Electric Blues In 6 Weeks - Week 1: Mastering Fundamental Techniques

Embark on your blues guitar journey with "Electric Blues In 6 Weeks - Week 1," a meticulously crafted guitar lesson package from LickLibrary. Designed for enthusiasts eager to delve into the essence of blues, this course sets the foundation with essential techniques integral to the blues genre. Each lesson is structured to not only introduce you to fundamental techniques but also to enhance your musicality and technical prowess on the guitar. This course is taught by Stuart Bull.

Course Overview

Pentatonic Scale in the First Position

The Pentatonic scale in the first position is your gateway to blues improvisation. Learning this scale enriches your solos, providing a versatile base that fits seamlessly into various blues contexts. Mastery of this scale equips you with the ability to express emotions and create solos that resonate with the soulful essence of blues.

Blues Scale in the First Position

The Blues scale, an extension of the Pentatonic with an added flat fifth, introduces a distinctively dissonant sound that's quintessential to blues music. This scale deepens your understanding of blues tonality and expands your improvisational vocabulary, allowing for more expressive and emotionally charged solos.

Blues Bends

Blues bends are a powerful expressive tool, adding emotional depth to your playing. Mastering this technique lets you mimic the human voice, making your guitar sing with soul-stirring bends that are fundamental to the blues sound.

String Bending

String bending is crucial for adding nuances to your playing. It's about control and precision, enabling you to reach those in-between notes that give blues its characteristic wailing and yearning sound. Combining this with your scales elevates your solos from simple melodies to poignant musical expressions.

Vibrato

Vibrato adds life and emotion to your notes, making them stand out. Learning to control vibrato means you can sustain interest in a note or chord, giving your playing a more professional sound. It's the difference between a note merely being played and being felt.

Combining String Bending and Vibrato

This technique is about adding depth and expression to your bends with vibrato. It's a nuanced skill that, when mastered, allows for a richer, more soulful sound that truly speaks the language of blues.

Blues Scale Licks

These licks are your tools for building solos that captivate and express the blues ethos. Learning various licks and how to adapt them to different musical contexts is essential for improvisation and making each performance your own.

Three Licks in the Style of David Gilmour

David Gilmour's style, known for its emotional depth and expressive bends and vibrato, is dissected through three signature licks. These licks not only pay homage to Gilmour's genius but also teach you how to incorporate his emotive playing style into your own.

Benefits of Using a Backing Track for Practice

Practicing with a backing track is an invaluable aspect of this course. It simulates a real-band environment, teaching you how to lock in with other instruments and improve your timing and rhythm. Moreover, it enhances your improvisational skills, as you learn to adapt your playing dynamically to the backing track, preparing you for live performances and jam sessions.

Conclusion

"Week 1" of the "Electric Blues In 6 Weeks" series is your first step towards mastering the electric blues guitar. It lays down the essential techniques every blues guitarist must know, enriching your musical vocabulary and setting a solid foundation for advanced studies. By the end of this course, you'll not only understand the basics but also start developing your unique voice on the guitar.

Techniques Used in This Course

• Vibrato
• String Bending
• Bluesy Bends