Robben Ford Guitar Lesson - Jazz Blues Chords - Blues Revolution

[@BHAKTIBROPHY]

Robben is not only a Master of his craft, but a master teacher. I so appreciate that he doesn't just teach the chords, but he knows what chords/intervals he's playing, rather than simply telling us on what fret and on which string to place our fingers. He also explains the theory as to *why* these chords work in the progressions he teaches. That's huge, and that's what I always wanted to learn-- especially because I played by ear for 30 years and never understood a lot of the rockabilly/ jazz chords I was playing. Ted Greene's CHORD CHEMISTRY helped me tremendously (especially chord synonyms) in quickly seeing the intervals, but Robben's Chord Revolution and Blues Chord Revolution are really helping drive home my complete understanding of what's being played. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate TrueFire and Robben Ford for all of his courses. At the time, this is one of three of my favorite courses of Robben's. I had to stop playing for 13 years due to spine injury. I kept visualizing myself playing every night, and when I picked up my guitar again to start getting my fretting hand stronger, the muscle memory was there from rockabilly blues I had played earlier in my life, the first 30 years of playing, but because of the nerve damage, it's much easier grabbing partial barres and 3 or 4 note chord voicings, and Robben is absolutely the master of teaching this subject, as it relates to how I learn and see the fretboard (and, from seeing reviews of his lessons, this is true for many other players as well). I can't recommend this course enough. (I would like to *with great humility* note that the chord Robben is referring to is not an "add 9" because there's a flat 7th. It's simply an iteration of a 13th. I offer that info on the 13th chord with *absolute humility and appreciation to Robben.*)

[@chillidogkev]

Absolutely brilliant delivery. So natural, as if he's sat with you in your kitchen having a cup of tea and showing you a few tips.

[@phillipsross9115]

This video is so heartwarming and inspiring. It's a reminder of the good in the world and it's given me a renewed sense of hope

[@fnewman8805]

Thank you, what a friendly, generous mentor... God bless you, Sir.

[@jboughtin7522]

What do you get when you add the concepts of cool and gentleman? You get Robben Ford sharing his knowledge of music theory and guitar playing with the world. Thanks very much Robben, your the best!

[@jeffledbetter3779]

There have been a select group of guitarists to grace this planet that mere touch of the strings evokes pure genius....Robben Ford is definitely one of them!!

[@Kiwi76RamenNoodle]

This is an awesome lesson. Guitarists tend to be weak in the theory department compared to say, keyboardists or horn players, and this is the kind of stuff that can open all kinds of doors for improvisation and general creativity. I'm no genius, but I'm glad I had a teacher all those years ago who taught me this stuff. He used to say, "Do you want to play guitar, or do you want to be a guitar player? There is a difference."

[@BCTGuitarPlayer]

Joe Ramen: yes, exactly. 47 years ago, I had 2 teachers, one year each. The second teachers stated I was learning lead quickly and was proud of my progress. But, he said, now you need to learn to tell a story with your lead instead of trying to go as fast as you can. I want to teach to be a guitarist instead of something trying to play a guitar.

[@gkniffen]

I always thought I'd rather be a musician than just a guitarist. That's why I learned theory.

[@vincenttuckwood]

That's a great lesson - so many make this so confusing, yet Robben (an outstanding player) just makes me want to pick up the guitar and TRY THINGS!

[@hoffy1003]

Yep, And that's why he's a great teacher.

[@neil222222]

The best description of note progression in chords I've ever seen. Thanks!

[@superagnitio]

Aw man, I just love this guy. Been listening to his teachings and music a LOT. Just amazing taste, phrasing, tone and dynamics. Great lessons in his music, pay attention guys!

[@djizzah]

can someone give this fellow the nice guy award already? what a gentleman and virtuoso :)

[@unclebenadryl8232]

word

[@MrDaveFerrier]

haha! I would personally give that award to Larry Carlton, but Robben would be right behind him

[@paulcooper5748]

I love this guy.

[@michaelmueller8746]

I got to meet him. Hes actually not that nice. I got to meet BB king Tommy Emmanuel Joe Bonamassa and Albert Lee All super great and humble and in my opinion better player's. He says he looks up to BB maybe he needs a lesson on how BB treated his fans. And yes I was being super polite. And still got shafted. Don't like posting negative ads but I had to set the record straight sorry guys.

[@paulcooper3463]

@@michaelmueller8746 Can you elaborate more on your meeting with him was he reserved or was it something he said that was rude ?

[@twoeagles19]

Thanks Robben I finally learned to palm my strings so they're not all ringing the Belfre at the same time! I should have humbled myself at Jim Shrages' house when we met I didn't know who you were back then you taught me a great lesson thank you for being a gentleman concerning my prideful incapability to axefully gallup upon my amp. I still have a long ways to go so thankful to find you sharing your gifts with others.May God Bless You and Your Family and if you ever see or talk to Jim please say hi for me. Steven Arnold ThX!

[@chrisfarrugia5397]

Apart from being an amazing guitarist and musician.......also an Amazing teacher !!

[@adaptiveagile]

I purchased his Blues Revolution series from TrueFire and I'm slowly working through it (let me emphasize "slowly") -- Robben has got this sort of Zen approach that I just love. He's a fantastic teacher, and there's a lot of conceptual magic in his lessons beyond "licks" and theory. I'm a fan.

[@robinhillwork]

One of the best lessons I’ve seen - what a great teacher!

[@freddieguynn419]

I used to sit in my room picking up the needle on 33's trying to pick this stuff apart. Thank you for taking the time to teach a lesson. So Awesome to get some help on a couple of your tunes.

[@chesterjetton1077]

So much of this was part of my pedal steel guitar lessons. I was overwhelmed by it all. It really does make sense. There are modes involved and just listening. Have fun and study hard.

[@forestismael3863]

you all probably dont care but does any of you know a trick to log back into an Instagram account..? I somehow lost the password. I love any tricks you can offer me.

[@azariahalessandro5741]

@Forest Ismael Instablaster ;)

[@forestismael3863]

@Azariah Alessandro Thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site through google and Im trying it out now. I see it takes quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@karlschihl6655]

Loved playing guitar since I was 10 but lacked the discipline to study hard. I did have several years of formal music but I didn't have the capacity to apply it - music is mathematical and to get to the next stage you have to understand the previous steps. After 50 yrs of playing I have learned a life time of knowledge on this one video. I was/am a hack player - a "sow's ear" that was polished up :) but I love how to speak to theory and the importance of language and nomenclature. Beautiful lessons - just sensical "do what ever you need to do but don't let the bad strings ring " perfect. You do a wonderful job for me to bridge from basic blues into little more "sophisticated" jazzier stuff. It's an epiphany for my and great inspiration. God Bless and thank you very sincerely!

[@bloomworks]

Beautiful tone, excellent chords, and I like that you talk about the different ways to finger the chords, so no-one feels left out. Alright Robben Ford!! Cool stuff.

[@jordananthony4266]

I love you Robben Ford! Thank you for all that you have done for modern blues and my playing. I greatly appreciate you

[@1nzi]

This guy is on a different level

[@gangnamstylegrandpa6352]

My absolute favorite guitar player ! Robben talks and all of a sudden everything makes sense on guitar ! I love the blend of Jazz and Blues . I almost always play by myself , and learned to play a combination of notes , double stops , and chords . Robben Ford is a Master of this style , and I always get something out of his videos because he is playing what I want to hear, and in the style I love . Other than that he is a gentleman and so intresting to listen to ! I just love his style of playing and teaching !

[@georgetebbens3524]

I saw Robben Ford on tour with George Harrison in Chicago in November 1974. It was my very first concert. I was 10 years old.

[@markroylance1584]

About once a year I go back to these amazing lessons..... Thank you Mr Ford for teaching me so much...

[@glenharbin]

What a great lesson Robben, thank you for de-mistifying so many of these complex chord arrangements, that I used to find so intimidating

[@phyllisvinita8549]

I use the 13th all over the neck the two ways you showed it. It always brings out those notes I don't usually bring out into my brute singing voice. And when you arpeggiated the tones in that scale while simultaneously singing them out I really heard them all very well. I'm going to warm my voice up with that more. You hear this beautiful spirit of jazz when singing out the notes of the 13th

[@Martiniization]

What a special experience to be talked to and explained the rich inner workings of chords/chord nuances by such an extremely adept and exciting musician!

[@dougp2917]

Explains and demonstrates extended chords & theory behind it SO well!

[@PanamaJack666]

Such an under-rated fantastic player!

[@jitsroller]

Thanks so much for this Robben it'll be something I play with for years to come. Thanks again!

[@rohw0016]

fuckin genius this guy. could listen to him talk music for hours.

[@stephenplante2273]

Me too

[@fredojun01]

me too

[@generationomega2633]

I just stumbled over this guy a few weeks ago... ... Super cool. Love 'em. He's going to make my jazzy blues deep dive rich!

[@Laggspikeproductions]

i have always wondered what a "9" chord was and all of those numbers etc.. "throw a 13 in there!" no bloddy clue what they were talking about.. now where Robben Ford just counted and showed what it meant, i am SO happy that he did. i am now a little wiser thanks to him :) 13 years of guitar playing, and not a single person could tell me this, and he i found a video of Robbing showing me, THANKS!

[@markusantonio4866]

Great player and teacher. So relaxed and chill.

[@FrettieFingers]

I worshipped this guy's virtuosity since high school (he's a couple years ahead of me); back in the day it was the Charles Ford Band.

[@robertboyle1368]

Robben is all about the music..gotta love this guy..

[@blueskatg]

Funny thing Robben,,,, You and I are the same age, been playing probably the same amount of years, but you are sooo much more fluid than I, as well as much more musical. You're a good teacher too. Many can play well, but not all can relate their knowledge well. Good on you mate!

[@nuke97]

Excellent lesson ! Robben Ford is the man.

[@mattchurchill]

Love Robben Ford. He's a big inspiration and has helped my guitar playing so much over the years. Great lesson.

[@JeffKollman]

6:11 He says A flat 13 flat 9. It should say A7b13 b9 or A7+5b9 because one would play the root as an Aflat key.. You have to establish the root and sex of the chord then add the altered tones thereafter otherwise a player will go to the 4th fret and play an A flat chord. Dig?

[@grammaticalerorr4654]

***** omg, are you the Jeff Kollman for real??? Wow!

[@jsilence418]

+Grammatical Erorr None other mister !!! uh yeah .

[@JakeMcBain]

+Jeff Kollman Good thing you pointed this out! It is clear what Robben was saying in the context of the video but that could definitely cause some confusion to people just learning this.

[@VicHightaian]

yeah caught that too

[@jckelley4198]

Jeff Kollman is correct. A7+5b9. The numeric notation between root to root is primarily to identify the chord as a major or minor and then when the 7th is flattened it becomes a Dominate chord. Any added notes over are all dominant chords and contain the b7. A9 and A13 already have the b7. A11 is a b7 with the suspended 3rd up a half step to the 4th but since the b7, the sus4 is now renamed the 11. So A11 is R-5-b7-11(4). Practice playing gives good practice in thinking it

[@KristianPage]

I came here to read the comments of the other 'so called' experts. Nice work Robben!

[@mattchurchill]

Haha, 'experts'! You nailed it! Robben is a legend. Well said ;-)

[@twangbarfly]

LOL! Today I read a comment by a French guy on a Larry Carlton vid - "The other musicians are great but it's just another piece with LC running through the same old pentatonic stuff" If that's all you can take away from listening to Larry or Robben you're not fit to be playing the guitar :-)

[@brainchildjam]

I came here to learn some great chords! Jedi master. 😏

[@Dialoquese]

Refreshingly articulate delivery- a gifted teacher!

[@billrosmus6734]

Passing chords ... that I9 to the I9a13 to IV9 ... this is the stuff I have been trying to learn to no avail. Thanks man. Would love to see more on the subject of passing chords.

[@andresaraguz7664]

thank you Mr Robben Ford

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

Thank you I have been working on chord extensions and this is such an excellent walk thru of the scale degrees picking thru the process with a true musical mind.

[@manuguitare1347]

Love that man ! Great musician and great teacher. He gives the desire to learn well.

[@ivansloe]

You just reminded me of being a teenager and continually rewinding a tape player to learn the guitar solo for Iron Horse by Motorhead. There's probably a youtube lesson for it now.

[@texasblues1]

One of my heroes!

[@kennywally]

Love your approach Robyn

[@dewdude2112]

I'm noting a very important aspect of his lesson is that he "sings" those scale notes. For all you noobs or others (like me) that have ignored that trait, it seems to recur in really good guitarists, especially those that can sing as well. I think it helps to mentally recognize the note and harmonies.

[@TheTerrypcurtin]

Thanks lost a little finger and you've brought me back big time. I was mentally shot. You have no idea. Thanks Brother

[@7redman7]

Gotta Love Robben's laid back style of teaching. He does blab a bit, though, and takes him 4 mins to get past the initial A13th chord explanation! That said, the passing chord he refers to around the 6:00 minute mark shouldn't be called an A flat 13 add 9 or +9, because the Ab designation causes you to think of flatting the root, not the 13th, so it makes ya think G# or Ab. (Not to mention, "add 9" means to add a 9th, +9 means to add a raised 9th) This is why a flat 13th chord is more commonly called a +5 or raised/augmented 5th. This (passing) chord could be referred to as an Eb13add9, because it has the feel of moving between the E and the D (V7 to IV9), pulling towards the IV chord. This is a pretty common jazz inflection and he even refers to another inversion of this chord around 11:40 when discussing the E13add9. That's my $0.02 cents on that chord. Thanks Robben, for inspiring us all to practice more and for being so damn cool. Met him at Humphey's after a gig and he is an absolute, humble gentleman. And, lemme tell ya, those Dumbles sounded amazing in that room!

[@tomdalziel4607]

I enjoyed this video and really like your guitar playing !! At 6:25 in the video, after the A13 chord, you "flat the 13th". I had never heard of this, so I looked it up and found that A9#5 describes this chord. Going from Low note to High note, you have a G(b7), C#(3rd), F(#5), and B(9th), with no Root. Of course, the main thing is that it sounds COOL, regardless of what you call it !!

[@bluegoose555]

A augmented..1 3 +5 (#5) A C# F.... pure semantics....muchos gracias most venerable guitarist hombre...... Robben this is an absolutely fabulous (and extremely useful) lesson......an Ocean in a Bucket !!!!

[@keiferreefer1]

Some real neat ideas here, I've always liked that laid back jazzy rythm track some guitarists do, just like this, fills, passing chords, rather than vamping 145 chords, yeah, great stuff

[@hogsbelly63]

Magic. Robben is the man.

[@jckelley4198]

I'm a strangler too. Have been since I was a kid and learned it day one. There was a time I felt the guilt from the purist players until I saw one try to play a full 6-string F in the first position with high action. From the look on the guys face I though he was getting a hernia. Grapple that neck like a 2x4. Thumb roots work great, no pain. All your extended dominant chords are easy too

[@edgardpedrosilvajunior]

Love your tips (classes) Mr. Roben Ford. You'r the best ever. Thank you very much for sharing all your knowledge, your feeling and mainly, your heart . Long life and prosperity.

[@proveout1]

I'm not sure these are the two best examples, but they're who popped into my head immediately: If you watch John McLaughlin or Larry Coryell, the both adjust their hand position to what is best for the moment. It's getting to the point where you can switch effortlessly that might not be so easy. I used to practice constantly with my thumb not on the neck at all, or do scales with only my pinky and ring finger. If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger.

[@lucky6828]

twenty years earlier I'd give everything I have for a lesson like this, directly from the master

[@michaelanderson2491]

robin I gotta say such a huge fan, your an amazing guitarist and person love ya man your the best

[@brainchildjam]

At 5:40 when he said Ab13 add 9. Isn't it just a sharp 4 nine chord? Like Eb9 right. That is how I think anyways. Thank you master Jedi Ford for all the knowledge you give us. much love! 💜

[@spankystone3428]

i would LOVE to chill with this guy over a joint and a coupla hot guitars...hell yea!

[@danTES8011]

@povonado it's definitely b13. Standard V in jazz blues. We aren't replacing the 5th of the chord, especially since fat chords often put the 5th as the bass

[@montdaniel3918]

Robben is just tooooo cool. Thank you for expanding my brain.

[@neperp]

Just make them not ring. Ha ha! That's my teaching on that subject. I am crazy about your tone and playing Robben Ford. Great teacher as well.

[@hernangallardo1995]

robben, the world thanks you!!

[@marmotaota6980]

thanks rob! this really helped me to understand and visualize the ropes, i think i might be able to add some flavor and brain work to my practice sessions now

[@gitarrenvideounterricht]

the master, i always like to watch him play!

[@mojr6237]

robben is a great teacher...

[@twofishes8846]

Been a fan of Ford for decades. Did I really say that? Great lesson by the maestro, thnx

[@minodelucia8960]

AWESOME lesson. Thank you.🙏

[@stewartgerhart5418]

Great stuff. Cool sounds along with a lesson on some theory. Thanks!

[@jammer777]

Such talent and class!

[@Nospoon777]

Robin Ford is the man!!!

[@86cadaver]

Wow u helped me crack that damn code ha ha ha now I finally get how the scales build cords and how the 7th or 9th ect. Ha ha ha man it actually isn't that complicated when you u count the scale instead of saying the notes

[@deefjohnholler]

good lesson. to those who do not have the theory knowledge to follow what he is saying just look at the finger positions on the fretboard. if the ear says it is right you don't need to understand it to apply it to your playing.

[@1973wildcatman]

Great video if you understand that any chord with a number larger than a seven HAS A DOMINANT 7 unless otherwise stated. This is critical to any of this making sense. He's a genius just saying.

[@chazsinger]

First heard him when I bought a Tom Scott and the L.A. Express album in 74. I had my head buried in Ted Nugent BS and after hearing Robben solo, I knew I had heard something special indeed. Blew my freaking mind and we had no internet back in the day to find out who this cat was. He's affected my playing so much and I've grown more in the last couple of years because of his through provoking teaching and style. Do a wiki search and read up on this giant. Got his start with Charlie Musclewhite.

[@ytnsanw]

Ha ha = 'Ted Nugent BS' - BS indeed!....

[@Guitaural.]

@@ytnsanw Well Nugent has his place - it's not complex, but that's ok too.

[@dmitrijams2637]

all the lessons are awesome!

[@chazsinger]

Great course on building chords through thirds. The dom 7th is not referenced when adding a 9, 11 or 13. As long as the minor 7 tone is in the chord, the top third takes the title as in Ab13th. Robin is correct here, but a few people added their thoughts on this and I would hate to be the one to correct Mr. Ford since he was correct. When the 7th tone is missing from the chord, it's Ab added 13. Somebody commented about his singing of the tones and I agree that more players needs this.

[@RonGalloway]

Learned a lot. Thanks much. Great teacher.

[@rogerwilliams2629]

He's so great..." Just make it not ring, just do it." LOL Love it.

[@jamesm5744]

Great lesson. Robben is the master..

[@PeteLewis1917]

It's actually still functioning as an A7 chord rather than as an augmented chord, You can still add in the natural 5th if you were playing it as a full barre. The only scale degree that's changing is the 13th being flattened. All it's doing is creating a chromatic shift from the 13th (F#) to the flat 13 (F) to the 9th of the D chord (E). so flat 13 is the correct term here

[@TheFutureVirtuoso]

If you're reading through a chart and there's a bunch of different 7 chords (maybe in various keys too) I think it's a whole lot easier to keep open strings out of the picture and instead rely on moveable chord shapes. That way every time you see a 13 chord, you can just use the 3 or 4 main shapes of it, regardless of the key. But you're not incorrect that you could just use the open A. If I was composing a chord melody arrangement, or over a slower tempo song from a chart, I might use that.

[@richardwhitesell7644]

It would be priceless to have him as your personal reacher.

[@karlstromvall4319]

ill revisit this after my brain( music theory does this to me ) isnt spaghetti....saw Robben at Triple door in Seattle a couple years ago....So accessible, so groovin, he makes all this technical stuff flow when he's playing live.

[@jamesblack5370]

Love your playing and really good teaching skills. I love the flavors with the amendments of music.I invented that phrase just now. You can use it. Chuckle. Thank you.

[@Lanearndt]

at 6:14 the literal and only name for that chord in that functionality is A9b13. calling a chord a 9 chord presupposes the presence of the flat 7 (functioning as some kind of Dominant chord in whatever key it's moving towards) and then the altered 13th is indicated by the flat prefix. If for example, the B was also flat, the chord would then be called A7b9b13. the unaltered extensions are the only ones allowed to stand in for the '7'! Dig it?

[@vmcelvis]

Always useful insightful applioed science information--thanks for opening your book of insight

[@Kept_Crude]

Brilliant stuff! Thank you.

[@robertocantelli2260]

I'm an Spaniard by the way. I'd like to add here that he used to play with Johnny Winter on tour and then with Schofield as well. If you know a little of good music .. this is one of that kind. Besides of been of been a good teacher tooooo!!

[@stevenschiffler2392]

Saw him with Johnny in the early ninety's and another eight times also an all day seminar with him my personal favorite

[@rammynagpal8976]

Great teacher. Inspirational!

[@0Heavy0Metal0]

If anyone tries to tell you how to hold your wrist, of where to put your thumb when playing, just walk away from them. It is SO unimportant. They're focusing on the wrong thing. My last teacher told me to put my wrist and thumb where ever they end up. He was great!

[@petermccarthy8263]

I saw Jimi at the Colosseum in seattle and he was walkin' bass (thumb) while midrange chording, then, upper range lead then into the overtone series in piccolosonic range up over the pickups...no problem.but when I saw Robben at the Bottom Line front row on the stage left..with thin blue line..omg !

[@rudyjudy7692]

I love this form of the thirteenth chord. I learned it the same way except I bar the B and E strings which adds a ninth to the chord. I commonly follow it with leaving the same fingers on the low E and A strings but for A blues barring the G, B and E strings on the sixth fret. This would be an A7#5b9. Just a little different way of moving to the D9 chord.

[@davidallemang1241]

ineresting. Ive always figured a 13th was because you had a dominant 7th plus a 6th in the chord. 6 + 7 = 13 . kinda weird maybe but a good way to think of it.

[@johnfair62]

When I was younger we would slow down the record from 33rpm to 16 rpm and try to figure things out. I didn't have theory books or any thing to help me. People wanting to learn now have it easy.

[@BMWBikes-i7n]

Wonderfull, great!! "You do it however you can do it!! "Just learn it!!" Absolutely fantastic, like every Lesson from Mr. Ford. And this sound.........wonderfull. Please tell me the complete Rig in details so I will also promise to do it with my fingers. :) Best regads Marc

[@Decalto35]

still a beginner so i only managed to pick up about half of the entire content of this short 12 minute video but i sure learned some fancy ways to jazz up going from one chord to another.

[@billrosmus6734]

Jon Ang Keep coming back to this. When I first started I picked up some Robbin Ford books and I got some of it but a lot blew me away and I couldn't actually finger some of the chords. Now I can keep up with a lot of it, but just because I can doesn't mean I'm not learning. It just means I know enough now to follow and learn. Not sure how else to say it. But this is good stuff. You can pull good stuff out of this. Like the idea of using the I13th (One chord add 13) chord in passing to get from the 1 to the 4 chord. At 5:07