TrueFire’s Live Plus series enhances the learning experience of select and previously recorded TrueFire Live broadcasts with high-quality video, video-sync tab and notation, looping, jam tracks, Guitar Pro files, and all of the other learning tools available in TrueFire’s desktop, mobile, and streaming apps.
In this edition, Robben Ford goes deeper and wider on the improvisational techniques, comping approaches, and melodic concepts presented in his Trading Solos: Uptempo Blues course. Robben demonstrates fresh and original applications and variations of his comping, soloing and improvisational principles for uptempo blues changes — and they’re ALL tabbed and video-synced!
You’ll get standard notation and tabs for all of the performance studies. Plus, you’ll be able to use TrueFire’s learning tools to sync the tab and notation to the video lesson. You can also loop or slow down the videos so that you can work with the lessons at your own pace. All of the backing tracks are included to work with on your own as well.
Grab your guitar and let’s dig in with Robben Ford!
What you'll learn
Hear authentic shuffle feel demonstrated by Robin Ford
Learn the philosophical approach to improvisation that balances knowledge with spontaneity
Recognize the importance of mistakes and risk-taking in developing improvisational skills
Develop confidence to 'go for it' when soloing over changes
Overview of upcoming course content on trading solos
Welcome to Blues Insights, Episode 03 of Live Plus! Each edition of Live Plus is an extension of a live teaching session with a top TrueFire educator, packed with creative insights, improvised performances and all the spontaneous commentary of a TrueFire Live session.
This Live Plus extension features Robben Ford, who takes us through some of the improvisational techniques, comping approaches and melodic concepts found in his course Trading Solos: Uptempo Blues.
All the performances are tabbed and notated, and you'll be able to sync the tab to the video using TrueFire's Learning Tools. All the backing tracks are included, and you can loop and slow it down to work at your own pace.
Ready to get started? Grab your guitar, and let's tune in!
2Welcome Robben Ford
Greeting everyone, and welcome to this TrueFire Live session. You can see who we've got in studio today - Robben Ford is in the house. He's someone who needs no introduction, but for those of you who are hearing him for the first time, he was named one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century by Musician Magazine, he was a recipient of Guitar Player magazine's Lifetime Achievement Legend Award, 5 time Grammy nominee and a prolific composer and incredible songwriter! A passionate educator and producer, he's played with a veritable who's-who list of artists: Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Witherspoon, Miles Davis, George Harrison, Larry Carlton, Bob Dylan, Gregg Allman, John Schofield, etc.
Robben's here filming two new projects, so let's say hey and check in with him!
3Jamming with Other Musicians
Robben starts things off by giving an overview of of the two new courses, both of which are Trading Solos courses where you can go back-and-forth playing solos and comping with Robben. Speaking on why this important, Robben talks a bit about why jamming and playing with other musicians is a necessary skill, and how it helps you learn the instrument the quickest and most successfully.
4Blue Highway: Comping
Our first performance study is taking us through the comping part of "Blue Highway" a performance from Trading Solos: Uptempo Blues.
5Love of Chords
Before we get into the soloing part of the performance, Robben talks a bit about chords and why he loves them and why it's important to have a big vocabulary to work with.
6Blue Highway: Soloing
Let's take a peek at the soloing part for "Blue Highway", playing over the comping part we looked at earlier.
7Location Shout-Outs, Trivia
Let's take a break from the action to field some shout-outs from viewers around the world.