So you're thinking about picking up the guitar and you're looking for some music to get you going. Let me suggest trying some blues songs. They're very simple and will likely be great building blocks for whatever music you choose to go into if it's rock, country, funk, jazz or rhythm and blues.
Everybody knows what I am trying to say when I say "blues music" but the truth of the matter is there are so very many different types that the phrase can really mean many things to different folks.
- There's Delta Blues, the style that someone like Robert Johnson plays.
- There's Chicago Blues like Muddy Waters plays.
- There's Texas Blues like Stevie Ray Vaughan plays.
- There's Uptown Jazzy Blues, the style that B.B. King plays.
And actually there are lots of other variations as well. And the professional blues musician might play a combination of any of the above styles. It actually depends on what they like and what they could be good at.
Blues Has Something For Everyone
The better news here is that there is potentially a fashion that you'll be able to find that you will like and will sound great to you. If you find music that you like it's much easier to learn the track on guitar.
The 12-Bar Structure
The single thing that just about all blues has in common is the anatomy of the songs. Typically blues songs are made up of 12 "bars" that move between only 3 chords. These chords are usually called the one, 4, and 5 chords due to the role they play inside the scale of the key.
With a typical scale being made of 8 notes, the one (or I chord), is the root or tonic chord made of the first note of the scale. In the key of An it'd be the A chord. The four (or IV chord) is the forth note in the scale and the 5 (V chord) is the fifth note within the scale.
Appears difficult but it's actually not. These are the fundamentals of learning music and almost any person can pick up the concept in a short while. If you've heard any song very likely it's made of these 3 chords and perhaps others.
The Best Keys For Guitar
So starting on guitar will be a case of learning these three chords in a specific key. For guitar, the best keys are E, A, C, and D.
Why? Because they are the best to "finger" on the guitar. Also , as you get better, you'll be able to move "up the neck" and these keys again are simplest to play and understand as your fretboard talents advance.
Additionally , many of the preferred blues songs are based on these keys. So when it comes time to learn "Sweet Home Chicago" or "I'm A Person" you may already know the chords needed to play these songs.
Blues Scales
The next thing that makes the blues "The Blues" is the scale's harmonic structure. That characteristic blues sound comes from playing certain notes in the scale differently than the standard major scale. These are commonly called "blue notes." The 3rd note and the 7th note in the scale are played "flat" or a little lower than sometimes played. Frequently on guitar, these notes are played by bending strings to move the note up to the specified "blue" note.
Ok, we aren't attempting to get too boring on you here. But after you've done it a little you'll see it's really quite easy. When you're ready to find out lots more about playing blues guitar you can visit my web site and watch some free videos on the way to do it.
Everybody knows what I am trying to say when I say "blues music" but the truth of the matter is there are so very many different types that the phrase can really mean many things to different folks.
- There's Delta Blues, the style that someone like Robert Johnson plays.
- There's Chicago Blues like Muddy Waters plays.
- There's Texas Blues like Stevie Ray Vaughan plays.
- There's Uptown Jazzy Blues, the style that B.B. King plays.
And actually there are lots of other variations as well. And the professional blues musician might play a combination of any of the above styles. It actually depends on what they like and what they could be good at.
Blues Has Something For Everyone
The better news here is that there is potentially a fashion that you'll be able to find that you will like and will sound great to you. If you find music that you like it's much easier to learn the track on guitar.
The 12-Bar Structure
The single thing that just about all blues has in common is the anatomy of the songs. Typically blues songs are made up of 12 "bars" that move between only 3 chords. These chords are usually called the one, 4, and 5 chords due to the role they play inside the scale of the key.
With a typical scale being made of 8 notes, the one (or I chord), is the root or tonic chord made of the first note of the scale. In the key of An it'd be the A chord. The four (or IV chord) is the forth note in the scale and the 5 (V chord) is the fifth note within the scale.
Appears difficult but it's actually not. These are the fundamentals of learning music and almost any person can pick up the concept in a short while. If you've heard any song very likely it's made of these 3 chords and perhaps others.
The Best Keys For Guitar
So starting on guitar will be a case of learning these three chords in a specific key. For guitar, the best keys are E, A, C, and D.
Why? Because they are the best to "finger" on the guitar. Also , as you get better, you'll be able to move "up the neck" and these keys again are simplest to play and understand as your fretboard talents advance.
Additionally , many of the preferred blues songs are based on these keys. So when it comes time to learn "Sweet Home Chicago" or "I'm A Person" you may already know the chords needed to play these songs.
Blues Scales
The next thing that makes the blues "The Blues" is the scale's harmonic structure. That characteristic blues sound comes from playing certain notes in the scale differently than the standard major scale. These are commonly called "blue notes." The 3rd note and the 7th note in the scale are played "flat" or a little lower than sometimes played. Frequently on guitar, these notes are played by bending strings to move the note up to the specified "blue" note.
Ok, we aren't attempting to get too boring on you here. But after you've done it a little you'll see it's really quite easy. When you're ready to find out lots more about playing blues guitar you can visit my web site and watch some free videos on the way to do it.
About the Author:
Rick Honeyboy Hart is a long time blues musician. He's played in numerous bands over time and now helps others learn to play the blues on his website www.BluesGuitarInsider.com
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