Well not much to say about this one, it’s more of the same. But I got a question via email the other day that was sort of a “where are we going with this stuff?” email. So here’s what this is all about in a nutshell:
1. You have to play one note at a time before you can play many (which would be chords.) It just makes sense, first of all, and I’ve seen it time and again that it’s just too hard to play chords on the first lesson. It usually takes at least 3-6 before that is appropriate. So you’ll notice that so far we’ve only played one note at a time.
2. Nobody wants to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” anymore than I want to teach it. This is blues, after all, so the single note lines that I’ve made up have a point. They are bluesy sounding, and can be used to play a real song, not something you wouldn’t want the dog to hear.
3. You need to play a song of some sort, soon. Obviously it won’t be a hard one, but I think it’s important to learn to play something that sounds like music, and play it from start to finish. There’s an important sense of accomplishment in that, and it gives you a good idea of what is to come.
These are the basic foundations of this whole Beginning Blues Guitar course. Actually, I’ll let Steve from Cambridge tell it for me… I received this email from him and he allowed me to share it with you….
“Hi Griff,
just a note to tell you that I received my Beginning Blues Guitar package last week and I am very impressed. I have been ‘noodling’ on the guitar on and off for a number of years, making little headway. During that time I have purchased many blues guitar tutor books & DVD’s and they have all fallen into two basic categories.
1. Try and teach music theory alongside some pretty boring play along songs that were never even close to being a blues song so that boredom soon set in.
2. Try and teach recognisable classic blues songs that are so advanced/difficult that after a short while of making absolutely no progress, I have given up totally frustrated.Your course however is not only far easier to play as a beginner ( I have managed to get through the first licks/second licks and ‘sitting easy blues’ without any major problems ) even though I am learning new skills. More importantly all the lessons (which I guess must be really basic for more experienced players) sound and feel like REAL blues music even in their simplicity. Even better played along with the great backing tracks on the DVD’s etc. I just wish I had this course about 10 years ago !!
A very professional package.Thanks
Steve Manning
Cambridge, UK.”
Well that tells it much better than I could have… so moving on.
This is the 3rd lick, and there will be one more after this. Then we’ll do some simple chords, and then we’ll put that all together into a simple blues song. When you’re done I think you’ll feel like you’ve learned something substantial. That is my hope anyway.
Downloadables (right click and choose “Save Target As..” or something similar depending on your browser):
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Griff- things are coming along well, ah ha moments are well worth it. A little practice thats all it takes the more you sit through the moments that are hard as hell, stick to those,well you know!
P.S I still am going to buy around the 3rd. I hope all is well with you and the little-ones R Doll
I’VE HAD ALOT OF COMPUTER PROBLEMS PLEASE SEND YOUR E MAIL AND PHONE IF YOU WOULD YOU HAVE DONE A LOT FOR ME
u’ve got great skills dude. I seemed to be learning something!
Hi Griff, I’ve only had my guitar for 2 days now and thanks to you and your lessons I feel like I’m learning already! they make so much sense and it’s great to be able to actually hearing a tune starting to form so early. i was dreading having to start leaning to read music so this is a much more enjoyable way to start the learning process!!
Cheers, Mark
I to have seen enough of your examples of blues guitar to know tha I have got to have, however like so manyothers I have got to come up with the money. I did go as for as to order the basic program the other day but when I found out that I also had to pay shipping that cut me short having enough dollars and I had to cancle the order. I will get there sooner or later I hope. Good luck and great wishes.
Hi Griff,
Well, like many others I have stumbled and bumbled around on the geetar for years, Finally putting the thing down resigned to the fact that I am NOT good, in fact family and friends considered it a weapon of mass ear destruction in my hands. My wife would run to the bedroom muttering something about how bad I suck whenever I broke the guitar out…that hurts. Well, I ran across your stuff on youtube and practiced in seclusion for a few days. Last night I sat down and played “Sitting easy blues”…. Guess who came out of the bedroom and said ” Daaammnn, Timmy THAT didn’t suck!!”.
Aha!! Now that, my friend is a huge breakthrough and I look forward to learning so much more, Thanks man.
I send you a note before and I don’t know if went throw or not. Please I need all can of help is posible, I am the beginer, promise to practice, thank you, Dolly
I think you have a good patience to teach to teach. I am the very beginner, I have a guitar and need to start as soon as posible, slow please show me what can you do for me, I will do my job practicing every day. thank you.
Comment to Stacker Williams. Are these the notes you are trying to tune your guitar to (E, G, B, D, F, A)? That’s a very strange tuning and I don’t think that would ever work-or at least you will have to come up with some strange fingerings to play anything. If you are trying to tune your to these notes, your are tuning it in thirds. A minor third from E to G, then a major third from G to B, then another minor third from B to D, another minor third from D to F and finally another major third from F to A. Tune your guitar to these notes on a piano: E, A, D, G, B and E. All open strings starting on the low E or fattest string on the guitar. Good luck.
HEY GRIFF THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SEND ME ALL THESE GREAT LESSONS FOR FREE .I LIKE MOST PEOPLE LOVE TO RECEIVE FREE STUFF .BUTT ANY WHO MY DAD R.I.P. TAUGHT ME A FEW CORDS WHEN I WAS 8 I AM NOW 60 AND HAVE 3 GUITARS AND A 5 STRING BASS AND CARPEL TUNNEL SYNDRONE WHICH RELLY CRAMPS MY STYLE BUTT I KEEP ON TRYING .MY MAIN GOAL NOW IS TO SEE MY GRAND CHILDREN LEARN TO PLAY MY YOUNGEST STUDENT IS 11 MONTHS AND SHE RELLY LOVES BANGING ON THEM THEN THEIRS MY THREE YEAR OLD WHOM I STARTED AT ABOUT 1 HE IS VERY SMART AND IS HAVING A BALL JAMMING WITH GRAMPAW WE WATCH YOUR LESSONS AND HAVE FUN WITH THEM .I ALSO HAVE 3 OTHER GRANDSONS A 4MO.,A 6YEAR AND 8 .YOU SEE I HAVE MY WORK CUT OUT FOR ME . ENOUGH OF MY GIBBERISH .I LOVE WHAT YOUR DOING AND KEEP ON TEACHING .YOU MAKE IT LOOK SO EASY .I TOO WILL BUY YOUR PACKAGE FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN .HOPE FULLY THEY WILL LEARN TO PLAY THE BLUES . SEE YOU ON THE FLIP SIDE ,SLIKBOWDY PS I LIKE YOUR NEW HAIR CUT SLIK LIKE YOUR LIKS LETS JAMB!!!!!!!!!!!!
hi griff ineed to know how do you arive at a 9th in a chord i know akey note is from one note to another note makes a octive lets say the key is a is it the a to a a which is 8 notes and the b would be the 9th help plese good work on the lessons i,m makeing progress thank you don
Griff, I picked up this 3rd lick in about 2 seconds flat. That’s a record, and I’m practicing the Sitting Easy Blues to do at the next jam, at my house. Everyone will be surprised.
And, a big thanks for leaving the flub in there. It really proves you’re human, just like me. I’ve been teaching for many years, and when I make a flub I just laught it off – shows the students I’m human too.
You have a great teaching style, and PATIENCE! The split screen is a huge asset, I can check out everything you’re doing and emulate. I’m checking out your CD for a purchase for sure. Thanks, Stan in upstate NY.
Griff,
Three years ago I survived a brain anseurysm and lost many parts of my life that will never return.I am blessed to have stumbled on to your guitar course.The subject matter is well presented,and slowly constructed.I’ve found my love of guitar again!When I have a chance to rake my nickles into a pile I’ll buy the DVD. Thank You!
Jimmy
Hey Griff, I have a been playing guitar sense I could not get my piano in to bars. Nearly forty years ago I began in the back of a barber shop in my home town. Then on to playing for free beer in country bars and taverns but learning was slow mostly cords combined with a few accents. You have opened my mind and have improved my learning curve incredibly. When I can drum up the money I will be purchasing your beginners disks, just watching your short tracks and practicing daily has open me to new worlds. Thank you buddy! Your making a great difference, don’t stop.
Hey Griff, I have been playing since I was 14 years old and now am just figuring out that I JUST NOW STARTED TO LEARN!! Thank you so much for the imfo. that you have emailed me, It was a Godsend!!! Take care man!!
these r gr8, really enjoying this, and even learning.
Great lessons, Griff. I have been getting your free lessons for free for a while now and know you have a quality product. I am saving my weekly allowance every week to buy your download. (I am 48 and married-you can see my wife’s picture in the dictionary under “tightwad”)
My question is which one should I choose? I think Start Playing Blues Guitar is too basic for me, So BGU or PTTB will be the ones to choose from. Any suggestions?? playing 34 years, read tabs, can follow along on all of your lessons, still embarrassed at my ability to play in public. Church wants me in the praise band. “Stormy Monday” is the greatest of all!! Thanks.
Griff, the examples of the licks are great, but it would be good to know on which timing is the metronom set and what would be the actual speed.
Gundula
Hey Griff,
I work away from home for weeks at a time and missing my lessons as a result. Really apprecitae your online lessons-very easy to follow and now I feel like I’m not just just spinning my wheels practicing scales all day-Thank You for filling in my dead time,
James Volpone
Griff,
Finally a lesson that is easy to follow, and easy to catch on to.
Dude, thanx for making it this way
great lesson griff!
JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS,I HAVE BEEN PLAYING GUITAR FOR A FEW YEARS NOW,BUT HAD TO TEACH MYSELF EVERYTHING I KNOW MAINLY THOUGH SONGBOOKS. SO I KNOW ABOUT 200 SONGS, BUT ONLY A COUPLE ARE BLUES. SOME OF THIS IS A LITTLE SLOW FOR ME, BUT I FIGURE I NEED TO GET THE BASICS BEFORE I CAN ADVANCE .I LIKE THE WAY YOU BREAK EVERYTHING DOWN INTO PARTS THEN YOU CAN PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. TANKS AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Finally! Lessons I can follow without having to toss out the tricky stuff first.
Now, to scrape up the dough — being disabled on welfare doesn’t leave a lot for “extras” no matter how VITAL I’d like to classify them.
We’ve already talked via email; next is managing the pennies so you get to ship something!
Really enjoy your lessons.
This is fun !
Thanks Griff
Hi Griff,
You are awesome, just what we older guys who played when we were teens, got away from it, marriage, kids, you know the trip – and forgot all we knew. I’m so impressed that you take your time and have the patience. I want to buy your package, but being on SS disability money is tight. I’m trying to save a penny here and a penny there – I’ll get there! I have learned more with you than I did with an instructor when I was 14, I’m now 67 yrs. young.
Again kudos to you, you are the best! May God bless you and yours.
Guitars rock!
Bud Bigum
at last someone who will take the time to show me step by step slow enough so that my old mechanic hands and fingers can keep up and get it into my memory, that way I can start to link it together with stuff I leared as a kid on guitar Thanks so much Griff
Griff – this is the slickest tab so far. I like the way I can make a little diddy out of it and can real hear the blues in this one. I’m a few emails behind but can hardly wait to catch up.
Thanks
Wait, where were the Jam tracks at?? I didnt see anything about them.
Griff Would it be possible for you to send me the video of the “three chord” pattern in Bflat with the backup up bass. I somehow lost it. Those three chords had a lot of color. Thank you. Joe Francis
Hey Griff,
I am loving it. I can play the A minor blues scale and go up and down the neck of the guitar and that is fun. I feel like I am really learning something for a change. I used to tell people I did not play the guitar, I just practice. I now feel I am starting to play music, not just practice. Understand, practice is important, but it helps to know the practice is getting somewhere.
Thanks, alan
Hi Griff, Hope you don’t mind, I’ve only just started following your lessons and don’t really have the money to buy the CD’s at this point. I’ve been playing (or trying to play) for about 26 years now, with no success. I’m hoping that your instruction will be the push that I need to get up to speed. My son plays every instrument he puts his hands on, so I think between yourself and him, I might just be able to play my favorites some day. Oh yeah, you make references to what the right hand should be doing, I’m left handed, so everything is backwards for me.
Thanks,
Jim
Griff, thanks for the licks lessons and your time. It’s not often someone shares thier knowledge for free Just for the simple pleasure of helping others. Thanks for the web site about guitar backing tracks. That’s a great place to noodle through the scales. Gives it feeling you know? Take care man and please keep the lessons coming.
After all these years, I finally found a Blues Teacher that truly is able to get his lessons understood ! Even after these years of just playing rhythm guitar, I truly feel I can play Lead Guitar !
Thank You,
Griff ~ Really, Thank you so much !
Griff, I’m having trouble with the cords. I can’t see whitch strings you are putting your fingers on.
Griff, Why can’t I tune my guitar to a piano scale? Example: Starting with the 6th string, E then G,B,D,F,A. Stacker Williams
I really enjoyed the 1st lick, and got it down pat, but didn’t get the 2nd one. Send it my way. Thanks
Hi Griff,thanks for the lessons they are a big help in my playing block.
Hi griffe
these licks are great as soon as I have the money I will send off for your course.I am even passing the licks on to my friend who has difficultys with his fingers. I think he has athritis in them anyway he also is trying to play them now. Its good that you are encouraging so many people with your courses to play the blues and so easy to cant wait for the next lesson bring it on.
thanks Griffe
thanks for the lesson 3 amlooking forward to more thanks jeff
Hi Griff
I have been trying to order your Begining Blues Guitar package, but can’t manage to get pass the postage part of the order form which ever postage I try, and one more thing how much is $87 in Pound notes . I can’t wait to get hold of your Guitar package . Help Please
John Taylor
griff, thanks for the prompt delivery of bluesguitar unleased.Got a few friends interested and were going to go thru some lessons together.Hey we just might make it to the porch! Thanks,best wishes to all. Play well and Often.
I just now ordered Beginning Blues Guitar. Well…Here goes:-)
Hi Griff,
I’ve rec’d First Licks #3 and #4, but somehow I’ve missed First Licks #1 and #2… can they be resent?
Thanks!
Hy Griff
Thank you for the prompt delivery (I ordered just last week) and I want to say, your courses are very well done, easy to understand, I took courses for one year and did not get very far, of course I know a little but today I have more the impression of going further than ever, Thanks,
Merline
By mistake I deleted lick 4 e-mail could you send it again.
great lessons
dave
Third Lick and a very good one. You are a wonderful teacher.
Hey Griff, I just stop by to steal a couple tricks and licks from you. I hope you don’t mind to much. I’ve been playing since I was nine years old. I am now fourtyfour years old and scream just fine. Maybe send me something worth while when your in the mood and in return I will tell my students just who Griff Hamlin is. Cause I do like your style of teaching. Take care Bro and thanks.
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