The Blues Chords course is wonderful. I am not an accomplished player. I have no aspirations of performing; I play to relax and decompress after work. I simply love playing the gee-tar to jam tracks. My goal is to eventually play the chord I hear in my mind. Sort of intuitively throw down the chord that "fits". Playing open major "cowboy chords" gets a bit dry at times.

The 7th chords in this course really add spice to any chord progression; sometimes they don't always resolve perfectly in the progression... but they work and sound "cool" to my ear. For example, I will play a B7 when B major is called for. It works and, for me, it's easier to play for some reason. The course immediately exposes you to bar chords which in my mind is extremely important. A bit tough at first, but the hand strength eventually comes around and you can get them to ring clear as long as you work at it. Still struggling with bar chord changes, but in time I'll conquer it.

The course is chock full of information, very organized, and is easy to digest. You still need to work at it; no magic pill here...you need to take it out of the fret board. If you have some music theory, you'll get the chording principles even quicker. All in all, an excellent, enjoyable course.

I am a long time music guy, Disc Jockey and Live band member. I am NOT a guitar guy, but have always wanted to play (I play other instruments). When I found this course, after trying to forge through many others, I was very pleased! It is accurate, offers good and easily understood principles and make it easy to improve playing skills quickly. The material included in the course is relevant, and very helpful.

Thank you!

Hey guys, it's been a while since I've written you. It's been almost two years since I bought my first course from you, and I've bought three more since. I have learned from all of them. My favorite and the one I still use is the Ultimate Blues Scales course.

The first thing I realized in my many years of playing is that I couldn't speak the language. The second thing is that being in shape to play is very important.

Both of those things frustrated me for many years. My favorite analogy is if you go to run a marathon in a foreign country and are out of shape and don't know the language,you will be lost. Most of my time was spent learning scales, for about a year and a half. My strumming left a lot to be desired so I ordered the strumming course, which got that fixed.

Now I practice or do work in music everyday. By work I mean do some book work on scales and look up tab to practice new songs. I don't try to be an instant Eddie Van Halen but I try to improve a little every day. That's how he did it. Today is the first time I didn't pick up the guitar or do anything with my music. That was on purpose, as I don't want to burn out either. My effects equipment and recording equipment will arrive this week. My plans for this year are putting a band together and recording. My thanks goes to all of you - keep up the good work.

Mike

I am 68 years old. I used to play up till the age of 20 with a group playing rhythm guitar. The lead guitar player was really good, and all I needed was a few chords. At 20 I put down the guitar and never touched another guitar till I was 60. I was never a good player, but could play a not-bad rhythm but never understood the chords. I bought 2 or 3 other courses and took some private ½ hour lessons, but they didn't help me understand things like major and minor chords or their relative use with each other. Ultimate Blues 1 and 2 were a big eye opener as to why certain chords fit where they do. I have never been able to play a lead, but last night after struggling for a while, I was able to play the lead parts for "Knockin", which for me was a big accomplishment. I have trouble just playing the pentatonic and diatonic notes in order, I do fine until I speed up then I have to go back to ¼ notes. I really appreciate this course and the videos that you've made to go along with the course notes. The course is (while not easy to understand for an ol' guy) breaks the theory down into understandable segments and explains the how and why. Thanks Colin.

Garry Wieler

Ultimate Blues 1, 2 & 4. I haven't purchased Ultimate Blues 3 yet, but plan to when I build up the funds.

Hi Colin: I am really having a lot of enjoyment with your courses: Ultimate Blues, Beginner Blues Riffs, Guitar Improvising Secrets. At 75 I am slower as you mentioned but Oh, man, the Scales, the climbs and passing notes have opened up a whole new world for me. I am working hard around two hours minimum per day and really enjoying it. Thank you so much for all you do. Please say HI to Riley!
Sam

I have been playing for about 5 years on and off. I play everyday but I did not know what I was playing and why.

I was frustrated and almost gave up my passion which is playing the guitar, but thanks to watching your Riff Ninja video and the testimonial that you gave, it really made me buy the materials and give it a shot.

Within a full week the guitar started to make sense. Now I can figure out songs a lot faster and I know what key they are in and also the mode. My soloing is better but if I want to learn a riff it's very simple now for me to find out what scale to use.

I recommend Colin's lessons because they work 100%.

Thanks Riff Ninja - my journey just began.

Rene Jaimes

Hey boyz and girlz,
The first two parts of this Ultimate Blues Chords Course were okay, you can rewind and replay any bit so you will get to let all of it sink in good. Then the harvesting will begin, but go on forever!
Keep on playing, Oscar

Your courses have certainly helped me. I have not finished all of what I have bought from you as I go rather slowly and I play a lot of other stuff besides. Also, for your information, I don't play electric guitar anymore. I play a classic guitar using finger picking rather than a pick. A lot of what you teach still sounds pretty good that way. I am an old guy (almost 79) and I love playing. Sometimes I can actually impress my grandchildren who also play.

I have learned from your teaching of different scales and theory. I like the sound of your riffs a lot.

There's no doubt that I'm a better player since getting the lesson. There's a wealth of information there you just can't get anywhere. I was stuck before & now I have a renewed interest, not to mention this stuff is very, very interesting. I have other lessons from you guys & I love them all. Thanks very much & I truly hope you keep up the good work

I have been playing guitar for quite a few years now... To begin with I was only interested in playing basic easy songs (getting the point across was how I described my ability), but after a while this wasn't enough and I wanted to learn more.

A variety of face to face teachers missed the mark as I found that I would spend 30 mins watching them show me how awesome they were or showing me things I wasn't interested in.

The Ultimate Blues course has been exactly what I needed.

Colin not only shows how to do certain things but also explains "why" and how certain chords or techniques fit into the big picture. I love this approach and it has unleashed a new passion for the guitar in me which I am extremely thankful for! It has also helped my playing improve to the degree that I was recently invited to play for a friends wedding - a solo for her to walk down the aisle!!!

Thank you Colin - keep up the fantastic work!

Really enjoying the course! As you know, I purchased the Blues Course II as well. Not quite to the II yet, but have made a lot of progress thus far. I’m finally playing upper Chords with different positions on the fret board. This was a leap for me after 50 some years.

1. One of the most important lessons I feel is the I, IV, V theory/Concept. With this concept, one really doesn’t need to memorize all of the notes on the fret board, but I’m doing that anyway. Can’t seem to help myself on this. It will prove valuable in near future I’m thinking, especially as I already read notes.

2. The other is practicing the chromatic scale as you show on your video. This not only gets on familiar with fret board, but also is good exercise, and improves style (If practicing correctly).

3. What can I say, I really had no idea just how difficult the guitar as an instrument can be. Anyone can learn a few chords, or maybe even bang out some riffs sounding half way decent, but in a lot of cases (happening to me) that’s as far as I got. Unless you’re Mark Knopfler of course, who has a style of his own. Experience tells me now, one should have a teacher. A teacher will not only assist you in learning, but will give you some great ideas for practice. Just sitting in the living room watching TV, and banging on the (git fiddle) is not practice. Playing for pleasure and playing for study are two different things, that is until you reach intermediate to advanced stage. Take some time to enjoy the guitar as well. Learn a few new songs (all the way through), and words as well. I am not a singer nor profess to be, but my heart is in it, and people can see that. If you are confident in oneself, that may be approx 98% important thing to performing. The other 2% is how well you know your material, much like giving a speech. Getting up in front of people appears to be one of the worst human fears, more than death itself. The more you practice , more confidence gained, more stage time (if that is your desire), the easier it becomes. Look out Robert Plant, and David Lee Roth………………..

4. Your Chord book is great, and gives some basic with advanced direction. I already know a lot of the Chords presented, but then there are a lot that I didn’t know. Incorporating those new chords into your music is a lot of fun, as well as, personal music growth.

5. The last comment for everyone advanced or just starting out is practice. Andres Segovia once said, “One must practice 8 hours per day”. He did, but don’t think many of us have 8 hours a day to play. Just mapping out your goals is extremely important. Have an agenda for each practice session. Tuning before beginning of practice is a must. Exercising both left hand and right as well. I bought hand grips, and one of those Kung Fu eagle catcher exercisers. Four fingers and thumb go in the spring loops, and exercise from there. If exercise hurts stop immediately. Go Slow. I noticed a difference right away though. My bar chords are clear a bell, and hand muscles are less fatigued when playing the 5th and 6th positioned Chords.

I hope this helps. It’s the journey of music, and being in the moment that is so enjoyable. I wish the greatest of luck to those who are playing just for fun, a hobby, or even one day to play professionally. It’s all good!!! I’m not quite to the professional area yet, but one day….Maybe. I can feel like I'm getting better.

Colin, really enjoy your teaching and patience. My Mom was Canadian who grew up in Alberta. Guess that makes me half Canadian. Take care eh? No one down here knows what a tuque is either????

Robert.

I've been teaching myself for about three years now just noodling around. I know open chords but didn't understand where I was, why I was there, where to go next and why. I started read up on music theory was so confused.

This blues course was my revelation moment.

I now know how to take a note make a scale make a chord scale know were to go for solos now I can watch someone else play know where they are learning new songs by 1-4-5.

I'm blown away. Thank you.

I have owned a guitar for over 30 yrs. I know a lot of chords, have done some theory, but never really got what it was about.

With Colin, the way he explains 145 really makes you connect, and the old cliché light bulb moment rings true.

Fantastic course - keep on keeping on.

Hi Colin, The Ultimate Blues Course: Stage 1 - Chords is amazing & has definitely made me a better player.

I'm an intermediate & kind of stuck. I have some of your other lessons & have benefited from them all. Sometimes not enough time. I play golf, fish, woodwork, & even make guitars but I love playing the guitar. You are a great teacher & your music professor you talked about taught you very well.

About my playing before I got your lesson - I was frustrated, discouraged, stuck but now am kind of re-energized & really want to learn.

I feel like I have taken steps to becoming a more advanced guitar player. Really like the way Colin teaches. Have learned techniques that I can use whenever I play the guitar. Thanks for such a great program.

Hello Colin,

Although I have done several of your courses; I haven't started on the Blues Rhythms & Riffs one yet. I am looking forward to getting stuck into it shortly.

Now retired, I spent a lot of time in 2016 on several of your other courses. I particularly enjoyed and benefited from the theory that you teach.

Thank you so much. I have now got to the stage where my playing is good enough to be really enjoyable - but I still have so much to learn.

Regards,

Peter Dale

East Sussex, UK.

PS here’s a pic of me with my other (face-to-face) tutor...

I haven't gotten that far into your course yet, but the part about tuning the guitar was very good. You went into the depth of the subject more than any course I've seen in the past. Thanks for going the extra mile... Jerr 76yrs

Hi Colin. I just want to say how much I’m enjoying playing and learning through these courses, I can really feel and hear myself progressing. I was kind of put off by the board lessons at first and I didn’t think about the info I would have been missing out on but obviously I feel stupid now! The board lessons have helped a lot with my understanding of the guitar and I just want to say thank you to Colin and everyone at the RiffNinja team who make this possible and I will definitely be buying more lessons from you guys in the near future. ????

Colin's courses give you the mechanics to relate scale theory to chord progressions, if you want to know how music works and how to improve your writing and playing. And to better understand other theory put out there, well give Colin a go, he has helped me.

I only started playing a few years ago at 46 and had wasted so much time trying to find the right online course and going off on U tube tangents before I stumbled across Riff Ninja.

The Ultimate Blues course has been the single biggest transformation in my journey to becoming a better guitar player.

Colin's easy teaching style and commitment to making sure his online students "get it" is perfect for me. I thought scales were way beyond me, but the way Colin teaches it they're not at all hard to understand.

I am hanging out for parts 3 and 4 of the blues course now and will be the first to purchase as soon as they are available.

Colin disproves a lot of the wrong messages I had been getting from the internet, and I simply refuse to watch any other online teacher after watching his course as I don't want to waste any more time with wrong or confusing mixed messages.

This blues course is simply the best decision you can possibly invest in. You won't regret it.

Thanks Colin for putting such effort into this with both the quality of the production and the carefully constructed content.

Hi Colin, I am really enjoying the Blues course. I am on the Ultimate Blues Stage 4, but have skipped Ultimate Blues Stage 3 which I think might help with my timing. I am impressed that I have gotten a better understanding of my guitar with your courses that I have purchased, and my understanding of chord patterns and relationships to other chords was made easy by your instruction.

As an old duffer the fingers don’t move so quick, but I am putting in about 2 hours a day.

The Ultimate Blues course doesn't just put the Blues together, but the whole fretboard and great theory together... all while focusing on Blues application. Just spectacular like all of Colin's lessons! I always learn something new and useful. PICK UP the ULTIMATE BLUES COURSE!!

I have learned more than I can believe doing your courses.There is a ton of work to get through and the mistake I have made is not persevering with the course layout when I joined up. I have bought a few of your other courses and started hopping around, don't get me wrong I have learned so much.

I played along with the jam tracks on improvising lesson for the first time this week and I was surprised at my ability to play along this has only being achievable by watching your lessons and practice. The hardest part is doing it and trying to stick it out. I am improving every day and love the ultimate blues course. Thanks guys

Hi Colin, I purchased your Scales course first. I worked my way through it twice. It is fabulous. I've had so many sudden moments of sudden realization about scales and how they work. Still working at the scales program and maybe I've approached things out of order, but I was so excited about how much I learned that I now have the Chords lesson as well. I'm working slowly and patiently on it.

My knowledge and understanding is beginning to take lead over my ability. At times I feel overwhelmed but your video lessons are reassuring that patience and practice will bring positive results. I really believe that any chord or scale I want to learn will become as familiar to me as any open major chord I'm entirely comfortable with.

Colin you are a fantastic teacher. Your knowledge is superior, your methods and materials are clear and comprehensive. Throughout the rest of my guitar journey I will be ordering all of your lessons.

I didn't start playing (again) until I was 50. I took some lessons, but my teacher had to stop. So I prowled around online. I could learn chords and I could learn scales. I could learn a specific tab. However, what I needed was to learn how the music fit together.

I started with Rhythms and Riffs of Blues and then went to Ultimate Blues Stage 1. I am almost through that. A lot of things that didn't make sense before are falling into place.

Plus, I now have a much better understanding of how things are actually played, as opposed to just seeing chord names.

The Ultimate Blues course! What can I say... I am only part way through and I understand musical theory to a small degree.

This course is truly informative. Colin knows what he is talking about and just as importantly he understands what it's like to be a student so he speaks "our" language.

Buy this course with confidence and without doubt you will become a more accomplished and confident guitar player.

Thanks so very much Colin.

Recently, someone asked me how long I had been playing guitar. They, thinking I was fairly accomplished, meant this in a complimentary way, I know. But as the words "25 years" crossed my lips, in my heart of hearts I was embarrassed. I knew that my singing ability was masking the simple fact that I had stagnated long ago in my guitar playing. So when I heard about Colin Daniel's "Ultimate Blues Course," I thought that this was a perfect opportunity to start making some progress again.

Now, 75% through the course, I can say that I have not been disappointed. I am challenged and enlightened by the course material. I feel like I'm climbing the musical mountain again and that Colin is my personal sherpa in the process. Even some of his throw-away lines are helping me! Sounds crazy, but changing to a heavier pick has been golden. Great course. Great teacher. Thanks!

I am 55 years old, and started playing guitars 5 years ago. My first instructor told me he was going to give me some theory, and I balked: Don't give me theory! Show me how to play this thing!

Looking back, I realize how naive I was. I am so far ahead of the guy who first showed me how to play my first chord five years ago, because I have taken the time to learn some theory. Colin Daniel is my fourth internet instructor, and I would have to say the best. Plus, he's Canadian like me! Go BC!

I have to take a bow to Marty Schwartz and Justin Sandercoe, I've learned tons from them, but Colin knows how to drill right down to what's important, with by far the best video production quality I've seen, and an absolutely superb course book, Colin is a total perfectionist with this course. My theory knowledge is really starting to crystallize now; if only my clumsy fingers could keep up with my understanding! Great work.

I've been muddling around the guitar for quite a number of years. I spent enough time muddling and self teaching that I developed some good chops, techniques, some loose theory and the ability to 'mimic' accurately.

While my playing may have sounded good, I wasn't going where I wanted to be... a real guitarist/musician (even if not on a professional level). I have found no course of instruction, written or in person that puts the aspects of theory and application together the way that Colin has been able to do.

From the lessons in the Academy to the premium courses, like the kick butt Ultimate Blues Chords course, everything lesson has applicable value. I recommend RiffNinja.com to any person I know interested in picking up a guitar!