Four Fantastic Tips for Learning About Blues Guitar
Does your CD collection feature B.B. King’s greatest hits and wall to wall selections from other greats like John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, and Howlin’ Wolf? If so, it sounds like you have developed an interest in blues guitar. If you’re interested in finding valuable tips for learning about blues guitar, search no further.
Research
One of the most important and basic things to understand about blues guitar is where it came from. The genre stems from some of the most pivotal and tragic times in history, like war and slavery, and have many rich tonal traditions that can be traced back to the music of Africa. As you research the blues, make note of the difference between the blues stemming from different generations, including prewar, postwar, and blues in the 1960’s, 1970’s, and 1980’s to the present. Each era has unique characteristics and elements that are reflective of the time’s social and economic situations. Also study the influence of blues on other genres like rock and roll, jazz, and pop music.
Listen
After you have developed an understanding about the history and traits of different blues eras, put your skills and knowledge to the test by engaging in a serious study session through listening. Listen to music from different eras and by different artists. Try to classify the music and identify what characteristics are possessed from the eras you have studied. Listening is a skill that has to be developed. As you listen, consider not only the sound of the music, but the meaning of the words and the stylings of the performer. If you’re interested in trying your hand at playing the blues, this is quite possibly the most important tip for learning about blues guitar. Listening to various artists and styles will help you better emulate blues musicians, and also contribute to the development of your own style.
Visit
Visiting places where the blues play an important role in modern day settings is another way to begin understanding it. Consider a trip to Chicago, St. Louis, or New York in order to make contact with professional musicians who make their living from the blues. You will also find that listening to music in a live setting is different than listening to a recording. Of all the tips for learning about blues guitar, this is the most expensive, but probably will yield the best rewards for you as you try to understand this art form.
Practice
You have taken the steps to understand and connect personally with blues music. Now the best way to continue your progress is to practice the art yourself. You can play along with your recordings, and enlist the help of a teacher to refine your guitar technique. With the tools you have gathered through research, listening, and visiting places where the blues was born, you will likely enjoy greater success. Build a personal connection with the music, and it will become a part of you as you learn to play it.
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I hope you found these four tips helpful! Another important tip is that it is really essential to master the scales used by blues guitarists. This includes scales such as the minor pentatonic scale and the major blues scale. If you need some help with learning and mastering guitar scales, then I recommend checking out this website: http://www.GuitarScaleMastery.com/letter/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Smithe |