In this week’s episode, Paul dives into the moody and expressive world of minor blues progressions.

Building on last week’s look at soloing over major blues, this episode walks you through the structure, chord options, and soloing approaches for a classic 12-bar minor blues.

By the end, you'll know how to play and solo over a minor blues progression, select the right scales, and discover great artists and tracks for inspiration.

What is a Minor Blues Progression?

• Explained as a 12-bar blues that swaps dominant 7th chords for minor chords, resulting in a darker, more emotional feel.
• Variations include using minor 7th chords or introducing a dominant 7th on chord 5 for extra bluesy tension.

Common Minor Blues Variations

• Paul demonstrates the classic A minor progression and a B.B. King-inspired variation (“The Thrill Is Gone”) that introduces a major 7th chord for extra drama.

Beginner-Friendly Approaches

• Tips on using open chords (A minor, D minor, E minor, D7, E7, and Fmaj7) for easier playability.
• How to simplify strumming and tempo for beginners.

Soloing Over Minor Blues

• Introduction to the A minor pentatonic scale—your go-to for minor blues soloing.
• Shows both open and fifth-fret positions.
• Expressive techniques: bends, vibrato, slides, and targeting root notes (A notes).
• Advanced flavour: how to add blues scale notes and natural minor notes for richer phrasing.

Listening for Inspiration

Song recommendations to practice and internalise the sound of minor blues:

• “The Thrill Is Gone” by B.B. King
• “Still Got the Blues” by Gary Moore
• “Tin Pan Alley” by Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Curated Spotify playlist with 25 minor blues classics. Click here to access it

Homework for the Week

1. Practice playing the minor blues progression in A using both open and minor 7th chords.
2. Improvise with the A minor pentatonic, starting with simple phrases and working up to bends and slides.
3. Listen to the Spotify playlist and focus on picking out phrasing, note choice, and expressive techniques from the pros.

Spotify Playlist: 25 Minor Blues Tracks – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5M3zmU5zHT7d1h5sNWtG3l?si=sr3fLJRXSqqcT6yrL9vX3g

Video Version: Watch Paul’s finger placement and demonstrations here.

Beginner Guitar Academy: Try the Academy for two weeks for just $1 and get access to step-by-step courses, songs, and community support.

This week, Paul continues the deep dive into blues guitar, building on foundation concepts from Episode 245. The focus shifts to soloing over a major blues progression—specifically, what scales to use, how to target chord tones, and the techniques that legendary blues artists like B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan employ in their solos.

Recap: Major vs. Minor Blues (12-Bar Blues Structure)

• Definition and structure of a 12-bar major blues progression using dominant 7 chords (A7, D7, E7).
• Why the turnaround bar matters, and options for looping or finishing the progression.

Foundational Scale for Soloing

• Why the A minor pentatonic scale (A, C, D, E, G) works so well, even over major blues progressions.
• The “bluesy” tension created by overlapping the scale’s minor third (C) against the chord’s major third (C#).

Targeting Chord Tones for More Musical Solos

• Root, third, and flat 7th notes of each dominant 7 chord (A7, D7, E7).
• How to start by simply hitting the root notes as the chords change, or add more complexity by incorporating other chord tones.
• Examples: bending C to C# for A7, sliding to F# for D7, emphasizing B for E7.

Making Your Solos Sound More Interesting: Advanced Scale Choices

• Major Pentatonic Scale: Adds brightness and connects with more chord tones.
• Blues Scale: Introduces the flat five (the “devil’s note” for added tension).
• Mixolydian Mode: A sophisticated, more “perfect” match for dominant 7 chords.

Blues Soloing Approaches of the Legends

• B.B. King: Simple, expressive phrases in the “BB box,” blending major and minor pentatonic. Focuses on bending and vibrato over flashy scale runs.
• Stevie Ray Vaughan: Aggressive mixing of major and minor pentatonic, with embellishments like hammers, pull-offs, and expressive picking.
• Eric Clapton: Known for chord tone targeting, major-minor pentatonic blends, and signature licks that follow the progression.

Practice Tips

• Start by jamming over backing tracks with A minor pentatonic.
• Progress to targeting root notes and other chord tones as the progression changes.
• Add in extra notes from the major pentatonic, blues scale, or Mixolydian mode as you become comfortable.
• Don’t rush—focus on phrasing, feel, and emotion, not just speed and complexity.

• Backing Tracks & Playlists:
• Academy members: Check the dashboard’s backing tracks section for new major and minor blues tracks. Search “A blues backing track” on YouTube or Spotify.
• Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5qoEzDgKllxygGKgQGjei4?si=Nj7PFvFKREiOvbi8OmZy4Q
• Join the Discussion: Academy members: Share your favorite tracks or soloing progress on the forum!
• Not Yet a Member? Try Beginner Guitar Academy with a $1 two-week trial: beginnnerguitaracademy.com

The essence of blues soloing is feel—the right note, at the right time, with the right emotion. Start with the basics, experiment slowly, and let the greats inspire you.

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In this week’s episode, Paul tackles a common question from Beginner Guitar Academy members: What exactly does it mean when someone says “a blues”—is it a minor blues, and is there such a thing as a major blues?

Paul breaks down the differences between major and minor blues progressions, walks you through classic chord sequences, offers examples of famous songs you can listen to and learn, and shares practical tips for practicing both styles.

Key Topics Covered:

Community Updates:

• Recap of the recent live Q&A (available in the Academy and member-only podcast)
• Announcement of a new, easier capo version of “Every Breath You Take” (now available in the riff section)

Main Topic: Blues Explained

• What guitarists mean by "a blues in A"
• Almost always refers to a 12-bar blues progression in A using dominant 7th chords (A7, D7, E7)
• Concept of the “major blues”:
• Based on dominant 7th chords—these have both major and minor elements due to the flattened seventh
• The most common form you’ll encounter
• Guitarists often solo over these chords using the minor pentatonic or blues scale, creating a signature, gritty sound

Examples of Major Blues Songs:

• “Pride and Joy” — Stevie Ray Vaughan
• “Hoochie Coochie Man” — Muddy Waters
• “Johnny B. Goode” — Chuck Berry

What is a Minor Blues?

• Structured identically (12-bar format) but uses minor chords (e.g., Am, Dm, E7)
• Creates a darker, moodier, and more soulful sound
• Suitable scales: natural minor, Dorian mode for colour, and minor pentatonics for soloing

Examples of Minor Blues Songs:

• “The Thrill Is Gone” — B.B. King
• “Tin Pan Alley” — Stevie Ray Vaughan
• “Ain’t No Sunshine” — Bill Withers

Major vs. Minor Blues at a Glance:

• Major blues: dominant 7 chords, upbeat and gritty
• Minor blues: minor chords, soulful and emotional

Why This Matters for Beginners:

• Understanding the difference helps when searching for backing tracks or improvising
• Knowledge of these forms is crucial for jamming, songwriting, and selecting suitable scales while soloing

Practice Tips:

• Try out both progressions with open and dominant 7 chords
• Jam over loops you record yourself for both major and minor blues
• Learn one song in each style, such as “Before You Accuse Me” (major) or “Ain’t No Sunshine” (minor)
• Record your playing to compare the feel between major and minor blues

Extensions/Chord Choices:

• Use dominant 7 chords for major blues (not just major triads or major 7 chords)
• For minor blues, try minor 7 extensions for a richer sound

Links & Resources:

• Watch the video podcast: BGAPodcast.com/245
• Learn more and start your two-week trial for just $1: beginnerguitaracademy.com
• Member Q&A and riff lessons are accessible in the Academy dashboard

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