Advanced Blues In 6 Weeks - Week 3

Welcome to Week 3 of the ‘Advanced Blues In 6 Weeks’ online guitar course, where you will dive deep into the traditional blues style of the legendary Robben Ford. Guided by the expertise of Stuart Bull, this week focuses on mastering the foundational elements of blues guitar, while incorporating the sophisticated techniques that define Ford’s iconic sound. This course is designed for guitarists who want to build a strong foundation in traditional blues, while also learning how to add a modern, expressive edge to their playing. If you’re ready to master open position licks, explore complex rhythmic phrasing, and unlock the secrets of Robben Ford’s signature string bending, this course will provide you with the essential tools and techniques.
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Stuart Bull Tutor, Professional Guitarist
Image of tutor: Stuart Bull

Lessons Included in this Course

1 Introduction
2 Building Phrases
3 Repetition Of Phrasing
4 Mixing Major & Minor
5 Dynamics
6 Playing Around Chord Shapes
7 Performance 1
8 Performance 2
9 Performance 3
10 Performance 4
11 Performance 5
12 Performance 6
13 Performance 7
14 Performance 8
15 Performance 9
16 Performance 10
17 Performance 11
18 Performance 12
19 Performance 13
20 Outro

Course Content Overview

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of traditional blues techniques, with a special focus on the stylistic nuances of Robben Ford. You will learn how to build a solid foundation in blues fundamentals, while also incorporating advanced concepts to create a dynamic and expressive playing style. The lessons are designed to be practical and hands-on, allowing you to immediately apply what you’ve learned to your own playing.

Here’s a breakdown of the lesson contents:

  • Robben Ford’s Traditional Blues Style: Delve into the core elements of Robben Ford’s traditional blues playing, including his unique phrasing, timing, and use of space.
  • Open Position Blues Licks: Master a variety of open position licks that will form the foundation of your blues vocabulary, providing you with a rich palette of ideas for soloing and improvisation.
  • Odd Grouping Phrases: Explore the use of odd note groupings to create rhythmic interest and complexity in your solos, breaking away from predictable patterns.
  • Open String Motifs: Learn how to use open strings to create memorable and melodic motifs, adding a unique and resonant quality to your playing.
  • Connecting Scale Positions: Discover how to seamlessly connect different scale positions across the fretboard, allowing you to create long, flowing lines and navigate the neck with ease.
  • Signature String Bending: Master Robben Ford’s signature string bending technique, including the use of finger “popping” to create a percussive and expressive sound.

This Course is Ideal for Players Who...

This course is ideal for intermediate to advanced guitarists who have a solid understanding of blues basics and are looking to refine their technique and expand their stylistic vocabulary. It is especially beneficial for those who want to:

  • Develop a strong foundation in traditional blues guitar.
  • Learn the stylistic techniques of blues legend Robben Ford.
  • Improve their blues phrasing, timing, and improvisation skills.
  • Add a modern and expressive edge to their blues playing.
  • Master advanced techniques such as odd grouping phrases and signature string bending.

What will I achieve from completing this course?

‘Advanced Blues In 6 Weeks - Week 3’ offers a focused and practical approach to learning the traditional blues style of Robben Ford. Stuart Bull’s expert instruction breaks down complex techniques into easy-to-understand concepts, making them accessible to a wide range of players. The course’s emphasis on practical application, with a dedicated blues shuffle backing track in E, allows you to immediately apply what you’ve learned in a musical context. With high-quality video lessons, detailed explanations, and a structured learning path, this course provides you with everything you need to master the art of traditional blues and elevate your playing to a new level of proficiency and expression.

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Advanced Blues In 6 Weeks - Week 3

In Week 3 of the "Advanced Blues In 6 Weeks" course, guitar enthusiasts are introduced to the intricate world of Robben Ford Style traditional blues. This week focuses on enhancing your blues guitar playing through a deep dive into specific techniques that Robben Ford, one of the blues guitar greats, made famous. Each lesson from Stuart Bull is carefully crafted to not only introduce these techniques but also to demonstrate their practical application, offering a comprehensive learning experience.

Key Techniques Covered

Robben Ford Style Traditional Blues

Exploring Robben Ford's traditional blues style offers insights into his unique approach to blues guitar. This section breaks down his distinctive phrasing, timing, and emotional depth, teaching students how to incorporate these elements into their own playing for a more expressive blues performance.

Open Position Licks

Open position licks are foundational in blues guitar, offering a raw and resonant sound that's instantly recognizable. This course teaches you how to master these licks, adding a versatile tool to your blues arsenal that works well in both solo and ensemble contexts.

Off Note Grouping Phrases

Off note grouping phrases add complexity and interest to your playing, challenging traditional rhythmic patterns. This technique, heavily utilized by Robben Ford, helps in creating a more dynamic and engaging blues sound.

Open String Motifs

Open string motifs leverage the natural resonance of open strings to create memorable and melodious lines. This week's lessons focus on integrating these motifs into your playing, enriching your musical phrases with texture and depth.

Scale Connecting Positions

Connecting scale positions fluidly is crucial for seamless soloing over blues progressions. This course segment teaches the art of navigating the fretboard with ease, linking scale patterns in a way that feels both natural and musically coherent.

Robben Ford Style String Bending

String bending, a hallmark of blues guitar, is explored through the lens of Robben Ford's technique. This lesson emphasizes the nuances of bending strings to achieve the expressive, vocal-like quality that Ford's solos are known for.

The Benefits of Learning These Techniques

By mastering these techniques, guitarists expand their expressive capabilities, enabling them to convey deeper emotion and sophistication in their blues playing. Each lesson is designed not just to teach a technique, but to show how it can be applied to create more compelling and rich musical expressions.

Performance by the Tutor

Seeing these techniques in action during a tutor's performance is invaluable. It provides a real-world context, demonstrating how each technique can be woven into a cohesive and expressive solo. These performances serve as both inspiration and a practical guide, offering students a model to aspire to and learn from.

Practicing with a Backing Track

The inclusion of a backing track is a significant advantage for learners. Practicing with a backing track simulates a live playing environment, allowing students to apply what they've learned in a context that mirrors real-world performance scenarios. This not only improves timing and improvisational skills but also builds confidence in one's ability to play with other musicians.

Conclusion

"Advanced Blues In 6 Weeks - Week 3" is a gateway to mastering the nuanced blues style of Robben Ford. This comprehensive course is designed to elevate your blues playing by introducing sophisticated techniques that add depth, emotion, and flair to your performances. Whether you're aiming to enrich your blues vocabulary or seeking to infuse your playing with the soulful nuances of Robben Ford's style, this course is an essential step on your musical journey.


Guitar Techniques Used in This Course

By incorporating these techniques into your playing, you'll not only capture the essence of Robben Ford's blues style but also develop a more versatile and expressive guitar skillset.

Stuart Bull playing the guitar.

About The Tutor

Tutor Profile

Stuart Bull

As co-founder of LickLibrary and Total Accuracy, Stuart plays a tremendous part of all the goings on in LickLibrary today. Looking at our entire catalogue, the entire contribution from Stuart is phenomenal and has had an impact on tens of thousands of aspiring guitar players the world over. Stuart's professional...

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