How The Pros Play Blues (it's more simple than you think) 

Sometime in the 2000s BB King was interviewed by Guitar Player magazine and the interviewer asked him what he practiced. His answer? Scales and arpeggios. He said, "...but I don't *run* the scales. That would be like reciting the alphabet instead of spelling a word." Exercises make for better facility with instrument, so use them--just not onstage.

Albert King was 44 when Born Under A Bad Sign was released in 1967, and SRV would have been 13. SRV released Texas Flood when he was 30, so just remember it takes time to get really good and we are always standing on the shoulders of giants

Here's my advice to anyone trying to learn the blues- you're going to start with a three chord, 12 bar progression- so find the three notes in the pentatonic scale that match those chords. In other words- if you're playing out of E- then you need to know where E, A, and B are in the scale. And since these notes repeat within the scale- then you need to know where all the As, all the Bs, all the Es- are. And when they're playing the E chord- resolve your licks to one of the E notes. When they play A- resolve to one of the As- it's that simple. And no- this isn't like all you need to know- not even close- but it really gets you started understanding how to tie what you' re playing to the rhythm so you' re not just noodling in tune with the band- you're part of the song, not just layering something over it. And sometimes- once you get good with improvising lead- you won't resolve to the same note as the chord they're playing- but at first, I would do it with each chord. Just play short 3-4 note licks that resolve to the chord in the background. To "resolve" just means to complete- so the last note of the lick should match the chord being played at that time. Now here's a different way to think of resolving- let's say they're playing an A minor- instead of resolving to an A- try resolving to the note that is defining that chord as a minor. So, it would be a flat third in this case- because to change an A chord to an A minor- you flat the third. If it's a major chord- you would play the third- not the flat third- see what I mean? If it's a 7th then you resolve to a 7th- that's the note that is defining that chord. When you do this, it really accentuates whatever feel the song already has. If it a minor and sounds all smoky and mysterious- it's going to really bring that out and make it evident.

Love the hang as always! Appreciate everyone jumping into the course and…get Rhett’s courses too! He’s got some GOOD ones!

Man this is really helpful. When Corey advised to limit yourself and quoted “you don’t have to use every word in the dictionary to make a sentence” was so mind opening to me. Very simple but is exactly what I think I need to get out this frustrating rut I’m in. Very helpful, thanks Rhett and Corey!

Been playing guitar for 35 years and only in the last week did I ever hear about treating metronome clicks as 2 and 4. Of all the riffs and tricks and theory I was taught, THAT one would have been a serious boost to skill-building. ... *sigh*

Awesome video. I especially liked the part toward the end explaining that music is a journey. I’ve been playing over 50 years and I’m learning so much these days from many young guys like these two. Keep up the great work fellas!

As someone who played in the 60s and 70s yes we had more venues and we played live a lot that's how we good better now it's people like you who carry that torch thank you.

Rhett, time spent with you, oftentimes with guests, never proves to be a waste of time. I have gotten SO much inspiration and knowledge from your videos and I'm a harmonica player! Heartfelt thanks to you as usual - please keep up the good work, greetings from Australia.

learning the chord tones and how certain notes are shared between the One and Four Chord is a great basis for mastering the blues.

Corey is awesome, Glad you included him

great conversation. great questions and observations @RhettShull awesome playing @CoreyCongilio and sharing your experiences

Two of my favorite guitarists on this platform! I’m a cruise ship guitarist and I often need some inspiration to keep my mindset fresh. This helped today, thanks for the content fellas!

Corey is the man when you talk about playing and teaching the blues. I have been following him since his first courses on Truefire and I am know a member of his new community. I learned so much from him and I am know in a blues band as singer and player. I still study guitar using his courses and I can’t thanks him enough.

Awesome vid. As a high beginner player who is stuck in that minor pentatonic noodling box this opened my eyes so much. Two strings set was a light 💡 🤘

Thanks Rhett, I'm enjoying your courses at my slow old retired age pace, so signed up for his as well because of your recommendation and this video. Trying to help grandkids learn the love we have for our craft and give a little love back to you guys and gals that give away a lot of stuff free. Big Thanks and nice interview!

I love that point that playing with muscle memory isn’t bad. It’s something that obviously stuck with us, and there’s nuances we can add to this licks because we have the “feeling” of that muscle memory. It’s always important to force ourselves to play something different, that’s how we stop playing the same things over and over; that’s how we add to our muscle memory and be more creative. But muscle memory certainly isn’t the enemy. Let’s lean into it

Corey is a fantastic player and even better teacher. Been subbed to his channel for years! Glad to see the collab with a great topic.

Years ago my guitar teacher said “less is more”. He also said “your solos need to be like a good stripper, don’t give it all away too fast, a little bit keeps em coming back”. He showed me tasty bends, very few notes, it was all about the tempo, the sustain, the correct note played with the chord, attack, vibrato. Squeeze every ounce out of a single note, he was right

Corey and Rhett…. Thank you for an awesome discussion. You guys rock 🤘

Thanks for this one Rhet...it echos some of what I've been feeling lately. Great discussion.

When I started taking lessons my instructor, who is a big blues/jazz improvisation guy, really tried to get me to do some blues stuff, and I just wasn’t having it. I wanted to play country and 80’s/90’s rock. 3 years later here I am, and my absolute FAVORITE stuff to play right now is blues. I can’t get enough. I even told my instructor “hey, let’s do some more of the blues from way back when”. I just really enjoy exactly what you guys talked about, using small chunks of the neck or just a couple strings and seeing what comes out of the guitar. You’ve also rubber stamped my thought lately that I really need to get back to practicing with my metronome. Great video Rhett, thanks again!!

Thanks for posting this!

Thanks Rhett, great ideas here, I’ve played for over 50 yrs it’s always helpfull to refresh your mind. I’ve listened to Corey on here. He knows from experience.😊

Thanks for this one bro! Def going to check out his course now!

This is real feelsy, kind of the real framework of blues! GLORIOUS!!!

This is one of the most helpful videos you have made.

This was a great vid. Thank you Rhett!

Corey is a great player and teacher for sure !

Awesome interview.

That was really good. Thank you both for that.

Very helpful conversation. Makes a lot of sense

Excellent session! You guys are awesome.

Great lesson, Corey is incredible as you are Rhett. Thanks from New Zealand 🇳🇿🇺🇸🎯

Thanks Rhett! Good questions and nice discussion 👍

Great advice. Great interview.

I learned more from Cory than any other online. The courses are very affordable. I can't do all Cory does in his teaching, but I am always learning... And then I make it my own.

Thank you for introducing us to Corey. He's an excellent blues guitar player. 😍 The blues is what I strive to play. I subscribed to Corey's channel, and I'm very interested in his instructional materials. 👍👍👍

Corey deserves more subscribers. His channel oozes quality.

The thing about the blues is that *SO MUCH* of the music we listen to daily is based on that 12-bar 1-4-5 progression. It's literally *EVERYWHERE* once you learn what to listen for. So if you can learn to play the blues well, you can learn *SO MANY* other styles!! I'm very much at the beginning of my guitar journey -- been playing for only a bit more than a year now. But the more I learn, the more I realize just how many songs are, essentially, based on that blues style.

Lovely discussion! Made me think about my playing a lot!

The "blues by yourself" is the best purchase I've ever made. Corey is an incredible teacher and I've learned so much thanks to him 👍

This video helped me lots thanks rhett and corey

Thanks for the video, Rhett and Corey! I had just picked my Gibson Les Paul Studio, volume on 10, gain on 3 and a Tube Screamer pushing my handmade 20W tube combo. I put some blues backing tracks and improvised for 15 minutes straight. Some of them licks sounded good, a few sounded amazing and some other not so much. I recorded it all. So that's how I know. But these tips are really handy too. I'm a "keep improving over different backing tracks and recording until you get satisfied with the whole thing" kinda guitar player. Maybe that can help some others as well. Cheers from Brazil 🇧🇷🤘

Cory is a badass and a superb human being! Been a friend and an admirer of his playing from his beginnings in Pittsburgh. Great lesson. Thanks Rhett.

Thanks Rhett and Corey. Really helpful conversation! - John B.

What a great video, you guys do ROCK. Thank you.

That was really cool cheers guys .

Great questions Rhett and beautiful answers Corey! Perhaps the first steps to take to get out of my own rut 🎸🤟✌️

AMAZING Lesson! Thanks.

Dang that Casino is nice.

This was way helpful! I’ve been really wanting to progress ( especially) wanting to learn the blues! Way cool tips! Thank you 👍

That was very good. Informative and consistent with other videos I have seen.

Those were very good and insightful comments about minimizing your notes and starting with a focus on a couple strings and the metronome developing rhythm

Just what I needed. Thanks!

Yep, got the course! Love the sound and the practice. Great recommendation Rhett! Thanks for the course Corey!!

Good stuff with some very interesting points I never heard or thought of before. I started playing in 58 or 59 and had two teachers for a short time. I learned the blues mainly through slow boogie stuff that I learned from one of my teachers who had a group that played honky tonks in Northern California.

That may be the best blues tutorial I’ve ever seen. Thanks

Thanks guys for another informative and interesting (P90) session, I'm joining in with my 1964 SG Junior too!

Good stuff! I love the idea of putting in limits. It has served me well over the years.

This was awesome,many thanks.

Great video, I was just recently wondering what makes a great blues line so this really does help

9:41 BB King was a jump blues player in the 50s. Check his 1955 "Every Day I Have the Blues." I think it's his strongest soloing ever. Played on an early telecaster with flat wound strings.

I've been playing acoustic off and on for years and found this very encouraging, even though I'm still a remedial guitarist.

Corey is one of the best teachers on youtube. Very to the point

Great tips! And loved the shout out to Albert Collins!

Great video, very cool concepts. Love it!

I watch all Cory’s stuff, he is awesome

Great video guys, thanks

Very interesting thoughts. I’m definitely gonna give those pointers a try. 👍

My ear is really improving for chords and lead. Thank you

Very helpful video guys. Many thanks

Damn best explanations of the correct way to learn blues I have ever heard.

You two guys is just what I needed. I want to play the Blues on AC Guitar, Just Purchased a Yamaha FSX 820c and hunger to learn ...... Again Thanks so Much. See by the look on my face 😲

Great lesson! I'm tempted to try out his course.

Corey mentions Kenny Werner. Please get his book Effortless Mastery. Comes with a DVD back in the day that was so helpful for playing live. The book is about techniques for calming the mind for playing in front of a crowd. Gamechanger.

YOUR ARTICULATION OF THE PROBLEMS,DISCOVERIES WAYS TO SOLVE IS SO WELL EXPLAINED,AND I AM OVER 70, playing since 10 years old,so I mean it!!?

Great interaction. Really enjoyed the content.

One of the best "learning on the job" the oldtimers had, was that they played with so many different people with different styles , and had to adapt to their tempo, type of playing and many other things. So they learned a variety of different styles, of playing the same thing but in a different way, and then made their own style of all the knowledge/experience they had gathered over the years.

That Casino Cory plays, one of the prettiest I've seen! I'm drooling, and the one hanging on the wall next to me is envious.

I had a great guitar teacher that said almost the same thing, start with 4 notes. do everything you can with those 4 notes, then play the same 4 notes in a different place. Great practice of restraint and then learning the fretboard, then connecting them (over a lot of time, A LOT OF TIME)

using the metronome on back beat/ half time is key tip here. Nice I love the blues too.

Corey’s playing is so good, soulful, and tasty it’s amazing he’s able to teach it. You are not suppose be able to teach blues but he’s able to do it. 🤯🤯🤯

Funk help up my blues game, because it got me to really learn the hell out of 1 chord at a time all over the neck and it always has to groove

One thing that helped me a lot was to find every possible 3 string inversion of the 7th chords up & down the neck. After a time, these find their way into my solos as chord stabs.

Holy crap @coreycongilio Double Two Rocks?! Wowzas!! Sounds amazing. Thanks for the tips.

Thanks guitar brothers!

No mention of gear here, I love it.

Its just open my mind so mutch

Just bought Corey’s course. Thanks for the recommendation Rhett 👍

Great insight!

Ordered his course. Great video.

No idea why I haven't subscribed sooner. Love the videos!

this video is just awesome I love blues and my guitar Brothers cheers yall let's keep on pickin with passion and love just enjoy it I've been playing for 15 Years now and I just can't ever put my guitars down always been the guy attached to a🎸 stick with it always it will give you joy beyond truly. signed a drunk fellow bluesman

Corey is great!

I've been working my way through Corey's 'Blues By Yourself' course, and let me tell you, - it's gold! It's built largely on (though not limited to) deconstructing Dominant 7 chords and being able to play smaller voicings of those chords around the neck. This concept and approach is a total game -changer, and we can apply the concept outside of Blues playing, across other genres. As well being a phenomenal player, Corey's teaching style is clear, systematic and very engaging. The course materials are really well produced too. Highly recommended!

Corey's instruction, 'Don't mindlessly noodle without saying anything' tipped me over an edge I've been teetering on for ages. My piano fluency coach tells me to use cadence tied to the rhythm structure to express meaning, and don't assess the result while I'm playing, hoping for it to sound vaguely 'musical'. Thanks, Rhett!

Thank you I appreciate it

I love Correy playing!!!

The "two string only" idea is not bad at all. Nice way to make the most of that few notes you have. BB King was absolute master in that and everybody liked it a lot.