Music Theory For Blues Guitar

[@Jakebob23]

thank you brother been playing for about 3 years and decided it’s time to learn theory, and this vid actually makes sense!!! great work

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thanks so much for the kind comment. I’m very happy it was helpful

[@malaquiasalfaro81]

This guy just made the perfect video and people are still gonna be stuck elsewhere looking at some big KZbinrs overly drawn out video 😂 Seriously, perfect

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thank you! That's very kind

[@philipcarson6768]

what a great simple understandable lesson. starts to draw the curtain back!!!

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Fantastic! Thanks for the great comment. Really pleased you found it easy to understand, that's exactly what I was going for

[@stevemurch6084]

One of the best and concise lessons ever. Thank you.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thank you! That's very kind!

[@DN-wy3ud]

This is a very high quality instructional video! Enough information to get us started on the blues without any overwhelming jargon👏👏👏

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnmcdermott6333]

Excellent lesson as ever Marc. Now I understand why we use the Pentatonic.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Excellent, thanks John!

[@TheBaro81]

Hands down The most understandable piece of music theory. Thanks Marc!

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Wow! Thank you, that's very kind!

[@BlackieTimex]

This is insanely helpful! I only got a few lessons and I never understood these concepts and I have sucked at guitar for so long! I so badly wanna learn but can’t afford lessons, so this is very very helpful man, thank you!!😊

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

You're welcome. Thanks for leaving such a great comment

[@BlackieTimex]

@@MarcGuitarVideos YEAH MAN!

[@petermachowetz1906]

Thank you so much. Seems so basic, but these basics make it so clear and I didn't find it in any other blues tutorials. Hope you bring more

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Cheers! Thanks for the great comment

[@graemero5532]

Awesome theory lesson Marc. Just what every growing bluesboy needs.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Cheers Graeme, much appreciated as usual.

[@lovepraypreparetorecieve2128]

You’re explanation is clearly helpful🎉

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thank you!

[@williamdenton6332]

This lesson was just what I needed to help with my Blues Journey. Thanks so much Marc

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Excellent William! I'm very glad to hear it

[@philfishgill]

Great concise lesson, many thanks.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Cheers Philip, much appreciated!

[@bluesbuff6741]

An awesome lesson Marc. You made it easy to understand and far less intimidating. Thank you!

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the great comment

[@alexanderolzen1694]

Really good lesson, thanks Marc!

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

You're very welcome!

[@Mr-Safology]

Fantastic lesson Marc. Though I knew this information, it is great to have a recap on this. Well explained, simple and to the point. With many examples. Perfect lesson for new blues players. 👍🏼

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Cheers! I really appreciate that comment.

[@mswitzer1766]

Great lesson Marc, I know have a better understanding of how to play 12 bar blues in different keys.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Excellent! That's great to hear

[@rennansetti1]

Very well done lesson. Even for someone who already know the basics of harmony, like me, you've managed to pack all the essential parts together in a very didactic approach. Kudos to you, guy, and thanks for the lesson! (Also, greetings from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!)

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thanks Rennan, that's a great comment, I really appreciate it. Greetings to Rio from the UK!

[@gawayategulle6272]

Beautiful lesson. Simply amazing teaching skill. Warm regards from here in Kampala. God bless.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thank you very much!

[@stevenorwood380]

Fantastic explanation Marc, I love trying to learn/play songs I like including blues classics, but I very quickly get bored with scales/theory…..this sort of lesson you do is brilliant, many thanks for making and sharing.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thanks Steve! Much appreciated

[@golflre7179]

Excellent background. Will have to play this again to sink in. But love your explanations, thx.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thanks for the great feedback

[@simonpridden9231]

Well explained, it’s all starting to make sense to me, thank you so much

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

You're very welcome! Cheers Simon, much appreciated

[@simonpridden9231]

@@MarcGuitarVideos lost count of how many times I've watched this, fantastic reference material I keep coming back to

[@bernardfarmer9013]

Excellent theory lesson Marc. I’ve only ‘recently’ taken up playing (rather late in life!) but this lesson helps put things into context enormously, and allows me to experiment a little more. Thanks and keep up the great videos. Bernie.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thanks Bernard! I'm really pleased it helped

[@craigs.247]

Marc, Thanks for the great summary.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Cheers Craig!

[@tresenelfondo]

Excellent!!!

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thanks!

[@antoncasterminion2981]

Great video! Hoping to follow along when i get the pdf!

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@xX_NightmarePickle_Xx]

Thank you so much man

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

You're very welcome

[@patrickdarby-sheehan5368]

Morning Marc, came across your lesson for Blues theory. Theory is not a strong point of mine, although I feel I should have a reasonable understanding of it, and this lesson explains the blues theory in a straight forward manner. But it is still not going in. I may need to view this video several times to understand it. Thank you for the lesson...you're doing great work here.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thanks very much. There's a PDF to accompany this lesson. If you'd like a copy just send me an email to [e-mail] and ask for the "Essential music theory for blues guitarists" and I'll email it back.

[@noahtenshen]

Well done Groovy One!

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Cheers Noah!

[@RicPerrott]

"As Blues players we never play the major scale" Major Blues: Am I a Joke To You?

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

ha ha ha!

[@sandownroad6572]

I really need the pdf ... the video is tooi fast for me to assimilate all

[@paulasanz3320]

Really cool video, Im still kinda lost on the scales but you did put things pretty clear and simple. 🤘🤘🤘

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thanks. Which scales are still loosing you? Just email me if you would like the accompanying booklet.

[@paulasanz3320]

@@MarcGuitarVideos Nah, in general, I don't quite understand how to combine scales and chords in any way, neither I have the hability to do it yet. Been playin just for a month and a half and thought that blues would be a cool style to go through understanding the guitar. And yea! Already sent you an email! Thank you for answering!

[@mitchkaradanis3826]

Awesome stuff!

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thanks!

[@babasahebgujar6826]

Great man Marc. Very nice teaching 🙏🇳🇪 Jaihind

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Many thanks

[@russwood127]

Thanks for the lesson, Marc. Still a bit muddy, but thanks to you, I'll get it! Cheers!

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Hi Russ - I've just emailed you the PDF, hopefully that'll help. I realise this video goes at quite a pace!

[@russwood127]

@@MarcGuitarVideos Thanks ever so much!

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

@@russwood127 No problem! Thanks for the comment

[@theguy3977]

Excelente, gracias

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thank you!

[@mithunbarua7537]

Thank you, Take love from bangladesh 🥰🥰🥰

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thank you! Take care from the UK!

[@PalaceFan]

Brilliant lesson, thanks Marc 👍

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thanks James! Much appreciated

[@kentpolcyn1670]

Great lesson. Exactly what I needed. Still a little muddy; I will get it. I asked you to e-mail me the pdf.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Hi Kent, PDF just sent over to you. I hope it helps things become a little clearer.

[@iamanovercomer3253]

I was around 8 when I had to go to the drive in to watch Sound of Music...it was a long night sitting in the car with a movie a kid had no interest. 🤣 who knew I be playing 🎸 50 years after.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

ha ha!

[@timothyhelferich1037]

I just wanted to say thank you for what you do!!

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Thank you! That's very kind

[@mohamadkhateeb402]

Do you have a similar lesson on your channel but for the minor scale? This was great but now i want to know how the minor scale works in the blues. Thank you

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

I briefly cover the theory behind minor blues at the end o this video. Was there something you were specifically looking for? Have you emailed me and got the PDF that goes with this lesson?

[@ajaynarayan1613]

Bro youre a genius

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Wow that’s very kind. I appreciate it.

[@ajaynarayan1613]

I still am struggling to play blues, I'm a professional musician and i wanna know blues like the back of my hand but somehow i am unable to get my concepts right. I cant tell you how much it frustrate me. For past 10 years, Im into music but i feel as if its all a waste till i get this genre right.

[@EnglishVeteran]

Nice one Marc. Very good! Enjoyed that.

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Excellent, thanks. Much appreciated

[@AhmedShamimgccunyedu]

So when people say “major blues,” they mean dominant blues?

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Yes exactly

[@TommeeKnocker]

I totally stay away from trying to jam over minor , but would I be correct in thinking I could use G major and F Major over the C minor blues?

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

So it depends a little on which chords are in the Cm blues progression you are playing over. If the chords are Cm, Fm and Gm then the C natural minor scale would work. This scale has all of the same notes as Eb major, however the root note (i.e. the notes that resolves best) is the C (the 6th more of Eb major scale). Personally I would not advise trying to think of a Cm blues in relation to a major key. Instead I would start with the Cm pentatonic scale and build out from there.

[@TommeeKnocker]

@@MarcGuitarVideos my ear still wants to bend that minor third toward major over the root chord sometimes, but I assume this is wrong in minor blues?

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

@@TommeeKnocker bending the minor 3rd sharp will sound nice and dirty/bluesy even in a minor blues. The difference is that in a major/dominant blues it will sound good to push it all the way to the major 3rd and hold it there. However in a minor blues holding it would sound too out of tune, at least to me. I’d start bending it but then release to the root. However in all of this, the theory is just a guide and always follow your ears over theory

[@TommeeKnocker]

@@MarcGuitarVideos ok cheers👍🙂

[@rhux27]

That has been killing me. Didnt know it swaps key. Ill be playing and sounds terrible becuase i thought it was all in one key, how i never picked up on it

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Glad the video helped!

[@ericchin739]

Wait... a dominant IS a major chord... it just has a minor 7 stacked on top. It's a different "flavor", but it's not separate from a Major chord....

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

I'd disagree. It's best not to think of it as major or treat it as major. Standard major lines don't tend to work over a dominant. Generally, minor lines work better and certainly sound more bluesy. However, there's no way we'd call it a minor chord, so best thought of as it's own flavour. And altered dominant chords, even more so

[@ericchin739]

@Marc Guitar Yeah, Major lines don't fit perfectly, but that's why you can use the Mixolydian shape over it since that has a flat 7. That's why I don't understand why it'd be considered different from a Major. I get the technical explanation, but it's more the reasoning I don't understand.

[@peaceofmind-pk6py]

Someone help I don't understand what the c major is I don't understand is 12345678

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

The C major scale contains the notes: C D E F G A B In other words, there are no sharps or flats. We number these notes. So the first is C, second if D, third is E etc.

[@larsfinlay7325]

how bout that Mo Salah, eh?

[@MarcGuitarVideos]

Running down the wing, he’s our Egyptian king!