Hey Blues Fans,
Here’s something you don’t hear to often – a minor blues shuffle. You can hear something similar by listening to Billy Gibbons play “Just Got Back from Baby’s” from ZZ Tops First Album. During the shuffle part, you’re playing a flat-3rd instead of the 6th on beat two. Watch the video and you’ll see what I mean. On beat four, you’ll play the minor (7) barre chord. I’ll also show how to play this in A-minor in the open position for you beginners who aren’t at the barre chord level.

This is pretty easy, so there’s no tab for this one.

As always, have fun.
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** UPDATE: After you’ve mastered this lesson, take a look at this: http://www.learnblueslicks.com/blues-lesson-chordal-blues-lick-in-a/. Once you learn both, try combining them. It’s pretty cool. **

Hey Blues Fans,
Are you tired of playing the same ol’ shuffle pattern? Here’s a nice little chordal shuffle that will add some spice to your rhythm playing. I’ve broken it down into three parts: Part 1 is played over the A7 (I-chord); part 2 is played over the D7 (IV-chord); part 3 is a series of passing chords through the E9 and D9 chords and the final turnaround. You can transpose this up and down the neck if you want to play it in different keys.

As always, have fun.

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Hey Blues Fans,
Why stretch your fingers if you don’t have to? Billy Gibbons doesn’t. ZZ Top plays a lot of songs in the key of G – Tush and Arrested for Driving While Blind come to mind. Many times, Reverend Billy G doesn’t play the typical shuffle pattern. Instead, he plays the top three strings of a G chord, C Chord and D Chord. For the G and C chords, he mutes the middle string. For example, he mutes the A string when playing the G, and mutes the D string when playing the C. There is no need to mute any strings when playing the D. The beauty of this style is that it’s easier to play plus you get a fuller sound. Sadly, this style only works in the key of G…perhaps that’s why so many ZZ Top songs are in G.

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