Sixteen-time Grammy nominee and four-time Grammy winner, Larry Carlton is perhaps the most versatile and accomplished guitarist walking the planet to day. With over 3,000 sessions, 200 hit records and 100 gold albums to his credit, Carlton has his fingerprints indelibly imprinted on virtually every genre of music.

Mr. 335 also plays the blues like nobody's business. Better yet, Larry possesses an extraordinary ability to brilliantly communicate both the art and science of blues guitar. 335 Blues, Larry's first course in twenty years, imparts Carlton's philosophical, technical and musical approach in a genre rich with expression and improvisation - the blues.

Video Introduction

Click below for a sample video from the course

About the Guitar Lesson Plan

Interactive Video Guitar Instruction

335 Blues is a hands-on, playing course. No tedious theory or exercises here. You'll be playing something new and majorly cool within fifteen minutes of digging in. But, put your time in and 335 Blues will likely remodel your entire approach to and understanding of blues guitar.

Larry presents 335 Blues in three main sections. First up, you'll play your way through a series of blues grooves in a variety of feels, keys and tempos. For each groove, Carlton demonstrates three choruses worth of comping and three choruses of improvisational soloing. Each performance is followed by an explanation of what he played and more importantly, why he played it. Then it's your turn. Use the video, charts, tab, notation and practice rhythm tracks to make the material your own. TrueFire's player controls make working with the curriculum a breeze.

Carlton drills down on essential techniques and improvisational approaches in the next section. Bending and vibrato (in fact, four types of vibrato) are demonstrated and broken down in unprecedented detail. Use of motifs, space and phrasing are likewise presented in an amazing, ear-opening fashion. Other gems of insight in this section include use of the melodic minor in blues, "knuckle voicings" and recommendations for how to approach both practice and playing.

The third section covers a wide variety of topics ranging from the technical to the philosophical. Tone and how to go about tweaking your equipment to achieve it, is presented comprehensively. Insight on recording, jamming and performing with other musicians is likewise addressed. A few anecdotes and even a little show and tell on the Steely Dan studio rig make this section one you'll likely watch over and over again.

"If you love electric blues guitar, then 335 Blues may be a dream come true for you, " says Jude Gold of Guitar Player Magazine. All in all, 335 Blues raises the bar on blues instruction with its innovative approach, articulate presentation and enough tasty moves to last a lifetime.

About Your Instructor

Larry Carlton

One of the most popular TrueFire Educators, Larry Carlton's studio credits include musicians and groups like Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr., Herb Alpert, Quincy Jones, Bobby Bland, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and literally dozens of others. He went on to perform with the Crusaders and then with the multi platinum jazz super group Fourplay. With 30 albums to his credit and having performed on over 100 albums that have gone Gold or Platinum, Larry Carlton has set a standard for artistry that spans three decades.

In 2008 Larry Carlton received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Guitar Player magazine at the historical Ryman Auditorium and was presented the "Titan of Tone" award from Premier Guitar Magazine at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Larry also picked up 2 more Grammy nominations in 2009 bringing his career total to 18 nominations with 3 Grammy wins! Larry's "Greatest Hits Rerecorded Volume One" released by 335 Records was nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Album and "Fortune Teller" from Fourplay's Energy was nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.