Learning to Improvise with Texas Blues (vs 3)


Published on 26 January 2016
For more information from the source site of this video please visit: http://secretguitarteacher.com/youtube/intermediate/blues/xe44aUYebLw/83180129-learning-to-improvise-with-texas-blues-v3.php This sample lesson from the Secret Guitar Teacher website is aimed at those just starting out with learning to improvise blues. It will help if you have already learnt the Texas Blues tune that we use in this lesson but, if not, I think it should be easy enough to pick it up as you work through the lesson. Here’s the abridged transcript: Verse 3 uses notes from the top end of the second position blues scale in E. This lesson look at two things: Using the top end second position blues scale as extension to the first position and using the slide as a really effective technique to make our phrases sound more authentic. First let’s look at the scale diagram. This looks a little complex at first glance but here’s a neat way of looking at it. Try and see these two boxes of notes in each of the positions. These are actually the same notes an octave apart. Listen to some of the ways we might use these two areas to echo phrases at different octaves. Once you have got used to thinking and playing in these two boxes then try using the three notes on the G string to link them. Spend a bit of time working between these two boxes and try to get your fingers making smooth easy transitions between first and second positions using the three connecting notes in between on the G string. Notice how it uses the slide to add a really authentic blues sound. This really is one of the great blues clichés. Here are some examples you may have heard. See if you can Make up some similar phrases using the slide in either direction as a starting point. Try to add other bits of technique, hammer-ons, pull-offs and bends where possible. Here’s a rough idea of what I mean. Steal some of those if you like and invent a bunch of your own as well. Now we try and put these ideas together against the 12 bar backing track. Working from the first to second positions and back again. Using the slide to connect our two boxes. How to practice. Three things: 1. Drill the scale:Here’s the whole of the second position: And here’s how to drill this: Start on 2nd finger Practice transition from first to second position 2. Listen to the blues greats: John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray Vaughn etc…. 3. Doodle along to the backing track. Have fun and see you in the next lesson when we’ll look at what we can learn about blues improvising from Texas Blues verse 4