Beginner Electric Blues Archives

0 20 Bar Chord Heaven

In this final chapter, Colin takes you into the world of bar chords—an essential skill for playing up and down the neck with freedom. You’ll learn the major and minor bar chord shapes rooted on both the 6th and 5th strings, and how they tie back to the power chords and scales you’ve already used. This lesson gives you the tools to play in any key, unlock new grooves, and confidently expand beyond open positions. It’s the next big step in becoming a well-rounded electric blues guitarist.

0 19 Bonus Progression

To wrap things up, Colin teaches you a bonus 12-bar blues progression that adds a fresh twist to everything you’ve learned. It’s a chance to try out your new skills in a slightly different context—mixing chords, riffs, and rhythm into a cohesive groove. This progression gives you one more solid example to play with, helping reinforce your timing, transitions, and overall blues feel.

2 18 Rhythm & Riff

In this lesson, Colin shows you how to blend rhythm playing with riff-based ideas to create a more dynamic, layered sound. You’ll learn how to move between chord hits and short licks within a 12-bar structure—just like real blues players do. It’s a key step toward sounding less mechanical and more musical, helping you develop the instinct to fill space tastefully and keep your playing engaging from start to finish.

0 17 “G” Blues 12-Bar

Now that you’ve got the G minor pentatonic scale down, it’s time to apply it in a full 12-bar blues progression. In this lesson, Colin guides you through playing over a groove in G, combining rhythm and lead ideas you’ve learned so far. It’s all about connecting the scale to the chords, locking into the feel, and starting to improvise with confidence. This is where things start to really sound like the blues.

0 16 “G” Pentatonic Minor Scale

In this lesson, you’ll learn the G minor pentatonic scale—one of the most essential scales in blues guitar. Colin breaks it down note by note, showing you how it sits on the fretboard and how to finger it comfortably. This shape is your launching pad for solos, licks, and improvisation, and once it’s under your fingers, you’ll start to hear that unmistakable blues sound come to life. Simple, powerful, and incredibly useful.

5 15 Call and Answer

This lesson introduces the classic blues concept of “call and answer”—a foundational idea in both rhythm and lead playing. Colin shows you how to split your 12-bar groove into two voices: one phrase that “calls,” and another that “answers.” It’s a fun and interactive way to think about phrasing, and it helps your playing sound more conversational and musical. You’ll also start building your improvisation instincts without even realizing it.

0 14 “Ice Cream Man” 12-Bar

In this lesson, Colin brings all the elements of the “Ice Cream Man” together into a full 12-bar blues progression. You’ll combine the main riff, the chord applications, the closing lick, and the shuffle feel into one cohesive piece. It’s a great exercise in structure, flow, and musical memory—plus, it feels like you’re really playing something now. This chapter shows how simple parts, when stacked together right, can sound like a full-blown blues tune.

0 13 “Ice Cream Man” Closing Riff

This lesson adds a slick closing riff to your “Ice Cream Man” groove—a short but punchy phrase that gives your playing a polished finish. Colin walks you through the feel, technique, and timing, so it slots naturally onto the end of your groove. It’s a great way to punctuate your playing and prepare for building the full 12-bar form in the next chapter.

0 12 “Ice Cream Man” Scales

This lesson zooms in on the scale behind the “Ice Cream Man” riff, showing you how it works—and how you can use it to start improvising. Colin introduces a simple pentatonic scale shape that fits right over the riff you’ve already learned. You’ll start connecting the dots between rhythm and lead, opening the door to soloing in a way that feels natural and bluesy. No theory overload—just practical, usable notes you can plug right into your playing.

0 10 Applying Chords To “Hooker Blues”

Now that you’ve got the Hooker-style riff and some shuffle feel under your fingers, this lesson takes it a step further by adding real chords to the mix. Colin shows you how to blend your dominant 7th chords (A7, D7, E7) into the groove you’ve already learned—giving the riff more color, depth, and musicality. This chapter bridges riff-based and chord-based playing, helping you sound fuller and more dynamic.

1 09 The Shuffle Rhythm

In this lesson, you’ll dive into one of the most essential feels in blues—the shuffle. Colin breaks down the swing-style rhythm that gives blues its signature bounce, showing you how to alternate between notes in a way that drives the groove forward. You’ll learn how to count it, feel it, and most importantly, play it with the kind of laid-back attitude that makes it sound authentic. This is a must-know rhythm for any electric blues player.

0 08 “Hooker Blues” With Power Chords

Now it’s time to put your power chords to work in a real blues context. In this lesson, Colin teaches a riff-inspired progression in the style of John Lee Hooker, using moveable power chords to drive the groove. It’s gritty, repetitive, and incredibly effective—just like classic electric blues should be. You’ll focus on timing, muting, and getting that raw, pulsing feel that makes this kind of riff so satisfying to play.

0 07 Moveable Chords

This lesson expands your power chord vocabulary by showing you how to move them up and down the neck. Colin explains how root-6 and root-5 power chords work, and how to identify their locations using simple fretboard logic. You’ll also get a crash course in octaves, note names, and fretboard distances—all key to unlocking the rest of the guitar neck. If you’ve ever wanted to play beyond the open chords, this is your gateway.

0 06 Your First Chords

Now that you’ve got power chords under your belt, it’s time to add full chords to your blues toolkit. In this lesson, Colin introduces three essential shapes: A7, D7, and E7. You’ll learn how to play them cleanly and understand why dominant 7th chords are such a key ingredient in the blues sound. This chapter focuses on accuracy, tone, and smooth switching—setting you up to use these chords in real progressions later on.

0 05 The Power Chord

In this lesson, Colin introduces power chords and explains why they matter—even in blues. You’ll learn what a power chord actually is (spoiler: it’s not a full chord) and how it’s built using perfect fifth intervals. Starting with A, D, and E, Colin walks through how to play clean, two-note versions using open strings, and explains why these shapes are so important to your rhythm playing. It’s a mix of theory and hands-on practice—giving you a solid grip on one of the most used tools in blues and rock guitar.

3 04 Your First Riff (Part 2)

Now that you’ve got your first riff under your fingers, this lesson expands on it with a few new moves to build your confidence and musical vocabulary. Colin introduces variations that add flavor without adding complexity—just enough to keep things interesting while reinforcing the groove. It’s a chance to deepen your feel and start making the riff your own, one small step at a time.

0 03 Your First Riff

Time to plug in and start playing! In this lesson, you’ll learn your very first electric blues riff—simple, gritty, and full of attitude. Colin shows you how to lock in the rhythm, get the picking pattern right, and make it feel musical even at a slow speed. This riff uses just a few notes, but it teaches you the kind of timing and touch that defines the blues. Don’t worry about perfection—just focus on the groove and getting comfortable.

2 02 Tuning

In this lesson, Colin walks you step-by-step through tuning your guitar using a chromatic tuner. You’ll learn how to get each string dialed in accurately and consistently, with practical tips on striking the string, reading the tuner, and avoiding common mistakes. Colin also explains how tuning interacts with things like string tension, neck pull, and intonation—so even beginners start to develop a feel for what’s happening under the hood. If your guitar’s not staying in tune, this chapter gives you the tools to figure out why.

0 01 Introduction

This first lesson kicks things off with an overview of what’s ahead in the course. Colin gives you a taste of the electric blues style and shares how this course will help you build real, playable skills. It’s not about flashy licks—it’s about learning the right feel, the right sound, and how to actually play the blues in a way that connects. Whether you’re brushing up or just getting started, this chapter gets you in the groove and ready to roll.