12 Bar Slow Blues - In The Style Of BB KING

Interactive Guitar Masterclass Resumes

Michael hosted a live masterclass, discussing his guitar equipment and the development of the teleport device, which aims to simplify music practice and facilitate online collaboration. He shared plans to integrate teleport into his lessons and courses, creating an interactive ecosystem for guitar players. The masterclass resumed after a summer break, with Michael alternating between daytime and nighttime sessions to accommodate different time zones. Participants shared their experiences and interests, including blues music and guitar techniques, and Michael encouraged audience interaction for future lesson topics.

12-Bar Slow Blues Guitar Lesson

Michael led a guitar lesson on playing a 12-bar slow blues in Bb, explaining the 6/8 time signature and demonstrating two chord shapes for dominant 7th chords. He showed how to alternate between the I chord (Bb) and IV chord (Eb) at a slow tempo of 58 beats per minute, and encouraged participants to practice arpeggiating and matching the hi-hat pattern. The lesson included technical details about chord fingerings and patterns, with Jeff confirming the correct chord shapes, and Michael emphasized that there were no dumb questions and participants could ask for clarification at any time.

Blues Chord Progression Guitar Lesson

Michael led a guitar lesson on blues chord progressions, explaining quick and slow changes while demonstrating strumming and arpeggiating patterns. Several participants experienced video delay issues, with Jeff Skoldberg suggesting that pinning Michael's video feed resolved the timing problem. Despite technical difficulties, Michael continued the lesson, planning to add secondary parts in the next segment.

Slow Blues Guitar Techniques

Michael taught a guitar lesson on playing slow blues, covering three essential parts: basic chords, arpeggiated rhythm, and horn parts. He demonstrated how to play these parts using specific techniques and explained their musical purpose. Michael also discussed soloing over slow blues, focusing on B.B. King's style and using a major pentatonic scale. He encouraged students to practice these concepts and provided resources for further practice.

Blues Guitar Learning Strategies

Michael discussed the blues guitar styles of B.B. King and Albert King, explaining that while Albert King focused on minor scales and specific shapes, B.B. King emphasized bending through the 9th note rather than relying on third intervals. He advised students to limit their listening to one record at a time and focus deeply on understanding the player's approach, rather than trying to learn multiple styles simultaneously. Jeff Skoldberg noted that this approach could be expanded to other blues boxes, and Michael recommended Anthony Stauffer's "Five Essential Blues Boxes" as a resource for further study.

Teleport Pedal Subscription Update

Michael led a session on guitar lessons, encouraging participants to create their own music rather than just consume content. He announced plans to make Teleport pedals more accessible through a subscription model in the fall, allowing for more affordable options. Michael also discussed the importance of community engagement, inviting feedback on future lesson topics and genres to balance between blues, rock, jam band, and reggae styles. Participants were reminded that while a Teleport pedal is not required to download tracks, it enhances the experience for recording and community play-alongs.

Balanced Guitar Practice Strategies

Michael discussed the importance of a balanced practice routine, emphasizing the need to focus on exercises, learning favorite songs, and creating original music. He advised against simply noodling over backing tracks and encouraged learners to learn melodies and create their own songs to develop a better understanding of music. Jeff expressed gratitude for Michael's impact on his guitar playing journey, and Michael appreciated the feedback, emphasizing the value of community and consistent practice.