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Guitar Lab: Bulls Eye Blues Riffs

Intensive examination of targeting root notes and signature blues riffs

Marty FriedmanTommy EmmanuelSteve VaiEric GalesEric Johnson

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Guitar Lab: Bulls Eye Blues Riffs
Brad Carlton

Brad Carlton

Educator

multi genre

Genres

About this course

There is a parallel between clear communication in speech and strong melodic phrasing in music. Just as one would apply correct syntax and grammar while speaking in complete sentences, the same is true in music in terms of phrasing and note selection. This course is designed to equip you with strong blues-based melodic moves that will train you in fingerboard knowledge, theory, phrasing, and technique.

You will learn how to maximize the application of the riffs by applying them to each of the chords of a 12 bar blues by playing them over the jam tracks. The jam tracks present a 12 bar blues shuffle in the key of A in four formats. Jam track one consists of the first four bars which are an A7 (I7). Jam tracks two consists of measures five through eight which are two bars of D7 (IV7) and two bars of A7 (I7). Jam track three consists of measures nine through twelve: E7 (V7), D7 (IV7), A7 (I7), and E7 (V7). This breakdown of the 12 bar blues into three sections will allow you to develop your ear and anticipate what the next chord changes are at all times. Jam track four is the entire 12 bar blues progression.

You will also be supplied with fingerboard diagrams that will give you the names of the notes and the scale degrees to help you visualize this information on the neck. Each example will be presented in standard notation as well as tablature. I will present technical instruction in each video for executing these riffs. After you have learned a few of these examples you will be encouraged to assemble them into your own musical phrases.

What you'll learn

  • How to chromatically connect from b7 to 7 to root using hammer-ons
  • Recognizing when and why non-scale tones are acceptable in improvisation
  • Understanding that 'wrong' notes can function as passing tones when connecting chord tones
  • How to use the major 7th as a chromatic connector in blues/rock contexts
  • Pre-hear and plan phrases before playing
Release date: 07/31/2015 • 2h 57m runtime
intermediatelate intermediateguitarelectric guitartechniqueapplied theoryreference
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Sample lessons
Raking Into The 1
Raking Into The 1
Demo and Development
Rake to b3, 1
Rake to b3, 1
Demo and Development
Diagonal Pentatonic Scale Forms
Diagonal Pentatonic Scale Forms
Exercises
2, HO to b3, HO to 3, 1
2, HO to b3, HO to 3, 1
Demo and Development

What's included

64 lessons • 63 charts • 1 Jam Tracks

Bull's Eye Blues Riffs
There is a parallel between clear communication in speech and strong melodic phrasing in music. Just as one would apply correct syntax and grammar while speaking in complete sentences, the same is true in music in terms of phrasing and note selection. This course is designed to equip you with strong blues-based melodic moves that will train you in fingerboard knowledge, theory, phrasing, and technique. You will learn how to maximize the application of the riffs by applying them to each of the chords of a 12 bar blues by playing them over the jam tracks. The jam tracks present a 12 bar blues shuffle in the key of A in four formats. Jam track one consists of the first four bars which are an A7 (I7). Jam tracks two consists of measures five through eight which are two bars of D7 (IV7) and two bars of A7 (I7). Jam track three consists of measures nine through twelve: E7 (V7), D7 (IV7), A7 (I7), and E7 (V7). This breakdown of the 12 bar blues into three sections will allow you to develop your ear and anticipate what the next chord changes are at all times. Jam track four is the entire 12 bar blues progression. You will also be supplied with fingerboard diagrams that will give you the names of the notes and the scale degrees to help you visualize this information on the neck. Each example will be presented in standard notation as well as tablature. I will present technical instruction in each video for executing these riffs. After you have learned a few of these examples you will be encouraged to assemble them into your own musical phrases.
Hitting The 1 Dry
Example 1 is hitting the root of the A7 (I7) chord dry. As demonstrated in the video, play this note by fingering it with each of the four fingers of your left hand. As you play the note against jam track one, single letter name and the scale degree to reinforce your mastery of this target note.
Hitting The 1 With Vibrato
Example 2 is just like example 1 except you're going to apply vibrato to the note after you strike it. Pay close attention to the technical suggestions that appear in the video.
Raking Into The 1
Example 3 involves raking into this target root via the lower pitched deaden strings.
b7 to 1 Via HO
Example 4 uses the b7 as an approach note to the root. The b7 is the lower neighbor of the root when using the minor pentatonic scale as your tonal reference. You will be using a hammer on to move from the b7 to the 1.
b7 to 1 Via LS
Example 5 is just like example 4 except instead of a hammer on you will use a legato slide to move from the b7 to the 1.
b7 to 7 to 1 Via HO
Example 6 inserts the 7 as a chromatic connection between the b7 and 1. By itself the 7 is a weak tone over a dominant 7 chord. But when it is used as a connector, is effective at creating that ultrasmooth sound common in jazz riffs.

+ 57 more lessons

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Reviews

4 results

JohnSmithers

Verified buyer

04/21/21

Great Riffs

I really enjoyed this riffs course.The teacher is very competent, is fun to learn and gave me various insights into the blues style.The material is very well laid out and it targets the root notes well .This course is to be recommended for all players who want to delve into blues rock and even beyond.

wholmer

12/31/20

Essential licks!

These lessons will get you on the right path for a solid foundation right from the start. I know, I’ve taken a LOT of self-taught courses over the years and kept realizing I had holes where I missed some techniques. The many different grooves presented here are going to expand your horizons! This is the blues the way it should be!

Knittel

Verified buyer

01/01/19

Blues guitar teaching

The systematic approach, simply great at all levels, from beginners to profs! But sometimes, I feel that the blues is hard to be understood, and that's its magic!

Jeffochka

10/24/18

This Course Hits the Bullseye

Wow – I had no idea Brad was a Blues master. This course is so impressive and nobody has a more approachable teaching style than Brad. He demonstrates a number of licks and riffs that will have you ready to win your soul back at a crossroads duel! I learned a lot about vibrato and the importance of the root note in playing the Blues. You will definitely watch and re-watch these lessons. There is absolutely no fluff here – it is all relevant and practical.

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