Fraildrummer
Verified buyer
07/13/26
Jack Ruch is the best
I have about a dozen Truefire courses. In all honesty the only two I need are the two Jack Ruch courses. Highly recommended.
Jack's Manual for Tasty Blues Soloing
8 Go-To Pro Soloing Approaches For Blues Guitarists
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Jack Ruch
Educator
Genres
About this course
The first rite of passage for a blues guitarist is learning how to take the stage and shift their focus from playing scales and arpeggios to expressing themselves and connecting with their audience. While technical proficiency is important, it is only one aspect of the music-making process. The most captivating musicians are those who have honed their emotional expression and can connect with their audience on a deeper level.
Jack Ruch is widely respected as one of the tastiest, most expressive blues players on the planet. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that Jack is back with a new TrueFire course, Jack’s Manual for Tasty Blues Soloing (the follow up to his last “manual” on rhythm playing).
”In this ‘manual’ for tasty blues soloing I’m going to show you flavorful approaches for soloing over four must-know blues feels – Shuffles, Slow Blues, Minor Blues and a Rockin’ Blues. It took me years to learn these approaches the hard way. I’m happy to pass them on to you here in this course.
I’ll demonstrate eight of my go-to approaches, we’ll apply them over jam tracks for context, and then I’ll break every move down for you in juicy detail. You’ll play your way through all of the lessons and we’ll practice together as much as you need. Enjoy!
A lot of the things that I’ll be showing you I’ve learned myself over decades of playing out and learning from my own favorite players. I’m excited to share these eight approaches with you to give you a solid jump start!”
Jack will cover Building & Moving Motifs, Double-Stop Applications, Dynamics, Phrasing, & Intent, Altered Scale Colors, Soloing Guidelines for Minor Blues, Diminished Line Applications, and Strategies for Playing Driving Leads.
You’ll have all of TrueFire’s advanced learning tools at your finger tips to personalize your workspace and learn at your own pace.
You can loop, slow down, or speed up any section of a lesson. Plus, all of the tab and notation is synced to the videos for the optimal learning experience. You’ll also get tab and standard notation files to print out, Guitar Pro files, and all of the backing tracks to practice with.
Grab your guitar, and let’s dig in with Jack Ruch!
Jack Ruch is widely respected as one of the tastiest, most expressive blues players on the planet. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that Jack is back with a new TrueFire course, Jack’s Manual for Tasty Blues Soloing (the follow up to his last “manual” on rhythm playing).
”In this ‘manual’ for tasty blues soloing I’m going to show you flavorful approaches for soloing over four must-know blues feels – Shuffles, Slow Blues, Minor Blues and a Rockin’ Blues. It took me years to learn these approaches the hard way. I’m happy to pass them on to you here in this course.
I’ll demonstrate eight of my go-to approaches, we’ll apply them over jam tracks for context, and then I’ll break every move down for you in juicy detail. You’ll play your way through all of the lessons and we’ll practice together as much as you need. Enjoy!
A lot of the things that I’ll be showing you I’ve learned myself over decades of playing out and learning from my own favorite players. I’m excited to share these eight approaches with you to give you a solid jump start!”
Jack will cover Building & Moving Motifs, Double-Stop Applications, Dynamics, Phrasing, & Intent, Altered Scale Colors, Soloing Guidelines for Minor Blues, Diminished Line Applications, and Strategies for Playing Driving Leads.
You’ll have all of TrueFire’s advanced learning tools at your finger tips to personalize your workspace and learn at your own pace.
You can loop, slow down, or speed up any section of a lesson. Plus, all of the tab and notation is synced to the videos for the optimal learning experience. You’ll also get tab and standard notation files to print out, Guitar Pro files, and all of the backing tracks to practice with.
Grab your guitar, and let’s dig in with Jack Ruch!
What you'll learn
- Combine major and minor pentatonic scales fluidly
- Use double stops effectively in blues rock soloing
- Apply jazz-influenced phrasing to blues rock
- Move between different fretboard positions horizontally
- Build and develop motifs throughout a solo
Release date: 09/05/2023 • 2h 21m runtime
Sample lessons
Double-Stop Applications
Demonstration
Shuffle in A: Solo 2
Performance
Soloing Guidelines for Minor Blues
Demonstration
B Minor Blues: Solo 1
Overview
What's included
34 lessons • 16 charts • 8 Jam Tracks
Jack's Manual for Tasty Blues Soloing
Hey, I’m Jack Ruch. In this ‘manual’ for tasty blues soloing I’m going to show you flavorful approaches for soloing over four must-know blues feels – Shuffles, Slow Blues, Minor Blues and a Rockin’ Blues.
I’ll demonstrate eight of my go-to approaches, we’ll apply them over jam tracks for context, and then I’ll break every move down for you in juicy detail.
The tab and notation is synced to the video, and you can slow down or loop any section to learn at your own pace.
A lot of the things I’ll be showing you I’ve learned over decades of playing guitar so I’m really happy to put it all together in this manual.
Grab your guitar and let's dig in!
I’ll demonstrate eight of my go-to approaches, we’ll apply them over jam tracks for context, and then I’ll break every move down for you in juicy detail.
The tab and notation is synced to the video, and you can slow down or loop any section to learn at your own pace.
A lot of the things I’ll be showing you I’ve learned over decades of playing guitar so I’m really happy to put it all together in this manual.
Grab your guitar and let's dig in!
Building & Moving Motifs
In this lesson, we will explore the art of soloing over the "Almighty Shuffle" groove, emphasizing the crucial swing feel inherent in its eighth note triplet foundation. The tutorial delves into two primary techniques: the first being the creation and utilization of motifs—recurring musical phrases or licks—to provide structure and intentionality to solos. Demonstrating how motifs can act as a foundation, the lesson showcases their repetition, variation, and placement relative to chord changes. The second technique uncovers the importance of maximizing one's musical vocabulary by transposing these motifs across the fretboard. By understanding and applying these techniques, learners can enhance their soloing capabilities, ensuring each note resonates with purpose and truly "swings" over the shuffle groove.
Shuffle in A: Solo 1
In this lesson, we will delve into a 12-bar Blues track in the key of A, characterized by a straightforward 1-4-5 progression utilizing all dominant chords: A7, D7, and E7. Initially, a motif-based solo will be performed in the lower register to provide a foundational understanding. Following this, the same solo will be transposed up an octave, introducing learners to a new position and varied fingerings. Concluding the lesson, there will be an exploration of variations to the solo, illustrating how one can infuse deliberation and melodiousness into their blues playing.
Shuffle in A: Solo 1
In this lesson, we will delve into a 12-bar Blues track in the key of A, characterized by a straightforward 1-4-5 progression utilizing all dominant chords: A7, D7, and E7. Initially, a motif-based solo will be performed in the lower register to provide a foundational understanding. Following this, the same solo will be transposed up an octave, introducing learners to a new position and varied fingerings. Concluding the lesson, there will be an exploration of variations to the solo, illustrating how one can infuse deliberation and melodiousness into their blues playing.
Shuffle in A: Solo 1
In this lesson, we will explore the intricacies of crafting a memorable solo rooted in an A major tonality. We will dive deep into the foundational motif lick, which serves as the theme for the entire solo, drawing inspiration directly from chord voicings and triads. The importance of visualizing the chord shapes on the fretboard to guide solos will be highlighted, emphasizing the pivotal role of chord tones. We will navigate the nuances of the 12-bar Blues form, seamlessly transitioning between chords by adjusting our motifs and using variations. Techniques such as double stops, trills, and the incorporation of common blues and jazz vocabulary will be examined. By the end, learners will have the tools to craft solos both grounded in traditional motifs and open to personal interpretation and variation, ensuring each performance is both structured and soulful.
Double-Stop Applications
In this lesson, we will delve into advanced techniques for crafting a dynamic shuffle solo, with a spotlight on the art of double stops and a strategy for transitioning between the five and four chords. We'll dissect the essence of double stops, where two notes are played simultaneously, and explore how harmonizing scales in intervals such as thirds, fourths, or sixths can yield melodic richness. Classic examples, reminiscent of iconic players like Steve Cropper, will be analyzed alongside inventive sliding techniques that offer a fresh perspective. Additionally, we'll unravel a common challenge for many blues enthusiasts: smoothly navigating the transition from the five chord to the four chord. By employing simple phrase repetitions or transposing notes across strings, learners will gain strategies to enhance their solos, ensuring they resonate with both authenticity and creativity.
Shuffle in A: Solo 2
Alright, here's our second solo over the shuffle groove in the key of A. This is a straightforward 12-bar blues progression at a mid-tempo shuffle. We'll concentrate on using double stops and repeating the same lick, shifted by a whole step, as we transition from the five chord to the four chord. Let's dive in.
+ 27 more lessons
Reviews
23 results
dzash2000
Verified buyer
06/17/26
Secret Sauce
Jack takes a few basic Blues chord progressions/styles and describes his approach to soloing over them. His examples are exactly what I was looking for - especially regarding the super tasty sauce of superimposing a diminished arpeggio over a I-IV change. A dose of theory with an emphasis on execution instead of speed makes this my favorite Blues riff course.
sofficino
Verified buyer
05/24/26
Exellent video, very soulful playng
maxmolodec
Verified buyer
04/29/26
Excellent course
F123s123
Verified buyer
01/05/26
Jack ruch Blues Soloing
I'm learning a ton from this video. Jack is a great teacher.
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