Learn to play "Help the Poor" by Robben Ford on the Guitar

In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the solo from Help the Poor on the guitar. This amazing solo piece by Robben Ford is from his album Talk to Your Daughter, one of the best modern blues records around. If you haven't heard it yet, I highly recommend you do!

About Robben Ford

For those of you not familiar with Robben Ford, he's a blues guitar player who spices up his playing with some really fancy jazz tricks. He's one of my favorite guitar players of all time.

He has a fantastic rhythm guitar DVD. His rhythm guitar playing is beyond amazingly good. So, if you want to get into your blues rhythm guitar, that DVD is a must-have. There's also an earlier DVD called The Blues and Beyond, which is just as brilliant, and I'd highly recommend that you get it.

The Learning Process

Learning to play the solo from Help the Poor will require some patience and dedication, but the rewards are totally worth it. The original tempo is around 120 beats per minute, but for the purposes of this lesson, I've slowed it down to around 90. This should help us delve into the subtleties and nuances of Robben Ford's style.

Remember, learning to play a piece like this is not just about memorizing the notes. It's about immersing yourself in the music, understanding the chord progressions, and, most importantly, enjoying the process.

Chord Sequence and harmonic devices

Help the Poor is basically a 16 bar minor blues. Robben is an expert in the minor blues form and uses it often. Also worth checking out is BB Kings version of the same tune... well actually best to check out as many versions as you can.

Dm	Dm	Dm	Dm
Dm	Dm	A7	A7
Dm	Dm	Gmin	Bb13
Dm	A7	Dm	Dm

Help the Poor is based on a D minor pentatonic scale, with some dorian too, using the 9th and 6ths that add a unique flavor to the piece. The core of the song is based on the blues scale, but Ford spices things up by venturing into jazz territory with the A Altered scale to create tension. Both the fast complex runs in this song are using the Altered Scale and it sounds awesome!

Ford's style is characterized by his use of the blues note or the flat five. You'll see this theme recurring throughout the piece, adding an extra layer of complexity and intrigue. It's a testament to Ford's skill as a guitarist and his ability to seamlessly blend different genres of music.

Gear used

This is what I used to replicate the sound of Robben's guitar. The settings shown as clock face (like 9' is 9 o'clock) or numbers if the unit has them on!

1. 90's Fender Stratocaster
2. Zendrive pedal: Volume 9', Tone 9', Gain 1' and Tone 1'.
3. Suhr Badger 30 Amp: Power 2, Drive 4, Bass 6, Middle 4, Treble 6, Gain 6.
< in effects loop>
4. Strymon Timeline delay pedal, preset 00A with mix lowered to 9'.
5. Strymon Blue Sky Reverb pedal, "normal", "room", Decay 12', Mix 9', Low Damp 2', Pre Delay 10', High Damp 12'
<back to amp>
6. Dr. Z Best 2 x 12 Speak box.
7. Sure 57 microphone
8. Neve 1073 Pre Amp, EQ flat.
9. Pro Tools HD 24/96k.

Backing track was just simple thing programmed using BFD drums and a bass plugin in 'Tools.

Wrapping Up

Learning to play the solo from Help the Poor is a journey of musical discovery. It's a chance to explore the techniques of an incredibly talented guitarist and expand your own skills in the process.

Remember, the key to mastering this piece is practice and patience. Don't rush yourself. Take your time to understand all the subtleties of Ford's style. With dedication and determination, you'll be playing this beautiful solo piece in no time!

So, grab your guitar, watch the video, and let's get started. Enjoy the journey, and remember, every great guitarist started somewhere. You're on your path to greatness, and we'll be together every step of the way.

👉 Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitarTabs!