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Quick Wins

A collection of quick tips on a variety of topics that you can implement right away to improve your playing

COURSE OVERVIEW

Quick Wins

In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges that blues guitarists face is keeping their playing and practice fresh and interesting.

It is very easy to fall into the trap of always playing the same licks, chord progressions and ideas. This however is a quick and sure way of killing your motivation and slowing your progress.

In this course then, you will find an extensive collection of quick tips on a variety of topics.

These are designed to help keep your playing interesting and provide you with alternative approaches for concepts that you may already be including in your playing.

What you will learn:

PART 1

A Quick Tip To Sound Like SRV

Learn how you can target a specific bundle of notes in the first shape of the minor pentatonic scale to create a strong Stevie Ray Vaughan vibe in your solos

PART 2

Using 9 Chords In Your 12 Bar Blues

Freshen up your blues progressions and add a little spice and tension by using 9 chords. Learn a variety of chord shapes and how to integrate them effectively in a regular 12 bar blues

PART 3

Using Trills In Your Solos

Take inspiration from Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan and use trills to add an aggressive blues rock edge to your solos

PART 4

Targeting The Blue Note

Learn how you can target the blue note all over the fretboard as a way of adding some bluesy tension to your playing whilst navigating between scale shapes

PART 5

Using Register In Your Guitar Solos

Many of the blues greats use register as a way of managing and building intensity in their solos. Learn how you can do the same to create interesting and engaging improvisations

PART 6

How To Play Descending Pentatonic Runs

Learn how to break up scale patterns and descend pentatonic scale shapes effectively using odd note groupings in the style of players like Joe Bonamassa and Eric Johnson

PART 7

Bend Stacking In The Albert King Box

Learn how Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan stack bends together to build intensity in their solos. Understand how you can do the same in a variety of blues contexts

PART 8

Strengthening The Weak Links

Improve your technique and the strength and dexterity in your fretting hand with this simple but effective exercise

PART 9

Taking The Path Of Most Resistance

Learn how opting to navigate across scale shapes in awkward and unusual ways can help you create unique and interesting licks

PART 10

How To Execute A Blues Curl

Understand what is happening theoretically when you play a blues curl, and how you can use this technique effectively in your solos

PART 11

Adding An Aeolian Twist To Your Licks

Learn how adding a single note from the Aeolian mode can add richness and texture to your standard blues licks in the style of players like Peter Green and Carlos Santana

PART 12

Using Rakes In Your Blues Solos

Study examples of famous players who frequently use rakes, and a series of positions in the minor pentatonic scale where you can implement the same idea

PART 13

A Quick & Easy Warm Up Exercise

Ensure that all of your practice sessions are effective by warming up properly with this chromatic exercise that also doubles as a speed builder!

PART 14

Varying Your Phrase Length

Create more vocal and expressive guitar solos by focusing on your phrasing and ensuring you target licks in a variety of lengths

PART 15

Using Octave Shapes In Your Solos

Understand how you can get a huge amount of mileage out of a single lick by playing it in different octaves

PART 16

Creating Smooth Pentatonic Connections

Utilise lateral connections across your fretboard to navigate between pentatonic shapes in a smooth and musical way

PART 17

The Importance Of Changing Keys

Learn how to change keys, and how doing so will benefit you both as a guitarist and musician

PART 18

Switching Up Pentatonic Shapes

Keep your playing fresh and interesting by soloing out of your comfort zone and targeting your least favourite pentatonic scale shapes

PART 19

Targeting The 5th In Your Solos

Add a killer Albert King vibe to your playing by finishing your licks on the 5th, rather than the tonic

PART 20

The Best Alternative To 'Noodling'

Stop wasting your practice time and make consistent progress in your improvisations by following this easy framework

PART 21

Adding Unison Bends To Your Solos

Unison bends can add an aggressive edge to your solos – perfect in a British blues rock context. Learn how to implement them in your playing here

PART 22

Using Hybrid Picking In Your Solos

Hybrid picking gives you access to a wide range of sounds you can’t create using just a pick. Learn how to implement it in your solos to create variety and a little spice

PART 23

How To Start Soloing With The Modes

It can be difficult to start using the modes in your playing. In this lesson I break the challenge down into 3 easy steps so you can start adding new and interesting textures into your blues solos.

PART 24

Avoiding This Major Pentatonic Mistake

In this lesson I look at the pitfalls of the major pentatonic ‘trick’ that players learn to use the scale. I also explore an alternative framework that will help you start soloing with the scale.