Learn and Master Blues Guitar

Learning how to play the blues on guitar requires ablues guitar solos.
bit of a "mind shift" in approach. Although there are aThe dominant "blues scale" played in early blues music
lot of similarities that can be found in rock, countryis roughly based on the minor pentatonic scale, with
and pop music - the aspiring blues guitarist would besome variations.
wise to note that there are distinct differences thatThe minor pentatonic scale, for example, in the key
set the blues apart from other genres of music.of "G" would look like this:
One of those differences lies in the fact that manyE-----------3------------6---------
consider the blues to be the birthplace of rock andB-----------3--------5-------------
roll - and as you begin a study of blues guitar, theG-----------3--------5-------------
reasons will become apparent.D-----------3--------5-------------
By acknowledging the fact that the blues preceded,A-----------3--------5-------------
and was in many ways the inspiration for, rock musicE-----------3------------6---------
- we as guitar players will quickly see thatYou could put this all together by playing a I, IV, V
approaching the study of blues guitar as a separatechord progression in the key of "G" (G, C and D), and
and unique entity from other genres of music, isplay a lead solo over that progression by playing licks,
warranted.riffs and runs based on the minor pentatonic scale in
To illustrate - the roots of many of the chord"G" as shown above.
progressions commonly found in rock music todayAnd just like the evolution of blues chord
can be traced back to origins in early blues songs.progressions, the use of the minor pentatonic scale in
One example is the I, IV, V (one, four, five) chordsoloing continued on (and still does) into rock guitar,
progression. This chord progression is composed ofas well as other genres such as pop, country and
the "first", "fourth" and "fifth" steps of the majorsoul.
scale, and is one of the cornerstones of blues musicSo it should become apparent that anyone wanting
in general.to learn blues guitar should begin with two simple
For example, a I, IV, V blues chord progression in thesteps:
key of "E" would consist of the chords E, A and B.1. Learn the I, IV, V chord progression - how it is
In the key of "A", the chords would consist of A, Dused, what it sounds like, and how to play it in
and E - and so on.different keys.
You can hear numerous examples of how this I, IV,2. Learn the minor pentatonic scale - memorizing the
V blues chord progression evolved into modern rock,fingering pattern, knowing the root note, how to
country and pop song structures with songs like:transpose it to various keys, and experiment with
Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry (early rock and roll)playing licks, riffs and runs within the scale.
Honky Tonk Woman - Rolling Stones (rock)As you can see, approaching the study of blues
Boot Scootin' Boogie - Brooks and Dunn (country)guitar as its own entity, separate and apart from
This list could obviously go on and on.other genres - will be well worth your time and
As a result, the first step for the guitarist that wantsefforts.
to learn and master blues guitar would be to get aAnd the surprising irony is that, as you begin to learn
firm grasp on the I, IV, V chord progression, learnand master blues guitar, you will find that the skills
how to identify it, and how to play it in virtually anyyou develop as a blues guitarist will brim over and
key.enhance your abilities as a rock, country, pop, jazz,
Another blues guitar concept that evolved into rock,or soul guitar player.
and other forms of music, is the lead scale used in