[MELLOW MUSIC]
So, at this point, you're familiar with the 12-bar blues.
We're going to play a variation on the 12-bar blues.
We're going to use a shuffle pattern.
We're going to use rhythm.
We're going to talk about a rhythm called the triplet.
A triplet is three notes in the place of two.
So, for example, if you're counting eighth notes--
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and--
you can fit three notes into those spots where there's usually just two.
So it will sound like 1 triplet, 2 triplet, 3 triplet, 4 triplet.
And we're going to use a shuffle pattern that sounds like this--
1 triplet, 2 triplet, 3 triplet, 4 triplet.
You'll also notice that when I play the shuffle pattern,
I'm only playing two notes at a time, even though I'm counting three.
So it sounds like this--
1 triplet, 2 triplet, 3 triplet, 4 triplet.
So one of the notes takes up two of those three.
So we're going 1 triplet, 2 triplet, 3 triplet, 4 triplet.
So play it with me.
1 triplet, 2 triplet, 3 triplet, 4 triplet.
Now let's play it through the entire 12-bar blues.
So this chord that I'm playing, or these two notes that I'm playing,
make up the chord A, even though it's only two notes.
We're using those two notes to play an A chord.
So we'll be playing a 12-bar blues in A.
So here we go.
1, 2, 3, 4.
1 triplet, 2 triplet, 3 triplet, 4 triplet.
[PLAYING CHORD]
Now we're moving to the IV chord.
All you do is you take your first finger, which currently
is on the second fret of the D string, and move it
to the second fret of the G string.
So then you'll be playing an open D string
and the note A. Sounds like this.
[PLAYING CHORD]
And we'll count the same way.
1 triplet, 2 triplet, 3 triplet, 4 triplet.
The last chord we're going to learn is E, which is the low E string.
And then your first finger is on the second fret of the A string,
and it sounds like this.
[PLAYING CHORD]
So one measure, if we count one measure out loud, it sounds like this.
1 triplet, 2 triplet, 3 triplet, 4 triplet.
So I'm going to play the whole thing and you can follow along.
I'll call out the chords as I play them.
1, 2, 3, A. 1 triplet, 2 triplet, 3 triplet.
Measure 2.
[PLAYING CHORD]
Measure 3.
[PLAYING CHORD]
Measure 4.
[PLAYING CHORD]
Going to the IV chord to D.
[PLAYING CHORD]
Back to the I chord.
[PLAYING CHORD]
V chord.
[PLAYING CHORD]
I.
[PLAYING CHORD]
Make sure you familiarize yourself with the concept of the triplet.
One really good thing to do that I'm always a big fan of doing
is clapping your hands and saying it out loud.
Because everything you do out loud, you hear it, you internalize it.
You're going to learn it faster and it will be stronger.
So if you go 1 triplet, 2 triplet, 3 triplet, 4 triplet, 1 triplet,
2 triplet, 3 triplet, 4 triplet.
Now, if you want to know the difference between the triplets and just
regular eighth notes, you notice I haven't changed the tempo.
[CLAPPING RHYTHM]
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 triplet, 2 triplet, 3 triplet, 4 triplet.
So it's a great exercise away from your guitar.
And then bring it to your guitar and play it that way as well.
So work on the 12-bar blues.
Play along with the recording.
Slow it down if you have to with a metronome and memorize it.
And then find somebody to play it with.