Lesson series

Learn To Play Blues

Blueprint to Play Blues Guitar Like The Legends

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Online guitar course · Blues

Learn To Play Blues

Learn blues guitar rhythm, scales and soloing

Learn To Play Blues is an online blues guitar course taught by Steve Stine. It starts with groove and strumming, then covers the 12-bar blues, I-IV-V chords, dominant 7th and 9th chords and chord fragments. Next come lead techniques like bending and vibrato, plus the minor and major pentatonic, blues scales, Dorian and Mixolydian. The course ends with turnaround examples in E, G and A and two jams. It has 37 lessons in four sections with a 93-page PDF book, and is included in GuitarZoom Premium.

37video lessons

3+ hoursof step-by-step teaching

4 modulesin a clear order

Beginner to intermediatelevel

93-page PDF bookincluded

In Premiumwith 15 more core courses

Excellent · 4.8 out of 5 on TrustpilotRead our reviews

START FREE 14-DAY TRIAL BUY THIS COURSE · $97

Included in GuitarZoom Premium · course 13 of 16 in the path (Stage 3: Know the Fretboard and the Music)

Free preview

What Learn To Play Blues is about

Steve breaks every skill into simple steps you can follow. In these videos, he introduces the course, explains the blues groove, and teaches vibrato.

Course intro: Introduction · 4:35

Free preview lesson: Understanding the Groove · 8:12

Free preview lesson: Vibrato · 7:55

Who it's for

Is Learn To Play Blues right for you?

Players new to blues. You start with what blues is, the groove and the basic 12-bar form.
Rock and pentatonic players. You'll add blues scales, major/minor mixing, bends and phrasing.
Guitarists who want both rhythm and lead. Half the course is rhythm parts and chords, half is lead playing.

What you'll be able to do

Skills you'll walk away with

Play a basic 12-bar blues in shuffle and straight feel
Use dynamic strumming and scratching for groove
Play dominant 7th and 9th chords and chord fragments
Add 6ths and 7ths to power chords
Play hammer-ons, pull-offs, trills, slides, bends and vibrato
Solo with minor and major pentatonic and blues scales
Use the Dorian and Mixolydian modes in blues
Shape solos with meandering and phrasing

What's inside

The course, module by module

Every module and every lesson, in the order you learn them.

Module 1

Setup: blues and the groove

What blues is, understanding the groove, groove subdivision and assessing the situation.

4 lessons · 22 min

See all 4 lessons

What is Blues 1:00
Introduction 4:35
Understanding the Groove 8:12
Groove Subdivision & Assessing the Situation 8:41

Module 2

Rhythm basics

Scratching, dynamic strumming, the blues structure, I-IV-V chords, the basic 12-bar progression and straight feel, embellishments, dominant 7th and 9th chords, chord fragments, 6ths and 7ths on power chords, and chromatic chord slides.

12 lessons · 66 min

See all 12 lessons

Scratching 4:13
Dynamic Strumming 13:02
The Blues Structure 1:35
I-IV-V Chords 4:36
Basic 12 Bar Blues Chord Progression 9:52
Basic 12 Bar Blues Straight Feel 3:31
Basic Embellishments 4:25
Dominant 7th Chords 5:20
9th Chords 3:45
Chord Fragments 5:09
Adding 6th and 7th to Power Chords 6:36
Chord Chromatic Sliding 3:53

Module 3

Lead techniques and blues scales

Hammer-ons, pull-offs, trills, slides, bending, vibrato and string control, then minor and major pentatonic, minor and major blues, hybrid and dominant scales, Dorian and Mixolydian, meandering and phrasing.

19 lessons · 107 min

See all 19 lessons

Fundamental Techniques 5:39
Hammer-Ons & Pull-Offs 8:42
Trills 3:21
Slides 6:25
Bending 15:51
Vibrato 7:55
String Control 4:38
Avoiding Frankenstein 3:05
Minor Pentatonic 10:57
Major Pentatonic 2:40
Minor Blues 3:53
Major Blues 1:34
Minor Pentatonic with Major Third 1:35
Dominant Major 2:52
Hybrid Scale 2:06
Dorian Mode 2:29
Mixolidian Mode 1:57
Meandering 11:26
Phrasing 9:27

Module 4

Turnarounds and jams

Short turnaround examples in E, G and A, and two full jams.

2 lessons · 6 min

See all 2 lessons

Jam #1 3:17
Jam #2 3:05

START FREE 14-DAY TRIAL BUY THIS COURSE · $97

How it works

Learn at your own pace

Clear video lessons

Every move is shown up close. Pause, rewind and repeat each lesson as often as you need.

Practice materials

Includes 93-page PDF book, Turnaround example clips, Jam lessons. Use them to practice what you learn in each lesson.

Part of a clear path

This is course 13 of 16 in the Premium path, so you always know what to learn next.

Your instructor

Steve Stine

GuitarZoom Master Instructor

Steve has taught guitar for more than 30 years and has helped millions of players in over 100 countries. He has a Music Education degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead and taught guitar at North Dakota State University. He's known for breaking hard things into simple steps you can follow. Read Steve's full story

Student reviews

What students say about Steve's teaching

Excellent · 4.8 out of 5 on TrustpilotRead our reviews

"I love the way that Steve explained things and shows how to become better."
Hans-Joachim G.Germany

"It made a difference, it was worth the money. Thank you."
Kevin W.United States

"This is absolutely one of the best classes I've ever taken."
Steve D.United States

"I'm just overjoyed to come across learning material that I've yearned for."
Andy M.Australia

"Thank you for breaking down music theory and making it so easy to learn."
Travis B.United States

"I have definitely improved and I enjoy it immensely."
Melina K.United States

Read 100+ more student reviews

FAQ

Learn To Play Blues questions

Is this blues course good for beginners?

It suits players who know a few basic chords. It starts with the groove and the 12-bar form before moving to lead playing.

Which blues scales will I learn?

Minor and major pentatonic, minor and major blues, minor pentatonic with a major 3rd, a dominant major sound, a hybrid scale, and the Dorian and Mixolydian modes.

Does it cover rhythm or lead guitar?

Both. The Rhythm Basics section covers grooves, 12-bar progressions and 7th and 9th chords, and the next section covers lead techniques and scales.

Will I learn blues turnarounds?

Yes. There are short turnaround examples in E, G and A.

How long is the course?

There are 37 lessons, about 3 hours and 21 minutes in total, in four sections.

How do I get Learn To Play Blues?

Learn To Play Blues is one of the 16 core courses in GuitarZoom Premium. Premium costs $39 a month or $299 a year and starts with a 14-day free trial. You can also buy Learn To Play Blues on its own for a one-time $97.

What else is included in GuitarZoom Premium?

Premium gives you Steve Stine's 16 core courses in a clear, step-by-step path, from your first chords to improvising your own solos, plus a Jam Tracks library. You get every course from day one.

Can I cancel GuitarZoom Premium?

Yes. You can cancel any time. If you cancel before your 14-day trial ends, you won't be charged.

Can I watch on my phone or tablet?

Yes. You can watch on any computer, tablet or phone with an internet connection, as often as you like.

Next in the Premium path