frippchens Blues Lessons

[fripponomic]

Hi all,

actually I'm creating customs from Guitar Pro tabs that I wrote for education.

This blues exercises are inspired by the book "Play Blues Guitar" by Jürgen Kumlehn, but I took only the riffs (Lead) and create full tracks of it with Lead, Rhythm, Bass and Drums in GP6.

Thanks to Guitar Pro 6 which is able to convert the tabs also to wav, so I use the GP audio. (To record everything would be much to much work).

The idea is to use this customs for practicing some standard blues riffs in typical 12 bar shape, in this case for accompaniment. The shapes are here as followed, always 12 bars then repeat, every shape is played 4 times.  

The steps are written in Roman numerals. A step belongs to the chord of it's ascending scale.

If i.e. A Major is the key, the Chords to this key are A, Bm, C#m, D, E, F#m, G#mb5. Standard 12 Bar Blues shape uses only A, D, E, what are at the steps 1, 4 and 5, thus  I, IV and V in this case

the shape:

I      I      I     I

IV    IV   I     I

V    IV    I    V

 

this formula works in all keys

 

Of course you can use it also to improvise, every custom of them will have an additional bonus track without any notes for jamming. Metronome tracks are also available for each path (bonus) except the Bonus Jam Track.

 

we start with easy ones

 

Exercise 1

 

Blues Comping 1 shuffled 8ths in A major

12 Bar Blues accompaniment in A-major @ 90 bpm, easy level on all paths.

The tabs for all arrangements are written by myself, also drums and bass.

 

 

Lead                                      Rhythm                                Bass         

http://thumbs.picr.de/23142836tl.jpg   http://thumbs.picr.de/23174590zs.jpg   http://thumbs.picr.de/23174640ic.jpg

 

 

Exercise 2

 

Blues Comping 2 in A major with straight eights @ 120 bpm

again an easy one with single notes on lead guitar, rhythm guitar with chords and bass.

 

Lead                                      Rhythm                                Bass

http://thumbs.picr.de/23174889hb.jpg   http://thumbs.picr.de/23174891zn.jpg   http://thumbs.picr.de/23174908we.jpg

 

Exercise 3

 

Blues Comping 3 in G major @ 120 bpm, advanced level

Again a 12 Bar Blues,

this one is a little bit harder, especially the rhythm guitar since it's played in a funky rhythm

quite a lot of fun if you've got the groove

 

Lead                                      Rhythm                                Bass

http://thumbs.picr.de/23201246ep.jpg   http://thumbs.picr.de/23201266xx.jpg   http://thumbs.picr.de/23201281qn.jpg

 

 

Exercise 4

 

Blues Comping 4 in E major @ 90 bpm (shuffle) 12 Bar, all paths

 

Lead                                     Rhythm                                 Bass

http://thumbs.picr.de/23267054sh.jpg   http://thumbs.picr.de/23267071da.jpg   http://thumbs.picr.de/23267115mz.jpg

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Part 2

 

Now let's continue with some more advanced stuff 

The next track is from Peter Fischer's book Survival Guitar, chapter Blues. I took the soundtrack from CD and modified it a bit, cut, copied and pasted 3 chorus into the song that it has 4 12 Bar chorus instead only one. Now we have the same lenght than all other exercises and a great sounding backingtrack (no GP RSE this time).

Also I managed to add a "Vocals" track which shows information every bar i.e.: 1 - E7  (I) what means bar number of a chorus (1), actual chord (E7) on this step (I).

(I will update all other exrecises with this feature later.)

This exercise still uses the same shape like the first 4 exercises, I-I-I-I-IV-IV-I-I-V-IV-I-V, but now we have a turnaround in the 11th bar and as an Intro before the first bar. also the lead path is played with some rakes what makes it more advanced. Rhythm path is mostly offbeat with deadnotes (chords) in between, and the song is again in shuffle/swing feel at ~115bpm. The bass plays a walking bass line.

Like all others it has metronome as bonus track on all paths and on lead a Jam-bonus track without any notes for improvisation.

 

Exercise 5

 

Blues Comping 5 in E major

 

the sheets:

 

Lead                                         Rhythm                                  Bass

http://thumbs.picr.de/24690165ze.jpg    http://thumbs.picr.de/24693015bl.jpg    http://thumbs.picr.de/24690188gr.jpg

 

 

-enjoy this 5th exercise-

 

Exercise 6

 

The next one is again the 12 bar shape like usual with an additional Quickchange on the 2nd Bar, IV instead I.

Now the 12 bar shape looks like this

 

I    IV    I     I

IV  IV    I     I

V   IV    I    V

 

 

With a rate of 140bpm and a shuffle/swing feel it's on a higher level. Also it includes any turnarounds.

all tabs and music of these are created by myself, only helper was GP6 which enabled sheets and sound (and of course EOF and all other amazing tools that are needed to create any cdlc, thanks to the developers :) ).

 

Blues Comping 6 in B major

 

the sheets

 

Lead                                           Rhythm                           Bass

http://thumbs.picr.de/24947606qf.jpg   http://thumbs.picr.de/24947608sx.jpg   http://thumbs.picr.de/24947612hi.jpg

I try to show always only one page of the sheet for every arrangement, so it requires sometimes to hide the traditional note system, then only the tablature is shown. At this one I had to do the screenshots earlier since I created a second drum and decided to mix them, therefore I had to split up the repeats to have the first two chorus a halftime shuffle and the 3dr and 4th more forward drums. Unfortunately later in EOF I decided to change the first three bars note positions at Lead in every chorus, same notes but easier to handle, so this three bars are not exactly the same as in the sheet.

 

 

Challenge 7

 

for the next track I don't provide tabs since it's just too much, too many variations because it's a real audio recorded by myself with drum, bass and 2 guitars. For more information see the release notes at the record page. If you need tabs you can extract them with the RS to Tab tool or with the newest Toolkit, I heard this can do the job as well. Now folows as promised a

 

12 bar Minor Blues

 

in this shape with a quick change at 2nd bar

 

I m7     IV m7     I m7    I m7

IV m7   IV m7    I m7    I m7 

bVI 7     V7       I m7      V7

 

 

Fripples - B-Minor-Blues (blues comping7)

is a cosy shuffle @ 98bpm

 

this time it's not named as a You exercise but rather a full value song, performed by me.

The cdlc contains a

Rhythm guitar which is the Blues comping 7

Lead guitar which is an improvisation, nice solo blues licks the whole song

Bass guitar of course

 

additional I created tracks with muted instruments from the multirack, but I suggest, esp the solo guitar, have a good ear on it (the main track with all instruments) before playing the muted ones, because RS of course is not capable to display things like articulation, so play also with your ears and your heart!

 

 

Challenge 8

 

this is another tune I created by my own. Like the B-Minor I composed, played and recorded all instruments and finally mixed down in home production. More informations about the production and the set up you find at the record page of this custom.

It's another 12 Bar Blues in G-minor, slightly different shape than before: 

 

 

Fonk de Blues

 

it starts with a 8 bar funky pentatonic riff,

then follows the 12 bar blues shape in a funky way (2x)

then over 2 chorus (12 bar bs) a guitar solo,

then 8 bars a catchy octave vamp,

again the 12 bar theme (2x)

then the riff from start 8 bars,

last but not least 8 bars the octave vamp as an outro

 

the blues shape now looks like that

 

Im   Im   Im   Im

IVm  IVm  Im  Im

V7  IVm  Im  V7#9

 

 

Fripples - Fonk de Blues (Blues Comping

As already said the lead guitar has a nice solo in the middle, some funky riffs and a single note line during the 12 bar shape.

The rhythm guitar doubles the riff and the vamp once, the second time it's doubled transposed by an octave up. At the blues shape parts the rhythm guitar plays chords and many dead notes with wah pedal.

The bass is a nice and groovy slap line.

Key is G-minor, straight eights at 102 bpm, very nice to play (and to listen I mean) 

Again I made also a No Lead, No Rhythm and No Bass track with the multitrack audio.

enjoy it!

 

 

have fun with this challenging exercises, I do 

Edited February 9, 2021 by fripponomic
Reanimated the links

[TomSawyer2112]

Hi, I suggest you take a look at my thread to standardize exercises, and hopefully find it useful. ;)

[fripponomic]

Hi, I suggest you take a look at my thread to standardize exercises, and hopefully find it useful. ;)

great idea, thanks for that. I'll definitely be there when it's finished.

[fripponomic]

1st lesson

12 Bar Blues accompaniment in A-major @ 90 bpm, easy level on all paths.

The tabs for all arrangements are written by myself, also drums and bass.

If someone knows how to add an empthy track  in eof (for improvising as bonus lead) please let me know.

 

more tracks are coming if wanted

Edited September 20, 2015 by frippchen

[fripponomic]

Here comes the next exercise:

12 Bar Blues Comping 2 in A major with straight eights @ 120 bpm

again an easy one with single notes, lead guitar and bass.

contains metronome tracks and this time also one extra bonus track without any notes for jamming.

 

 

enjoy

[fripponomic]

In fact of the download counts the exercises seems to be very popular  :D

I'm glad they're go down well. Yesterday I bought the whole soundbank pack for GP6 with more instruments and better sounds.

For that reason I'll give the first two tracks an update with remixed audios with a much better and more realistic sound quality.

The third exercise is already finished with a 12 Bar Blues single note progression in G @120bpm, no open strings this time.

I'll upload all 3 exercises this evening with also new names like @TomSawyer2112 suggested on the record page.

[ridethemaverick]

Very much appreciated!

[fripponomic]

I'm glad you like it.

version 2.0 of Blues Comping 1 is finished now. Much better sound.

I also have modified the guitar tones and synced the shuffle 8ths... now it feels right  :D

It's a pity that eof doesn't import them right, always forces them to straight 8ths.

jam-bonus is also available now.

The other two I'll upload tomorrow.

[fripponomic]

even finished the rework for Comping 2, but I wrote a new path, play rhythm here and practice the chords.

this exercise is fun  :D

[fripponomic]

next exercise is complete: Blues Comping 3 in G major.

Had to find out a rhythm guitar that fits the song. You'll find the link and tabs in the OT

[fripponomic]

4th Blues Track is up. This tíme in E major @ 90 bpm with shuffle 8ths.

Again with all 3 paths + bonus(metronome) on every single one + jamtrack (no notes, no metro)

The Tabs are in the first post.

Actually I'll take a rest from creating new lessons, want to do a couple of normal customs again.

But I will be back to it with new and more difficult Blues exercises, with quick changes, turnarounds, some minor Blues and Jazz Blues, who knows. 

[fripponomic]

first post updated with the latest tabs

[ikwtif]

Thanks for the lessons! You might have inspired me to make some fairly short song lessons I have laying around that 'teach' some different techniques for blues, once I get done with the songs I'm working on.

[Jeff Tirezias]

Wow, great tabs man! Thanks!

[nickd]

Many thanks for all your work here! Much appreciated, @!

 

Nick.

[fripponomic]

If you like I can add the GPX and GP5 files.

[fripponomic]

OP updated with a little explanation about the classical 12 bar blues shape.

[Motive]

@ Have you any comments or theory for second exercise? 

[fripponomic]

@ Have you any comments or theory for second exercise? 

not really. All first 4 Exercises are using the same 12 bar blues shape and are in a major key.

They're just different riffs. The 1st and 4th are in shuffle/swing feel (triplet 8ths), 2nd and 3rd with normal straight eights.

For the rhythm you should practice the chord voicings if you're not familiar with

Exercise 2 chord practice:

it uses the following chord voicings with the recommended fingerings:

http://up.picr.de/23552543ms.png

 you can practice them in the right order without rhythm first:

http://thumbs.picr.de/23552547ga.jpg

[Rem_]

Hi all.

@frippchen, can you make two more songs for the rhythm guitar? For beginners. In the first song to use the six simple riffs played on one or two strings. In the second use five riffs played on three strings.
To the accompaniment enough drums and bass.
Thank you.

http://s020.radikal.ru/i721/1512/70/382c5dbd5af3t.jpg

http://s005.radikal.ru/i209/1512/9d/f9ba384acc43t.jpg
http://s019.radikal.ru/i641/1512/e5/f0cb66869c82t.jpg
http://s017.radikal.ru/i418/1512/67/c59b302ca91ft.jpg
http://s013.radikal.ru/i324/1512/78/e9388cf2ac8dt.jpg
 

[fripponomic]

@@Rem_, I rather wanted to continue after a break from this with more advanced exercises. From what I can see on the image this would be more simple than before. If you take the 2nd row in the image you'll have the same riff than in exercise 2 lead path (except the last note), but exercise 2 riff have a 2nd measure. More or less they're just variations. Of course the shuffled ones can also be in straight eights and the straight in shuffle. If I would create an exercise of every possible variation I never would come to an end. If You take all 4 exercises both rhythm and lead paths you have 8 different Blues comping riffs, all good for beginners (maybe except ex.2 rhythm, more adv). So I'm sorry but I'll continue with a bit harder and expanding stuff on this next year.

[xasiklas]

Hello, i just found out about your lessons today. Downloaded and played them and i had a lot of fun. I think it was the first time i was playing blues and i found it very interesting. Great job!!!

 

Looking forward to more advanced lessons.

[Perrow]

Haven't tried these yet (so this might not apply) but I will.

 

I find that really simple beginner exercises are really helpful, so I hope you will add more beginner tracks, even if they're short and simple, perhaps even naive.

[fripponomic]

Haven't tried these yet (so this might not apply) but I will.

 

I find that really simple beginner exercises are really helpful, so I hope you will add more beginner tracks, even if they're short and simple, perhaps even naive.

Yes, maybe I'll do some easy beginner exercises about lead techniques in a separate thread. Let's see

[fripponomic]

Hey all, I'm back with another exercise, the Blues Comping 5 in E major.

This one is more advanced now with more technics and a turnaround. Also this one is with "Vocals" now, showing each bar informations about which bar number, chord and actual step is played. Again with bonustracks for metronome and another for jamming.

more informations and all Tabs are in the OP.

enjoy it and have fun