Even when Jack tries to play poorly, to make a valid point, its still pretty amazing...

@fourthofseven

9 ай бұрын

Apparently Jack’s incapable of playing poorly.

@Sammywhat

9 ай бұрын

Thought the same thing! 😄

@josemelrose5465

9 ай бұрын

Yep I thought the same thing too 😊

@ekredel

9 ай бұрын

I was just about to say that this was the worst demo of bad playing ever 😂😂😂

@Arthur_My_Dear

9 ай бұрын

Hey Jack, I wish I could play as badly as you, man

Jack I started playing guitar in 1958 and I'm 73 years old now and I had a great career in music until I retired a couple of years ago. And you are right man it's not about what you play but what you don't play. A very important lesson here on your Channel for the younger guys coming up in the in the music business. I love you Channel and you are an awesome teacher and thank you for your wisdom in this lesson.

@lopezb

8 ай бұрын

Yes, and I think that "it's not about what you play but what you don't play" has been often said about Miles. A perfect example of that! I saw him live once and he'd come out on stage with his back to the audience and just wait, and then play just the right notes....

@guillermor.r4831

8 ай бұрын

​@@CC-yq8nyObviously if you want to be professional it is more complicated but if you like your style you don't have to change it because others don't.

*Jack still casually playing the absolute shit out of the pocket even when leaving no space* 🤣 Killer lesson

I love his dynamics . Not only the space but the picking volume changes . I don’t get the human feel in today’s music as much.

Blues comes from the heart. If you don’t feel, you ain’t playin’.

Great playing Jack! “Jimi Hendrix came from the blues, like me. We understood each other right away because of that. He was a great blues guitarist.” Miles Davis

I completely agree with your assertion. This is why I love, love, love the beginning of Pink Floyd's 'Shine on You Crazy Diamond', which has a strong blues element The reason it's so cerebral is because of the brilliance of the space in between the notes and the way it takes its time.

This is an excellent subject right now. I appreciate you for doing this Jack. I would humbly add one more idea for those guys who want to fill every single space with a note: yes, break it up with rest and space as Jack expertly demonstrates here... but also, don't always play the first note of the next lead line on the 1st beat. Every once in awhile pause and allow the 1st beat to pass by and then take off on the 2nd beat of the measure or somewhere else. In the same way, don't always end the lead phrase right on the 4th beat... end it after the fourth beat. Try mixing it up this way to lure your listener way over the top of the beat. The effect is to float them there in the higher space above. You dont want to always be locked too tightly in that 1,2,3,4 pattern.

Aside from the great lesson here, I love Jack’s PAF “snap” on the downbeats. So great

2:42-3:10 Anyone else feel like they can’t breathe when his playing doesn’t? 😂 Great lesson, Jack!

@stephenowen5229

9 ай бұрын

I had exactly the same thought. I need to breathe!!!

@milesgrooms7343

9 ай бұрын

I questioned if that was supposed to be the “busy” line or not!?! Ha sounded sweet to me. I have thought Jack should add some firey-ness to his playing at times!!

Paul Gilbert calls it "breath dynamics". It's basically the concept that sorta like how you pause between sentences to literally take a breath for the next one you should do the same as a guitar player. That is exactly what I personally try and do because all my heroes done it as well. My favorite player ever is Clapton and he just always seems to serve the song and perfectly phrase things that are criticized for being "simple" but in reality it's not as "simple" as it sounds. It takes great precision. Gilmour is also a total master of it as well. Obviously Clapton and Gilmour are influenced by all the truly great blues players like Albert, B.B., and Freddy.

Singing the lines in your head or out loud even really helps with this. I think of the phrasing as a conversation. And if it don’t sound good in your head or when you sing it , it won’t sound good through your instrument. Great lesson Jack 👍🏆

@orlock20

8 ай бұрын

One should look at the Joe Bonamassa solo of I'd Rather Go Blind with Beth Hart. His solo is a repeat of what and how Beth Hart just sang.

Jack's on another planet. Might be the best ever...

Those big long connected phrases I call "going bebop." It may not be so much doing 16th-note arpeggios with enclosures but the vibe of just going for it, full hot.

It’s takes some confidence to criticize everyone, yet you back it up. That’s some wonderful playing.

Very much needed! Josh Smith comes to mind…phenomenal player but doesn’t leave enough space in his solo’s! IMHO 😊

@stephenhanlin2388

9 ай бұрын

💯 true!!

@JackRuch

9 ай бұрын

I actually really love Josh’s playing. I don’t include him in this because he can absolutely murder some straight blues. It’s more the common trend on IG of shredding fast rock licks in the blues.

Great explanations. The space really jumped out at me on a feeling level too. I remember seeing the rests on sheet music. Thanks for the important reminder. I am smiling.

Absolutely spot on. Was thinking about this lately. Horn players have to breathe, so there are natural pauses and logical phrasing. Mindless shredding is not blues!!

Bang on!! “So much talent. But not so many rock stars!” Discuss.

Amazing lesson today. I appreciate this! This also goes for bass too. I've been picking it up more and more, and this seems to be one of the biggest things bass instructors talk about for those of us coming from guitar. "Make Space"

I completely agree with everything you said here. That’s why JJ Cale is one of my all time favourite players. He was a master of utilising space in his phrasing, combined with sweet tone and beautiful note choices too of course.

Thanks, Jack. Great info and I can't get enough of your playing. I didn't realize that you had a TrueFire course...time for me to register!

Beautiful tone, touch and feel, sir!

I am a shredder, not a blues player and I find this video very enjoyable

Hi Jack, You're making a great point. I've been focusing on space a lot more this past couple of years. I like to go balls to the wall, but I also love leaving more space. It sounds more like something that could be sung and thus more melodic, note choice aside. Thanks for the great videos! Cheers!

Alway salways thought the same, hard to forget some times but is vital for blues cause it came from singers

More of these videos please. I love your insights

Love your videos, thank you. I think audiences really appreciate space as well, as it allows other instruments to come into focus, adding depth and variety to the sonic experience and highlighting the pocket created by the band.

Man your stuff sounds great my ears needs no rest from your playing.

Nice advice, thank you. Been playing and performing over 60 years now and never to late to learn and get better. I learned and was reminded to compose leads/solos with some thought and purpose instead of a mindless shred licks and runs. Mostly, on-the-spot improv leads / solos / fills is what I'm doing most. Sometimes it's quiet and smooth like this, or sometimes high energy. Not always rock and blues.

Wow the world really is full of amazing players

Great stuff. Thanks for articulating something that's been on my mind a lot as I watch even some of my favorites!

Love the tone ....of your voice brother! Tasty playing man, love it.

Brilliant, insightful lesson, Jack. Thank you!

Right on Jack. Miles Davis, the master of space, is what comes to mind.

My GOSH!!!! Your playing is Flipping amazing!!! Absolutely love your feel and tone !! Stumbled across this video , so happy I did. Thank you Sir

It's not just space and phrasing, but a great demonstration of the value here

Finally the algorithm recommends something amazing! The feel, the tone, the playing are all some of the best I’ve seen on youtube. Not to mention Jack seems like a cool and knowledgeable dude. Definitely subbed!

Thanks Will try this right now!

Thank you for your amazing lessons Jack! You have such a great way of explaining concepts, and laying out a step-by-step path to progress musical ideas. And you play f*cking killer! Nice to see your subscriptions going up!

Excellent advice, im glad someone is making sense when it comes to space and room for notes to breath. Bravo !

Great video. Thank you Jack!

Thank you for this lesson. I feel like this has given me a new perspective on story telling in solos and definitely something I need to practice.

Great video, great lesson, great theory, and excellent playing. 🙌🏽

PREACH! This is truly one of the most effective ways of sounding like you know what you are actually doing on a guitar! 😂 Perfect thumbs up for this one Mr. Ruch!

This is exactly what advanced players need. Fabulous stuff Jack. You are so right.

One of the best lessons for guitarists I have seen. Yes. Less is often more. Relaxing, getting into Alpha space, and feeing more than thinking ii what makes great music. Oh, and forget theory and such for a while. Too much thinking and not enough feeling will just cramp you up when you're trying to say something meaningful on an instrument. The problem is that so many of us know too much guitar to play the blues authentically. Those old blues players were not technical players. They played what and how they felt and knew only a few riffs and such, the great ones coming up wit original passages that became the standards. However, what they did with what they had made them special and made us want to play like them. Unfortunately, the hardest, maybe impossible thing to do is to unlearn and unhear something. As an example and with the fewest of exceptions, once you've figured out "Cliffs of Dover" and can play it reasonably well (even the intro), forget about playing real blues on guitar. You know too much.

One of the most important lessons I have heard‼️

So true Jack, the phrases should mimic singing, with breathing in between. Looking forward to your new TrueFire course 😀

Man this is such a relevant lesson. Thank you

Been working on this concept for while. Well timed lesson for me Jack.

Great video! I did an episode last week on exactly this for the Blues Guitar Show podcast

Nicely played!

If I may :) , it's also helpful to "think like a singer", like creating a melody for a song, something that could be "sung", as with many many classic solos that are memorable. A singer's melody wouldn't just be a run off series of melodies. A song's melody has all these elements Jack explains so well! TY sir!

Perfect explanation Jack ❤

I personally love space and repeated motifs in my soling, I tend to hit fewer bum notes that way! Beautiful lines as ever man! I got notification from TrueFire there is a new course about to land. I can't wait to get stuck into it! Thanks for all your work here of KZread Jack.

Not only the way you play, also the way you talk and your voice inspires me. Thank you - Uli

Very well communicated. Thanks Jack!

Same for bass as well. Space/rest makes the bass line. Also, playing behind the beat is super cool. When I play guitar I play on and ahead of the beat.

Tough to find a better way to spend 7 mins, and damn your dynamics and touch give me something to aspire to. Thanks as always for posting these.

Fantastic guitar playing right there.

this is sick! thanks for sharing this lesson helps a lot

There's an element of blues that really defy's technique. And that's what I like to see/hear. When a player closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and pulls from his soul/heart whatever the moment dictates. Most times it's magic for both the player & listener. A perfect example is when Carlos Santana shared the stage w/ several younger players who were "trying" to impress the audience and Carlos (I guess) with how flashy and fast they could play. Carlos waited for every one of them to blow their loads...then held & massaged ONE note! Which brought the house down and surprise & smiles to everyones faces!

I've been playing 40 years and that was really helpful. Gonna pinch some of them riffs . Thanks.

Spot on advice Thanks a lot

Great video, Dane!

Wow that ES sounds incredible 😯

Excellent content, thank you! I'm really missing the SG Special from the latest videos :(

Great lesson Jack. I totally agree with you the blues is about space letting things breath and playing from the heart not about flash or who's better who's best. Loved your Bloomfield lesson you did now thats real blues playing. Cheers

I totally agree with you . That’s why I think the first blues guy people should study is BB followed by Freddie and Albert King. The shred and more notes is better has become the modern way of thinking. Well said !

Jack, you are an incredible teacher and content creater 🙏

You nailed it.. we are on the same "blues" page. Adding spaces and strategic pauses... as an old style "purest" I seek more devotion to emoting that traditional blues sound you champion. Could we see some more? No need to "lecture" show us what you got Jack.. please?

Couldn't agree more. I play like I run and when I run I have to stop a LOT to catch my breath 😀

Scrolling KZread. Tuned in for the 335 😊 Nice lesson too.

I love this video!! And here's why I think the modern guitar player runs into this issue a lot. They play to backing tracks, alone, in their basement. When I was coming up, we played with other people, which taught us tension, and to share that space with others who were playing with us. Funny how relevant this is now, as I've been playing for over 30 years and am trying to teach my 16 year old son to let the music breath. He's been playing for 2 years and I'm blown away how quickly he is progressing, not only because of his passion for music, but because there is KZread to help him along. When we jam, I purposefully slow things down. He's learning...LOL.

Great lesson ... Thank you

The problem with modern blues is that it’s not blues. Even this lesson was kind of like jazz/blues fusion. Nothing wrong with it, absolutely incredible playing, very Robben Fordish… but it ain’t blues.

@orlock20

8 ай бұрын

Jazz, country, R&B, and blues have been fused for a long time. Just look at the recent version of Tennessee Whiskey which comes across as country yet is instrumentally similar to I'd Rather Go Blind which is a blues song.

@Thabassmon

8 ай бұрын

I absolutely agree. No blues in what is called blues these days.

@luckyl4746

8 ай бұрын

It's not blues anymore.

@charlesmudoss

6 ай бұрын

Very true

Beautiful!

Really great man. i appreciated this very much, in a world that says faster and more is always better.

Thank you very much for this master class.

👍🏻great lesson, always inspiring just to hear your Tone❤ 😊, "question and answer"- method also works great for leaving space.

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day 😊

This is why John Mayer is one of my favourite blues players. He allows leaves a ton of space and never overplays (not looking at you Joe Bonamassa).

I think Peter Green is the perfect example of how to approach and play the blues. (Especially tracks like Jumping At Shadows and If you let me love you) Not that there is a right way, but it definitely got that sweetness to it that was lost over the years.

"rests need to be played".....Jack that is a fabulous description!

That was an awesome lesson Jack! Reminds me of a nugget I got off Tommy Emmanuel; he said: listen to singers, they have to take breaths ...he gave couple an example he likes like Frank Sinatra. Listen to his phrasing; it just incredible. Listen to multiple singers...an example I like a lot cause I sand his songs for a living in the 80's is Bob Dylan. His songs have so many lyrics some songs 15 long versus. His phrasing is unbelievable as is Frank's. Of course use who ever....just awesome advise from Mr. Emmanuel. So appreciate this video Jack and love your channel and ideas. Take care!

Space! The final frontier...Cheers Jack!!

This Is pure gold

I really do wonder what is it, that all those Internet people sit in their homes with a cap or hat on. Well, not all, but almost. Do they eventually think this will give em mor dignity or what. This.... ????? Man, your content is good, makes sense and that is what gives YOU the respect you deserve ...not a cap.

right on this is a great point!

You tried to show a bad solo, but that sounds awesome, like a big, unstopable flight of soul. Of course it is bad when all solos are all like this, but sometimes it is so good

Omg! Amen- Preach it, Brother Jack! 🙉

This opens up another way to look at lead. Approach it like a vocal line or some call and response. Generally playing lead over vocals is frowned upon, yet another important thing to look at, leaving space for vocals and finding your space in the pocket.

Finally a tip I can say I have already confidently nailed. 👌🏻Since, I can’t play fast and very long melodic runs of 16th notes all over the fretboard, I leave TONS of space 😂

Killer tone Jack...again

That's perhaps what I like best about Jack's great blues guitar lessons.........they're not just great blues guitar lessons..............They're intelligent great blues guitar lessons! Jim C.

Great observation , here. Nice tone!

Keep on preaching and teaching the way that you do. Just because things change doesn’t mean you lose the essence of what it was. Honestly, the space is really the most important thing.

you are one of the amazing and talent player jack

Thanks Jack for this excelent lesson. This woke me up from too much note and speed.