Common Blues Riffs!

By Vince Lauria

Nov 21, 2017 Beginning, General

Now that we know the Blues Scale and some of the most common Blues Chords lets do

some common single (one note at a time) note riffs (common melodies).

Again staying in the key of C Blues do the following:

Record the Standard 12 Bar Blues in C from previous blog.

(if you do not know how to play these chords go to:

https://bobsguitarpracticetips.com/Basics-of-Blues-Guitar-Chords-Playing-7-Essential-Blues-Guitar-Chords.html)

strumming at 60 BPM beats per minute using a metronome.

(If you don’t own a metronome go to: https://www.webmetronome.com/ ).

Record the chord for five to ten minutes then play back the chord while you play the following riffs using quarter notes or one note per click or beat. If you do not know the note names on the piano or the guitar use these links.

For piano:https://www.teach-me-piano.com/piano-notes-chart.html

For guitar:https://www.freemusicstudy.com/guitar-fretboard-chart-2.htm

Repeat each riff – five to fifteen times in a row till it starts to sound fluid and smooth.

Now each riff is an octave above previous bar, same notes higher in tone:

Riff #1 = Eb, C, G

Riff #2 = G, Bb, C

Riff #3 = G, Bb, Eb, C

Riff #4= Gb, F, Eb, C

Create at least three variation of each riff. Do this by the following: play backwards, change order of notes, add vibrato, hammer ons and pull offs, also tap notes.

Record or have a friend play the following standard twelve bar blues in C – then play the single note Blues Scale in all possible positions (registers) and octaves. Remember to first play quarter notes then later eight notes. For understanding notes values follow this link then scroll to bottom of page: 2008.08.11: Family Of Chords – Song Writing 101

Remember to refrain from playing at a tempo where each note is not performed clean and consistent.

Once comfortable gradually increase speed and later move to eighth notes.

Standard 12 Bar Blues in C:

C7 //// //// //// //// F7 //// //// C7 //// //// G7 //// F7 //// C7 //// G7 //// 😐

Repeat progression twenty minutes or more.

Now transpose to each position (register) of your instrument, then to all 15 keys.

All materials for personal use only.

Vince Lauria Sun and Earth Music