arpeggio5
Verified buyer
08/29/24
Blues exposed another very good easy to understand video in my collection learned a lot from it a very good way to start basic blues and understanding
Blues Expose
Lead, rhythm and essential techniques for electric blues guitar
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About this course
Have you ever found yourself sitting down with another player, jamming long into the night, trading licks, discussing theory and picking up so many new moves and knowledge that you can hardly remember the half of it the next day? Of course - we all can!
This course started out as an experiment - take two pros, each with different backgrounds and expertise, have them collaborate much the way we do in the real world. But this time - film it all, break it down, and see what comes. The experiment developed into one of the most revealing blues courses we have in our library and thus the title - Blues Expose!
Blues Expose features Steve 'Red' Lasner and Josh Gibson. Red's played the blues as a pro with everyone and his brother. Street smart with chops you can only develop from years on the blues circuit. On the other hand, Josh likewise has many, many years of pro playing to his credit but the cat is one of those walking encyclopedias of musical and theoretical knowledge. Ask him anything and two hours later you'll know everything there is to know about the subject. The perfect duo for Blues Expose!
Red and Josh guide you through seven essential blues grooves presented in a classic guitar duo format - slow blues, organ shuffles, medium shuffles, fast shuffles, minor blues, Texas blues, and the rhumba blues are covered across this series. There are two performances for each of the seven grooves - one focuses on Red's lead playing and the other on Josh's rhythm playing. Each take is slightly different to further demonstrate how to create variety for yourself and the audience.
The lead guitar lessons are geared to illustrate a range of very useful and versatile blues devices at work. Red and Josh review the BB and Albert King blues "boxes" with a thorough examination of what makes these essential tools tick. Bending, vibrato, and right-hand picking techniques are also covered in meticulous detail.
The rhythm lessons are essentially a study in "groove" illustrating simultaneous bass and chord approaches to shed light on how multiple parts interact to create the various feels prevalent in the blues. Josh also provides tips on improving your feel and articulation on a variety of Boogie-Woogie patterns, played at different tempos. Some of these are deliberately challenging to push your left and right hand independence to a new level. You can use these full-sounding parts to single-handedly accompany a singer or a soloist, or you can strip them down to nuts and bolts for creating ensemble parts.
All of the accompanying breakdowns provide detailed insight into chord voicings and fingerings, scale forms, harmonic and rhythmic theory, technical obstacles and how to overcome them, as well as many creative suggestions for twisting and turning the ideas to make them your own. In addition to transcriptions of each performance, you'll also find a convenient set of charts and diagrams outlining all of the Chord Voicings and Scale forms referred to throughout the course.
Grab your guitar, pop Blues Expose in the drive, and follow Red and Josh through this very "revealing" course of study. Then call a buddy or head out to the jam and put it all to work!
This course started out as an experiment - take two pros, each with different backgrounds and expertise, have them collaborate much the way we do in the real world. But this time - film it all, break it down, and see what comes. The experiment developed into one of the most revealing blues courses we have in our library and thus the title - Blues Expose!
Blues Expose features Steve 'Red' Lasner and Josh Gibson. Red's played the blues as a pro with everyone and his brother. Street smart with chops you can only develop from years on the blues circuit. On the other hand, Josh likewise has many, many years of pro playing to his credit but the cat is one of those walking encyclopedias of musical and theoretical knowledge. Ask him anything and two hours later you'll know everything there is to know about the subject. The perfect duo for Blues Expose!
Red and Josh guide you through seven essential blues grooves presented in a classic guitar duo format - slow blues, organ shuffles, medium shuffles, fast shuffles, minor blues, Texas blues, and the rhumba blues are covered across this series. There are two performances for each of the seven grooves - one focuses on Red's lead playing and the other on Josh's rhythm playing. Each take is slightly different to further demonstrate how to create variety for yourself and the audience.
The lead guitar lessons are geared to illustrate a range of very useful and versatile blues devices at work. Red and Josh review the BB and Albert King blues "boxes" with a thorough examination of what makes these essential tools tick. Bending, vibrato, and right-hand picking techniques are also covered in meticulous detail.
The rhythm lessons are essentially a study in "groove" illustrating simultaneous bass and chord approaches to shed light on how multiple parts interact to create the various feels prevalent in the blues. Josh also provides tips on improving your feel and articulation on a variety of Boogie-Woogie patterns, played at different tempos. Some of these are deliberately challenging to push your left and right hand independence to a new level. You can use these full-sounding parts to single-handedly accompany a singer or a soloist, or you can strip them down to nuts and bolts for creating ensemble parts.
All of the accompanying breakdowns provide detailed insight into chord voicings and fingerings, scale forms, harmonic and rhythmic theory, technical obstacles and how to overcome them, as well as many creative suggestions for twisting and turning the ideas to make them your own. In addition to transcriptions of each performance, you'll also find a convenient set of charts and diagrams outlining all of the Chord Voicings and Scale forms referred to throughout the course.
Grab your guitar, pop Blues Expose in the drive, and follow Red and Josh through this very "revealing" course of study. Then call a buddy or head out to the jam and put it all to work!
What you'll learn
- Perform organ-style rhythm part with three-part harmony
- Play shell voicings and understand guide tone theory
- Incorporate triplets into shuffle rhythm
- Construct and play blues turnarounds with chromatic passing tones
- Develop vocal-like phrasing through controlled bending
Release date: 12/14/2009 • 2h 53m runtime
Sample lessons
Slow Blues
Lead Performance
Organ Shuffle
Rhythm Performance
Medium Shuffle
Lead Breakdown
Texas Shuffle
Rhythm Breakdown
What's included
37 lessons • 15 charts • 7 Jam Tracks
Blues Expose
In this series of lessons, Steve ‘Red’ Lasner and Josh Gibson guide you through 7 essential Blues Grooves presented in the classic Guitar Duo format. As professional musicians, both of these guitarists share valuable knowledge gained through years of experience onstage, in the studio, and in the practice room. These performance videos capture spontaneous interaction between 2 guitars, very much the way it would occur in a ‘Real World’ jam or gig. The resulting music serves as a perfect vehicle for studying how to learn AND apply tried & true methods for achieving a solid Blues sound.
There are 2 separate performances for each of the 7 grooves – one focuses on Red’s Lead and the other on Josh’s Rhythm. Each take is slightly different, further demonstrating how to mix-n-match the examples in order to create variety for yourself and your audience. (Once you’ve checked out the Lead Lesson, take a closer listen to Red’s solo on the Rhythm Performance – you’ll hear him mix up his phrases in a different way, demonstrating how you can alter any of the material to suit your own taste.)
The accompanying breakdowns provide detailed insight into chord voicings & fingerings, scale forms & fingerings, harmonic & rhythmic theory, technical obstacles, as well as some creative suggestions for making these ideas your own.
Each Lead Lesson is geared to illustrate some common Blues devices at work. We’ll review the BB & Albert King Blues ‘Boxes’ and take a close-up look at what makes them tick, you’re bound to walk away with a few new licks! Also covered will be detailed Bending and Vibrato techniques in addition to Right Hand Picking options that are certain to instantly add new textures to your tonal palette.
The Rhythm Lessons are a study in ‘groove from the ground up’ – literally! In some cases, these parts include simultaneous Bass and Chord activity, shedding some light on how multiple parts interact to create a groove.
Josh will also provide tips on improving your feel and articulation on familiar Boogie-Woogie guitar patterns, played at several different tempos. Some of these are fairly challenging, and will definitely push your left and right hand independence to new limits! You can use these full sounding parts to single-handedly accompany a singer or a soloist, or you can strip them down to nuts and bolts for creating ensemble parts.
In addition to transcriptions of each performance, you’ll also find a convenient set of charts & diagrams outlining all of the Chord Voicings and Scale forms referred to throughout the course.
There are 2 separate performances for each of the 7 grooves – one focuses on Red’s Lead and the other on Josh’s Rhythm. Each take is slightly different, further demonstrating how to mix-n-match the examples in order to create variety for yourself and your audience. (Once you’ve checked out the Lead Lesson, take a closer listen to Red’s solo on the Rhythm Performance – you’ll hear him mix up his phrases in a different way, demonstrating how you can alter any of the material to suit your own taste.)
The accompanying breakdowns provide detailed insight into chord voicings & fingerings, scale forms & fingerings, harmonic & rhythmic theory, technical obstacles, as well as some creative suggestions for making these ideas your own.
Each Lead Lesson is geared to illustrate some common Blues devices at work. We’ll review the BB & Albert King Blues ‘Boxes’ and take a close-up look at what makes them tick, you’re bound to walk away with a few new licks! Also covered will be detailed Bending and Vibrato techniques in addition to Right Hand Picking options that are certain to instantly add new textures to your tonal palette.
The Rhythm Lessons are a study in ‘groove from the ground up’ – literally! In some cases, these parts include simultaneous Bass and Chord activity, shedding some light on how multiple parts interact to create a groove.
Josh will also provide tips on improving your feel and articulation on familiar Boogie-Woogie guitar patterns, played at several different tempos. Some of these are fairly challenging, and will definitely push your left and right hand independence to new limits! You can use these full sounding parts to single-handedly accompany a singer or a soloist, or you can strip them down to nuts and bolts for creating ensemble parts.
In addition to transcriptions of each performance, you’ll also find a convenient set of charts & diagrams outlining all of the Chord Voicings and Scale forms referred to throughout the course.
Slow Blues
In this segment the lead is focusing only on the blues scale, this is done for the purpose to learn the blues scale and then later use it mixed with other scales to create nice solos. Focus on techniques for bending and vibrato. Keeping melodic flow is always important and limiting yourself to one scale will help focus on the melodic structure rather than what scale to play. All of the licks, scales and techniques used in Blues Expose can be interchanged on any of the seven grooves, so after you've mastered the segments try blending them together for more colorful solos. In the rhythm pay close attention to the chord fingerings and how the bass notes maintain the foundation. Listen to Albert King for some great examples of what we are teaching here.
***Refefernce Diagrams
The following collection of chord voicings and scale diagrams is included to help you keep track of the different forms and fingerings mentioned throughout the various lessons in Blues Expose. They’re compiled here for easy reference as you work your way through the course.
***Refefernce Diagrams
The following collection of chord voicings and scale diagrams is included to help you keep track of the different forms and fingerings mentioned throughout the various lessons in Blues Expose. They’re compiled here for easy reference as you work your way through the course.
Slow Blues
This is a Slow 12 Bar Blues in the Key of G with a ‘quick change’ in measure 2. Using fingerstyle technique, Josh’s Rhythm part features a steady eighth-note bass line played with the thumb, (sometimes known as a pulse or ‘bump’ bass line), underneath alternating 6th & 9th chords played with the right hand fingers (index, middle ,ring). You’ll also hear some cool ‘walking’ ideas in the bass part to link the chord changes – an essential part of Blues Bass. These passages help propel the progression and serve as musical cues to other players that a change is coming! *Eliminate the bass line in this example and you’ll have a skeletal framework for some cool chordal accompaniment you can use in ensemble settings.
Slow Blues
Josh takes a closer look at left-hand fingering options and his right hand approach for playing this deceptively simple part. If fingerstyle technique isn’t your thing, you can also use hybrid picking to play this part. Simply play the bass notes using your pick and grab the chords using your remaining Right Hand fingers.
Slow Blues
Red & Josh play a few more choruses of a Slow Blues in the Key of G, this time with the focus shifted to Red’s lead. Not to be overlooked are Red’s use of Vibrato, Expressive Bending, Call & Response Phrasing and Space. Throughout this solo, Red is using the Blues Scale, moving between the E Minor and D Minor Forms.
Slow Blues
Josh takes Red’s solo apart a piece at a time, explaining the different technical and theoretical components at work in this lesson. For some inspiration, check out T-Bone Walker’s must know tune, ‘Stormy Monday Blues’.
Organ Shuffle
An organ shuffle can go by many names but the key is that pumping groove, reminiscent of what a B3 player would play! In this segment we focus on blending the major and minor pentatonic scales. Like the rest of Blues Expose bending and vibrato techniques. Focus on playing less notes and more flavor and let your ear be your guide on the rhythm note, the steady pumping of the bass notes that create the foundation. Try listening to B.B. King for some great examples of using less notes and being flavorful!
***Refefernce Diagrams
The following collection of chord voicings and scale diagrams is included to help you keep track of the different forms and fingerings mentioned throughout the various lessons in Blues Expose. They’re compiled here for easy reference as you work your way through the course.
***Refefernce Diagrams
The following collection of chord voicings and scale diagrams is included to help you keep track of the different forms and fingerings mentioned throughout the various lessons in Blues Expose. They’re compiled here for easy reference as you work your way through the course.
+ 30 more lessons
Reviews
11 results
Roger
04/22/23
One of the most useful courses I have purchased
This is a great course if you want to learn how to do simple licks and put feeling into them. The first lesson is a fantastic way to improve your bends. To get them in tune. Sometimes bending to more than one note before the release. It is sort of two courses in one as you not only learn the leads. You learn ways to play the rhythm.
Osokin
Verified buyer
07/03/22
Great Insights Into Playing The Blues!
This course is unusual in that it is presented by two guitarists, Steve 'Red' Lasner and Josh Gibson. The pair perform two separate duo performances of the 7 featured grooves, and provide demonstrations and details explanations of their respective approaches to soloing and rhythmic accompaniment. There is some great, accessible material here for any aspiring blues player and the structure of the course allows the student to gain many great insights into ways of approaching blues playing.
Michael G.
05/25/22
Rough And Tumble Blues
In some ways, this is one of the most valuable courses that TrueFire offers. So many of us sit in our bedrooms and practice solo or with a backing track. However, playing with another human being is way different. Backing tracks tend to be pretty tight and precise, while up on the stage at a jam is much "organic." This course leans toward being more organic and thus, is more real-world. If I were contemplating going to my first jam, this would be the course for me. It covers a range of styles and is invaluable when someone calls out "rhumba blues in A." Slow blues, shuffle, minor blues, or rhumba -- you're covered.
Verónica
10/13/21
Great Blues Expose
An excellent lesson to learn the basics of the blues, the techniques and phrasing they have is very good, all this knowledge and tips you get in the lesson are very helpful, it ' s highly recommended when you want to know the basics of the blues. The content he teaches is quality, easy to understand and will help you improve your guitar skills. If you like the blues and want to learn the basics it''s a good lesson that you need.
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