03 D Burnt Steak Bluesmp3wma
Time/size: 6 mins 56 secs/9.53mb
Blues jam track: Laid back shuffle in D (86 beats per minute/bpm)
Backing track instruments: electric guitar, bass and drums
Progression: standard blues 12 bar: D7 x 4 bars, G7 x 2 bars, D7 x 2 bars, A7 x 1 bar, G7 x 1 bar
D7 x 2 beats G7 x 2 beats, D7 x 2 beats, A7 x 2 beats.
Notice the variation on the chords of the last 2 bars compared to track 02 above?
There are several variations of the standard blues progression.
Suggestions: Play a D blues scale over this progression.
Using the information given for track 02, write out the notes of the D Blues scale and find those notes on the guitar. Notice you are using the same pattern on the neck as for the E Blues scale - just that you are moving that pattern 2 frets up the neck.
Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Child
04 E Stevie In The Crossfiremp3wma
Time/size: 5 mins 20 secs/7.33mb
Blues jam track: Straight ahead groove E (110 beats per minute/bpm)
Backing track instruments: electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass and drums
Progression: this is a one riff track using the Root, 3rd, 5th and b7th notes of the E7 chord.
I have borrowed this riff from Stevie Ray Vaughan's song 'Crossfire' from Stevie's last studio album 'In Step'. Although the riff also reminds me of the song 'Pretty Woman' by Roy Orbison. You just need to add a Major 2nd to find that riff.
Suggestions: Get a copy of 'In Step' by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, go and find the biggest stereo system you can, turn the volume up to 10 and put the entire album on repeat. Like Jimi Hendrix, SRV played with his guitar tuned down 1/2 a step, so he played Crossfire in Eb. I recorded this riff in E, so start with an E blues scale. If you try and learn some of Stevie's licks (and I suggest that you do) tune your guitar down 1/2 a step.
Jimi Hendrix - Hear My Train A Comin'
05 Db The Train Just Kept Goin mp3wma
Time/size: 5 mins 18 secs/7.29mb
Blues jam track: Blues in Db (140 beats per minute/bpm)
Backing track instruments: electric guitar, bass and drums
Suggestions: This is a standard blues progression in Db. Start just with a Db blues scale and get used to the positions on the neck in this key. There aren't very many blues songs in Db. The great thing about playing in different keys is that you become more familiar with your the layout of the neck. Also, each different position has it's own special sweet spot that helps to give you fresh ideas and new licks that you can then use in the keys you usually play in. Variety is one of the keys to becoming a good musician.
06 Ab Electric Mudmp3wma
Time/size: 6 mins 33 secs/9mb
Blues jam track: Blues vamp in Ab (92 beats per minute/bpm)
Backing track instruments: electric guitar, bass and drums
Suggestions: Centered around an Ab7 chord. Start off with a Ab blues scale and then try adding other scale tones like the Bb (ie the 2nd) and the F (ie the 6th).
07 A Nothin But A Jam Againmp3wma
Time/size: 6 mins 35 secs/9.04mb
Blues jam track: 6/8 blues riff in A (60 beats per minute/bpm)
Backing track instruments: electric guitar, bass and drums
Suggestions: This is simply a repeated riff in 12/8 time in the key of A. Instead of the A blues scale try playin the A Mixolydian scale over this riff.
2 Octaves of the A Mixolydian scale from the 4th position is:
E|------------------------------------------------5--
B|--------------------------------------5--7--8-----
G|----------------------------4--6--7---------------
D|------------------4--5--7-------------------------
A|--------4--5--7-----------------------------------
E|--5--7---------------------------------------------
There is only 1 chord used over the riff. It's an A chord used in 2 positions.
A Major open position
E|--x---
B|--2---
G|--2---
D|--2---
A|--0---
E|--x---
A Major 12th position
E|--x----
B|--14--
G|--14--
D|--14--
A|--0---
E|--x----
To play the A I'm just barring the chord with my index finger and then I'm sliding the shape from the 2nd fret up to the 14th fret (so you could say it's an A chord in 14th position). You can get some pretty good sounds when you slide chords up an octave. Especially with the standard E and A chord shapes.
