I am currently working through the Essential Blues Lead Guitar & E-Shape Barre Chords modules in Grade 4. I completed the Blues Guitar Studies module back when it was part of Grade 3 (now moved to Grade 4 except for the “Lick’n’Riff” lesson).
I’ll likely try the Solo Blues Guitar with MatchMySound module when I’m done with the Essential Blues Lead Guitar module. This will be a good way to apply the string-bending I’m currently learning.
Actually, those are acoustic guitar pieces with little (or none?) string bending. However, they are a good way to apply the slides, hammer-ons and pull-offs that you will have encountered in the Blues Lead Guitar module.
Hi John @jjw
It’s true that there isn’t any bending, a curl here and there and that’s about it…
But they are not specific to the acoustic guitar…
(although it does sound a bit nicer ), but I type this for someone to read along with and only an electric one …Go for it …I did all three with electric guitar.
I’ve been working on this too. I’ve done the Boom Bass with Licks and the Steady Thumb Blues. It was fun challenging myself with the MatchMySound thing
Yup, you’re right, just a few curls. And, since I’ve been practicing applying hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides for over a year now, I should be decently prepared for this “new course”. However, since it’s played fingerstyle, I’ll likely wait until I’ve caught up with my fingerstyle lessons.
Like an idiot, I skipped over the fingerstyle lessons in Grades 2-3 after getting discouraged with how difficult the “Happy Birthday Fingerstyle” module was for me. I now realize that the right-hand finger dexterity and independence, plus the more challenging left-right hand coordination I would have learned from the fingerstyle lessons would have prepared me for these solo blues arrangements (which I love the sound of) as well as hybrid picking, which I definitely want to learn.
So, in parallel with my Grade 4 studies, I’m also going back to complete the fingerstyle lessons I skipped:
Grade 2, Module 11 - Introduction to Fingerstyle Guitar
Grade 2, Module 11 - Happy Birthday Finger Style
Grade 3, Module 16 - Rolling Chords to Spice Up Your Fingerstyle
Grade 3, Module 16 - How to Play Greensleeves on the Guitar
Grade 3, Module 19 - 4:4 Fingerstyle Patterns
So, my ADVICE for beginners is DON’T SKIP ANY GRADE 1-3 MODULES!! All the skills in these lessons are really considered foundational skills that all guitar players should have a basic ability to perform. Additionally, my experience has shown me that all the things we practice have a synergistic effect, improving not only your ability to perform the skill you are practicing, but your overall playing comfort and ability.
I hope you found it in the meantime… Mathieu - math07 - posted the link above.
I did the first two lessons too (even the “Boom bass with licks” was my first AVOYP ever.)
I liked having the Matchmysound to play slower and have the tab big in front of me along with the audio, but didn’t use the recording feature. I think I can tell with my ears and when I tried it only worked so-so. But that was on my tablet!
On the other hand, I also like to pay along with Justin’s video intro play-along slowed down!
I’ll have to revisit those lessons and the final third one as I really liked them a lot!
The reason why I spent more time on this solo course than my BLIM revision is simple : the fun factor. I missed my acoustic guitar and it was fun to try something new.
But, the BLIM revision is definitely something useful as it covers more ground on the theory/improv side. I will do it in parralel and this course gave me a boost of motivation as the medley part was my favorite part of the BLIM course. And those songs are similar to medleys.
So far, it feels like 2 differents worlds as I am not sure how I could mix the licks from the 2 different courses as they are in different keys and styles. At my level, it would be hard to mix a steady thumb blues with some BLIM licks. But, the next piece is supposed to be using gospel slides, which is something that we covered in BLIM. So it might be easier for this piece.
ok, so go buy an acoustic is the recommendation…
I have had my eye on a hollow-body arch-top. I also have a decade turn b-day coming. hmm…
Thanks for the thoughts. I do like finger style and do play songs that would be better on something more lute like or at least acoustic. I get by with the my electric and do like how it sounds most of the time. I will take a look at the class and see how it fits my goals. Ancient sacred and medieval dance sound like a match as well as early 1900s blues.
Exactly! It’s like in BLIM, I kept hearing Justin saying : go buy a sunburst hollow-body ES-335. I don’t know if something was wrong with my speaker or my ears, but I might not be the only one who heard it ?
As a Blim starter, I felt that too - can’t combine both - but I have the hope that during Blim I will learn the theory of it a bit better, so I will be able in summer!?
If I will, I’ll ask you again if you still don’t and then I’ll tell you the secret
This gives away a tiny amount of what is coming in your BLIM class. Don’t look if you enjoy the surprise of the unit drop.
Summary
Justin starts to get into some of that I think around unit 4, and more deeply in unit 6. He is mostly taking about moving the shapes to chase the chord progression. In unit 6, he talks about some theory that will probably help you answer your own question. I’ll keep any more a secret.
Good idea with the hide/show content!
Having read your text (thank you!) I am sure that there are so many more things and surprises coming up still!
But I wasn’t really worrying on the theory missing than rather me possibly not understanding it enough and being able to apply it!
I did skip that part myself. I was quite full with just the playing parts. It is really nice that I can go back any time and get the theory once I have time to learn it. I pick up theory far faster than playing!
Same ! Applying the theory concepts from BLIM Unit 6 to my own playing is definitely not done yet. I’m still learning the medley song.
On a personal level, I don’t even know if improvising my own song is part of my short term goals. I have to think about it as I feel like I’m having more fun playing songs/solo than writing one.
It is an acoustic fingerstyle blues module in grade 4. A revamped version of the solo blues dvd that Justin did many years ago.
), but I type this for someone to read along with and only an electric one …Go for it 
…I did all three with electric guitar.
I missed my acoustic guitar and it was fun to try something new.
