During the summer months we’ll be running a series of one hour sessions with the aim of gradually building a beginner-level, self-contained 12 bar blues piece (some things in these for low intermediate players as well).
This time we look at thumb independence and build the 12 bar from the ground up.
Overview of the series
Fingerstyle is a wonderful style to play in any genre. This series focuses solely on the Blues with aim of building up an accessible fingerstyle Blues piece from the ground up and providing you with plug-and-play options to slot in: blues riff options, chord fingerings, connecting chords, intros, outros and turnarounds,
The aim is always to have an accessible piece to play and practise at the end of each session. We’ll add complxity in layers and so if you get stuck you can revert to playing along at the level you’re comfortable and practice the trickier stuff later.
We take these sessions slowly and in-lesson videos will be taken to support the lesson.
The aim is to gradually add in different approaches and devices to build up a self-contained fingerstyle Blues piece that’s accessible to beginners (and there’ll be something in there for slighty more experienced players). The important thing is that you have a complete 12 bar to play at the end of every session.
These sessions
We’re sticking to the Blues in E and looking at thumb independence (i.e. using an alternating bassline for each chord with melody options on top) and building a 12 bar piece from the ground using.
Session 1 – exercises to help get your thumb working independently from your fingers, building new alternating bass blues riffs over the chords and completing the 12 bar piece.
Session 2 – bringing in a new intro and different outro and maybe a new walk-up from E7 to A7. Looking at riff variations to slot in at your discretion. Putting together the next-level-up complete 12 bar (maybe even mixing in some ‘drone’ riffs from previous sessions?).
Buying options
You can purchase either one or both. I recommend both as these sessions are connected.
Previous ‘basics’ sessions
We have already covered:
Fingerstyle basics (posture, RH/LH fingers assignment, reading TAB, understanding basic rhythm
Blues basics (12 bar form, dominant chords, ‘go-to’ fingerstyle riff over the I, IV and V chords using a drone bass, simple intro, some interesting embellishments within the riffs, bass run between chords)
If you want more information on these then get in touch.
Materials:
Prep Sheets will be made available for each session (some with videos, as is the case for these sessions)
Each session will have a PDF and we’ll take in-lesson Zoom recordings of all key sections.
Session suitability
You could be pretty much a new beginner or someone who has played for a while but never tried fingerstyle. You’ll need to be familiar with basic open chords (E, E7, A, A7, B7). If you have tried plucking the strings with your fingers then even better. Don’t worry if you’re brand new – all will be covered in the sessions
More advanced players might get the barre chord equivalents (with fingerpicking!).