Jim and Ken Play 'Me and the Devil' - Robert Johnson

The Vital Components Of Great Video Blues Guitar Lessons



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Essential  Components When Learning Acoustic Blues Guitar

An on line search for guitar tuition in video format can be a daunting activity, even more so for the new guitarist with little experience. What are the best features of the most effective packages on offer? 

As you might imagine, we can identify common components that might help us choose the right guitar tuition.

Easy To Follow Blues Guitar Tabs

Of course it nearly goes without saying, any instruction for any subject should flow logically and be simple to take in. First steps should be clearly described, and build into further lessons. 

Music guitar theory is important, but the new guitar player is basically champing at the bit - he wants to play! This then should be the first action, presenting the basic steps that can be practiced straight away. When all said and done, a thorough understanding of the basics should reap huge benefits at a later date.


Notation versus Blues Guitar Tablature

Traditionally, guitarists in the classical style learned to read music and followed the written notes when performing or composing new material. 

Inevitably, this signifies a progress that is often perceived as too slow in today's fast moving world. During the 60s, blues guitar expert Stephan Grossman and some contemporaries, invented a method of guitar tablature that represented the strings and frets of the guitar.

Guitar Tablature Example

Guitar Tab example

This abbreviated guitar tablature could be quickly assimilated and is an effective tool for learning blues guitar, for example. A grid of six strings is numbered from the bottom bass string (1) to the top E string (6) and a number written on a string shows which fret finger should be placed above. 

A short line at the side of the number indicates that the picking thumb or finger is employed.

Blues Lessons Presentation - What Should Appear On The Screen

There are several variations on this theme, but we can summarize desirable elements of this vital visual aid to guitar tuition. The student should be made aware from the beginning what the object of that instruction may be. 

If we are learning a complete song, then that song needs to be played in exactly the same as the detailed tuition demonstrated in the complete guitar lesson.

In advance of the main instruction, any unusual movements can be displayed and valuable tips given. Close ups of each hand is priceless,and are best displayed separately. Guitar chord diagrams and tab may be overlaid on the video, so that the student can follow the finger movements at the same time.

Blues Guitar Chords and More Useful ATtributes

When being taught a song, it's great to have lyrics at hand and a short discussion covering singing while playing at the same time. You might think this is obvious, but it's really hard for a new student to do both together! The complete blues guitar tabs and words might be supplied as a separate Word or PDF file, which could be printed out and used at the student's leisure. 

Author: Jim Bruce 
Date: 2014-10-17
Category: Music