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

[@coreycongilio]

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

[@BeyondTigerMilk]

You are the best blues teacher I've come across. Thanks for all you do.

[@jackaro2]

Good vibes, man 🤘

[@dmc549]

Corey is an incredible guitar player and instructor !!

[@coreycongilio]

@@dmc549appreciate that!

[@whwh7339]

Great playing and good vibes man, gonna check out your courses

[@KB24toogood]

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!

[@paulneeds]

It’s a message that SO many guitarists should learn from…

[@davespin9034]

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

[@mrredritehand]

Great advice

[@ratwynd]

BB King played like that. He can play holding one note for 30 seconds but you know he really, REALLY means THAT NOTE! You can FEEL it. You can see it in his face.

[@davespin9034]

@@ratwynd yes, he was a legend. Watched him play a few times.

[@careyvinzant]

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.

[@stoneysdead689]

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.

[@nicksonthevet]

Someone should have told me this before

[@freespeech-advocate]

great advise🤟😎🎸

[@michelleneeds4165]

Cool advise, this is the first little baby steps to "playing the changes" and will make it sound like you know what you're doing. ❤❤ ❤❤❤

[@Apocalypse4162]

You described it very well, rock on dude. It was such a surreal feeling once it finally clicked for me, and at first it was hard to keep up with the chord changes but with some daily practice it will start to come naturally and quicker. Took me a couple weeks playing for less than an hour daily to start noticing a change, but it really got me excited about guitar again.

[@choiceblade]

DUDE! I just styarted and this made SO much sense. Thanks for piping up.

[@aldanino]

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.

[@floaty10]

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

[@thomaskinsey672]

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

[@bluzedogg]

Stevie was bringing it in his late teens though. He was paying heavy dues by playing two gigs a night often. I would say his lead playing in his late teens and early twenties was peeling the paint off the walls.

[@bks252]

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!

[@TropicalLatitude]

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.

[@samii1031]

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)

[@abhinandanghosh2028]

This video helped me lots thanks rhett and corey

[@meowitzzer767]

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

[@claudioalbanesi7727]

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.

[@weets69]

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 💡 🤘

[@Hhenriette]

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

[@bobygap]

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 👍

[@coreycongilio]

Wow thx! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@telefrk49]

Based on this comment, i believe i will purchase as well...Like they were saying in the vid, you don't need to use every word in the dictionary to make a sentence...your statement is so clear and convincing!! And yes Corey is!!

[@bobygap]

@@telefrk49 and I'm still working on these lessons 👍

[@BamaGuitar]

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!

[@Tulio_Fonseca]

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 🇧🇷🤘

[@johndooley7812]

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

[@TheWhiskeyCowboyLife]

Tempo, and PAUSES, matter a lot.... and not a fast tempo. So many guitarists (sadly) think playing fast or complex is "the thing" or "key to sounding good".... and while it can be impressive, slower, paced, voiced, and with pauses tends to be FAR more enjoyable to listen to. it applies to blues as well as so many other types of music. If you have the basics, and can play it smoothly, slowly, and with feeling.... there it is. I was watching a "low watt amp" video from Rhett earlier today, and his demo grabbed me.... why? Because I COULD HAVE BEEN PLAYING IT. Rhett is VASTLY better than I am, but he was playing exactly how I play... and it sounded great. I think so many of us are far harder on ourselves than we need to be. And getting wrapped up in complexity, speed, and "flashy" can be a real hindrance.... since in all honesty, the vast majority of what we like listening to is NOT that at all. And this video here also demonstrated that. Cheers!

[@tedjohnson5210]

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!!

[@RabidCarnage]

This is an amazing video. I’m picking up a guitar for the first time ever and blues is the feel I was attracted to immediately.

[@officialWWM]

How’s it going?

[@saltydog8243]

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.

[@thisistimwoods]

Great video guys, thanks

[@saspencer1992]

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!

[@officialWWM]

Man, I’d love to work on a cruise ship!

[@officialfanofrichiebricker8324]

I keep hearing from great guitarists to slow down, take two strings or four notes at a time and it really does work. You can learn big scale patterns easier if your limit is a small box and you have time to see the next patternjust one step or half step away and you can also emphasize each individual note especially the notes when you begin or end a run, are ya gonna bend it, twist it, slide it, vibrate it, hammer it etc. Sometimes its freeing to trap yourself in a small box. You certainly learn the notes of that box anyway and whats right around it. I love these small little lessons that dont say much but have a great impact on us and those we re-teach it to. You have a great channel with a really cool format thats seems to be yours alone, I think because of the network of musicians around you. Its cool that you can teach people by letting a guest teach people

[@SeanOHanlon]

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

[@veljkosimovic2302]

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.

[@fivepiece]

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*

[@junehabsen6368]

Yeah! We are SO stuck in our Western ways...

[@lshwadchuck5643]

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!

[@karlfarren]

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!

[@danieli.9252]

I have that course, too, and I need to get back to it!

[@coreycongilio]

Thanks so much!

[@jeremykemp3782]

Has it got the beginners stuff in it also?

[@karlfarren]

Hi @@jeremykemp3782 . I would definitely not consider it a beginner's course. It does require (in my opinion) some pretty solid intermediate fretboard/chord knowledge and technique. That being said, Corey is an excellent teacher, and he takes you through the concepts and how they're applied in a very clear way. I would suggest this course is more suited to a late Intermediate player, but maybe check with Corey if you want more info. He has some other courses that would probably be more suited to Beginner level Blues player.

[@davidclark9086]

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.

[@filthee1]

Ordered his course. Great video.

[@coreycongilio]

Hey thx!

[@Blues40]

This is a gem of a blues lesson. I appreciate both of you gentlemen 🙌🏽

[@mjf1036]

Corey summed up my playing when he said.."no one wants to hear that stuff" 😂 ❤ great session guys!

[@AlonRozenblit]

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.

[@petemccarry2326]

I think it’s an ES 330. I miss mine.

[@thisistimwoods]

​@petemccarry2326 it's a Casino

[@coreycongilio]

@@thisistimwoods yep 1961

[@thisistimwoods]

@@coreycongilio it's a beauty

[@rogermurphey7444]

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 😲

[@audiophileman7047]

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. 👍👍👍

[@MrScotbar]

The Corey C course with the link above is - about as great as you'll ever find anywhere. Including a large amount of material with heaps of variation, taught by a very personable guy (as far as I can tell - someone you enjoy spending time in front of your computer learning) who is one hell of a teacher (can't think of anyone better - and I've spent years and years of guitar related YouTubing etc.). If this doesn't improve your playing enormously and take you to that place generally referred to as 'another level' I've got no idea of what will. Do yourself a favour. Brilliant stuff. This is not advertising/promotion or any such shit - just sincere, grateful appreciation.

[@rick00770]

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.😊

[@allenhayesmusic]

Corey is great!

[@4lifesponge]

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

[@LMacNeill]

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.

[@coreycongilio]

Amen

[@ColtraneTaylor]

Which are those other styles with song examples?

[@redryder8622]

Reminds me of Steve Vai practiced playing only one note for long periods of time and out of boredom would find different ways to articulate just that one note. It tried that and really helped me with my vibrato and different ways to attack the note.

[@jacoj1]

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. 🤯🤯🤯

[@KirbyDTrim]

Insightful!

[@RobbieD2468]

That was such a helpful conversation. Thanks to you both. Rhett, I enjoy and appreciate your channel.

[@robjames4357]

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.

[@Muhlenburger]

I’m a relative beginner on learning the blues, so I’m really enjoying these tips. One thing I’m focusing on is singing the notes in my head and working on translating that to my fingers. It’s like learning a language, to me.

[@jamieb7799]

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

[@coreycongilio]

Hey thx!

[@keithlutman5611]

Very helpful video guys. Many thanks

[@TheBhannah]

Corey is a great player and teacher for sure !

[@christiandoscher1016]

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

[@jonofrye2394]

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

[@InactiveNode]

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

[@coreycongilio]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@rayfinkle2266]

Great video. Thanks heaps. Appreciated by an old rocker who played back in the day but packed up the rig and put it away for 30+ years. Now dusting it off and trying to 'get back on the horse'. This video helped immensely. Cheers

[@MarkGardner66Bonnie]

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

[@AikiBudo22]

Great video! Truth! Now here's a couple more truth bombs I've learned over the years (not in music but they apply) SIMPLE does not mean EASY. Almost everyone confuses the two and they're not at all the same thing. A MASTER is someone who makes a complex or difficult skill seem easy. The only way there is practice - quality practice time. "Not the hours you put in, it's what you put in the hours" A MASTER knows the basics cold. Inside and out. Backwards and forwards. MASTER the BASICS, like how much 'tone' comes from the way your fingers touch the guitar and not lots of expensive gear. Better to MASTER a few things and know how to apply them well than learn lots of things but then not remember them or know how/when/where to apply them. Hope this helps someone. I've learned these things over decades and wish I knew them at the beginning.

[@apparentlysmarterthanyou3446]

I'm sorry - but that sounds like it's mystifying something very simple. In truth, the giants - take stevie, for example. What they're doing is very easy - for them to do. I think our perception makes the difficulty. Many of them were probably stupified when they realized that other people actually perceived what they were doing as special, because for them, it was just as flawed and basic as what you perceive your playing to be. Then they leaned in to it.

[@DevonVanNote]

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.

[@Bob48]

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

[@JohnMcNicholas]

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

[@elbass0]

Corey deserves more subscribers. His channel oozes quality.

[@TWebs11-11]

This was a great vid. Thank you Rhett!

[@AndrewTimberlake13]

“You don’t have to use every word in the dictionary to make a sentence” 😂 love it! 5:59

[@justinpaquette224]

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

[@veljkosimovic2302]

100%

[@littvay]

I know I am late to this conversation but I have to say, that Casino has the most beautiful sunburst I have ever seen on a Casino. Really nice touch micing it too so we sear electric, strings, etc. great for teaching like this.

[@tomsexton4880]

Great video. I appreciate the lesson approach, You ask the right questions guitarists are looking for the answers to. Ty

[@Tulio_Fonseca]

My 1st comment on your channel. And I came here to say 2 things: 1) I love your videos. Thanks for all the content. 2) I've been revisiting The Darkness (they're awesome btw) and one particular song of theirs made me sing your name, 'cause it fits perfectly: Black Shuck. Give it a listen and sing it loud as the chorus brings: "RHETT SHULL, RHETT SHULL, RHETT SHULL. THAT DOG DON'T GIVE A F*CK!" I thought this could bring a smile to your face, just as it did to me. Cheers from Brazil 🇧🇷🤘

[@Rancanfish]

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

[@adamward1985]

Love you guys ❤ ultimately play the guitar as much as you want and push yourself to do more every day!

[@vincemarco]

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

[@coreycongilio]

Thanks so much!

[@goltzhar]

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.

[@erichoogerhyde1362]

I watch all Cory’s stuff, he is awesome

[@frankdardano3182]

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!!?

[@davroshalfbeard8368]

That was really cool cheers guys .

[@matt_ess153]

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.

[@TerrEduarDan]

It can’t be overstated how important it is to focus on rhythm and melodic phrasing. Some of my favorite guitarists mimic on guitar what a vocalist would sing.

[@epajanssen]

This is what its often missing in (modern) blues players. They have great technique but they play the blues like a rock player. They don't 'breathe'. It's not just about what notes to play, it's also about when and where to play them. Rhythm and timing is key. Blues singers almost never start singing on the 'one' for instance.

[@psjdangerman]

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

[@OldeDog_NewTricks]

If you ever feel like you're in a rut with learning guitar just buy more gear...

[@markmancinelli6712]

Spectacular truth....ugh....

[@ericrincon545]

True! 😂

[@juancarlossuarez7486]

+5

[@Folly1988]

One more pedal will take me to where I need to be 😅

[@r.a.4777]

😅😇👍🏼

[@MrShanebizzle]

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

[@robmarley7049]

Great advice in this. As a new guitarist, I hope to someday be as effortless as Corey is with his examples in this video.

[@GuitarguyRichard56]

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

[@philbeau]

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.

[@johngraziano2274]

Excellent session! You guys are awesome.

[@Beachbumartist]

Man that was a great interview. You have a really great channel to learn from, thank you very much.

[@Desperado665]

Corey is awesome, Glad you included him

[@jakubnowak649]

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

[@bradnelson2637]

Thanks for posting this!

[@viorcustom]

Awesome interview.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Yeah guys!!

[@johndooley7812]

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

[@RichlandCommunity]

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

[@thomastucker5686]

As long as you are always expanding your tool box, you are growing. It is a slow process and there is no magic available, just long hours of slow steady growth that seems like no growth at all. Not quitting, that's it. I have these things I am not at all good at that I practice, that will come up so rarely, it seems like a waist of time, yet I keep doing it, such that my tool box can grow. Even being bad at stuff is adding to the tool box. Every once and a while, one of these riffs comes out of nowhere and I nail it, after failing while trying to do it. Just keep pressing forward and take a break when you need it.

[@claytonthomas9262]

Dang that Casino is nice.

[@ubellubo]

Cory Congilio makes awesome guitar courses for Truefire. Probably my favourite instructor.

[@coreycongilio]

Hey thanks!

[@daleleeroy]

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

[@sid35gb]

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

[@MikeWiest]

Thanks Rhett! Good questions and nice discussion 👍

[@BlackieTimex]

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