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Jam
Sessions - All Blues Styles
Lesson 7 - Slow Blues in
Em Lesson
Sample
Lyle: Here is a slow blues groove in Em that
sounds like Zeppelin meets Pink Floyd. This groove is in 6/8 time signature, 6
beats per measure. Listen to the ride cymbal of the drums and count along, 1 - 2
- 3 - 4 - 5 - 6.
Lyle: The chords are easy, just little 3 string
chords, but playing them and getting it to sound just right is the hard part.
Here's the chords:
chords
chords
Lyle: You want to strike the chord sharply, once
for each measure on beat 4, as you count to 6, then you quickly choke or mute the chord right after
you hit it. Playing a slow rhythm riff like this is
challenging.
Lyle: For the tone settings, try using the bridge
or middle pickup. You want a clean sound with a little reverb. Here's the slow
blues rhythm riff you can learn to play:
rhythm riff
rhythm
riff
Lyle:
It can be harder than it looks/sounds to play slow. Here's your jam track for
you to jam along to:
Slow Blues in Em jam track
chord
chart
Lyle: If you were to improvise against this jam
in Em, I suggest using the E natural minor scale. This scale has a real smooth
sound to it and easy to come up with simple melodies with when
improvising.
E
natural minor
Lyle:
Here's the solo from the Lesson Sample above. It is made from the E natural
minor scale:
Lyle: Bar 10 is a rake or a sweep as you hold
down that little Em chord.
solo 1
solo 1
Lyle:
In measure 14, during the B chord, I use a different type of minor scale - the E
harmonic minor. Whenever you are in a minor blues jam and the "5" chord is a
major or dominant, the harmonic minor works great for just that chord, then
switch back to the natural minor when the chord changes.
E
harmonic minor
Lyle:
Enjoy this slow jam in the darkest of all keys, the E minor
key.
weasel: Thanks Lyle, you make me a better guitar player.Lyle:
You're welcome weasel.
dan: My wife thanks you for making me a better player lol!
Lyle: LOL
Solineoz: lol
Lyle: Tell your wife I said she's
welcome! See you all at the next jam!
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