I haven't read the other comments/suggestions here so please forgive me if I add anything terribly rhetorical or redundant. Also please know that these are STRICTLY my own personal opinions and should only be taken as such.

As a person who has played mostly blues and classic rock for over 25 years, I tend to think that the blues is probably the easiest form of music to learn...but also one of the hardest to really master. In my always and ever so humble opinion, the blues isn't really about scales and chords and theory and technique as much as it is simply about "feel". There are guys out there that can play a thousand notes really, really, really fast...and their music says absolutely -nothing- (Ynwie Malmsteen comes to mind). Then there are guys who can play a single note at just the right time that can bring tears to your eyes. As such, I'm not going to really recommend any specific "books"...I think that stuff is fine for getting a better handle on your playing once you understand the basics, but I really feel that getting the basics down first needs to come more from the heart than anything.

Now before I get too much more in to this, I would like to say a few words about "theory". There are some folks (particularly "traditional" teachers) who are of the opinion that you need to learn all your scales, all your modes and all of the note on the neck before you can really play anything. Typically this is the way that most instructional books tend to teach (aka the dreaded "Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method" and similar material). Now I'm not saying that knowing the notes on the neck is a bad thing...it's a very good thing really but it's not really all that necessary for someone who's just starting out (regardless of their age!). I can't speak for others here but personally I just can't sit there and play "scales" and "modes" and such...to me, that's not really music. Personally I found it much easier to learn...really learn this stuff back when I was shown the basic fingering pattern for -1- specific scale (which I'll get to in a bit) and then given some jam tracks to practice that scale over (my first was Clapton's "Cocaine"). Even though I did it very poorly and I too felt very self-conscious about my playing at that point, at least I felt like I was playing music as apposed to practicing scales. Learning theory and chords and scales is a good thing but to me it's important to start play "music" right away and then learning the details of that other stuff as you go.

Along with that, please remember that most of the blues "legends"...people like BB King, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson and many, many others...these people never took "lessons". They didn't have things like books or manuals on "How to play the blues" and they certainly didn't have videos or the internet back then. In fact many of these guys didn't even have guitars when they were young! Many of these guys really started out by stringing a single wire between two nails and "sliding" the neck of a glass bottle up and down it as they plucked it! -That- is where this thing called the blues really got started. Theory and notes and scales are wonderful tools but they are not the end all, be all of playing the blues. Don't confuse yourself with "too much information" (yea...like I'm one to talk! LOL!), just get a real "feel" for the basics and work your way from there.

As such, the first two things I would recommend is learning how to do a basic "blues shuffle" and learning the minor pentatonic scale...then simply playing around with these until you get a feel for them. Your ears will tell you when you hit a wrong note and when you hit a right one. If you don't already have material that references these two things, I would simply do a quick search on Youtube...there is a ton of introductory material there to get you started. What you will find is that there really aren't a lot of "chords" in the blues...a basic shuffle is based on chords, but it's not really chords themselves (in fact it can be as simple as just two strings!). If you start in the "open A" position, you'll find that this is VERY easy...look it up on Youtube and you'll see why This is really the foundation of the "I-IV-V blues progression" that you will find in a lot, if not most blues tunes. Everything from classics such as "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Rock Me Baby" to SRV's "Pride and Joy"...and even oldies and classic rock tunes such "Johnny B. Goode", ""Louie Louie", "Taking Care of Business" and -THOUSANDS- of others...all use this exact same progression....different keys but the same pattern/progression. Yes, it certainly goes beyond that, but to me this is the best place to start.

Along with the shuffle, I also mentioned the minor pentatonic scale. Honestly, the minor pentatonic is the basis...the foundation really, for most contemporary music...blues, rock, metal...it's all in there (although "country" typically uses a Major pentatonic). Once you've learned and feel comfortable with this scale, learning the major pentatonic and various "modes" are MUCH easier. One of the wonderful things about playing a guitar is that the scale...or rather the fingering for the scale is really the same regardless of what key you play it in. In other words, if you learn that open A shuffle and you learn how to play an A minor pentatonic scale, should you want to change the key to "G", you just move all of the fingering down 2 frets and play it the same way! Want to play in E? Just move it all up to the 12th fret! C? 8th fret! Unlike horns or other instruments where you have to learn different fingering for scales in different keys, on a guitar the fingering for a given scale is the same regardless of the key (with the exception of playing in the "open" position or in alternate tunings...which you can learn about later).

Once you've learned to do a basic shuffle and the minor pentatonic, just sit down with some of your favorite recordings and "jam". You can worry about "phrase trainers" and learning things "note for note" if you really want to but what you will find is that blues leads are really made up of "licks" more than anything else...and that most players have simply stole their licks from players that came before them! LOL!!! Personally I've never tried to play my stuff exactly like any given artist...for example I don't try to sound exactly like SRV because I'm -NOT- SRV...I try to sound like James T. Walczak with my own sound and style. Personally I don't want to be remembered as just another SRV wanna be, I want to be remembered for -my own- playing. So again, sit down with your favorite recordings and just try to jam along with them. Listen for signature licks but don't be afraid to experiment...again your ears will tell you what works and what doesn't.

In addition to that, there is a wonderful resource out there now a days called "jam tracks" or "add a tracks" (AAT's). For all intensive purposes, it could almost be considered like Karaoke for guitar! LOL!!! Typically these are recordings of popular tunes (recorded by someone other than the original artist) usually with the vocals and lead guitar parts removed. Personally I really love working with these as I'm practicing as it really allows me to hear my own playing and let's me figure out how to express myself thru that playing. You can find pre-recorded CD's of some of this stuff at your larger music stores (i.e. Guitar Center) but if you just do a Google search under "guitar jam tracks" you should find a ton of stuff to get you going. You can of course further refine that search by looking for "jam tracks blues" .

Last but not least, HAVE FUN! As you've already discovered, learning guitar can be a bit frustrating at times...if not outright painful! LOL! A lot of people seem to be under the horribly mistake impression that playing a guitar is a lot like using a camera...you go out and buy a camera and even though you're not a "photographer" you can start taking pictures right away. Playing a musical instrument however takes time, patience and (for most people) A LOT of effort. That said, the single easiest way through all of that is to simply enjoy every last minute of it. When yoy make mistakes...and you WILL make mistakes (even those of us who have been playing for MANY years still make mistakes), just laugh it off...it's all part of the learning process. The important thing is to simply have fun and the rest will fall in to place all in good time.

Again these are just my own personal opinions and should only be taken as such. I hope you find them helpful!

Peace and good luck to you!
Jim

Abe wrote




Really enjoyed that old blues tune, good stuff.
When i searched for it i mis spelt Lakota (yeah i know ) and got something about "wounded knee" doh.

Nicely said, Iomitus, and I know about and agree with all you've said.
I'm reminded of a story, can't verify as to it's veracity,supposedly an old school Bluesman was being interviewed and was asked "Do you know how to read music ?" ,and the bluesman's reply was "Not enough to hurt my playing." Words to live by, whether true or not!
I'm really just looking for guidance on what is basically learning a second language, I feel the right instructional material can help here. As to how fluent and how eloquent I become at this language is up to me and how I use the tools I'm given. I believe I can do this and do it right, I just need some guidance to point me in the right direction. Hopefully in about a year or two I'll be as confident in my abilties playing blues guitar as I was with my bass playing, to the point where I can play with and in front of others and have fun doing it. It's all about having fun, isn't it?

First of all, peace to you. Second, start with your strengths. Rhythm. I can't highly recommend enough starting with someone like John Lee Hooker...Muddy Waters Why? Aside from starting with your strength, this is a great and necessary stripped down antidote to what can be a presumed definition of "blues" which ends more or less as some isomer/rehash of SRV, Clapton, Buddy Guy etc...Albert King.

Notice I'm not mentioning a lot of books, videos here...but LISTENING opportunties.

Also, acoustic blues is a great foundation.

I've also gotta say this at the risk of offending (many): you will distinguish yourself by at least starting more in the school of Hooker/Waters vs. trying to be the next Kenny Wayne Shepard.

Always happy to talk with a bassist and to play with one.

Agreed. I'm primarily rebuilding my library with all the old school musician's, Waters, Wolf, Walker, Guy ,King, King, King .....etc.,etc, as well as more current players like SRV, Michael Burks, etc.
Back in the day I was heavy into Cream,Hendrix,Zep, et al, and I once read an interview with Clapton where he stated his reverence and influence for and by the early blues artists, and it made sense to me that I should check out that which made one of my favorite musicians what he was, and I've been a fan of the Blues ever since. Same with Hendrix and alll the rest. I enjoy the more modern players such as Vaughan (sp?), (KWS not so much ), but I realise if I really want to be a real blues guitar player, I need to reach back to the past as well as the present for my sources. It seems a no-brainer to me.

Lomitus is, as they say across the pond, "spot on"!

There are others that would argue that one MUST start with an acoustic guitar, and one MUST learn their scales and theory, or they will never be considered a musician.

I think he pretty much nailed it.

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2008 Fender American Stratocaster
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That I definitely DISAGREE with. There are also those who insist you should start learning on piano, no matter what instrument you want to play, as it somehow makes you a better musician. They're full of it, too.
I remember Andres Segovia once saying something like how electric guitars are not proper musical instruments, and the people who play them are not proper musicans. Pure snobbery, regardless of how great he was. What a jerk.

+1 on Michael Burks....... MIke

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

See I am wanting to start with Muddy tunes but I can't seem to find tabs that actually end up sounding like the songs at all!

Does anyone know a place other than Ultimate Guitar to get GOOD tabs especially for blues songs?

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

Order some tab books off of somewhere like musician's friend. They're usually much more accurate than any free tab from the internet. And there isn't as many blues tabs online as there are for rock and metal, which can be a very big and very annoying limitation.
Your ears are your friends, once you start being able to hear something and play you won't have to rely on tabs. And it really feels great to be able to learn anything you want instead of just what songs you can find tabs for. I could never figure out songs by ear until recently, and I didn't really learn how to do it. I don't have perfect pitch or anything like that, but that doesn't mean I can't figure out a chord progression or a lick.

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Good call since most Artists will have their own music book out with accurate tabs. I just found a Muddy tab book online and and ordered it. I have to learn to play Muddy Waters if nothing else! From there I will take on Skip James or Son House stuff.

_________________
Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

I've just got done reading all the posts and I think I am with the majority on this one. Blues is about feeling. I really can't add much to that.
Like you, I played when I was younger (my 20's), I then got married, had kids etc. etc. and probably didn't pick up my guitar more than once or twice a year. About10yrs ago I got back into it and have been having a blast ever since. Also, like you, I was aware of my shortcomings and frequent mistakes. Stay with it. One day you'll listen to yourself and think, "Hey, that wasn't bad at all!". Bottom line is have fun. Although I have an amp that can get loud enough, I find that the Line 6 Guitar Pod fits my needs perfectly. It turns your PC into a studio with lots of amps, effects, cabs, etc to keep you busy. You can also download various tracks with or without lead or rythem guitars and play along. Oh yeah, you can use headphones and not worry about anyone but yourself hearing you play. Bottom line...HAVE FUN...Vince

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1999 Strat Delux Transparent Crimson
2000 MIA Tele Transparent White
2009 Gibson LP Studio Deluxe Vintageburst
2010 Gibson SG Std Wine Red
Peavey Delta Blues 115
Line6 POD HD500

I'm in the same boat. Started playing a 1974 Fender Musicmaster when I was about 12 years old. Lost interest in a couple of years.
Just started playing again this past spring. Blues was my style of choice as well. I bougth Griff Hamlins Blues Guitar Unleashed set of book and CD's and DVD's. Cost about $150 but is a great way to learn. He teaches the real world of Blues playing. By that I mean he teaches you the easy ways to make the chords. Not nessesarily the technically correct way. A traditional teacher would kring at his teaching methods. If you want to start sounding like you know what your doing quick, this is the way to go in my opinion.
Remember I am no expert. I just know what is working for me.

bluesguitarunleashed.com