Rock and Blues Guitar

This user-friendly book, with access to online audio, shows how to transform standard three-chord blues changes into harmonically sophisticated jazz-blues progressions.The book covers chord substitution, twelve-bar blues, minor blues, eight-bar blues, and sixteen-bar blues. Chord frames are supplied for guitarists. Blank treble and bass staves are included for writing songs, licks, and solos. An absolute goldmine for all musicians, students, blues songwriters, recording studios, ad agencies, and anyone who plays blues music. This truly amazing learning/reference work, designed for beginners and pros alike, also contains an appendix featuring a wealth of information about modern blues progressions and how to create them. Online audio download available.

21st Century Chords for Guitar offers a new perspective on guitar chords. The standard chords that we all know work to 'get us through' any accompaniment situation. However, there are more expressive possibilities to be found. In these pages you will see that the guitar is much less limited than is generally realized. Through the 12-tone system, or Atonal Music theory, I have found interesting voicings for many 'every-day' chords. You will also find very unusual sounding chords that you probably wouldn't figure out using other methods. My goal is to help change the way we as guitar players think of chords on the instrument, so check it out!

This book is for all guitarists who are looking for something new to play and who don't want to limit themselves exclusively to the more traditional type of duet music that's available. Stylistically, the pieces range from romantic, blues and bossa nova to samba, pop and folklore. The included CD contains every piece in two different versions as well as a preparatory exercise. First, there's a complete version for listening with an expanded and properly mixed arrangement. In this version, supporting instruments such as percussion, electric piano, strings, or acoustic bass are added in an appropriate manner for the style and mixed in softly without distracting the focus from the two guitars. After every listening version, a 'picking pattern' follows: the rhythm guitar performs and stays with this picking pattern throughout the entire piece and it forms the common thread that represents the actual core of each composition. This pattern is also presented on the CD in a slow version of a representative section of each song which you can analyze and play along with. Finally, you'll find the play-along version. This version has been reduced to only the two guitars, with one guitar on the left channel and the other on the right. Written in notation and tablature. Text in English and German.

Renowned Berklee College of Music faculty guitarist Jon Finn, combines his experience, education, and stylistic versatility in this eclectic series of lessons for aspiring rock guitarists. Jon's innovative approach is unique, fun, and challenging. The book/audio set and video both offer a well researched original take on the use of pentatonic scales in rock improvisation. Using his 'Warp Refraction Principle' which takes into account the major third tuning interval between the second and third strings, Jon presents a series of five vertical patterns applied in two-string increments throughout the fretboard. The philosophy behind this project is to present concepts and techniques as a thought process rather than simply providing a reference manual. Access to audio and video available online.

Written by rock guitar virtuoso Stephen Delach, here is a straightforward approach to adding diminished and whole-tone colors to your improvisations. Geared toward the rock guitarist who has a firm understanding of pentatonic and blues applications, this book provides an excellent introduction into the world of applying altered tones that will undoubtedly take your playing to a new harmonic level. Many etudes, patterns and licks are demonstrated showing how you can get these tones under your fingers and into your playing today. Free audio downloads are available for use with this title.

This course is a fun, easy way for a beginning to intermediate guitarist to learn how to play the blues. You'll learn blues chord progressions as well as a variety of blues strumming and picking patterns. This course also presents basic blues scales, lead guitar techniques, and combination rhythm and lead playing. The basics of slide guitar and open tuning are also covered.

No music reading is required for this course, but the student should understand basic chords and strumming as taught in Mel Bay's Anyone Can Play Guitar Volume 1 video.

This method was created and is taught by Vern Juran, who has an extensive background in teaching and performing blues music.

Now Available:

On Demand

This course is designed for the beginning guitarist who wants to start playing the blues. No note-reading ability is required in this course, but a basic knowledge of open and barre chords is necessary. These types of chords are taught in Mel Bay's Anyone Can Play Guitar, Vol. 1 and 2.This video will teach you new chords and chord progressions as applied to blues music. You will learn blues techniques, licks, and scales that will enable you to perform complete blues guitar solos. Also included are rhythm tricks so you can practice your chords and licks with a complete blues band. Includes an instructional booklet at http://www.melbay.com/Pages/About/DVD_Booklets.aspx.

NowAvailable:
On Demand