Electric Blues with Kenny
Kenny "Blue" Ray will guide you through the world of electric blues. He will cover styles of many of the blues greats as well as throw in his personal library of knowledge.
View Free Lesson View Kenny's Bio
The blues is a distinctly American style of music. Many popular genres such as jazz, rock, and country music draw upon basic blues concepts. Consequently, it is advantageous for any guitarist to study the blues.
Lessons in this Series:
Lesson 1
1st and 2nd Scales
Ladies and gentlemen, JamPlay is proud to present an amazing electric blues player appropriately named Kenny "Blue" Ray. Kenny has been playing for over 40+ years and is bringing his knowledge forward for you to learn. Kenny begins this lesson set with an amazing miniseries on blues lead guitar....
Length: 11:43 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
3rd Scale Tips and Albert King's Style
Kenny brings forth the next step in electric blues. Here he demonstrates the 3rd scale and provides some tips on playing Texas and Chicago blues. In the second half of this lesson, Kenny ties scales 1-3 together and applies them to the style of Albert King.
Length: 17:12 Difficulty: 3.0 Member OnlyLesson 3
Style of Albert Collins
Albert Collins brought a lot of style to the blues scene. In this lesson, Kenny breaks down Albert's style for you to learn.
Length: 10:31 Difficulty: 1.5 Free Sample Lesson from this Series!
Bending and Soloing Techniques in the Key of A
Kenny uses the key of A to demonstrate bending techniques and soloing options in the Texas and Chicago blues styles.
Length: 16:11 Difficulty: 0.5 Member Only
Working On Turnarounds
Kenny brings us some great information regarding turnarounds. He demonstrates some of the most common blues turnarounds and explains how to achieve some of the sounds created in Texas and Chicago blues.
Length: 12:48 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
Style of T-Bone Walker
Kenny is back in full stride in lesson 6. Kenny explores the style of T-Bone Walker and how he created his own unique blues sound.
Length: 12:48 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Rhythm and Lead Together
Kenny shares some great tips on how to incorporate both rhythm and lead guitar together in your blues playing. These tips will enable you to create a massive blues sound in any environment or situation.
Length: 19:49 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Tension Notes and Some History
Kenny enlightens us as to how tension notes are used in blues. He demonstrates the theory behind these specific notes and how they are used. Kenny also delves into his past with some great personal stories about who he has played with and where he has implemented his style of blues.
Length: 6:01 Difficulty: 1.5 Member Only
Style of Hubert Sumlin
Here, Kenny "Blue" Ray provides an overview of Hubert Sumlin's style. This is a lesson filled with history and blues guitar that can be applied to a variety of blues styles.
Length: 16:48 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Style of John Lee Hooker
Kenny continues his Blues Guitar Series with a lesson on the style of John Lee Hooker.
Length: 14:26 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Style of Freddy King
Kenny introduces JamPlay to the style of Freddy King. Kenny recalls some great licks and information about his style.
Length: 13:07 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Style of Magic Sam
Kenny continues his blues series with an informative lesson on the style of Magic Sam. Learn and understand how Magic Sam played guitar and how he influenced the blues music scene.
Length: 9:58 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Blues Based Rhythms
Kenny breaks into a world of blues based rhythms. Here, he introduces his passion for these lessons by demonstrating some blues rhythms he has picked up over the years.
Length: 13:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
T-Bone Walker Rhythm Style
Kenny quickly dives straight into a T-Bone Walker rhythm style in the key of A. He begins with a more simple rhythm and progresses to advanced rhythmic techniques to round out your creative bag of tricks.
Length: 10:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Backward Shuffle Rhythm
Also known as the flat tire rhythm, Kenny demonstrates different styles that the backward shuffle can be applied to.
Length: 6:32 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
Kenny on Robert Jr. Lockwood and Robert Johnson
Kenny "Blue" Ray breaks down the rhythmic styles of Robert Jr. Lockwood and Robert Johnson. This lesson features blues rhythms that have withstood the test of time.
Length: 12:27 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Great Blues Arrangement
Kenny reviews one of his own favorite rhythmic arrangements. By pulling from influences such as Jimmy Vaughn and Doyal Bramhall II, Kenny is sure to bring out that inner blues player.
Length: 6:25 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
8 Bar Blues
Kenny plays through a sample of the 8 bar blues. This is a short and sweet lesson packed with some new rhythms that can be applied to the 8 bar form.
Length: 4:41 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
Blues 7th / Jimi Hendrix Chords
Kenny adds some 7th chords into the mix along with classic Jimi Hendrix style chords. He also explains the advantages of shortened 7th chords and their practical applications in the blues.
Length: 13:36 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
13th Chords / Shaking Technique
Kenny expands on the previous lesson and introduces 13th chords. He demonstrates the techniques necessary to fretting and "shaking" these chords.
Length: 11:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
"Lumpty" Box Patterns
The "Lumpty" is essentially a bass line played within a simple box pattern. Kenny demonstrates some of his favorite patterns as well as some practice routines that will loosen your fingers up.
Length: 11:04 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
"Boogaloo" Style Rhythm
Derived from the Latin genre, the Boogaloo is a unique rhythm that fits surprisingly well in the blues. It became popular during the 60's and can be heard in other musical genres such as jump blues, R&B, and doo-wop.
Length: 7:08 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
KBR on Slim Harpo
Kenny breaks down the style of Slim Harpo. He introduces the sounds that made Slim famous such as his tasteful use of tremolo. Every aspiring blues guitarist will thoroughly enjoy this information.
Length: 10:12 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Bass Runs
When playing with another guitarist, bass runs can be used to round out the overall arrangement of a song. Kenny explains how to use bass runs effectively in this lesson.
Length: 15:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Working with Other Guitarists
Jam session? Live gig? There are many situations one may encounter that will require playing with other guitarists. Kenny explains how to create a fuller arrangement by using different chord voicings from the other guitarist.
Length: 5:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Two Note Chords / Hubert Sumlin Rhythms
In lesson 26, Kenny introduces simple two note chords. This lesson also details the rhythmic styles of Hubert Sumlin.
Length: 11:17 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Rhythm Style of Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley was known as "The Originator" because of his transition from blues to rock & roll. Kenny covers his rhythmic style in this quick lesson.
Length: 6:38 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
Backing up a Harmonica Player
Harmonica players are a staple of blues music. Why not pick up some tips and tricks and join the fun with your guitar? Kenny demonstrates some some popular blues accompaniment figures used to back up a harmonica player. Enjoy!
Length: 8:41 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Soul, R&B, and 60's Style Guitar
Kenny indulges in a lesson packed with soul sounds and sounds of 60's. Hope you packed your time machine!
Length: 8:54 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Buddy Guy Solo and Leads
Welcome to Kenny's 30th lesson! To celebrate, Kenny has decided to demonstrate Buddy Guy's lead style. This lesson is a great opportunity to pick up on some classic leads as well as some American blues history.
Length: 17:44 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Style of Stevie Ray Vaughan
Kenny grabs his guitar and digs deep into the style of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Here, Kenny demonstrates SRV's rhythm style and some of his signature licks. This one is a must see and is sure to open some creative doors.
Length: 17:09 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Letting Notes Breathe
Kenny takes a deep breath in Lesson 32 of his blues series. Here he demonstrates the importance of leaving space between phrases. Less really is more!
Length: 8:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
Ending of the Song
KBR takes us to the light at the end of the tunnel. You can write a killer song, but it's the ending that ties it all together. Kenny covers a few well known endings and provides some insight on how to create your own blues "outros."
Length: 9:57 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
More Rhythm Techniques
Kenny demonstrates more blues style rhythm techniques. He uses some examples from other artists to help you understand their application.
Length: 11:25 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Muddy Waters Birthday Special
We had the pleasure of filming Kenny on the same day as Muddy Waters birthday, April 4th. Kenny presents a special "Style of Muddy Waters" lesson to honor this day.
Length: 17:32 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Howlin' Wolf
Kenny breaks down the rhythmic style of Howlin' Wolf and demonstrates how a little style of SRV can be blended into the mix.
Length: 13:25 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Starting on the 5
There are plenty of different ways to start a blues song. Kenny covers some ideas that begin with the V chord of the progression.
Length: 15:18 Difficulty: 0.0 Member Only
John Lee Hooker
Kenny draws heavily from the influence of the great John Lee Hooker and has even had the pleasure of playing with him. This lesson demonstrates some of Hooker's guitar style.
Length: 16:45 Difficulty: 3.5 Member Only
Modern Rhythms
Kenny presents some modern rhythm techniques and patterns while utilizing 9th chords.
Length: 16:31 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
8 & 12 Bar Progressions
Welcome to Kenny's 40th lesson! In this lesson, Kenny covers some unique 8 and 12 bar blues progressions inspired by some of his favorite players.
Length: 12:57 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
2 Note Chords
Time to play around with two note double stops! Kenny demonstrates many different examples and how they can be applied in blues music.
Length: 15:34 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Magic Sam
Kenny covers the style of one of his long time guitar heroes, Magic Sam.
Length: 12:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Lead Blues Guitar
Kenny dives into some great blues lead guitar concepts in "positions" 1 and 2.
Length: 21:29 Difficulty: 3.5 Member Only
Position 3 Soloing
Kenny continues his blues lead ideas by covering the 3rd "position." Kenny also touches on some B.B. King licks to help with his demonstration.
Length: 13:16 Difficulty: 3.5 Member Only
Bending Strings
Kenny "Blue" Ray breaks down proper string bending technique. He also demonstrates how to apply string bending to blues lead guitar.
Length: 14:09 Difficulty: 3.5 Member Only
Albert King
Kenny takes an in depth look at the style of Albert King, one of his favorite artists.
Length: 12:19 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
5 Notes
Kenny explains how to get maximum mileage out of the 5 notes of the major pentatonic scale.
Length: 9:06 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Rhythm & Lead Combination
Kenny breaks down some ways to combine both rhythm and lead playing to develop more of a complete sound.
Length: 15:50 Difficulty: 3.5 Member Only
For Stevie & Jimi
Kenny teaches a song he wrote inspired by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. This is one you'll definitely enjoy learning!
Length: 11:47 Difficulty: 3.5 Member Only
Rock & Roll Styling
Kenny demonstrates some classic rock & roll rhythm and lead ideas.
Length: 11:10 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Pull The Strings
Kenny demonstrates another original song called "Pull The Strings."
Length: 14:05 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Open Tunings
Kenny opens up the world of open tunings and how they can be applied in the blues genre.
Length: 12:19 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Blues for Jimi
Learn Kenny's original song "Blues for Jimi." Kenny wrote this song with Jimi Hendrix in mind.
Length: 10:07 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Playing in E
Kenny introduces several blues ideas that can be used in the key of E.
Length: 12:34 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
Mississippi/Chicago Blues in E
While staying in the key of E, Kenny demonstrates some Mississippi and Chicago style blues techniques.
Length: 19:14 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Tasteful Ideas for Minor Blues
Kenny dives into minor scales and will demonstrate how to spice up you blues ideas when playing in minor keys.
Length: 13:09 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Slim Harpo: The Use of Double Stops
With the help of influences from Slim Harpo, Kenny demonstrates some double stops that are frequently used in blues music.
Length: 16:18 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Building Knowledge (Key of D)
In lesson 58, Kenny provides additional information pertaining to the key of D major. Rhythm patterns and lead ideas are provided.
Length: 20:16 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
12 Bar Blues: The Quick Change
Kenny explains how the "Quick IV," also called "The Quick Change," fits into the standard 12 bar blues progression.
Length: 19:25 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
Guitar Building Recommendations
Kenny takes a step back and breaks down how he has built his guitar, and offers insight on some tips and pointers on what to look for when shopping for parts for your custom guitar.
Length: 6:35 Difficulty: 1.0 Member Only
Soloing Tips: Changing Positions
Moving to different positions on the neck during a solo can be a bit tricky. Kenny provides some insight and tips on how to accomplish these movements a bit more easily.
Length: 16:15 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Rake Technique
This lesson provides insight on how to apply the rake picking technique within the blues genre.
Length: 9:54 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Soul & Funk Blues Guitar
Kenny presents some tasteful ideas on how to apply 60's soul and funk guitar inspirations into your standard blues techniques.
Length: 12:19 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Adding Minor to the Key of E
Kenny covers some basic blues progressions in the key of E major and demonstrates how E minor pentatonic ideas can be incorporated into them.
Length: 7:17 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
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