General Guitar Skills Required Before
Learning Blues Guitar
To get the most out of these complete blues
instruction dvds it is first critical to have some familiarity with the
basics of playing the guitar. Specifically, know how to play many of the
major, minor and dominant seventh chords. Understand a few moveable bar
chord shapes and at least one moveable major scale and minor pentatonic
scale pattern. It would also be helpful to know basic fretting
techniques for slides, bends, hammer-ons and pull-offs.
Most of the above basic skills can be
learned well enough in just a few months with a good beginner though
intermediate dvd guitar course (Learn
and Master Guitar for example) or a qualified local instructor.
What To Look For In A Good Comprehensive
Blues Guitar Course:
The Instructor: This is by far the most
important factor in determining the value of a blues lesson dvd. Ideally
the instructor will be an accomplished guitarist that has played
extensively in blues bands. It is also useful if the instructor is
competent in many non-blues styles of music and has written and recorded
songs.
The blues course instructor must also be a
gifted and experienced teacher. He must be able to identify with the
learning styles and thought processes of students at each stage of their
development. An instructor that is formally educated in music is ideal.
The Course format: The dvds would
ideally offer continuous video and not just short segments. The videos
should be accompanied by a printed support book or at least an ebook
that can be downloaded from the internet. They should be well organized
so that the lessons can build skills and understanding logically from
one to another.
The Video Production quality: Close up
shots must reveal the fingers on the fret board clearly so there is no
ambiguity about what frets or what strings are being fingered. The
videos should be of high enough resolution so that you can view them on
a large computer or television screen without the image becoming fuzzy.
Often programs that are downloaded from the internet don’t pass the
sharpness test.
The Lessons Format: would include verbal
explanation, full speed demonstrations, slow speed demonstrations,
practice with the instructor and practice with a recorded back-up band
(often referred to as Jam Tracks).
The Lesson Topics Should At A Minimum
Include: open blues chords, moveable blues chords, chord
progressions, 12 bar blues format, common blues scales, common picking
techniques, common fingering techniques, common blues strumming
patterns, a selection of standard blues songs and how to improvise solos
with a band.
Electric Blues or Acoustic Blues
Instruction?: Its important to know what type of blues music and
therefore what kind of guitar lessons will fit the bill. Some blues
guitar courses are for electric only, some are acoustic only and a few
cover both.
It is worth noting that when acquiring
advanced or specialty guitar lessons it is almost always beneficial to
be exposed to the course teachings of many different master instructors.
Each successful blues guitarist learns from past and present legends
then melds those lessons into something that is unique. The more
influences you have the richer your unique style can become.
One of the great advantages of video blues
guitar lessons on dvd is that you can efficiently and relatively
inexpensively learn a broad spectrum of standard styles, songs and
artists. Now you should have a good set of criteria for finding the best
blues guitar lessons for your specific interests.
