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How to Build Anticipation for Chord Changes in a Blues Progression

Lesson ID: TB140

Chord changes shouldn’t abruptly happen. The music should lead itself from chord to chord.

There’s nothing wrong with the standard 12 bar blues progression. In fact, it’s the very place you should start your blues journey. But, once you have that down pat, what’s next?

Here’s a suggestion: Try to use well-placed licks to lead yourself into the next chord in the progression. It is called “lead” playing for a reason. We’ll get deep on this very idea in this lesson to try to stop abrupt chord changes dead in their tracks.

In this lesson, we’ll discuss techniques and examples of using lead lines to highlight chord changes.

You’ll learn:

  • The entire arrangement of the example tune from Lesson 138 and 139
  • How to delay the chord sound with a bass walk up
  • How to hint at the coming chord change using lead lines

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When you are ready, there are two ways I can help you:

Back Porch Blues Course:  A proven system to fingerpicking the blues.  This step-by-step course guides you through building fundamental fingerpicking skills.  Plus, you’ll learn three levels of a delta blues style performance study to put your new skills into action.

Become a myBGI Member: Get a proven plan to playing better blues with one of BGI’s structured roadmaps:  The Fretboard Roadmap, Fingerstyle Roadmap and Slide Guitar Roadmap.

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