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Blues Guitar for Beginners: An Easy Beginning Method with Essential Techniques, Chords, Scales, and Songs

Scott Parker

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The blues is a genre of music that originated in the African-American community in the Deep South of the United States in the late 19th century. It is characterized by its use of the blues scale, which is a six-note scale that gives the blues its distinctive sound. Blues music is often played on the guitar, and it is a popular genre for beginners to learn because it is relatively easy to get started with.

Blues Guitar for Beginners: An Easy Beginning Method

by Melanie Shankle

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Language	:	English
File size	:	13180 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	48 pages

Essential Techniques

There are a few essential techniques that you need to master in order to play the blues guitar. These techniques include:

Fingerpicking: Fingerpicking is a technique that involves using your fingers to pluck the strings of the guitar. This is the most common way to play the blues guitar, and it is a great way to get started.
Slide guitar: Slide guitar is a technique that involves using a slide to play the strings of the guitar. This is a more advanced technique, but it can add a lot of expression and emotion to your playing.
Bending: Bending is a technique that involves bending the strings of the guitar to create a different pitch. This is a great way to add expression to your playing, and it is a very common technique in blues music.

Chords

There are a few basic chords that you need to know in order to play the blues guitar. These chords include:

A minor pentatonic: The A minor pentatonic scale is a five-note scale that is commonly used in blues music. It is a great scale to start with because it is easy to learn and it can be used to play a variety of blues songs.
A major pentatonic: The A major pentatonic scale is a five-note scale that is also commonly used in blues music. It is a good scale to use for playing more upbeat and happy blues songs.
E minor: The E minor chord is a three-note chord that is commonly used in blues music. It is a good chord to use for playing slow and soulful blues songs.
E major: The E major chord is a three-note chord that is commonly used in blues music. It is a good chord to use for playing more upbeat and happy blues songs.

Scales

There are a few scales that you can use to play the blues guitar. These scales include:

The blues scale: The blues scale is a six-note scale that is the foundation of blues music. It is a very versatile scale, and it can be used to play a wide variety of blues songs.
The minor pentatonic scale: The minor pentatonic scale is a five-note scale that is commonly used in blues music. It is a very easy scale to learn, and it can be used to play a variety of blues songs.
The major pentatonic scale: The major pentatonic scale is a five-note scale that is also commonly used in blues music. It is a good scale to use for playing more upbeat and happy blues songs.

Songs

There are many great blues songs that you can learn to play on the guitar. Here are a few popular songs to get you started:

"Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley: This is a classic blues song that is easy to learn and play. It is a great song for beginners to start with.
"Crossroads" by Robert Johnson: This is a more advanced blues song, but it is a great song to learn if you want to improve your slide guitar skills.
"Sweet Home Chicago" by Muddy Waters: This is a classic blues song that is a great choice for beginners and experienced players alike.

Blues guitar is a great genre of music to learn because it is relatively easy to get started with. With a little practice, you can be playing your favorite blues songs in no time. So grab your guitar and start learning today!