Sometime in the 2000s BB King was interviewed by Guitar Player magazine and the interviewer asked him what he practiced. His answer? Scales and arpeggios. He said, "...but I don't *run* the scales. That would be like reciting the alphabet instead of spelling a word." Exercises make for better facility with instrument, so use them--just not onstage.

Here's my advice to anyone trying to learn the blues- you're going to start with a three chord, 12 bar progression- so find the three notes in the pentatonic scale that match those chords. In other words- if you're playing out of E- then you need to know where E, A, and B are in the scale. And since these notes repeat within the scale- then you need to know where all the As, all the Bs, all the Es- are. And when they're playing the E chord- resolve your licks to one of the E notes. When they play A- resolve to one of the As- it's that simple. And no- this isn't like all you need to know- not even close- but it really gets you started understanding how to tie what you' re playing to the rhythm so you' re not just noodling in tune with the band- you're part of the song, not just layering something over it. And sometimes- once you get good with improvising lead- you won't resolve to the same note as the chord they're playing- but at first, I would do it with each chord. Just play short 3-4 note licks that resolve to the chord in the background. To "resolve" just means to complete- so the last note of the lick should match the chord being played at that time. Now here's a different way to think of resolving- let's say they're playing an A minor- instead of resolving to an A- try resolving to the note that is defining that chord as a minor. So, it would be a flat third in this case- because to change an A chord to an A minor- you flat the third. If it's a major chord- you would play the third- not the flat third- see what I mean? If it's a 7th then you resolve to a 7th- that's the note that is defining that chord. When you do this, it really accentuates whatever feel the song already has. If it a minor and sounds all smoky and mysterious- it's going to really bring that out and make it evident.

@nicksonthevet

Ай бұрын

Someone should have told me this before

@freespeech-advocate

Ай бұрын

great advise🤟😎🎸

@michelleneeds4165

Ай бұрын

Cool advise, this is the first little baby steps to "playing the changes" and will make it sound like you know what you're doing. ❤❤ ❤❤❤

@Apocalypse4162

Ай бұрын

You described it very well, rock on dude. It was such a surreal feeling once it finally clicked for me, and at first it was hard to keep up with the chord changes but with some daily practice it will start to come naturally and quicker. Took me a couple weeks playing for less than an hour daily to start noticing a change, but it really got me excited about guitar again.

@choiceblade

Ай бұрын

DUDE! I just styarted and this made SO much sense. Thanks for piping up.

Love the hang as always! Appreciate everyone jumping into the course and…get Rhett’s courses too! He’s got some GOOD ones!

@mitchelldavis5961

Ай бұрын

You are the best blues teacher I've come across. Thanks for all you do.

@jackaro2

Ай бұрын

Good vibes, man 🤘

@dmc549

Ай бұрын

Corey is an incredible guitar player and instructor !!

@coreycongilio

Ай бұрын

@@dmc549appreciate that!

@whwh7339

Ай бұрын

Great playing and good vibes man, gonna check out your courses

Albert King was 44 when Born Under A Bad Sign was released in 1967, and SRV would have been 13. SRV released Texas Flood when he was 30, so just remember it takes time to get really good and we are always standing on the shoulders of giants

@bluzedogg

2 күн бұрын

Stevie was bringing it in his late teens though. He was paying heavy dues by playing two gigs a night often. I would say his lead playing in his late teens and early twenties was peeling the paint off the walls.

Man this is really helpful. When Corey advised to limit yourself and quoted “you don’t have to use every word in the dictionary to make a sentence” was so mind opening to me. Very simple but is exactly what I think I need to get out this frustrating rut I’m in. Very helpful, thanks Rhett and Corey!

@KEV_101

Ай бұрын

Same here, the other thing that helps me. Often when you look at tabs for your favorite solo, you’ll see it broken up into multiple licks as they move around the neck. Some are far and shred, some slide more and others bend. They vary in speed, my mind tries to go max speed every time.

@paulneeds

Ай бұрын

It’s a message that SO many guitarists should learn from…

Been playing guitar for 35 years and only in the last week did I ever hear about treating metronome clicks as 2 and 4. Of all the riffs and tricks and theory I was taught, THAT one would have been a serious boost to skill-building. ... *sigh*

If you ever feel like you're in a rut with learning guitar just buy more gear...

@markmancinelli6712

Ай бұрын

Spectacular truth....ugh....

@ericrincon545

Ай бұрын

True! 😂

@juancarlossuarez7486

Ай бұрын

+5

@Folly1988

Ай бұрын

One more pedal will take me to where I need to be 😅

@r.a.4777

Ай бұрын

😅😇👍🏼

Awesome video. I especially liked the part toward the end explaining that music is a journey. I’ve been playing over 50 years and I’m learning so much these days from many young guys like these two. Keep up the great work fellas!

Rhett, time spent with you, oftentimes with guests, never proves to be a waste of time. I have gotten SO much inspiration and knowledge from your videos and I'm a harmonica player! Heartfelt thanks to you as usual - please keep up the good work, greetings from Australia.

As someone who played in the 60s and 70s yes we had more venues and we played live a lot that's how we good better now it's people like you who carry that torch thank you.

great conversation. great questions and observations @RhettShull awesome playing @CoreyCongilio and sharing your experiences

Years ago my guitar teacher said “less is more”. He also said “your solos need to be like a good stripper, don’t give it all away too fast, a little bit keeps em coming back”. He showed me tasty bends, very few notes, it was all about the tempo, the sustain, the correct note played with the chord, attack, vibrato. Squeeze every ounce out of a single note, he was right

@mrredritehand

Ай бұрын

Great advice

@ratwynd

24 күн бұрын

BB King played like that. He can play holding one note for 30 seconds but you know he really, REALLY means THAT NOTE! You can FEEL it. You can see it in his face.

@davespin9034

24 күн бұрын

@@ratwynd yes, he was a legend. Watched him play a few times.

Corey is the man when you talk about playing and teaching the blues. I have been following him since his first courses on Truefire and I am know a member of his new community. I learned so much from him and I am know in a blues band as singer and player. I still study guitar using his courses and I can’t thanks him enough.

learning the chord tones and how certain notes are shared between the One and Four Chord is a great basis for mastering the blues.

Corey is awesome, Glad you included him

Two of my favorite guitarists on this platform! I’m a cruise ship guitarist and I often need some inspiration to keep my mindset fresh. This helped today, thanks for the content fellas!

I love that point that playing with muscle memory isn’t bad. It’s something that obviously stuck with us, and there’s nuances we can add to this licks because we have the “feeling” of that muscle memory. It’s always important to force ourselves to play something different, that’s how we stop playing the same things over and over; that’s how we add to our muscle memory and be more creative. But muscle memory certainly isn’t the enemy. Let’s lean into it

Awesome vid. As a high beginner player who is stuck in that minor pentatonic noodling box this opened my eyes so much. Two strings set was a light 💡 🤘

Thanks Rhett, I'm enjoying your courses at my slow old retired age pace, so signed up for his as well because of your recommendation and this video. Trying to help grandkids learn the love we have for our craft and give a little love back to you guys and gals that give away a lot of stuff free. Big Thanks and nice interview!

Thanks for this one Rhet...it echos some of what I've been feeling lately. Great discussion.

When I started taking lessons my instructor, who is a big blues/jazz improvisation guy, really tried to get me to do some blues stuff, and I just wasn’t having it. I wanted to play country and 80’s/90’s rock. 3 years later here I am, and my absolute FAVORITE stuff to play right now is blues. I can’t get enough. I even told my instructor “hey, let’s do some more of the blues from way back when”. I just really enjoy exactly what you guys talked about, using small chunks of the neck or just a couple strings and seeing what comes out of the guitar. You’ve also rubber stamped my thought lately that I really need to get back to practicing with my metronome. Great video Rhett, thanks again!!

Corey is a fantastic player and even better teacher. Been subbed to his channel for years! Glad to see the collab with a great topic.

The "blues by yourself" is the best purchase I've ever made. Corey is an incredible teacher and I've learned so much thanks to him 👍

@coreycongilio

Ай бұрын

Wow thx! Glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks for this one bro! Def going to check out his course now!

Corey and Rhett…. Thank you for an awesome discussion. You guys rock 🤘

Thanks for posting this!

This was a great vid. Thank you Rhett!

That was really good. Thank you both for that.

Very helpful conversation. Makes a lot of sense

This is real feelsy, kind of the real framework of blues! GLORIOUS!!!

The thing about the blues is that *SO MUCH* of the music we listen to daily is based on that 12-bar 1-4-5 progression. It's literally *EVERYWHERE* once you learn what to listen for. So if you can learn to play the blues well, you can learn *SO MANY* other styles!! I'm very much at the beginning of my guitar journey -- been playing for only a bit more than a year now. But the more I learn, the more I realize just how many songs are, essentially, based on that blues style.

@coreycongilio

Ай бұрын

Amen

@ColtraneTaylor

19 күн бұрын

Which are those other styles with song examples?

I learned more from Cory than any other online. The courses are very affordable. I can't do all Cory does in his teaching, but I am always learning... And then I make it my own.

Thanks for the video, Rhett and Corey! I had just picked my Gibson Les Paul Studio, volume on 10, gain on 3 and a Tube Screamer pushing my handmade 20W tube combo. I put some blues backing tracks and improvised for 15 minutes straight. Some of them licks sounded good, a few sounded amazing and some other not so much. I recorded it all. So that's how I know. But these tips are really handy too. I'm a "keep improving over different backing tracks and recording until you get satisfied with the whole thing" kinda guitar player. Maybe that can help some others as well. Cheers from Brazil 🇧🇷🤘

Thank you for introducing us to Corey. He's an excellent blues guitar player. 😍 The blues is what I strive to play. I subscribed to Corey's channel, and I'm very interested in his instructional materials. 👍👍👍

Excellent session! You guys are awesome.

This is one of the most helpful videos you have made.

Great advice. Great interview.

Awesome interview.

9:41 BB King was a jump blues player in the 50s. Check his 1955 "Every Day I Have the Blues." I think it's his strongest soloing ever. Played on an early telecaster with flat wound strings.

Corey is a great player and teacher for sure !

This was way helpful! I’ve been really wanting to progress ( especially) wanting to learn the blues! Way cool tips! Thank you 👍

Great lesson, Corey is incredible as you are Rhett. Thanks from New Zealand 🇳🇿🇺🇸🎯

What a great video, you guys do ROCK. Thank you.

You two guys is just what I needed. I want to play the Blues on AC Guitar, Just Purchased a Yamaha FSX 820c and hunger to learn ...... Again Thanks so Much. See by the look on my face 😲

Good stuff with some very interesting points I never heard or thought of before. I started playing in 58 or 59 and had two teachers for a short time. I learned the blues mainly through slow boogie stuff that I learned from one of my teachers who had a group that played honky tonks in Northern California.

That was very good. Informative and consistent with other videos I have seen.

Very helpful video guys. Many thanks

AMAZING Lesson! Thanks.

This video helped me lots thanks rhett and corey

Those were very good and insightful comments about minimizing your notes and starting with a focus on a couple strings and the metronome developing rhythm

Corey deserves more subscribers. His channel oozes quality.

Thanks Rhett! Good questions and nice discussion 👍

Lovely discussion! Made me think about my playing a lot!

Cory is a badass and a superb human being! Been a friend and an admirer of his playing from his beginnings in Pittsburgh. Great lesson. Thanks Rhett.

Great video, I was just recently wondering what makes a great blues line so this really does help

Good stuff! I love the idea of putting in limits. It has served me well over the years.

Great video, very cool concepts. Love it!

Yep, got the course! Love the sound and the practice. Great recommendation Rhett! Thanks for the course Corey!!

@coreycongilio

Ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

Thanks guys for another informative and interesting (P90) session, I'm joining in with my 1964 SG Junior too!

Great questions Rhett and beautiful answers Corey! Perhaps the first steps to take to get out of my own rut 🎸🤟✌️

Great lesson! I'm tempted to try out his course.

@coreycongilio

Ай бұрын

Awesome! Thanks!

This was awesome,many thanks.

Thanks Rhett and Corey. Really helpful conversation! - John B.

Great video guys, thanks

Just what I needed. Thanks!

Very interesting thoughts. I’m definitely gonna give those pointers a try. 👍

That was really cool cheers guys .

I've been working my way through Corey's 'Blues By Yourself' course, and let me tell you, - it's gold! It's built largely on (though not limited to) deconstructing Dominant 7 chords and being able to play smaller voicings of those chords around the neck. This concept and approach is a total game -changer, and we can apply the concept outside of Blues playing, across other genres. As well being a phenomenal player, Corey's teaching style is clear, systematic and very engaging. The course materials are really well produced too. Highly recommended!

@danieli.9252

Ай бұрын

I have that course, too, and I need to get back to it!

@coreycongilio

Ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

@jeremykemp3782

Ай бұрын

Has it got the beginners stuff in it also?

@karlfarren

Ай бұрын

Hi @@jeremykemp3782 . I would definitely not consider it a beginner's course. It does require (in my opinion) some pretty solid intermediate fretboard/chord knowledge and technique. That being said, Corey is an excellent teacher, and he takes you through the concepts and how they're applied in a very clear way. I would suggest this course is more suited to a late Intermediate player, but maybe check with Corey if you want more info. He has some other courses that would probably be more suited to Beginner level Blues player.

I've been playing acoustic off and on for years and found this very encouraging, even though I'm still a remedial guitarist.

Corey mentions Kenny Werner. Please get his book Effortless Mastery. Comes with a DVD back in the day that was so helpful for playing live. The book is about techniques for calming the mind for playing in front of a crowd. Gamechanger.

YOUR ARTICULATION OF THE PROBLEMS,DISCOVERIES WAYS TO SOLVE IS SO WELL EXPLAINED,AND I AM OVER 70, playing since 10 years old,so I mean it!!?

Corey’s playing is so good, soulful, and tasty it’s amazing he’s able to teach it. You are not suppose be able to teach blues but he’s able to do it. 🤯🤯🤯

I had a great guitar teacher that said almost the same thing, start with 4 notes. do everything you can with those 4 notes, then play the same 4 notes in a different place. Great practice of restraint and then learning the fretboard, then connecting them (over a lot of time, A LOT OF TIME)

Just bought Corey’s course. Thanks for the recommendation Rhett 👍

@coreycongilio

Ай бұрын

Hey thx!

using the metronome on back beat/ half time is key tip here. Nice I love the blues too.

Great insight!

One of the best "learning on the job" the oldtimers had, was that they played with so many different people with different styles , and had to adapt to their tempo, type of playing and many other things. So they learned a variety of different styles, of playing the same thing but in a different way, and then made their own style of all the knowledge/experience they had gathered over the years.

this video is just awesome I love blues and my guitar Brothers cheers yall let's keep on pickin with passion and love just enjoy it I've been playing for 15 Years now and I just can't ever put my guitars down always been the guy attached to a🎸 stick with it always it will give you joy beyond truly. signed a drunk fellow bluesman

Corey is one of the best teachers on youtube. Very to the point

That Casino Cory plays, one of the prettiest I've seen! I'm drooling, and the one hanging on the wall next to me is envious.

@petemccarry2326

Ай бұрын

I think it’s an ES 330. I miss mine.

@teodelnorte

Ай бұрын

​@petemccarry2326 it's a Casino

@coreycongilio

Ай бұрын

@@teodelnorte yep 1961

@teodelnorte

Ай бұрын

@@coreycongilio it's a beauty

That may be the best blues tutorial I’ve ever seen. Thanks

Ordered his course. Great video.

@coreycongilio

Ай бұрын

Hey thx!

One thing that helped me a lot was to find every possible 3 string inversion of the 7th chords up & down the neck. After a time, these find their way into my solos as chord stabs.

The "two string only" idea is not bad at all. Nice way to make the most of that few notes you have. BB King was absolute master in that and everybody liked it a lot.

Holy crap @coreycongilio Double Two Rocks?! Wowzas!! Sounds amazing. Thanks for the tips.

Corey's instruction, 'Don't mindlessly noodle without saying anything' tipped me over an edge I've been teetering on for ages. My piano fluency coach tells me to use cadence tied to the rhythm structure to express meaning, and don't assess the result while I'm playing, hoping for it to sound vaguely 'musical'. Thanks, Rhett!

Thank you I appreciate it

FLUENCY in music, knowing the fretboard, is ABSOLUTELY essential to getting good in any kind of style or genre for guitar. That means running the scales for exercises, and lots of chords. Even if you typically only need three or for in most blues, rock, pop, et al type songs, serious artists have a tool box full of brushes , techniques and colors. They rarely really "improvise" on the spot. They usually work in motifs, "riffs" they've already worked out and put in their music tool and knowledge box. The "blues" seems simple to learn, yeah, and it's hard to master. The most important point was the player, teacher Rhett, has a solid sense of rhythm he gets the beat, and flow down, then starts working in the notes and tones, little riffs. You lay down the "bones" of the motif or line, or song idea, first, the beat not just pick out a four or five notes. Sure, old dead blues guys, Dixon, Carter, James, Waters, etc didn't score stuff, did not know all the things some trained musicians might, like say, Ellington knew, from his early classical piano lessons, but they had an intuitive feel for the music that one only gets from years of playing, practicing, singing, composing.

Great tips! And loved the shout out to Albert Collins!

My ear is really improving for chords and lead. Thank you

Great interaction. Really enjoyed the content.

Damn best explanations of the correct way to learn blues I have ever heard.

Thanks so much! Really helpfull!

Its just open my mind so mutch

Great advice

Thanks guitar brothers!

This is great!

Reminds me of Steve Vai practiced playing only one note for long periods of time and out of boredom would find different ways to articulate just that one note. It tried that and really helped me with my vibrato and different ways to attack the note.

Insightful!

Corey is great!