Blues Cruise

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Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Blues

Excerpt: I hope you've packed your suitcase, because we're about to leave on the Blues Cruise! Okay maybe not, but let's learn a cool blues song while we're here. :) I was in a bluesy mood the other day so I decided to write this little tune. I hope you have fun learning it! Once you've watched the video above, head on over to the next page for the first exercise. ...

Media Length: 1:18

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Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Blues

Excerpt: Before we start, make sure you have a grasp on the song's underlying rhythm. If you haven't already figured it out, this tune has a very heavy triplet feel. So make sure you listen for that triplet pulse throughout the riffs in this tutorial. In this exercise, as well as all the other exercises, you'll notice that there are plenty of bends throughout the pi...

Media Length: 1:22

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Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Blues

Excerpt: In the beginning of this exercise, we'll immediately notice more of the fingerpicking that we discussed in the last lesson. In this case, we'll be plucking octave notes with our picking hand fingers. In the last two bars, we'll close out the exercise with a couple bluesy riffs. Just a reminder, keep those bends in tune. Got it down? On to the next exercise...

Media Length: 0:50

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Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Blues

Excerpt: In exercise 3, we're going to start things out by playing a smooth A minor arpeggio. I'd recommend practicing this arpeggio by itself before moving on to the rest of the exercise. In bar 11, we'll be playing some nice bends on the 17th fret. As it indicates in the tablature, we'll be bending up a half step, so make sure your bends reach the exact pitch of t...

Media Length: 0:46

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Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Blues

Excerpt: To start off exercise 4, we'll be playing a blues lick similar to the one I did in this lesson. Practice it very slowly at first. And it may sound silly, but really try to feel the blues "attitude" in this riff. Give that thing some tasty bending and legato.

Media Length: 0:34

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Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Blues

Excerpt: Out of all the exercises, this last one has the most bends. Keep those bends in tune! And on a sidenote, if you are a guitarist that isn't very used to bending, make sure you pace yourself and your fingers when getting used to it. You don't want to strain your fingers by diving headfirst and doing a bunch of crazy bends. Build up your finger strength first. ...

Media Length: 0:51

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Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Blues

Excerpt: I went ahead and looped this backing track a few times, so feel free to jam to your heart's content. You can either play the actual piece I wrote, or you can also practice your own improvisation in the key of A minor. The pentatonic and blues scales will fit best with this track. As always, if you ever record yourself playing along to the backing track, be ...

Media Length: 2:32