Easy-Going Fingerstyle Blues: Step-by-Step Guide (Key of E)
Lesson #487 • May 3, 2023
In this week’s lesson, I’m excited to teach you a fingerstyle blues arrangement. We’ll be using familiar 12 bar blues, played in the Key of E. I’ll start things off as simply as possible — teaching you the chord shapes & progressions we’ll build upon. From there, I’ll add new concepts one step at a time, allowing you to get fully up to speed at a comfortable pace. If you’re able to hang until the end, we’ll arrive at an alternating bass note arrangement (using Travis Picking) that’s been a blast to play as I’ve prepared this lesson. I think you’ll dig this one… let’s get into it!
- 0:00 Lesson Overview
- 2:36 Step 1: 12 Bar Blues Chord Progression
- 5:25 Step 2: Adding Basic Melody
- 7:57 Step 3: Chords & Finger Placement
- 12:35 Step 4: Full Melody w/ Basic Bass Notes
- 16:58 Step 5: Full Melody w/ Advanced Bass Notes
Instructional PDF 4 pages
Lesson Discussion
Extended Videos
Simple Melody, Played Over 120bpm Backing Track
This plays through the full Step 2 arrangement, with tabs on screen. This demonstrates how you can play the very simple melody (thinnest two strings) over the 12 bar blues backing track.
Full Melody, Played with Single Bass Notes
This plays through the full Step 4 arrangement, slowly, with tabs on screen. Notice how I’m pulsing the bass notes on each quarter note. This is a great way to begin mixing your right thumb with your right index finger (without the alternating bass notes).
Full Melody, Played with Alternating Bass Notes
This plays through the full Step 5 arrangement once, slowly, with tabs on screen. Then it plays through things again at full speed, using the 72bpm backing track in the background.
Backing Tracks
I made two backing tracks for this lesson. Both move through the E Major 12 bar blues chord progression (which I show in Step 1 and also in my PDF)… though the tracks are played at different speed.
-
The Quick 12 Bar Blues (120bpm) track plays through things quite swiftly, and is ideal for experimenting with basic melody lines or lead guitar fills. This maps to the tabs I show in Step 2 of my video lesson.
-
The Slow 12 Bar Blues (72bpm) track is meant for the fingerpicked arrangements I show in Step 4 and Step 5. This one moves slower, but you’ll need to count using sixteenth notes (ONE-ee-and-uh-TWO-ee-and-uh, etc).
My Other Blues Lessons
Enjoy my lessons? Buy me a beer!
If this and my other lessons have proven helpful to you, please consider making a one-time donation to my tip jar. Contributions of any amount help make this project possible (including the many, many hours I put into it).
Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!
Recent Lessons
-
June 3, 2023
Pentatonic Fun with Billy Strings' "Lonely At The Top" Riff
-
June 2, 2023
Major Pentatonic Scales in Open Position
-
May 27, 2023
"Fast Car" Riff, Explained Step-by-Step!
-
May 23, 2023
Uncle John's Band
-
May 16, 2023
Learn the Percussive Slap Strum, Step by Step
-
May 12, 2023
Tips for Writing Guitar Tabs (on Paper and iPad)
-
May 8, 2023
First Steps with the "Amie" Intro Riff
-
May 3, 2023
Easy-Going Fingerstyle Blues! A Step-by-Step Guide.