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Play Blues Guitar 8: Advanced Rhythm Approaches

Fire up your blues guitar rhythm chops with this Blues Learning Path core course.
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Overview

Welcome to Play Blues Guitar 8: Advanced Rhythm Approaches for late intermediate to advanced students of blues guitar. This Blues Learning Path core course is presented by 8 top TrueFire educators: Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, Jeff McErlain, Corey Congilio, Jeff Scheetz, Shane Theriot, David Hamburger, and Brad Carlton. The Advanced Rhythm Approaches curriculum is comprised of select blues guitar lessons from the educators' existing TrueFire course libraries.

Guitarists with advanced rhythm guitar skills write their own ticket with respect to paying or playing opportunities. Other musicians love to round out their rhythm section with solid, versatile rhythm guitarists. Pros will always get the most lucrative gigs, and amateurs will always get to play with the very best. The video guitar lessons in this core course will focus on strengthening and broadening your rhythm skills to an advanced level.

Play Blues Guitar 8: Advanced Rhythm Approaches is organized into 2 sections. In the first section you will look at essential advanced blues rhythms and get funky with your playing. Section number 2 has you playing through a batch of Performance Studies that will cover a ton of important blues feels.

When you've completed the lessons here in Advanced Rhythm Approaches, you'll find more lessons focused on rhythm in Advanced Rhythm Principles, also a Play Blues Guitar 8 core course.

The educators demonstrate all of the key examples over jam tracks (where and when applicable) to simulate a real-world application, in a musical context. Key examples are also tabbed and notated for your practice, reference and study purposes. Take as much time as you need to work through each video guitar lesson before moving on to the next lesson. If you want to dig deeper or wider into any of the topics covered in this core course, check out the rest of the courses in the Blues Learning Path where you'll find more examples, techniques and insight from top TrueFire educators. Grab your guitar and let's get started!

About

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Play Blues Guitar 8: Advanced Rhythm Approaches - Introduction

01: Play Blues Guitar 8: Advanced Rhythm Approaches - Introduction

Welcome to Play Blues Guitar 8: Advanced Rhythm Approaches for late intermediate to advanced students of blues guitar. This Blues Learning Path core course is presented by 8 top TrueFire educators: Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, Jeff McErlain, Corey Congilio, Jeff Scheetz, Shane Theriot, David Hamburger, and Brad Carlton.

2 min
Essential Rhythms - SECTION 1: Overview

02: Essential Rhythms - SECTION 1: Overview

In this first section you will work on some more advanced blues rhythms. From funky grooves to faster shuffles, there are a lot of good rhythms here to give you some more interesting grooves to apply across a wide range of 12 bar progressions.

1 min
First Funk - Rhythm 16

03: First Funk - Rhythm 16

First Funk - Rhythm 16 is a video guitar lesson presented by Corey Congilio and is sourced from 50 Blues Rhythms You MUST Know. Here's another riff based 12 bar example. I'm using the A7/E shape that I'm so fond of for the I chord. I'm breaking up the 5th string barre chords we used previously and adding the b7 note to the top of the chord shapes.

5 min
Take You Higher - Rhythm 23

04: Take You Higher - Rhythm 23

Take You Higher - Rhythm 23 is a video guitar lesson presented by Corey Congilio and is sourced from 50 Blues Rhythms You MUST Know. In #23 we're focusing on chord inversions that are on the top four strings. We're also combining 7ths and 9ths. You can combine any chords you want as long as they sound good.

6 min
Two New - Rhythm 28

05: Two New - Rhythm 28

Two New - Rhythm 28 is a video guitar lesson presented by Corey Congilio and is sourced from 50 Blues Rhythms You MUST Know. We're learning a new 9th chord shape and a new 7th chord shape in this example. The 9th chord shape that we're playing for the I chord is interesting in that the 7th and 9th degrees are in the lower register of the inversion.

4 min
Mother Funker - Rhythm 31

06: Mother Funker - Rhythm 31

Mother Funker - Rhythm 31 is a video guitar lesson presented by Corey Congilio and is sourced from 50 Blues Rhythms You MUST Know. So, I said that 13 chords sound jazzy. I stand by that comment but, in this example we're using this 13th shape to play a cool funky blues rhythm example.

3 min
Blues Jazz Odyssey - Rhythm 47

07: Blues Jazz Odyssey - Rhythm 47

Blues Jazz Odyssey - Rhythm 47 is a video guitar lesson presented by Corey Congilio and is sourced from 50 Blues Rhythms You MUST Know. To me, the point of this course is to equip you with what you'll need for all things blues rhythm. Often times, you'll want to play something more interesting than a three chord rhythm. Blues is jazz and much jazz is blues.

8 min
Funk E - Rhythm 48

08: Funk E - Rhythm 48

Funk E - Rhythm 48 is a video guitar lesson presented by Corey Congilio and is sourced from 50 Blues Rhythms You MUST Know. The key of E just screams funk to me. I wanted to show you a chord progression that I've been playing for a long time. I'm a huge fan of funky rhythm playing and this example contains some of my favorite moves.

4 min
Trout talk  - Rhythm #21

09: Trout talk - Rhythm #21

Trout talk - Rhythm #21 is a video guitar lesson presented by Jeff Scheetz and is sourced from 50 Blues Rock Rhythms You MUST Know. Walter Trout is a dynamic blues player that uses rock elements in his tunes while keeping it bluesy. This riff uses a technique that he is a master of - going from a chord shape to a single note riff rather quickly.

3 min
Lucille Winter  - Rhythm #33

10: Lucille Winter - Rhythm #33

Lucille Winter - Rhythm #33 is a video guitar lesson presented by Jeff Scheetz and is sourced from 50 Blues Rock Rhythms You MUST Know. Johnny Winter's record "Still Alive and Well" has got to be one of my favorites. It is 100% raw and aggressive. The bonus track of "Lucille" has a wonderful feel.

3 min
Sunday Best - Rhythm 20

11: Sunday Best - Rhythm 20

Sunday Best - Rhythm 20 is a video guitar lesson presented by Shane Theriot and is sourced from 30 Mojo Rhythms You MUST Know. Now let's put those same triad voicings to work over another feel. This example is in the style of The Blind Boys of Alabama or Pops Staples, giving us a gospel feel that alternates between triads and a simple bass line.

3 min
Funky I IV V - Lick #50

12: Funky I IV V - Lick #50

Funky I IV V - Lick #50 is a video guitar lesson presented by Corey Congilio and is sourced from Texas Blues Licks You MUST Know. This final rhythmexample is a fast and funky 12 bar progression in A. I got this idea from the Vaughan Brothers, LongWay From Home, a tune on the album Family Style is the inspiration here.

5 min
J Walkin - Lick 19

13: J Walkin - Lick 19

J Walkin - Lick 19 is a video guitar lesson presented by Jeff McErlain and is sourced from 50 Eclectic Blues Licks You MUST Know. Let's expand on A little J by learning a walking bass line added to the jazz blues. Please learn lick number 18 first, it will make this a lot easier!

5 min
Performance Studies - SECTION 2: Overview

14: Performance Studies - SECTION 2: Overview

In section 2 you'll cover some really important blues feels like a minor blues, a jazz blues, and some funk. Being able to have a good command of different styles and grooves is what sets great players apart, and once you have all these under your fingers you should be ready for anything!

1 min
When I Leave - Overview

15: When I Leave - Overview

When I Leave - Overview is a video guitar lesson presented by Robben Ford and is sourced from Rhythm Revolution. This next segment is the chord progression to a song I wrote and recorded mid 90's with my group The Blue Line. The record was called Handful of Blues, the song "When I Leave Here".

0 min
When I Leave - Performance

16: When I Leave - Performance

When I Leave - Performance is a video guitar lesson presented by Robben Ford and is sourced from Rhythm Revolution. This song was actually written on the piano. I found this little thing I liked on the piano in the key of F and fortunately it felt good under my fingers on the guitar as well.

4 min
When I Leave - Breakdown

17: When I Leave - Breakdown

When I Leave - Breakdown is a video guitar lesson presented by Robben Ford and is sourced from Rhythm Revolution. This song was actually written on the piano. I found this little thing I liked on the piano in the key of F and fortunately it felt good under my fingers on the guitar as well.

9 min
C Minor Blues - Overview

18: C Minor Blues - Overview

C Minor Blues - Overview is a video guitar lesson presented by Robben Ford and is sourced from Rhythm Revolution. In this next segment we are going to work with a C minor blues which I've kept to a pretty synced approach. Rather than using a variety of chords we're doing something very basic here and I'll show you why.

0 min
C Minor Blues - Performance

19: C Minor Blues - Performance

C Minor Blues - Performance is a video guitar lesson presented by Robben Ford and is sourced from Rhythm Revolution. There are a few ways to play C minor blues and I chose to go the most basic route here which was very instinctual on my part because it feels good when you play something so basic, so simple.

3 min
C Minor Blues - Breakdown

20: C Minor Blues - Breakdown

C Minor Blues - Breakdown is a video guitar lesson presented by Robben Ford and is sourced from Rhythm Revolution. There are a few ways to play C minor blues and I chose to go the most basic route here which was very instinctual on my part because it feels good when you play something so basic, so simple.

13 min
Sixty-Five Eleven Shuffle - Overview

21: Sixty-Five Eleven Shuffle - Overview

Sixty-Five Eleven Shuffle - Overview is a video guitar lesson presented by David Grissom and is sourced from Open Road Blues.

2 min
Sixty-Five Eleven Shuffle - Rhythm Performance

22: Sixty-Five Eleven Shuffle - Rhythm Performance

Sixty-Five Eleven Shuffle - Rhythm Performance is a video guitar lesson presented by David Grissom and is sourced from Open Road Blues. In this performance of the rhythm section of "Sixty-Five Eleven" I'll stick to the feel of a Texas Blues Shuffle while exploring different chord voicings and playing in higher positions.

1 min
Sixty-Five Eleven Shuffle - Rhythm Breakdown

23: Sixty-Five Eleven Shuffle - Rhythm Breakdown

Sixty-Five Eleven Shuffle - Rhythm Breakdown is a video guitar lesson presented by David Grissom and is sourced from Open Road Blues. For the first chorus of the rhythm section, I tried to stay as true as possible to the Texas Shuffle style, following the bass part and muting on the upstrokes.

4 min
C Funky - Rhythm

24: C Funky - Rhythm

C Funky - Rhythm is a video guitar lesson presented byLarry Carlton and is sourced from 335 Blues. When it comes to playing rhythm on a funky blues, muted parts with accents can fit the bill nicely. Heavy muting also gives a real percussive feel, where the pitch itself is sometimes barely audible.

3 min
C Funky - Rhythm Insight

25: C Funky - Rhythm Insight

C Funky - Rhythm Insight is a video guitar lesson presented byLarry Carlton and is sourced from 335 Blues. When it comes to playing rhythm on a funky blues, muted parts with accents can fit the bill nicely. Heavy muting also gives a real percussive feel, where the pitch itself is sometimes barely audible.

4 min
C Funky - Solo

26: C Funky - Solo

C Funky - Solo is a video guitar lesson presented byLarry Carlton and is sourced from 335 Blues. The rhythm part is like a canvas you're painting on - and you want the paint to stand out, right? So it stands to reason that you don't paint the solo with the same color as the backdrop.

3 min
Bb Jazzed - Rhythm

27: Bb Jazzed - Rhythm

Bb Jazzed - Rhythm is a video guitar lesson presented byLarry Carlton and is sourced from 335 Blues. Tired of playing all the same old chords and chord voicings in your rhythm parts? Watch your rhythm possibilities multiply when you start to use suspended chords (sus chords) or slash chords (chords with a note other than the root in the bass).

2 min
Bb Jazzed - Rhythm Insight

28: Bb Jazzed - Rhythm Insight

Bb Jazzed - Rhythm Insight is a video guitar lesson presented byLarry Carlton and is sourced from 335 Blues. Tired of playing all the same old chords and chord voicings in your rhythm parts? Watch your rhythm possibilities multiply when you start to use suspended chords (sus chords) or slash chords (chords with a note other than the root in the bass).

3 min
Blue Chicken  - Introduction

29: Blue Chicken - Introduction

Blue Chicken - Introduction is a video guitar lesson presented by David Hamburger and is sourced from Blues Architect. Ray Flacke is the first guitarist I got to see demonstrate hybrid-grip chicken-pickin' up close, when I interviewed him for Guitar Player. Talk about starting at the top!

5 min
Blue Chicken  - Breakdown

30: Blue Chicken - Breakdown

Blue Chicken - Breakdown is a video guitar lesson presented by David Hamburger and is sourced from Blues Architect. Ray Flacke is the first guitarist I got to see demonstrate hybrid-grip chicken-pickin' up close, when I interviewed him for Guitar Player. Talk about starting at the top!

6 min
Blue Chicken  - Variation

31: Blue Chicken - Variation

Blue Chicken - Variation is a video guitar lesson presented by David Hamburger and is sourced from Blues Architect. Before Ray Flacke, there was Albert Lee - like Flacke, also a Brit, curiously enough - and if you want to look further into that hybrid-grip, chicken-pickin' sound, try and rustle up some of Lee's music.

8 min
Blue Chicken  - Extended Performance

32: Blue Chicken - Extended Performance

Blue Chicken - Extended Performance is a video guitar lesson presented by David Hamburger and is sourced from Blues Architect. Before Ray Flacke, there was Albert Lee - like Flacke, also a Brit, curiously enough - and if you want to look further into that hybrid-grip, chicken-pickin' sound, try and rustle up some of Lee's music.

3 min
Listenin' Lucky - Overview

33: Listenin' Lucky - Overview

Listenin' Lucky - Overview is a video guitar lesson presented by David Grissom and is sourced from Open Road Blues. This next track is called "Listenin' Lucky," an all-out, meat and potatoes, rock-blues song. I'm going to take you through the rhythm and solo parts, showing you the variations and options that we can use over three choruses.

2 min
Listenin' Lucky - Rhythm Performance

34: Listenin' Lucky - Rhythm Performance

Listenin' Lucky - Rhythm Performance is a video guitar lesson presented by David Grissom and is sourced from Open Road Blues. I'll perform the rhythm section of "Listenin' Lucky," using different chord voicings over each chorus while maintaining the track's rock-blues feel.

1 min
Listenin' Lucky - Rhythm Breakdown

35: Listenin' Lucky - Rhythm Breakdown

Listenin' Lucky - Rhythm Breakdown is a video guitar lesson presented by David Grissom and is sourced from Open Road Blues. Let's breakdown the rhythm part of "Listenin' Lucky." In the first chorus, I used muting and laid off of 3rds to make a "chugging" rock riff. I used a higher voicing on the second chorus, channeling different rock sounds from Pete Townsend, AC/DC, and Keith Richards while still keeping off of the 3rds. The third chorus uses suspended chords to add a new flavor to the part.

5 min
Play Blues Guitar 8: Advanced Rhythm Approaches - Conclusion

36: Play Blues Guitar 8: Advanced Rhythm Approaches - Conclusion

Congratulations on completing this core course in your learning path! If you want to dig deeper or wider into the topics covered in this course, check out the recommended supplementary courses where you'll find more examples, techniques and insight from top TrueFire educators.

0 min