Robben Ford Blues Lesson

Featured in Guitarist 412
Gear demos playlist: goo.gl/30cAf Subscribe for more from Guitarist: goo.gl/2PRXE
Buy Guitarist magazine in print and digital forms: www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk...
Visit our website: www.guitarist.co.uk Facebook: / guitaristmagazine Twitter: / guitarist_mag

[@BrazenNL]

That remark at the end: "The story of my life". That's exactly why I love Robben's playing. In blues, he sounds like he's playing Jazz. In Jazz, it sounds like he's playing the blues. That mix ... don't ever change that.

[@EricSkyeMusic]

Amen

[@Hickalum]

Brazen NL ; Isn’t he such a nice guy? I wish was my Dad.

[@bluzzjazz]

Robben is vastly underrated by those that think guitar is all about the shredding. For those of us that try and play with a bit more nuance and feel, he is World Class and a true treasure!

[@humanbeing5300]

Shredders play way to many notes. It’s like someone talking too much when you could be more poetic, creative, or nuanced and say same thing with much less.

[@sixslinger9951]

Robben can shred when he wants too. and his shredding is ALWAYS tasteful and melodic.

[@donharrold1375]

This guy is totally brilliant. He just has the knack of taking something quite simple and turning it into something really beautiful and interesting. It’s like therapy for the ear.

[@skantsoni]

The way he explains shows tons of knowledge but the way he speaks - oh man he feels sooo humble and a nice person. There are tons of music teachers but you just want to learn and listen from Mr Ford only.

[@BenEdwards984]

How to make a pentatonic scale sound like the best thing ever. Seriously, it goes to show what you can do if you slow things down and be a bit mindful about your playing.

[@jordangordan8980]

Around 5:12 he mentions how he announces the A chord/note when the rhythm goes to the 4. Anyone learning or studying blues guitar should take note of that!

[@Gtraxx1]

This is easily the most eye opening guitar lesson I have ever seen.. guys a genius

[@kaykramer9045]

Garrett Geeslin Absolutely!

[@professorhamamoto]

Thank you, Ford-sensei. Not only are you an incredible artist, but you have the rare ability to convey both the essence and technique of your guitar-conception. I grew as a musician just having watched this short presentation of yours. Thanks again.

[@michaelcope9501]

I certainly appreciate Robbin Ford's contribution to our craft. Thank you Guitarist for this post!

[@r_fabianto]

Man! That's a damn gorgeous les paul. Cant take my eyes off it.

[@devincrinklaw2104]

Saw him play and spoke to him after the show over 25 plus years ago. Kind humble man and uber talented.

[@gerrylavelle8433]

I used to know him in Boulder Colorado back in the 70's. He was taking classes at Naropa University. He was a really nice guy -- and his wife was really nice, too. Like you said he was really humble -- and easy going happy.

[@petecanthropus9947]

The guitar tone itself and the licks Robben Ford plays here (especially at 1:00 - 1:15) made me remember Peter Green. Two of the best blues players ever, undoubtedly.

[@charlespeterson3798]

I started playing the blues in the late 60's, after playing the drums thru grade school, up to high school. As a kid I saw Louis Armstrong, Basie, Hines and many others, Robben Ford is a great Blusman, the man brings tears to my eyes.

[@randallpaul7791]

He is the best I have followed Robben for 35 years. Very special

[@braddietzmusic2429]

Tone: The player. The guitar. The amp. Love it all.

[@w.l.graves7228]

not only a tremendously talented performer .. this man has the grace and generosity to give us his knowledge , in a most personal way , and make learning enjoyable for us ! thank you robben !

[@Troycus]

I've been following Robben Ford for years. He never ceases to amaze me with how he teach. Simple small things that enhance your playing is great.

[@MusicWithMarky]

Great to see inside the thought process of one of the all time greats.

[@binface9]

So modest for a player of his extreme talent

[@luckmarkboy]

To me, the best guitar player...awesome!

[@drdbailey]

I thought I was failing because I can't seem to work with picks. Robben's hands master the strings brilliantly. I love his slower sound. A genius lesson for me.

[@johnmarquez333]

So simple. So beautiful.

[@ben-si3dk]

His tone is always insanely good

[@bjerkely12]

Pentatonic scale is the most common musical idea which you can find it in different cultures from Japan to Africa to Egypt to America. It's simplicity should not fool you. It is not only in blues and country

[@GJSsongsmith]

A huge influence on my music and Guitar playing Robben , many thanks . Always direct my Guitar students to your music . A master of taste and phrasing .

[@guitarchopsfree613]

Magic fingers. Robben is awesome. He does so much with so little and has some of the best blues touch ever put forth.

[@MrRoundwound]

To see this man live is life changing. He is absolutely mesmerizing. Fluidic. A blessing to humanity,really

[@paulcooper5748]

I seen him live last year he was so awesome.

[@Ropaccinno]

less is more, simplicity makes art .such a great player

[@marcello_ferrero]

Don't think like a guitar player. Think about a musician. Thank your for your open mind lessons Mr. Ford!

[@Juampidelmundo]

This guy is an amazing teacher , i ve seen a lot of his videos on utube... he rox rly

[@FirstnameLastname-bp5cm]

Perhaps my favorite Robben interview/video. Well done.

[@chrishamm60]

Love the worried life blues at the end. Robben is great.

[@javierf55]

Always enjoy Robben's lesson, full of power through slow performance. Great source of inspiration

[@cjchristopher5857]

It's funny because people try so hard to avoid playing pentatonics because it gets stale so fast but really it just comes down to internalizing every single tonality whether it's pentatonic or not. Unfortunately, "feel" can only be taught to a point. You have to work your balls off and have some serious natural talent. Highest respect for this dude.

[@kongwu1220]

👏👏

[@bobwright4945]

Not only one of my favourite Guitarists I have so much admiration as a person aswell, could watch him playing, improvising all day.

[@EricSkyeMusic]

For sure

[@jojomama4787]

I think I learned more from this short little film than all the "teaching" videos combined,THANKS!!!

[@nitro978]

We need more videos like this. Everyday, evereday we have the blues, with you. Thanks!

[@grantthepilgrim]

Robben is such a great musician, love listening to his playing and insight

[@evm6838]

Man I really wanna learn to get into the Blues Genre . I love the sound ,everything about. Very inspiring .

[@zmojobluesman980]

Robben pure Genius ! Just letting the Groove drive your Guitar, til you feel the vibes running down you veins.

[@MustafaBaabad]

I play this video over and over and I feel like there is always something new. When you play, the intonation of the notes and the timing is exceptionally good. Thank you very much Mr. Robben Ford for sharing your valuable experience. It sounds like prophecy. I really like your advice very much. Cheers from Indonesia.

[@gangnamstylegrandpa6352]

Great lesson , from a great guitar player ! Love his approach to the Blues , and music in general .Smooth as silk , and every note means something !

[@agtronic]

I am in love with this man. What I wouldn't do to be interesting enough for him to want to spend an evening at my place talking chords such. I mean the man is a genius, and so well spoken.

[@alexandrecaxito9101]

A truly master...!!!

[@SmithN20]

Killer player. Love his style.

[@Kennallenn2]

Can't thank you enough for not talking over my head. I just started playing again after a two year hiatus because I got so frustrated and quit. Thank you for giving me permission to use what I know and what makes sense to me. This little lesson changed my world. Let the time expand a little bit..... what I got out of it is, play what you feel. I just played then shit out of my guitar for the first time.

[@danielransome]

The improv at the end is great, great playing.

[@cationpotasio]

So simple yet so beautiful! I love blues

[@MindsetMastery75]

God, Robben has the best tone i have ever heard! He makes the guitar sound like the horn section. He gives it a sax vibe. Mostly when he strikes the lower strings.

[@belladonna3439]

What beautiful tone, so musical.

[@TheVatonaught]

Good sense and great advice. I've been working in Robben's themes lately after starting out from a similar Buster Brown and Fannie Mae... it feels so wonderful when it comes out of your innards.

[@robertocantelli2260]

I simply like to add that I saw Robben on stage and is a great guitar player, and a very good teacher for any guitar player around :-)

[@fburtt]

Man, that is some sweet touch Robben's got. Every note just sings.

[@paulmitchell5349]

Thankyou.Music is like rock climbing,you need to plan and also relax.

[@hachewie]

Phrasing and expression. Genius.

[@GuitarosaurusRex]

The music seems to tell a story when you play that way, as well. I love music... so cool.

[@cirimaxg651]

He is an exceptional artist. His music is really touching. Its sound is touching.

[@mvdz1]

Awesome , loving that guitar too

[@lespaul6550]

Thank you for posting this!

[@AngelWest58]

good to see Robben again .. he was a big influence on me -- goin way back to mid-70s when Robben was playing with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express. Saw them live a couple times at the Roxy up on the Strip .. was still in High School..

[@aniketm910]

Class and taste written all over. What a player!

[@Ymiraku]

this guy is brilliant

[@DDSRdds]

Big fan more than 25 years , just outstanding musicer and person , dont know him , but listen to him and you know👍🇩🇰

[@thomasprice1760]

Yeah he got it done.....robben ford fav player

[@BANGKOKJUNGLE]

Masterful...clear, simple no fuss teaching...from a real guitar hero.

[@desmo999]

Whooouuuwww! What a wonderfull lesson from a wonderfull sympathic Master of tone feeling!

[@paulcooper5748]

Love this guy.

[@mannyfragoza9652]

Now i know why Fender Amps are the single most go to Amps by gigging musicians.That thing sounds amazing

[@Bluesguy22]

Fabulous! Thanks, Robben!

[@luigicannizzo2669]

Sound - Touching - Filling - Groovy = Mr. Robben Ford. .. Very Special Nice One ... 😊😀😁/💙💙💙/👍👌👏

[@Aspire7]

Love how he toys around with the pick in his right hand (without even using it) as he plays. I can't even strum the guitar without the pick flying across the room. Love that tone by the way.

[@robinmark4859]

No, not a cheap guitar at all, but not a 95,000 dollar vintage or something; this sounds beautiful. It's so great to hear a Les Paul, relatively clean, no Marshall majors or anything like that, as much as i respect that sound. Each to their own, but for me this sounds so inspiring...

[@FrettieFingers]

Robben is to Blues as Chet is to Country. Iconic player.

[@sn95_mustang_garage]

Why only 6 minutes? I needed more of this one, hope there are several parts.

[@growtogether]

He has many courses online, check Truefire for example, or his website.

[@Tolbiny]

Jeroen van der Velden A Trufire subscription is worth it just for all the Robben lessons.

[@javporin]

Superb tone!

[@brentonkelly3780]

There’s actually a lot in this seemingly simple lesson. I’ve got a lot of mileage out of it. Thanks Robben. A true master. For you KZbinrs, when Robben says E, he means Em and likewise for A in these examples. Hope that helps somebody.

[@kevincaruso1624]

AV Professionals no man. Those are definitely double stops taken from e major shapes.

[@Doomedhuman1]

I love that you mentioned Albert Collins :)

[@michaeltraub2525]

Danke für die Lesson und die Inspiration!! RF best player !!

[@oliverpaukson8849]

omg, dude keeps getting better.

[@Schlumbucketreturns]

Slow blues is my favorite vehicle for improvisation. Not only do you have a lot of "space" between the bars, but if the tempo is slow enough the rhythm itself becomes abstract. As Ford says, you have the freedom to expand or contract the timing of each phrase. I try to keep it grounded by clearly marking the chord changes, but anything goes between the changes.

[@wanttosayadrem2551]

Agreed, especially shredding is rather bad idea to use in blues like here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIGygXljnpKlfbs

[@johnsmith-sm6mh]

What a nice man love the blues and will learn from this thank you guitarist and of course Robin

[@johnsmith-sm6mh]

Oops Robben sorry

[@Despond]

Those confused, you have many shredders who are playing the guitar as in, they are doing a trick within a scale regardless of how it sounds. Like "I am now going to sweep," or "I am now going to tap" rather than playing notes in their head and use the appropriate technique to get it across. That's why people can sound like they are just doing guitar warm-ups. Learning more than 1 instrument helps this, because in essence you should be playing nearly the same notes no matter what instrument you have - that is true mastery.

[@bradleyamor8854]

saw him play at Vancouver Island Music fest 2019,amazing player

[@gusdogbrownlab435]

I'm a bit slow on the uptake but just started listening to Robben Ford. Fantastic!!!

[@PeterKertesz2013]

Robben Ford what an inspiration!

[@frankiecalabro2617]

A little fluff on the end... how could anyone not love this guy!!!! Thanks Robben!!!!

[@Geotubest]

Shamedly I just "discovered" Robben Ford as a result of a Mayer video where he mentions him. But now I can't get enough of him. What a player...what a great guy.

[@paulhamrick9092]

George give Matt Schofield a listen if u haven’t already. Ford was huge influence on him

[@Geotubest]

@@paulhamrick9092 will do Paul! Thanks for the tip!

[@JiriValosek]

Nádherný zvuk,nádherná hudba ,kterou nám nabízí Robben Ford !

[@alexanderwes5204]

What an incredible nice man !

[@jimjiminy76]

Diminution/Augmentation

[@facelesstrauma1853]

He's a true genius!

[@harpothehealer]

Yea I always had eyes to play with Mr Ford when he was on European tours as a form of session man, Sax and harp; never happened of course I guess at the end of a very long line, of horn players and I don't recall Robin ever using a harp player. 'Think like a composer not just playing licks; evolution' = Amen to that There is one huge lesson right there. Fantastic musician and performer; any kids starting out on serious study Blues and Jazz won't go far wrong listening to this great Artist

[@randallwilliams595]

That was some great stuff.., good sound..!! 👍

[@playmovingpictures]

What a cool guy 😎 would make a great guitar buddy and life friend. Robben thanks for the lesson.

[@klausdieterdecarvalhosuk4552]

I like your music, I like your lessons! Thank you

[@larsfrederiksen3005]

Stop the press, what lamp is that? P.S. I love, love, love, love Robben Ford and what he does to the guitar to make music that makes me feel young, free, happy and alive!

[@theeardrafter]

Thanks for sharing these ideas and concepts. I identify with emulating licks that appeal to you. Its like reliving a moment that appealed to you musically I imagine. Being self taught as you are brother. I find myself stuck in my own patterns. I guess the answer is more experimenting maybe.That aside it is with much respect I say you are an inspiration. Again thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@brianj.3274]

Thank you for sharing this Deep Wisdom of Musicianship. B

[@rabendranath]

Very Zen-like lesson here. Robben Ford is a true master.

[@willbfreed]

Thank you Robben Ford!