I know how much you guys love learning blues guitar riffs, so here’s another guitar lesson for you to scratch the itch 😉
I love this blues guitar riff, and although in the lesson I teach it in the Open E position, the fact is, I use these thirds time and time again, regardless of what key I’m in. That’s why its so important to see this riff as coming out of the scale – that way you learn how to apply it in any key.
Don’t look at this as something you can only do in open E… yeah, it sounds terrific in E, but these thirds work anywhere. The thirds interval is a great one to familiarize yourself with, there’s just so much you can do with it. I’ll probably do a whole lesson on that soon.
The riff I’m showing you here is suspiciously similar to the one in Mary Had a Little Lamb (Buddy Guy or SRV style) and one of the variations was used in Pride and Joy… so you can see that this riff is definitely a good one for your blues arsenal!
Watch the Blues Guitar Riff on Youtube
For More Riffs Like This One, Click Here
If you liked the style and difficulty level of this guitar riff, you might like to check out my short course that contains a bunch more guitar riffs in G major.
Hey J , that did not work your fingers were the way to see where you are playin…and what about your picking hand…
Bad angle with the camera.
hi mate good lesson icould see it all fine
Brilliant, love it, if only the Steve were still around, just what would he be doing now I wonder?
Easy to follow, nice and clear thanks Jon.
Very cool! As to the last chord, did you just bump your middle and ring fingers up a string? Gives us an Asus2, right?
Thanks, very cool!
Nice clear lesson, sounds really cool, how can we use this principle for other keys and chords?
Great sound from the guitar. What guitar effect are you using?
I don’t use any pedals or anything, that’s just through my Peavey Classic 50W. A bit of reverb, plus the crunch channel.
Ever since you went over thirds in the scale patterns lesson I have been wanting to learn more about them. I even spoke to a Bass player who mentioned that the thirds also come in augmented and suspended? I think it would be great if you were to put a course together. Actually I have been patiently awaiting . . . .
Thanks J
Hi Strumz, no, thirds are either major or minor; they cannot be augmented or suspended, although you can have full chords that are like that. Incidentally, I’ve just started working on a new course, and working with thirds will be a prominent feature in it.
And………. the course is finally done! There’s a whole section (or two) on Thirds in Dynamic Rhythm Guitar.
Real cool stuff.I enjoy the lessons and finding myself starting to play in ways I never thougt possible.
Jonathan, What exactly makes a third? A third of the chord which mean you are playing the 5 and the b7 for minor 3rd and then the 4-6 gives you a Major 3rd? And are you not actually walking over and playing A5 – Open G5 walk over to an E5?????
Thanks for the answer and all Your Great teaching!!!!
I understand Joe Bonnamassa Likes to play thirds and uses them quite frequently. Can You expand on his style and usage of the 3rds he utilizes??