Rhythm Guitar Survival Guide - Blues
Course Content Overview
Erik Holmbom—a graduate of the Pitea College of Music in Sweden, a sought-after session guitarist, and a LickLibrary tutor celebrated for his command of blues, country, and roots-based music—will guide you through these essential blues rhythm frameworks with clarity, purpose, and real-world application. You will learn how to build a rolling, authentic blues shuffle from the ground up, how to use triads to bring melodic movement and harmonic sophistication to your rhythm playing, and how to internalise the relaxed, swinging feel that defines classic swing blues. Each lesson is a step-by-step journey into rhythm mastery, focusing on the core techniques that drive confident accompaniment, tight band playing, and memorable blues grooves.
Course Contents
Blues Shuffle — Progression, Breakdown, Ideas & Concepts, and Workouts
The blues shuffle is the heartbeat of the genre, and this section gives it the thorough treatment it deserves. You will work through a traditional 12-bar blues shuffle progression, learning how dominant chord shapes and moving bass lines interact to create that unmistakable rolling feel. Concept lessons then explore rhythmic accents, subtle chord embellishments, and dynamic variation—teaching you how to keep a repeated progression engaging without overplaying. Dedicated workouts build timing, endurance, and consistency, helping you develop a rock-solid groove that holds up across a full song or jam session.
Triad Shuffle — Progression, Breakdown, Ideas & Concepts, and Workouts
Triad-based shuffles introduce a more melodic and harmonically aware dimension to blues rhythm guitar. Erik breaks down how compact triad shapes move across the fretboard to outline chord changes with clarity and flexibility, freeing you from reliance on full chord grips. Concept lessons teach smooth triad connections, the use of partial chords, and how to imply harmony without cluttering the mix—skills that are especially valuable in band settings. Targeted workouts then reinforce accuracy and clean transitions, improving left-hand coordination and right-hand precision at any tempo.
Swing Blues — Progression, Breakdown, Ideas & Concepts, and Workouts
Swing blues brings a jazz-influenced lightness and rhythmic bounce to the blues tradition. Erik breaks down swing-style chord progressions that emphasise space, movement, and feel, before exploring chord substitutions, syncopated rhythms, and tasteful embellishments that define this sophisticated style. The workouts focus on internalising swing timing and executing smooth chord transitions, giving you the confidence to play in more nuanced blues and blues-jazz settings with ease.
Technical Skills You Will Develop
- Mastery of the blues shuffle, triad shuffle, and swing blues rhythm styles across the fretboard
- Proficiency in palm muting and alternate picking for tight, driving, and authentic blues grooves
- Execution of fluid chord transitions, syncopated rhythms, and rhythmic accents
- Enhanced fretboard awareness through the use of movable triad shapes and partial chord voicings
- Improved rhythmic precision, timing, and right-hand control across multiple blues feels
- A deep understanding of how to apply dominant chord shapes, double stops, and bass-note movement musically
- The ability to adapt your rhythm playing confidently to different blues contexts and band settings
This Course is Ideal for Players Who...
The Rhythm Guitar Survival Guide - Blues is an essential online guitar course for any guitarist who wants to move beyond basic chord strumming and develop a genuine command of blues rhythm. Whether you are an intermediate player looking to sharpen your rhythm technique and timing, a guitarist who wants to become a more reliable and creative band player, or a dedicated student seeking a structured approach to authentic blues groove, this course is built for you.
This course is the perfect fit for guitarists who are tired of playing static open chords and want to bring real movement and feel to their rhythm playing; who want to master essential blues techniques including palm muting, syncopation, and triad-based harmony; who are looking to develop a powerful, authentic sound with the consistent timing and feel that defines great blues playing; who are drawn to the clear, practical, and musically grounded teaching style of Erik Holmbom; and who understand that a strong rhythm foundation is the key to becoming a more complete, confident, and creative guitarist in any blues jam or live setting.
What will I achieve from completing this course?
The Rhythm Guitar Survival Guide - Blues goes beyond simply memorising chord shapes—it is a structured education in the mechanics of authentic, musical blues rhythm guitar. It is about understanding how targeted workouts and concept-driven lessons can transform your timing, deepen your harmonic awareness, and give you a vocabulary of grooves that work in real musical situations. You will gain genuine insight into the teaching methods of Erik Holmbom, and learn how his clear, practical approach to blues and roots guitar creates a foundation for rhythm playing that is both versatile and deeply musical. By focusing on feel, accuracy, and the specific techniques that define great blues rhythm—from the rolling drive of the shuffle to the sophisticated bounce of swing—this course ensures that you do not just learn the patterns, but truly own them. For those ready to become the rhythm guitarist that every band wants, your survival guide starts here.
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Rhythm Guitar Survival Guide – Blues
By Erik Holmbom
The Rhythm Guitar Survival Guide – Blues from LickLibrary.com is a deep–dive, note-for-note guitar lesson designed to give players a complete and practical command of blues rhythm guitar. Taught by Erik Holmbom, this course focuses on the essential grooves, feels, and harmonic ideas that define great blues playing. Rather than isolated licks, you’ll learn complete rhythm parts that work in real musical situations, helping you become a more confident, reliable, and creative rhythm guitarist in any blues setting.
This course is structured around three cornerstone blues rhythm styles: Blues Shuffle, Triad Shuffle, and Swing Blues. Each style is explored through progressions and breakdowns, creative ideas and concepts, and targeted workouts that reinforce technique, timing, and feel.
Blues Shuffle
Blues Shuffle Progression & Breakdown
The Blues Shuffle is the backbone of countless classic blues tracks. In this lesson, Erik breaks down a traditional 12-bar blues shuffle progression, showing how dominant chord shapes and moving bass notes interact to create that unmistakable rolling feel. Understanding this structure allows you to lock in with the rhythm section and maintain a strong groove that supports both vocals and lead guitar.
Blues Shuffle Ideas & Concepts
Here, you’ll explore variations on the basic shuffle using rhythmic accents, subtle chord embellishments, and dynamic changes. These concepts teach you how to keep a repeated progression interesting without overplaying. The benefit to the viewer is learning how to sound expressive and musical while still serving the song.
Blues Shuffle Workouts
The workouts focus on timing, endurance, and consistency. By practicing these shuffle patterns at different tempos, you’ll develop a rock-solid sense of groove and improve your ability to hold down rhythm parts for an entire song or jam session with confidence.
Triad Shuffle
Triad Shuffle Progression & Breakdown
Triad-based shuffles introduce a more melodic and harmonically aware approach to rhythm guitar. Erik breaks down how small triad shapes move across the fretboard to outline chord changes clearly. This approach helps players avoid relying solely on full chord grips, making their rhythm playing more flexible and mobile.
Triad Shuffle Ideas & Concepts
In this section, you’ll learn how to connect triads smoothly, use partial chords, and imply harmony without cluttering the mix. These ideas are especially useful in band settings where clarity is key. The benefit is greater fretboard awareness and the ability to adapt your rhythm playing to different musical contexts.
Triad Shuffle Workouts
Focused workouts reinforce accuracy and clean transitions between triad shapes. These exercises improve left-hand coordination and right-hand precision, ensuring that your rhythm parts sound tight and intentional at any tempo.
Swing Blues
Swing Blues Progression & Breakdown
Swing Blues brings a lighter, jazz-influenced feel to blues rhythm guitar. Erik breaks down swing-style chord progressions that emphasise movement, space, and rhythmic bounce. Learning this progression helps players understand how swing differs from straight or shuffled feels.
Swing Blues Ideas & Concepts
This lesson explores chord substitutions, rhythmic syncopation, and tasteful embellishments that define swing blues rhythm guitar. The benefit to the viewer is learning how to add sophistication and groove while maintaining a relaxed, swinging feel that complements soloists perfectly.
Swing Blues Workouts
The workouts focus on internalising swing timing and smooth chord transitions. By practicing these patterns, you’ll strengthen your rhythmic phrasing and gain confidence playing in more nuanced blues and blues-jazz settings.
About the Guitarist
Erik Holmbom is a highly respected guitarist and educator known for his deep understanding of blues, rock, and roots-based music. His playing is influenced by classic blues rhythm masters as well as modern players who blend groove with harmonic sophistication. Erik’s teaching style is clear, practical, and musical, making complex rhythm concepts accessible while always keeping the focus on feel and real-world application.
Guitar Techniques Used in This Course
- Chord Progressions
- Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
- Barre Chords
- Power Chords
- Palm Muting
- Alternate Picking
- Syncopated Rhythms
- Double Stops
- Slides
- Hammer-ons
- Pull-offs
- Vibrato
The Rhythm Guitar Survival Guide – Blues is an essential course for any guitarist looking to master authentic blues rhythm guitar and become a stronger, more musical player in any blues environment.
About The Tutor
Tutor Profile
Erik Holmbom
Born in Skelleftea in Sweden and an alumn of the session musician programme at the Pitea College of Music in Sweden, Erik is a sought after guitarist who splits his time on the road with artists and bands, in the studio recording for clients and as a guitar teacher to...