How do you play the blues?
Ask several people to define what makes a blues song a blues song and their answers are bound to
vary for some it’s the chord progressions, for others the instruments the musicians use or
what they sing about, for still others a certain "feeling" to the music they can’t describe.
In this spirit, Year of the Blues proudly presents these "Blues Riff" lessons
intended to help you find your own definition of the blues by learning to play them. Although the
lessons are guitar-based, the concepts they present can be applied to any instrument, from
banjos and violins to amplified harmonicas and electric pianos, all of which have been used to play
the blues.
Year of the Blues wishes to thank our educational partners Fender Players Club, Guitar Axis, Hal
Leonard, and Riff Interactive for generously providing these lessons.

Fender Players Club

12-Bar Blues

Blues-Rock Soloing

Cream - "Spoonful"

Guitar Slim - "The Things That I Used To Do"

Chicago Riff Blues

Freddie King - "Hide Away"

Blind Boy Fuller - "Keep On Trucking"

Robert Johnson - "Love In Vain Blues"

Johnny Winter w/Rick Derringer - "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo"

Blues Turnarounds in the style of Robert Junior Lockwood

Mixolydian Blues

Jump Blues in the style of T-Bone Walker

Guitar Axis

Chip's Blues

12-Bar Blues

Punch Jazz Blues

Riff Interactive

Blues Licks
