This CD and book set contains 5 Blues Guitar solos, and complete transcriptions of both the rhythm and lead parts. Each one is in the style of a specific artist: Albert King, Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. Any guitarist who wants to play the blues has to know the common licks (words) that are in the style (language). I have transcribed many solos by each of the artists listed, worked out their 'pet' licks and then combined them into one solo for you to learn. It will make you a better blues player if you follow my suggestions. See further notes below on how to make the most of this set. I have seen a huge improvement in all my private students using this material which is why I am offering it here. Please note that this product is 'packagus minimus' - the 'book' is photocopied pages of printed text (on how to use it in detail) and the sheet music tab is professionally notated in Sibelius. The CD comes in a plastic sleeve. I could have done it with fancy printed book and CD case and charged twice as much, but i think this will be better - yes? In Association with The Guitar Institute.

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DescriptionEach track is is firstly played with all the parts. Then there is a minus rhythm part, then a minus lead part. Don't be fooled by the short track times - there is a LOT of information in these - these are pure solos, no words or singing... more than enough to keep most of my students busy for a month or two if you follow the right steps outlined below.

Track List

	Time	Track Name
1	1.13	Albert King Style Solo - all
2	1.13	Albert King Style Solo - minus rhythm
3	1.13	Albert King Style Solo - minus lead
4	1.43	Eric Clapton Style Solo - all
5	1.43	Eric Clapton Style Solo - minus rhythm
6	1.43	Eric Clapton Style Solo - minus lead
7	1.15	Chuck Berry Style Solo - all
8	1.15	Chuck Berry Style Solo - minus rhythm
9	1.15	Chuck Berry Style Solo - minus lead
10	1.47	Jimi Hendrix Style Solo - all
11	1.47	Jimi Hendrix Style Solo - minus rhythm
12	1.47	Jimi Hendrix Style Solo - minus lead
13	1.40	Stevie Ray Vaughan Style Solo - all
14	1.40	Stevie Ray Vaughan Style Solo - minus rhythm
15	1.40	Stevie Ray Vaughan Style Solo - minus lead

Samplesmp3 sample of Chuck Berry solo - here.
pdf sample of Chuck Berry tab sheet music - here.

 

How To UseAll the infomation below is contained in the booklet (and I may add a little more to it as time goes by...).

Before You Begin
This pack is not designed for a complete beginner. It is assumed that you have a basic grasp of the blues, at least the minor pentatonic scale in position 1, but you will get more out of this pack if you have all 5 positions down (see here). You should also be familiar with the string bending technique as it is very common in this style.

It is also assumed that you have the dedication to start transcribing and you really want to play the blues properly. You should be prepared to try and learn it the traditional way - by ear - it is the best way. I’m pretty sure that Hendrix and Clapton didn’t download Robert Johnson tunes for a tab web site ;) Learn the way they did, by listening, trying to work it out, making mistakes, and trying again.

Be Prepared
When you start transcribing it may seem impossible. The learning curve is very steep and it may take a while for you to get it going and feel that you are making progress. But stick at it. You will get there. And it feels great when you do. There are so many possibilities open to you once you can transcribe songs, think about it… you can learn ANYTHING YOU WANT :). It is worth the struggle. I promise.

The Rhythm Parts
I have included the transcriptions of the rhythm parts so you can see, hear and play all the parts of the track, but they do not themselves form part of the main objective of this blues solo course. This course is designed to give you some awesome blues licks and develop your transcription skills. The rhythm parts are supplemental.

The Easy Way
I have designed this pack to help you learn to transcribe, to learn blues licks and develop your improvising skills. If you do not have the time or motivation to follow my guidelines exactly then you can still get a lot of benefit from learning the songs directly from the tab, learning the solos, breaking them into licks, and then using them! It is not as good, you won’t learn them as well, or make them a clear in your mind, but you will get the licks down and it will make your blues sound cooler!

Feed Your Ears
Make sure that in the process of learning these tunes that you also listen to the original artists. I don’t think I do a bad impression of Albert King, but I’m a skinny white guy living in suburbia - you NEED to listen to the real deal! I can give you the notes, but it’s the intention behind the notes that means the most so please seek out some cool albums by each of the artists that I cover in the pack so you can absorb ‘the truth’.

Slow Down
I really recommend using a half speed program for transcribing. I never used one when I learnt, but I made many mistakes and learnt far slower than my students that use these products. The one I recommend is called transcribe, download it from www.seventhstring.com, it’s not expensive and is really, really awesome. It makes it so much easier to hear bends when a track has been slowed down. It makes it easier to hear the notes, the inflections and…

Once you have the solo down you can use it to develop your speed. Start with the tracks set at 50% speed. Play along. Once you have it down, gradually speed up the track until you are playing along at full speed. Makes playing along slowly possible, and it’s lots more fun than just using a metronome.

 

How To Use This Product…

1. Listen
Listen through to the CD track that you will learn first at least 10 times. The tracks are not long, so it won’t take too time consuming and will get the sounds into you minds ear. You can do this anywhere, the more you listen before you begin the easier it will seem. Get the songs on your ipod and listen to them loads! I recommended that you start with track 1, Albert King Style and work through them sequentially.

2. Learn The Rhythm Track
It’s not part of the ‘style learning’ but is still very useful and you will need it for analysis later. Try and transcribe it. Write it down in tab (blank tab paper is available from the ‘resources’ section of the site) Use the ‘minus lead guitar track’ if you need to so it will be clearer, but try with the full track first, it is more real. If you can’t transcribe it, just use the tab included with this pack.

3. Transcribe The Lead Track
This is the big deal. The transcribing part of the exercise is very important and should not be overlooked. Take your time. Take it one note at a time. Literally. Play the first note, then stop the CD and try and find that one note. Get it down. Write it down. Check it. Then play the first two notes from the CD, then stop it. Work out that second note. Write it down. Check it. Continue…

If you get really stuck try using the tab provided as a little helper, just look at one note and see what position it’s in, then get back to working it out yourself. There is no shame in the occasional cheat, but try not to if you can, it will be better!

4. Check The Transcription
Once you have it all written down, check it against the transcription provided and make corrections. I know the transcription is right, because I played it! So check the notes you have see how close you got. Check the position of the notes. Maybe it’s the right note on the wrong string. Can you hear the difference? Try and work it out. Did you notice the bends? They should be obvious at a slower speed if you are using a transcription program.

5. Analyse the notes
Once you have the solo down it is time to try and analyse the notes against the chords. What notes are chord tones? What scale is being played? Why did he use that note? etc… I can’t teach you all that. You need to develop your knowledge of harmony and theory, and this is putting it into practice. If you can’t do this stage yet, then don’t stress. Just get into playing it and let your ears sort it out. I doubt many blues legends know that they are playing the flat 5 here and the major 3rd there… know what I mean… just makes it easier to learn if you can.

6. Play the Solo
Once you have the understanding down, just wok on playing it. Try and play along the whole way through. Use the minus lead guitar track. Get the techniques down. Work on any parts or techniques that you find hard.

7. Break The Solo Into Licks
Next stage is to break the solo into little licks. Usually licks are one or two bars long, sometimes less. Use your ears to decide where to make the break. I recommend getting crazy with a red pen and mark out each lick clearly.

8. Learn The Licks
Once you know the licks it’s time to learn them individually. Play them over and over. Work out how you might use them. Look at making little changes so they kinda become your own licks. There are few rules in the blues. You can change them if it sounds good to you!

9. Improvise With The Licks
Once you can play the licks you should try and start improvising with them. Use a blues backing CD (like the free one on my site) to improvise over, or use the minus lead guitar version. Try and use each lick as many times as you can. Work on getting into the lick and out of it, try and make it just flow, don’t let it stop and start and sound all jerky. Think about it. This is practice; it’s ok to think when you practice. Feel it when you play. Playing and practicing are different.

10. Learn another track and do the same steps…

 

***NOTE PLEASEThe information above is the same as what is contained in the booklet, but the booklet will also contain the transcriptions of all the parts. I will probably add more text to the booklet, and may not add it here...

 

*** ALSO NOTEThese tracks are the same ones used on the Play Blues Guitar product by Music Coach. So if you have that, you probably won't want this!

CreditsAll content written and owned by Justin Sandercoe and ©2007. All instruments played and programmed by Justin. Real guitar, real amp, real bass, keyboard sounds from Logic Audio. Recorded using Maton Messiah Acoustic, Fender Strat into Fender Prosonic Amp, Fender Jazz Bass direct into focusrite preamp. Effects added after recording using Logic Audio plug-ins and TC Electronic G-System.

Terms and ConditionsBasically, if you don't like it, send it back in 14 days in perfect condition and I'll refund your money. If you've damaged it, that's not cool. If it's damaged in transit, send it back and I'll send you a new one and refund your postage. I have to put up an 'official' terms and conditions - but I want you guys to be happy, so please contact me with any problems and I will do my best to help. Thanks. Official terms and conditions can be found here.