This page is all about how to 'get started' and how to
'build your foundation' using valuable resources found on
'Nate's Play Better Guitar' member site!
Keep In Mind That 'Blues' Can Provide A Great Platform For Learning-&-Understanding Many Other Music Styles. So, Blues Is How We Are Going To Get Started!
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Check Back Often For Newly Organized Updates!
1) Learn 'Easy Blues Solo #2'!
This easy-to-learn and fun-to-play solo provides an excellent introduction to the 'blues scale' (position one). While doing so, it also provides a confidence-building introduction to important 'rhythm' and 'phrasing' concepts that are featured in most styles of music making. Be certain, over time, to practice this solo with both the 'shuffle' and the 'funky' backing tracks in order to invest further in building (more-and-more thoroughly) the forward-moving musical foundation that we all need to establish!
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Click The Image Below To Learn 'Easy Blues Solo #2'!
2) Learn 'Three Guitar Licks In Five Positions'!
Currently, only 'position one' of this exercise has been posted. This is perfect, because I recommend that you remain focused upon how to create blues sounds in 'position one' until doing so has become second nature!
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Click The Image Below To Start Learning This Exercise!
3) Learn One Of The Following Bass Lines!
Choose one bass line from the exercise below to memorize and master. Then, record yourself 'playing the bass line that you have chosen' so that you can jam along (with yourself) during playback! This process is going to accomplish much more than you might realize (at first)!
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Click The Image Below To Start Learning This Exercise!
4) Learn 'Easy Blues Solo #1'!
This easy-to-learn and fun-to-play solo uses blues scale positions one and two. This provides a natural extension to what was learned first in "Easy Blues Solo #2". Be certain, over time, to practice this solo with both the 'shuffle' and the 'funky' backing tracks in order to invest further in building (more-and-more thoroughly) the forward-moving musical foundation that we all need to establish!
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Click The Image Below To Learn 'Easy Blues Solo #1'!
5) Learn 'Four To The Bar' Comping!
For some, this is going to be a great opportunity to learn 'two simple chord shapes' that could easily carry a professional blues guitar player through an entire career! In addition to learning two very useful chord shapes, 'four to the bar' comping is going to reinforce the 12-Bar-Chord progression (learned from the blues bass line study), it's going to establish the sound of classic blues harmony, and it's going to open a new door to the the kind of creative and supportive comping patterns that make playing in a band so much fun!
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Click The Image Below To Learn
'Four To The Bar' Comping!
6) Learn Another Bass Line!
Choose another bass line from the exercise below to memorize and master. Then, record yourself 'playing the bass line that you have chosen' so that you can jam along (with yourself) during playback! This process is going to accomplish much more than you might realize (at first)!
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Click The Image Below To Start Learning This Exercise!
7) Learn This Simple Guitar Lick!
This guitar lick is simple, easy and fun to play, plus it opens the door to many expressive possibilities! For example, once you have mastered Shuffle #1b, try your hand at the slightly more advanced Shuffle #1a (and let the door swing wide open)!
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Click The Image Below To Learn This Guitar Lick!
8) Learn The 'Charleston Style' Of Comping!
Now that you are really building the kind of musical momentum that creates a complete player, it's time to learn the Charleston Rhythm. Once you have mastered the Charleston over a shuffle beat, challenge yourself to adapt what you have learned to also include the 'Funky Charleston'. Both options are now ready to be learned in the following lesson!
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Click The Image Below To Learn
The 'Charleston Style' Comping!
9) Find Every 'G' On The Fretboard!
Knowing that we can find and identify any note on the fretboard builds great confidence and competence. This fun exercise is going to provide a great map for how to find every octave and duplicate note on the guitar. Other info in this area of study will soon be found on our 'Scales, Chords & Theory' page!
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Click The Image Below To Learn
'Every G' In Three Shapes!
10) Learn The Tennessee Slide!
Now that you can find every 'G' on the guitar, notice the way the following nutrient-rich exercise starts on every 'F' and helps us learn how to play all over the entire fretboard, just like the pros do!
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Click The Image Below To Learn
'The Tennessee Slide'!
12) Learn To Boogie!
To get that classic 'blues sound' and get that classic 'blues-rock' sound, sometimes we just have to play the boogie-woogie! This requires that we stretch, strengthen and coordinate our hands to do something that 'at first' might seem terribly difficult (or according to some, impossible)! Stay with it until you own both the blues and blues-rock versions of this classic, fun-to-play sound!
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Click The Image Below To Learn
How To Boogie!
13) Learn To 'Get Into The Groove'!
Do you want to know the #1 secret behind becoming a greater-&-greater guitarist? Learn how to get into the groove! In the following exercise, we do just that!
Learn it and master it!!!
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Click The Image Below To Learn
How To 'Get Into The Groove'!
14) Are You Ready For A Challenge?
The following exercise combines much of what we have been learning, in terms of musical skill, into one 'fun to play' 'Dust My Broom' inspired introduction! Get ready to learn a classic blues turnaround, to put your boogie playing to use, to master triplets with the main riff, and more!
It's perfectly okay if this ends up being a longer-term investment - much is going to be learned and accomplished!
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Click The Image Below To Learn
This Challenging Exercise!
15) Learn The Two Remaining Bass Lines!
If you haven't done so already, it's time to learn the two remaining bass lines. Then, record yourself 'playing the bass line that you have chosen' so that you can jam along (with yourself) during playback! This process is going to accomplish much more than you might realize (at first)!
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Click The Image Below To Complete This Exercise!
Stay Tuned For Much More To Come!
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And Feel Free To Let Me Know
What You Think You Need!