Read your update with interest. You are well on your way, James, thanks for posting the book titles, I always appreciate some tips concerning the blues stuff, as I plan to hopefully go down this route too (if I ever finish Grade 2 consolidation, which is an endless loop of practice items, I want to improve a bit more).
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@TheMadman_tobyjenner
Let’s hope my strategy works better than one of Baldrick’s cunning plans.
@SteveL_G99
Steve, try to think of it as still structured time, the only difference is that you have set the structure yourself following Justin’s holistic practice guide. With regards to the Complete Electric Blues Method, the moveable shuffle patterns can be a bit off putting but remember you have learned the shuffle riff (and variations in the classic course) and power chords in Grade 2. It is not easy at first but with finger stretching practice holding down 6th string at the 3rd fret with your index finger and fretting the 5th string at the 5th/7th fret with your pinky is achievable over time. The variation that I had to put a side was the stretch to the 8th fret as there was no way I could achieve that stretch. I’m still working on the other variations to build up endurance whilst learning about stop time as it will let me play them in any key. I would say that the acoustic blues book is certainly easier but no videos with it, just audio.
@Helen0609
Hi Andrea - I would say take your time with Grade 2 Consolidation but keep your practice sessions interesting and fun. There is no harm in dipping your toes into particular lessons in Grade 3 or other beginner friendly material if it keeps your interests up and inspires your practice sessions. I’m actually going back over some Grade 2 stuff like the weak finger G chord and F chord cheats as learning some new material which required them exposed my weaknesses.
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July 2023 Update
Recorded and posted my second original song:
First time I have recorded a song using the Zoom H5 connected to my phone. I got it primarily for prompt audio or video recordings rather than setting up the laptop and DAW every time I want to record as I don’t have the space at the moment for a dedicated studio.
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James, thanks for bringing the Complete Acoustic Blues course to my attention again. I had dismissed it earlier because it lacked any video lessons, but after reading the reviews I decided to order and just finished looking through the material. I think the beginning section will provide some additional practice in acoustic blues topics covered in Grade 2 and 3 in Justin’s course, but provide some interesting variation.
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The way I see it Justin provides you with really solid foundations. That’s why it never put me off with the book not including video lessons. Likewise with the electric blues book I tend to look at the videos more of as a demonstration of the example being played and rely on the skills that Justin has provided me. The thing with the beginner’s course is you can learn songs to further consolidate what you have learned but when it came to the blues I found there to be less examples at a beginners level building in difficulty so the books to me provide those additional examples to keep things fresh, interesting and challenging. Now that you have the book we can support each other as we work our way through the examples given.
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James, I’ve played through some of the Complete Acoustic Blues Guitar book this week. You are right in that it is easier than the electric blues book at the beginning. Here is a link to my learning log observations to avoid cluttering your learning log with too much of my text:
Complete Acoustic Blues Guitar book initial observations
I listened to your 2 original song single takes. They both sound great and better than my tenth take. You’ve included a variety of more advanced techniques in each of your songs and both are good to listen to as just melodic songs. I look forward to hearing your finished song videos.
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Feel free to post any questions/comments on my learning log that you have on the blues guitar books as could lead to some interesting discussions that may help both of us and other beginners thinking of exploring the blues. I’ve been in two minds of recording and sharing both the boogie woogie on my learning log once I have refreshed my memory on them.
Thank you very much for taking the time to listen to my first two original songs. I’m pleased to hear that you thought they sounded great. The overall goal will be to produce more of a band production but still have a lot to learn and a lot to practice.
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Hi James.
Seeing as how you don’t mind your log filling up with questions 
I have a question.
I’m just getting into the blues in m13 and I’m interested in keeping the blues going alongside the rest of the lessons. Those non-Justin books that you are using - as I only play electric, is the electric blues book a good follow on from m13 or would the acoustic one be more suitable?
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Hi David, I would start off with the blues lessons in the Justin’s classic beginner’s course to keep the blues going following M13 in the new course. There is some nice variations to keep things fresh and Justin lays down solid foundations. With regards to the electric blues book if you know your limitations and park aside anything that seems beyond your level (i.e. when playing in the closed positions) there are some good examples to work on that build on what you have learned from Justin. Although, I think the acoustic blues book is more suitable and a better follow on from M13 for examples to work on to keep the blues interest flowing. Also I’m sure I heard an acoustic guitar calling your name 
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Thanks James.
I haven’t seen the old classic course and I don’t think there’s a link to it on the website. There was a thread about it recently - I’ll have a dig for it.
I somehow had a feeling that the acoustic book may start at a lower level although I’m not into fingerstyle. Well not yet anyway, there’s a good few decades of pick learning to keep me going!
And…erm…where was this alleged acoustic calling me? I didn’t hear it. 
I have a very old and very battered acoustic but it doesn’t have any strings on it. It’s more of a drum!
Your update shows that you are still working through the course methodically, the same as you always have. I think we could all do with some of your dedication.
Was going to say “keep going “…but I don’t need to!
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So far the book has not touched on fingerstyle blues. It’s more like this Basic Blues Improvisation | JustinGuitar.com and there’s a link to the classic course to book mark.
I’m going through a stage of treating the guitar like a drum kit where you emulate the kick drum, snare drum and hi hat in your rhythm playing on guitar. Though I’m not very good at it .
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I finally found sometime to read your update James and it was a very interisting read. I think it’s good to combine periods of structured practice to periods one feels more loose and free, in your case it led to amazing results, as your original songs are very good and I could see how much engaged they kept you.
Oh…ooops…same over here 
But I’m putting some remedy and focus on just one song on my acoustic strumming until I’ll nail it close to what I want it to be 
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Thanks for the link, James. I’ll have a look at it.
Good luck with the ‘drumming’! I imagine there’s going to be a lot to think about trying to do that! Have a word with JK, I think he knows about drums.
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James, every time I read your LL I get the sudden urge to learn more blues. Cool that you’re learning from books. I find that there is something about book learning that I really like. Especially if the book comes with good audio examples in a CD or online platform.
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Hey Silvia, I’m glad that you found my LL entries interesting. Yes, it feels somewhat enlightening to have some free and loose periods. Working on the originals was really engaging but I need to keep reminding myself that I need to keep progressing with the lesssons. The problem with learning songs is that there are so many to choose from and it doesn’t help when Justin pops up on screen saying here’s a new song to learn before you’ve finished learning the last one 
Go on Alex, you know you have the blues in you yes, there’s something good about having a hard copy for reading alongside the audio/videos. The acoustic book comes with decent audio examples. The electric book comes with both video and audio. Though, like you I always refer back to a Justin lesson but it is nice to see the example getting played to get a good feel of it.
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James, I have just started learning from the Complete Blues Guitar book, since I am alternating acoustic and electric each week. I am embarrassed to admit that I was was completely wrong about my initial evaluation of the book that I posted above 14 days ago. After actually playing the 12 bar blues from the second chapter, I saw that only the F7 Is a barre chord and no harder than a standard F and the C7 and G7 are just the open 7th chords from Module 13.
Hi James. Great LL update.
Here’s a book I’ve been using when I get the urge to try fingerstyle blues.
It starts with basic stuff (alternating bass and the like) and develops it all later. A lot of it is similar in content to Justin’s lessons.
I too like ‘hard copy’ (probably an age thing
). I’ve got the original beginners and intermediate course books and I regularly refer back them. It’s so much easier to find things rather than spending ages trawling through the web site.
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That’s good that you have picked up the electric book again. When you get to the closed position shuffle riffs there are a few that are far too stretchy but immediately after them is a stop time example which is a lot of fun learning.
I can’t believe that you’ve been holding out on some fingerstyle blues AVOYPs on us Gordon That is a highly recommended book on the interweb. One that I’ll have to put in my “to buy” list. Likewise I’ve got the beginner and intermediate books. It is always good to get some time away from a screen.
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James, you are right. The closed position shuffle with the b7 extension is too stretchy. I was able to do the exercise by moving the exercise root note from the 3rd fret to the 7th fret (played with the first finger) and the flat 7 played on the 12th fret with the pinkie.
The stop time example was interesting to play along with, but my favorite was the boogie woogie on the next page which is inspired by the Texas shuffle of SRV on Pride and Joy, especially if you replace the E note (4th string, 2nd fret) with scratched up strums on the first 3 strings. I know because I looked at Justin’s song lesson: Pride and Joy song lesson last month. It is listed as a Grade 7 song and beyond my ability at this point (although since it doesn’t teach the solo i would rate the lesson at about grade 5) but I can at least play a little of the Texas shuffle/boogie pattern.
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Hey Steve glad to hear that you also found the stop time example interesting. That’s good to know the next example is even better. I haven’t got there yet as got distracted writing originals but now looking forward to learning that piece. Plan to record some of the blues pieces up to this point next weekend when I’ll have some time to record.
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