As I have no real natural talent musically I am plodding along in the learning curve of guitar. Help

Here is my question: I just found out about major and relative minor relations on the neck and was wondering if playing a "call and response" segment in a blues lead would involve alternating between the major and relative minor scales?

Thanks in advance

OL

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I remember when we were free!

Absolutely. Mixing the major and minor pentatonic will get you there. Give Peter Greens stuff a listen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtmW2ek7WkQ BB King is a master of this mixture. Worth listening to any BB you can get your hands on.You've just got to listen to the masters of expression.Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters.T-Bone Walker. All of the Kings.........Hope this helps.

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

First time I have heard a Peter Green song...that one is dripping with cool.

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I Can't Explain

Agree, BB is a master of mixing it up... all PG was doing there was copying BB

Some BB examples...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQQ_vl47CGc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vn-xKyVwfQ

and one of my favorites

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l45f28PzfCI

IMO Albert King was the king of "call and response". He also knew when to play and when not to. Give him a listen too.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

Another thing to really incorporate into the blues along with call and response,is creating some tension by simply not playing at the expected time,and releasing the tension,by playing after a pause.
Freddie King was really good at that.
I'll find a video and add it.
Here's one example,very evident in the beginning of the song,my favorite bluesman singing my favorite blues song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGLmZCZ1 ... re=related

The real secret to being a good blues player is being able to combine the major and minor pentatonic scales on auto pilot. Listen to the greats and you will notice they do this with ease and why their licks stand out and are memorable. I became a really good lead player after really diving into the blues heart and soul for about two years, learning two or three songs is not going to do it. Everyone thinks of the blues as very simple music but it is much more complex then that, Larry Carlton can play just about anything but if he were at a jam I think he would be happiest playing the blues most of the night.

The best advice I could give you is to listen to nothing but blues for a long stretch, and when I say blues I would include blues/rock based music like Cream or Hendrix. Learn a few songs note for note like Hendrix -Redhouse/ Claptons-Key to the Highway off the Layla album/Freddy Kings-The Stumble all these songs mix up the major and minor pentatonic masterfully and dissect where each artist uses the major and minor scale as their are no wrongs or right but just by using your ear you get the wow factor listening to how you can start on the I chord using the major and then shift to the minor on the IV chord. Gary Moore on a song like Still Got the Blues throws in the Harmonic Minor during the solo that makes the hair on your arms stand up, and he also shows how a simple little thing like switching from the neck to the bridge pup in mid solo can enhance it all.

Find the artist you like and really dive in and absorb it all, and I promise you in two years time you will be able to not only play the blues but 80% of every classic rock solo as well as improvise on your own hours on end.

Actually the secret to becoming a good blues player is to play what you feel and not get all hung up on what scale to play where. I seriously doubt any of the old timers put that much thought into. It just happens naturally. I would suggest just getting some blues backing tracks and not try to mimic anyone. I'd steer clear of SRV, too many people already mimic him. Listen to the old timers, that's where it all came from then evolve on your own. The last thing I need to hear is another SRV, Jonny Lang or Kenny Wayne Shepard. Play from the heart not from a book. You'll surprise yourself. I've been playing the Blues almost exclusively for over 30 years and I'll tell you what, my playing varies with my mood and I rarely play the same solo twice unless it's integral to the song. Best advise is just let go. There is no right or wrong. Thinking too much will destroy your creativity

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

Yes i do this all night ...its the way you play the blues..

+1 on this Supro, very good advice IMO. I was pleasantly surprised at my playing the day I started using backing tracks....I wish I had from the "git-go".

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I can't find the Crossroads, my GPS must be broke....


2001 Fender Highway One, 2004 Fender SE Ash, 2011 Fender 200 SCE '99 Washburn WR120Pro, Amps: Fender Stage 160, Vox Valvetronix 30, Peavey 212 400 watt, Ibanez 50 watt Toneblaster

Another bit of advice is not to worry about what popular guy has what equipment. The Blues isn't about equipment, it's about emotion. Seems like a lot of players obsess over what kind of Tube Screamer or string gauge SRV uses or what kind of pups John Mayer uses, the fact is it doesn't really matter. You won't sound like these guys anyway and you'll always come off as a lame imitation. Amps? I've played the Blues with everything from a Pignose to a Sunn Scepter. I've done slide on a cigar box guitar, one strand on a wall, played Blues with everything from a Tiesco Del Rey, Supro, Dano and a Strat. It doesn't matter. Blues is a musical expression not an equipment contest. Young guys come up to me all the time at gigs and tell me that they think Jimmie Vaughan isn't that good and he's riding on his brothers coat tails. LOL They just don't get it. He expresses himself simply and beautifully. He's a great player. Be yourself and you'll be fine.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

Actually the "real secret" to playing the blues is...there is no "real secret".
It's all hung out there for everyone to hear,and you can either be good at it or not.
I've played the blues exclusively for about 20 years now,and I think I'm starting to get better at it....it's a lifelong commitment.

Amen to that, brother!
I love Stevie Ray Vaughan, but I don't want to hear another idiot with a Strat, a TubeScreamer and a Fender Tube amp playing "Pride & Joy" ever again.

I'm old enough to have listened to his original studio albums when they were new. The thing that made SRV refreshing was the fact that he took a lick or a bend or a song from each of his heros, and made them his own.

If you listen to his albums (without the "He's a Passed Away Legend" prejudice), their strength lay in the fact that you hear a touch of Freddie King, a dash of Buddy Guy, a bucketful of Albert King, some phrasing like Hubert Sumlin, some coloring like Jimi Hendrix, some flash from Lonnie Mack and a splash of Kenny Burrell...and a dozen other influences as well...but he always sounded like himself!

Do what he did--take a little from everybody and mix it up until you have your own sound.

I think SRV would be slightly disgusted by his imitators. I know I am.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

We usually always get better at it. It took me years just to understand it. And it's no secret. The hardest part is trying to convey your own emotions and not someone elses. IMO way too many clones. The thing is you don't have to be technical. If you play anything with enough authority you'll be fine.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

Making it you own is the key. Look at what Clapton did the Robert Johnson's "Crossroad Blues". Everyone who covers it tries to copy Clapton's licks note for note. Same with "Pride and Joy". I can't stand that song anymore.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal