Blues Shuffle Riffs – Using Just Two Strings

Lesson #541 • Mar 1, 2024

Hello, my friends! Today I’m excited to show you a sample lesson from my new Blues Starter Kit course. In this video, I’ll introduce you to two-string shuffle riffs, walking you through the basic concepts and building things up from there. This only requires a couple fingers to play, making it quite accessible to get going with – and it’s simply a blast to play! Combined with a shuffle rhythm, it really evokes that bluesy sound that’s so easy to love.

  • 0:00 Lesson Summary
  • 2:43 Chord & Riff Basics
  • 4:52 Adding a Shuffle Rhythm
  • 8:44 Exercise 1 - Riffin’ the 12 Bar Blues
  • 12:05 Exercise 2 - Adding the Flat 7th
  • 17:04 Exercise 3 - Adding the Flat 3rd

PDF Guide and Extended Videos Available!

If you want to get my bonus materials for this lesson, they’re available over in my Blues Starter Kit course. For this lesson alone I have a 7-page PDF guide, some extended video lessons, and several zoomed video exercises with tabs on screen. And then there’s all the other bonus goods for the rest of my lessons, in my Blues course and beyond!

👉 Get these items on my course page »

Premium membership here on the Song Notes website is required to access the full course and all bonus materials. If you’re not a member, take a tour - and I hope you consider joining! Members get access to all my extended videos, jam tracks, courses, and much more.

👉 Become a Song Notes member today »

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Gain instant access to my library of 233 print-friendly cheat sheets! Also includes my extended video lessons, jam tracks, courses, and more.

Join Song Notes Premium

Have questions? Watch video tour »

Browse Related Lessons

Click any tag below to view other lessons I've made in that category:

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Most of the lessons on my website are 100% free. If you have the means, please show your support with a tip jar contribution. I put many hours into every lesson — but it only takes you a minute to make a donation. You have my thanks!

Donate

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Interactive fretboard map! See the patterns behind every scale in any key.

View

Capo Captain

An easy way to calculate key & chord combinations, for any capo location!

View

Key Master

See and hear the notes, chords, scales used in each of the most common keys.

View

Blank Tabs

Free PDF templates to download, print, and write out your own guitar tabs!

View

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

  • July 24, 2024

    Must-Know Strumming Patterns in 6/8 Time

    Learn how to strum any song in 6/8 time! Here's a collection of 8 must-know strumming patterns in that time signature, from beginning to advanced.

  • July 13, 2024

    "Wondering Why" by Red Clay Strays

    Let's learn how to play this easy-going, Southern-Rock hit! Plenty of strumming & rhythm tips, including a capo'd acoustic version if you want to avoid barre chords.

  • July 8, 2024

    Viewing Notes in a Certain Area of the Fretboard

    In my FretMonster web tool, you can now adjust the visible range of frets where notes appear. Great for less distraction while practicing. Check out this video tour!

  • June 21, 2024

    "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits

    A mega-lesson for this classic song! Learn a strummed version, how to incorporate the melody notes, and two ways to play it fingerstyle.

  • June 14, 2024

    "Have a Little Faith In Me" by John Hiatt

    Learn how to play Hiatt's 1987 classic! Just like his live performances, I'll teach it using capo 5 and the Key of C chord family.

  • June 6, 2023

    "And It's Still Alright" by Nathaniel Rateliff

    Learn Nathaniel Rateliff's amazingly powerful song from 2020! I include a few different strumming & riff options to make sure you're covered.

  • June 1, 2024

    Introduction to Reggae Strumming & Rhythm

    Let's dive into playing reggae on the guitar! I'll walk you through the basics, from off-beat accents to muted strums — with a few fun song exercises included.

  • May 20, 2024

    What Types of Play-Along Covers are Most Helpful?

    Most of my song lessons feature backing tracks or play-along covers — and I'd love your feedback about which aspect of these is most helpful!

  • May 10, 2024

    "Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell

    Let's dive into Glen Campbell's all-time classic from 1968, originally written by Jimmy Webb. I teach this with capo 5th fret, using easier-to-manage Key of C chords.

  • May 1, 2024

    Tour of My New "KeyMaster" Web Tool

    My new interactive web tool lets you see and hear the notes, chords, and common progressions in all of the most common keys. Super helpful!

  • April 24, 2024

    13 Must-Know Riffs with Droning Strings

    A handy roundup of all the songs I've taught that use droning strings... with a quick breakdown of each riff!

  • April 18, 2024

    "Moonshadow" by Cat Stevens

    Learn how to play Cat Stevens' 1971 classic! I include campfire-friendly chords and strumming, and a step-by-step breakdown of the intro fingerstyle riff.

Browse All Recent Lessons →

Browse All My Lessons

By lesson type

By technique

By musical genre

By decade

By musical key

By popular artist


← back to homepage