Get ready to get in the groove with some licks from Joe Dalton’s 50 Acoustic Blues Guitar Licks You MUST Know. A hand-picked collection of acoustic blues licks that are sure to hone your creative improvisation skills and techniques. He guides you through various approaches with examples and material then shows you how you can incorporate these into your playing.
Acoustic Blues Lick #8: In The Swamp
Download the tab & notation for this acoustic blues lick.
Here’s another lower melody using the flatted 3rd and the flatted 7th. This pattern is also two measures long. It’s a little trickier because of the hammer-ons and pull-offs. The B7 pattern is completely different, but is another example of what you can do with the 5 chord. The variation pattern makes a great response line if you are creating a chorus.
Acoustic Blues Lick #20: Truck Stop
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In this example, you can see how the simple addition of a pull-off can change the entire feel of the lick. You can use the same idea on each of the other voicings. The pull-off to the open E string works harmonically because the E note belongs to the E and A chords. Keep all of the other strings sustaining.
Acoustic Blues Lick #30: Rockin’ Chair Blues
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In my opinion, one of the most interesting things about this chorus is the use of dissonance. Sometimes, we spend too much effort trying to make certain that what we choose to play always sounds consonant. How you resolve or not resolving a non-chordal tone can peak the listener’s interest. This chorus can get you started with that journey.
Acoustic Blues Lick #35: Low Down D
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I keep my pinky on the 2nd string third fret for the entire lick. Low Down D sounds minor because I use the F natural and the C natural which are the flatted third and flatted seventh, but I don’t use the F# or major 3rd. Try putting a ¼ step bend on the F natural to change the flavor just a little.
Acoustic Blues Lick #44: Bella’s Blues
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Here’s a 12 bar blues using the very familiar major barre chord form. One of the things that’s great about this lick is that it uses a movable chord form, so you play this one in any key. There is a constant thumping bass and embellishment to the dominant 7th chord. Sometimes it’s good to use a non standard turnaround like the single note idea you find here.
If you like these Acoustic Blues Licks be sure to download Joe Dalton’s 50 Acoustic Blues Guitar Licks You MUST Know for much more including tab, notation, and jam tracks!