Category: Blues Songs

Worry You Off My Mind by Big Bill Broonzy
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Worrying You Off My Mind is a solo acoustic blues tune by Big Bill Broonzy.  It is played fingerstyle as most of the old blues were and uses an Eb tuning.  It does not follow a typical 12 Bar Blues pattern but rather an 8 bar progression with the occasional extra bar added in. While solo acoustic blues is not easy, this is a relatively simple arrangement for the genre.

Forty Four Blues by Eric Clapton / Howlin Wolf
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In this lesson we will be learning the blues classic Forty Four Blues. The tune has been done by various artists but in this lesson we will be closely following the Eric Clapton version. It basically follows a 12 bar blues pattern but does have some interesting additional bars. Trills, bends, and other articulations make it a great piece to study for those into the Blues genre.

Chevrolet by Taj Mahal
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In this lesson we will be learning the Blues classic Chevrolet by Taj Mahal.  The song consists mainly of a blues riff in E pentatonic minor.

Stand Back by The Allman Brothers
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In this lesson we will be learning Stand Back by The Allman Brothers. The arrangement is pretty straight ahead. The song is centered around a cool funky blues riff primarily. Chords needed are A, B7#9, D/A, F#7, E, and D.

Mustang Sally by Wilson Pickett
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Mustang Sally is classic R&B/ Blues tune by Wilson Pickett. The song is a I-IV-V chord progression in the key of C. There are 2 guitar parts on the original recording, a lead and a rhythm part. We will be covering both of them.

Rumble by Link Wray
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In this lesson we will be learning the instrumental Rumble by Link Wray. The song consists of just 4 chords and a descending pentatonic minor riff in the key of E. The 3 chords used are D, E, A, and B7.

Outside Woman Blues by Cream
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In this lesson we will be learning Cream and Eric Clapton’s Outside Woman Blues. The song revolves mainly around a bluesy riff in E pentatonic minor. The two chords used are E and B dom7#9.

Hoochie Coochie Man by Muddy Waters
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In this lesson we will be learning the blues classic Hoochie Coochie Man by Muddy Waters. The tune is in 12/8 time, in the key of A, and is built around a signature blues riff over the I chord. The riff is followed by typical blues changes using dominant 9 chords.

La Grange by ZZ Top
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In this lesson we will be learning the riffs to ZZ Top’s La Grange.  The song consists of some classic bluesy style riffs played in A and then shifting to C. The riff can be played fingerstyle or with a pick

Sunshine of Your Love
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In this lesson we will do a song study of the classic Cream song Sunshine of Your Love.

House of the Rising Sun
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In this lesson we will learn the classic song House of The Rising Sun. This song incorporates arpeggio picking patterns throughout.

No Particular Place To Go by Chuck Berry
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This lesson is a song study of No Particular Place To Go by Chuck Berry.

Smokestack Lightning by Howlin Wolf
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This lesson is a song study of Howlin Wolf’s classic blues tune Smokestack Lightning.

Cold Shot by Stevie Ray Vaughan
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This lesson is a song study of Cold Shot by Stevie Ray Vaughan. The song is a good example of blues in a minor key.

Sweet Home Chicago
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This lesson is a song study of the Blue’s classic Sweet Home Chicago. The song was originally done by Robert Johnson. Since then it has been recorded and performed by many artists.

Come On in My Kitchen
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In this lesson we will learn a version of Come on in My Kitchen by Robert Johnson using an open G tuning.

Catfish Blues by Muddy Waters
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This lesson is a song study of Catfish Blues by Muddy Waters.

Crossroads by Cream
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This lesson covers the classic Crossroads by Eric Clapton and Cream. The song is a 12 bar blues form in the key of A. Originally written and recorded by Robert Johnson.

Mary Had A Little Lamb by Stevie Ray Vaughan
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In this lesson we will learn the bluesy SRV song Mary Had A Little Lamb. The song is played in a 1/2 step down tuning.

Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry
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Learn this classic Chuck Berry tune written with a 12 bar blues format in the key of Bb. In this lesson we are going to study the intro, versus, and choruses. In another lesson we will tackle the complete solo. This is a must learn for any aspiring blues guitar player.

Johnny B. Goode Solo by Chuck Berry
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In this lesson we will study the solo to Johnny B. Goode note for note.

Dust My Broom by Elmore James
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Great blues slide guitar tune.  Elmore James noted as the King of the Slide Guitar is a great player to study if you are looking to learn how to play slide. Song is played in open D tuning.

Born Under A Bad Sign by Albert King
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This is a classic blues tune played, originally, in the key of Db.  Simple pentatonic blues riff on the I chord and goes to the IV and V chord.  A little different arrangement from the standard 12 bar blues form.

Stormy Monday by The Allman Brothers
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In this lesson we will be studying the classic T-Bone Walker blues tune Stormy Monday in the style of the Allman Brothers Band. While it is a 12 bar blues, Stormy Monday takes a different turn in bar 7 with some jazzy min7 chord changes. In this version, the guitar uses interesting dom 9 voicings and licks to carry the harmonic structure.

Stormy Monday (Duane Solo Part 1)
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In this lesson we will be studying the first half of Duane Allman’s soulful lead in Stormy Monday. Be familiar with G Pentatonic major when approaching this solo.

Stormy Monday (Duane Solo Part 2)
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In this lesson we will be studying the second half of Duane Allman’s soulful lead in Stormy Monday. Be familiar with G Pentatonic major when approaching this solo.

She Caught The Katy by Taj Mahal
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This is not your typical 12 bar blues form. The song actually follows a 16 bar form for the versus. The bridge takes us to a different place applying a bVII chord and the verse contains a diminished 7, some interesting changes for a blues tune.

Its Not My Cross To Bear by The Allman Brothers
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It’s Not My Cross To Bear is the segue from the instrumental Don’t Want You No More.  Its a blues tune with some different changes than the typical 12 bar blues format. We have the use of the minor IV chord in the verse and a I-VI-II-V change at the end of the progression.  The song also applies an interesting arpeggio line with a descending bass line.

Memphis by Lonnie Mack
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In this lesson we will be learning the instrumental Memphis by Lonnie Mack. It is a blues tune in the key of G.  We will be covering the chords and melody lead lines. You should be familiar with Pentatonic minor to grasp the melody lead.