Badass Blues Collab, It had to happen Options

[Ben Higgins]

BADASS BLUES

A GMC Guitar Collaboration

Take it deep!

Here's the backing track.

 Badass_Blues_Collab_backing_track_140.mp3 ( 1.66MB ) Number of downloads: 737


Key Intel:
140bpm
G Minor Pentatonic
Gm / C7, D#, F#


Need to Know:
This is a Video collab
I'm going to give you ideas and we'll focus on a few key elements of phrasing until we build a solo that YOU are happy with!
Collab ENDS Thursday, 20th August

We have a month of badass fun together!

No need to ask permission or tell me you're in and all that crap. Just get involved. Post stuff!

During this collab process, I'd like us to work on 2 key elements:
Using different tempos to make phrasing interesting
Varying a phrase using same or similar notes

First of all, here is a very common but effective 2 blues lick.

 Badass_Blues_Collab_ex1.mp3 ( 579.11K ) Number of downloads: 455


I'm using this to demonstrate the free time aspect to blues phrasing where you can place the notes over the beat wherever you feel like it but notice the first note followed by two quicker notes. That's what I want you to try first of all. Using the Gm Pentatonic scale in the first box position (see scale diagram) try to replicate what I do here.

Also notice the bend that quickly cuts off on the 2nd lick. Just use your index finger to slightly yank the string downwards a semitone before cutting the note off. When you cut the note off, use both your hands to aid in muting any string noise.



To help you, the licks I play only use the G and D strings and never move off the box position shown

Ok, are you guys ready to show me some Badass Blues??????

-------------------------
EDIT - RESULTS:
-------------------------

Friends, Romans, Countrymen!

Here it is - the moment you've all been waiting for - the video for the Badass Blues Collab!

FEEDBACK:

Kristofer: A very good effort. You are obviously new to the guitar and need guidance so I suggest you go check out GMC where there are loads of lessons and a forum full of helpful guitarists that you can learn from. We can help you work towards your next collab take!

Procyon: Nice opening bends here. I like your tone as well. Your flurry of notes at 0:48 is not sounding 100% coordinated which reduces the effect a bit but it still does the trick. Nice take overall, I would recommend working on synchronising the hands together for faster runs.

DeGroot: Really lovely take here. You seem to get the classic DG tone whether you're on Strat or Les Paul. Love the Friedman style bends near the beginning a lot!

Bleez: Really measured and tasteful take here from the Great Scot. Mayhem T shirt + blues. Only at GMC You've got the themes that repeat throughout your solo with little variations and you've got that nice whole tone and a half bend to end it with - one of your best.

Laurent: Nice, rounded tone here. I feel you could work on improving your hand coordination as well as there are some unwanted string noises between your intended notes. I eventually noticed that you seem to play using only upstrokes! I can't imagine doing that - does it not feel awkward? That might explain the coordination issues because your picking will always be behind your fretting hand if you want to do quicker phrases. Nice mixture of natural minor and minor pentatonic like we talked about.

Moss: Really nice ideas in here, Moss. Like Bleez, you've taken on board the idea of setting up some repeating phrases that have little variations. If you hone your bending pitches a bit you'll be getting some real sexy stuff happening - nice chewy tone as well

George: You're a bit good aren't you? Go home and stop making the rest of us look bad, ok? Seriously, though - brilliant phrasing, great control, tasteful double stops, great technique. Really enjoyed this and I'm sure I'm not alone in that.

Todd Simpson: Another instructor coming to the party - I've seen you before. Aren't you the one who has trouble with his alternate picking? You need to check out an instructor at GMC called Todd, he'll sort your lazy picking hand out in no time! Great input T-Master, this could be the mellowest we've managed to get you yet!

Jim S: Great use of modal scales and arpeggios next the traditional pentatonic style licks. I also like the way you're very free with your timing and you let your runs dance across the beat at your behest, which is the way I like to play. Nice, warm tone too.

Ben Higgins: Yeah, you and Kristofer really need to get some lessons. It's nice to see you having a go... with some help from the instructors and fellow students we might see you working on yor vibrato, bending, timing and maybe even do some REC takes?

This was a great collab. I know that some of you felt a little out of your comfort zone with a blues track but you persevered with it and ended up all pulling something good out of the bag. Hopefully you all feel happy with what you did and hopefully some of you even got some new phrasing ideas during the process which is really the end goal of doing these collabs. Each one is like a stepping stone of experience where you get to test new ideas and learn from it. The work you did for this collab wasn't just for this collab, it was for the next one, and the next one after that.

Thanks for participating and stay badass!

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net

Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!