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A BLUES 1   

pick logo Shuffle beat.

important
REMEMBER : The left hand fingers are noted as follows : the forefinger is called 1, the middle finger 2, the ring finger 3, and the little finger 4. Pick directions as follows : the down-stroke (downwards) noted ^, and the up-stroke (upwards) noted v. These indications are placed between the range of the standard musical notation and the Guitar tablature.

How to practice this "Blues" ?

  1. First of all learn the first measure fingerings (a measure is the whole of notes or figures ranging between two vertical lines), don't worry about the rhythm and play all the part in down-stroke with the pick, in order to concentrate on the left hand only.
  2. Once those fingerings memorized, play the measure in loop, i.e. without stopping, the last note being connected with the first, giving one equal duration to all the notes.
  3. Then, learn how to play this eight note sequence on the low E string and the D string, then practise playing the sequence from the low E string to the A string, from A to D, from D to A, from A to low E string.
  4. Once that you understood well that the fingerings are identical on each string, play the piece as indicated on the tablature, i.e. in this order :
    • play the musical sentence in A twice
    • then D,
    • then A,
    • then E,
    • finally A, then conclude with the A open string.
  5. When you feel it begins to sound good, rectify the play of your right hand by striking the strings with alternated strokes!

A "Blues" n° 1.

A "blues n° 1.

STRAIGHT EIGHTHS
   
SHUFFLE
Bass-Drums! Guitar! Bass-Drums + Guitar!     Bass-Drums! Guitar! Bass-Drums + Guitar!

To help you play with the sequence, there are two measures "lead in" at the beginning of it ( the famous Drumer's one-two, one-two-three-four).
Notice : when the tempo is too slow there is only one measure lead in (one-two-three-four).
TWO MEASURES LEAD IN
Two measures lead in.
ONE MEASURE LEAD IN  


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This blues is simple, since it is always the same musical sentence you move on the three bass strings. Nevertheless, watch the passage from forefinger to little finger (of the left hand) : you should not slow down, sound must remain clear (think of playing as close as possible to the fret, in case of doubt read the preliminary concepts again).

RHYTHM OF THE BLUES
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRAIGHT AND SHUFFLE BEAT

You can play this Blues into straight or shuffle tempo (it sounds better with a shuffle beat).

THEORY :

Figure I.

EXAMPLE :

Figure II.

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If you have doubts as for the accuracy of your rhythmic interpretation, do not hesitate to consult the part entitled HOW TO PLAY THE RHYTHM of this method.



You will recognize the pieces which are interpreted in shuffle eighth notes thanks to the presence of this logo at the beginning of a piece.

Shuffle.


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Have you noticed the simple structure of this A Blues ?

play one A measure

repeat the A measure

play one D measure

play one A measure

play one E measure

play last A measure


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