Red House – Jimi Hendrix
Going Down – Freddie King
Killing Floor – Howlin’ Wolf
Boom Boom – John Lee Hooker
Well done to Chris, Jon, Michael, Oliver, Steve and Richard!
YouTube Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2F3413C2AEA104DA
Modern Electric Blues Guitarist Holiday 2011 - Class of 2011
[back] Richard, Steve, David and Oliver
[front] Richard, Chris, John and Michael
Session #1 – Technique Focus
After the morning warm ups (physical stretches and technicals: 2-4 finger, caterpillar, five positions of the minor pentatonic and minor scale) a Q&A was held before pushing on with preparing for the days end of holiday performance.
The songs chosen to perform were:
Session #2 – Performance Skills/Practice
The class learnt the rhythm parts and twelve bar structures to the four chosen performance songs. The keys for these were:
1. E, 2. B, 3. A, 4. G
A number of scale options were discussed for improvising. The key point being; where does the first position of the scale start in relation to the key? Answer: The root note. i.e. If the key is A, you start the first position of the scale from fret 5 of string 6 and so on.
Session #3
After a long lunch the class jumped into the pool to cool off under the crystal clear blue skies and 28° sunshine.
Mid-afternoon pool session
Rehearsals began at 5pm in preparation for the performance later in the evening…
Evening Performance - Chris, Steve, John, Michael, Richard and Richard
Weather
High: 28° and humid/sunny
Session #1 – Technique Expander
The class ran through their warm up exercises (physical and technical) and continued to memorise the five positions of the minor scale (Aeolian mode) using the five minor pentatonic scale box shapes as a framework on which to build.
Session #2 – Style Focus
After tea/coffee break the class learnt an Albert King style blues progression with an additional fourth chord(!), instead of the standard three chords (I, IV, V) for a standard twelve bar blues.
Standard Twelve Bar Blues Progression:
{| : A | A | A | A | D | D | A | A | E | D | A | E : |}
Extended Twelve Bar Blues Progression:
{| : A | D9 | A | A | D9 | D9 | A | A | F9 | E7#9 | A | E7#9 : |}
Notice: A standard twelve bar blues progression is built from the famous three chord trick (I, IV, V – A, D and E) where as the extended version of a twelve bar introduces a bVI chord (F9) into the progression. This increases the overall harmony of the progression and allows the soloist to draw upon a wider selection of notes/scales.
Session #3 – Performance Skills
After lunch, and the morning thunderstorm, the class split up into small ensembles to jam and practice their four blues styles:
Weather
High: 28° hot and humid with thunderstorm this morning!
Session #1 – Technique Expander
The class extended their warm ups to include two and four finger caterpillar exercises, the five minor pentatonic scale box shapes and now the five positions of the minor scale (Aeolian mode).
To help visualise the minor scale shape(s) it is useful to remember that the minor pentatonic scale can be used as a frame work from which the minor scale can be memorised also (example below).
Minor Scale with Minor Pentatonic Scale framework overlayed
Session #2 – Style Focus
After the tea/coffee break the class learnt a Stevie Ray Vaughan style Texas blues shuffle in the key of E (I, IV, V – E, A, B).
{| : E | E | E | E | A | A | E | E | B | A | E | E : |}
The progression used two basic chord shapes; a Dom7#9 and a Dom7 (1st inversion), which were commonly used by SRV in this style.
SRV shapes: Dom7#9 and Dom7 (1st Inv) chords
Using the progression (above) you can simply substitute any of the chords (E, A or B) for the two chords (Dom7#9 and Dom7 (1st Inv)). For example, when you would play an A chord you can choose to play the Dom7 (1st Inv) chord in its place to great effect.
Session #3 – Performance Skills
The third session of the day was held at 6pm to allow students time to relax and consolidate what they had learnt in the first few days of the holiday. Some students visited Cognac and others lazed beside the pool.
The class gathered outside for the evening session bathed in glorious sunshine and jammed through the blues styles learnt this week so far.
Weather
High: 25° and humid
Session #1 – Technique Expander
Our first session started with the physical and technical exercises followed by incorporating the alternate picking pattern (down/up when ascending and up/down when descending) into the five positions of the Minor Pentatonic Scale (R b3, 4, 5 b7).
E Minor Pentatonic Scale (5 Positions)
Session #2 – Style Focus
After tea/coffee the class began working on a David Gilmour influenced slow blues jam track in the key of D Minor (R, b3, 4, 5, b7 – D, F, G, A, C).
{| : Dm | Gm7 | Dm | Dm | Gm7 | Gm6 | Dm | Dm | Am7 | Gm7 | Dm | Dm : |}
We experimented with the feel of the progression, playing straight 4/4 time (common time) and freely arpeggiated chords in 6/8 and 12/8 time.
Session #3 – Performance Skills
After a long lunch the class practiced their Gilmour inspired slow blues progression. The emphasis of the first half of the session hinged on target tones (R, b3, 5, b7) with in the Minor Pentatonic Scale over the I, IV and V chords (Dm, Gm and Am).
The group then split up into small ensembles and took turns to accompany each other taking turns to play rhythm and lead.
Weather
High: 27° and sunny
Session #1 – Technique Expander
The mornings first session started with an introduction about the course from Richard before the class learnt about physical warm up exercises for guitar players; an important element of a practice routine for any prolonged length of playing.
The first technical warm up exercise of the day covered the use of alternate picking, correct pick grip and fretting hand posture and placement – using the truss rod chamber as a guide for thumb location.
Session #2 – Style Focus
After coffee/tea break the class learnt the theory and structure behind the most basic twelve bar blues progression and how to construct the I, IV, V (A, D, E) chords built from the harmonised A Major scale (A, B , C#, D, E, F#, G#).
Standard Twelve Bar Blues Progress:
{| : A | A | A | A | D | D | A | A | E | D | A | E : |}
Session #3 – Performance Session
After a long lunch the class reconvened at the music room for the afternoon performance session. This session continued on from the mornings twelve bar class focusing on horn stab rhythm parts that would accompany a band with keys, walking bass line and soloist in a New Orleans style.
Weather
High: 26° and sunny
The students will arrive this afternoon for the Modern Electric Blues Guitarist Holiday. Here are some photos of the splendid scenery in Bercloux, La Moreau.
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All photos in the gallery © Wlodek Tych www.southlakesphoto.co.uk
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