BLIM Class 4 - Intermediate Guitar Players

[JSheehan1]

Hi guys,

I am super intrigued about starting the BLIM course. I have been playing guitar for around 5 years and love the SRV/Jimi Hendrix/John Mayer Style and want to develop my blues playing. I have attached videos of me playing Couldn’t Stand The Weather to show my current technical ability - I feel I am confident in lots of the techniques for blues playing.

However, I have struggled with improv. My techincal ability lets me recreate songs I like but I struggle taking ideas heard in those that I learn into improvisation. I don’t think my musical vocabulary is great or my theoretical understanding of making a solo sound good is there - particularly when linking patterns and ideas, or choosing the right notes over certain chords. I’ve also included a video of my trying to improv - this was a first take but it probably the best I have ever improvised over a backing track!

I’m 99% sure this course is what I need to develop my blues playing, and also to go back on work on some basic techniques. However, as it quite a large investment I wanted to get advice from those who have done the course and maybe feel like they began at a similar level.

What did those who were an intermediate starting the course get most from it? Is this course pitched at those coming out of the early beginner stage or is it challenging for all players? What did everyone enjoy about it most?

Thanks for taking a look! Any help and advice would be great!

EDIT - Some really useful responses here from the community. A quick thank you to anyone who has engaged and offered some advice / conversation about the course, it’s great to hear from the community

[coyotesnacks]

Hi J,

I’ll be taking the course alongside you and so can’t comment from the perspective of someone who has finished it, but I thought I’d let you know you’re not the only intermediate player. I went to music school and have been performing on the guitar for a long time! I signed up exactly for the reason you said: I struggle with improvising (I absolutely have the technical ability to learn a solo and trick people into thinking it’s improvised LOL–that is how I survived college jazz combo). I read the statement about being through the advanced beginner stage as a course minimum, not as a target demographic. I’m choosing to go into this with a beginner’s mindset, and am excited about seeing new strategies for conveying ideas that I’ve struggled with in the past.

Financially, my reasoning was simply that it’s still cheaper than music school!

[tony]

Great stuff. Look forward to hearing more from you. I didn’t attempt to record my soloing on the blues stuff. I’ve been soloing a fair bit on G major scale and when I went to solo on the minor pentatonic it didn’t even sound like a solo.

Nice to meet a few more of the BLIM4 crowd.

[tony]

realizing you have to wait till January for the next lesson has been confusing to me…

You get a button to click “Next Module” which, when clicked, takes you back to the overall blues immersion page, not to the next module.

https://www.justinguitar.com/classes/blues-immersion

[sclay]

@JSheehan1

Hey Joe,

Welcome mate.
I did the BLIM course last year - the inaugural one - and I came into it from a fairly solid intermediate Blues level.

You obviously have a good skillset going on, and I’m assuming, from your post, that its the pentatonic framework that you want to develop.

Well, the course is literally structured around the 5 pentatonic patterns, with each month concentrating on one; including its layout, where both the chord and colour tones are, bending strategies, and connections to other patterns etc.

Theres a heavy emphasis on learning and playing licks in each pattern, and a set piece to practice it all over.
I think the course will help you alot in learning and incorporating this framework into your playing.

In addition to the pattern and lick framework, each month has additional lessons that teach a technique or some practical theory. eg riffs, 6s and 9s, melodic sequences etc. Plus theres 2 Blues songs to study and learn.
There are also additional, more advanced lessons in each module for intermediate type players who may have the time and skillset to pursue them.

This fast paced nature of the course can be of real benefit to intermediate level players, if you’re organised. With learning in general, I think there’s real merit in putting oneself under time pressure.

If you can keep pace with the main lessons, the additional ones provide extra learning, plus it will test you timewise.
And of course, the great community vibe here will allow you to really immerse yourself with others doing the course.

All in all, I think you will benefit greatly. Plan your time out beforehand. After the first month, you’ll get a feel for the structure and pace that should set you up for the next 5 months.
And, the course will be there forever, for revision and consolidation.

All the best. Enjoy

Cheers, Shane

[roger_holland]

@JSheehan1

I’m 99% sure this course is what I need to develop my blues playing, and also to go back on work on some basic techniques.

Hi Joe and welcome here

Well I am 100% that you will benefit from the course … you already have a good basis and even beyond the desired basis to get started … I wish you alot of fun

Greetings,Rogier

[Richard_close2u]

@JSheehan1

Hi Joe.
Welcome to bLIM and welcome to the Community.
Bravo for sharing recordings and asking important questions.
THe simple answer to everything is - yes, you’re 100% ready to start BLIM and it will definitely help in your desire to improve overall blues and playing and specifically improvising.

Are you in the BLIM 4 group yet? Can you see these pages: https://community.justinguitar.com/c/blues-immersion-class-4/427
If you cannot, direct message me with confirmation of your enrolment and I can add you.
Richard

[TedM52]

Still getting the hang of posting on here

[TedM52]

Really impressive tone of Phrasing and tone on Weather, you certainly have that down, well done.

[JSheehan1]

Hi Shane,

That’s amazing, thanks for such a great response!

Yes that certainly feels like a lot of the elements I need to improve on will be covered. I also agree the fast paced nature of the course should also make for a really good challenge. This is really useful to know about the course plus some good advice too - I’ll certainly enroll! I’m also seeing the benefits of the community already

Thanks, Joe

[JSheehan1]

Thanks Ted!

[JSheehan1]

Hi Roger,

Thank you!

[JSheehan1]

That’s great to hear - hopefully the course will be beneficial for us both then!

Certainly a good point with the financial aspect too

[Beatup6String]

Shane said everything there is to say… but I just wanted to welcome you and say Hey Joe, you will learn a lot from BLIM.

[Pinon]

Richard - reference this site you posted ( https://community.justinguitar.com/c/blues-immersion-class-4/427) , I am getting a " Oops! That page doesn’t exist or is private." note at the top

[Richard_close2u]

@Pinon
Are you subbed to BLIM 4 Greg?
I am helping sort this issue so will message you.

[Radds1]

After listening to you play I think your playing will go through the roof if you work your way through BLIM. It is def not aimed at beginners.

I was in the inaugural group and would say I’m around the intermediate mark. My playing has improved immensely since completing the course (and continues to get better).

I think your playing is at a level where the techniques you’ll learn from BLIM will take you to advanced very quickly.

[RichieLbv]

“It is definitely not aimed at beginners,” it is intended for Grades 3-4 according to the description. JSheehan1 is clearly well above that level. I am delighted to see him with us on Blim.

[JSheehan1]

Hey, thanks for the reply!

Great to hear the course really helped you and still is, I’m looking forward to starting