Alfred's Learn to Play Blues Guitar: Guitar Book & Online Video/Audio

This book treats blues as a learnable system rather than a mystical tradition. By organizing content into clear rhythm patterns first, then lead techniques, then full solos in recognizable styles, Trovato gives students the vocabulary to understand what makes blues sound like blues. The inclusion of video demonstrations for every lesson removes guesswork about timing, feel, and technique execution.

The sound of groove and attitude. These aren't theoretical exercises; they're real blues patterns and solos adapted from the playing styles of influential guitarists. Working through the material, you'll experience the satisfaction of moving from basic rhythm figures to bending notes over a shuffle groove to playing recognizable solos that sound genuinely bluesy.

Beginning guitarists who want to play recognizable blues music immediately and intermediate players seeking to develop authentic blues style and soloing fluency. This book works equally well for self-study and classroom instruction, since video and audio tracks provide the feedback a student would otherwise get from a teacher.

• Spend time matching the shuffle feel on the video before moving to faster tempos; the rhythmic pocket is what separates blues from other styles.
• When learning the soloing techniques (slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, bending), isolate each one on a single string first, then apply it within a blues scale context.
• Play along with the MP3 accompaniment tracks at reduced speed initially using your media player; this builds feel and timing without the pressure of live playing.
• Study the solos by style rather than sequentially; playing three Eric Clapton examples back-to-back helps you internalize his signature phrasing before switching artists.

Use this as a supplemental resource for guitarists exploring contemporary or jazz repertoire; understanding blues rhythm patterns and soloing techniques deepens musicianship across many styles. It also serves as a natural enrichment track for intermediate players during the second half of a school year, allowing them to develop individual style while peers continue foundational study.

• Reading standard notation and TAB simultaneously
• Playing over 50 distinct blues rhythm patterns (medium shuffle, uptown blues, slow blues, blues-rock, mambo)
• Executing core lead techniques (slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, bending, vibrato, rakes)
• Soloing within blues tonality and phrasing across multiple positions
• Identifying and replicating stylistic characteristics of major blues artists
• Developing rhythmic feel and groove in a shuffle-based context