experiment with more complex combinations.
• Make sure that the notes you choose for your double stops and triple stops are consonant. Consonant notes sound good together.
• Experiment with different picking patterns. The picking pattern you use will affect the sound of your double stops and triple stops.

Blues Licks

Blues licks are short, melodic phrases that are often used in blues solos. Blues licks can be used to add interest and variety to your solos, and they can also help you to develop your own unique playing style.

There are many different types of blues licks. Some of the most common types include:

• Short, single-note licks
• Licks that use bends
• Licks that use slides
• Licks that use double stops and triple stops

You can find blues licks in a variety of sources, including online, in books, and in magazines. You can also learn blues licks by listening to recordings of blues guitarists.

Once you have learned a few blues licks, you can start to practice incorporating them into your solos. Start by playing the licks slowly and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable with them.

Advanced Techniques

Once you have mastered the intermediate techniques, you can start to explore more advanced techniques to take your blues guitar playing to the next level. These techniques will help you to create more sophisticated solos and rhythms, and they will also help you to develop your own unique playing style.

String Bending

String bending is a technique that involves bending the strings of your guitar to create new notes. String bending can add a lot of expressiveness and emotion to your playing.

To bend a string, simply place your finger on the string and pull it towards you. The amount of bend you apply will determine the pitch of the note you create.

String bending can be used in a variety of ways. You can use it to create single-note bends, double-stops bends, and even triple-stops bends. You can also use string bending to create vibrato, which is a technique that involves rapidly bending a string back and forth.

Here are a few tips for string bending:

• Start by practicing bending single notes. Once you have mastered the technique, you can start to experiment with more complex bends.
• Use a light touch when bending strings. This will help you to avoid breaking the strings.
• Experiment with different bending techniques. There are many different ways to bend strings, and each technique will produce a different sound.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Hammer-ons and pull-offs are techniques that involve hitting or pulling a string to create a note without picking it. These techniques can add a lot of fluidity and speed to your playing.

To hammer-on, simply place your finger on the string and hit it with your picking hand. To pull-off, place your finger on the string and pull it towards you.

Hammer-ons and pull-offs can be used in a variety of ways. You can use them to create single-note hammer-ons and pull-offs, or you can use them to create more complex patterns.

Here are a few tips for hammer-ons and pull-offs:

• Start by practicing simple hammer-ons and pull-offs. Once you have mastered the technique, you can start to experiment with more complex patterns.
• Use a light touch when hammering-on and pulling-off. This will help you to avoid breaking the strings.
• Experiment with different hammer-on and pull-off techniques. There are many different ways to hammer-on and pull-off, and each technique will produce a different sound.

Blues Improvisation

Blues improvisation is the art of creating spontaneous solos over blues chord progressions. Blues improvisation is a challenging but rewarding skill, and it can help you to develop your own unique voice as a guitarist.

To start improvising blues solos, you need to have a good understanding of blues scales and chords. You also need to be able to play basic blues rhythms.

Once you have a good foundation in blues guitar, you can start to experiment with improvising solos. Start by playing simple solos over basic blues chord progressions. As you become more comfortable with improvising, you can start to experiment with more complex solos and chord progressions.

Here are a few tips for blues improvisation:

• Start by playing simple solos. Once you have mastered the basics, you can start to experiment with more complex solos.
• Use a variety of blues scales and chords. This will help you to create more interesting and varied solos.
• Experiment with different rhythms. The rhythm of your solo will affect the overall sound of your playing.
• Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process.

The blues guitar is a versatile and expressive instrument that can be used to create a wide variety of music. By mastering the techniques described in this guide, you will be able to take your blues guitar playing to the next level. So get out there and start playing!

The Complete Guide to Playing Blues Guitar - Book Three: Beyond Pentatonics (Play Blues Guitar 3)

by Joseph Alexander

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	25963 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	105 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE