Blowing Up the Blues

Genre and Style Guitar Course from Jeff Kollman

Jeff Kollman Blows Up the Blues in this new series centered around learning different blues styles and the style of the blues greats that created them. In this series you'll learn different techniques used in blues playing and how they channel the sound and style of prolific blues players.

31 Lessons

Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

89% Appoval

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Full Course Breakdown

In this blues series Jeff discusses the sounds of prolific blues players, provides tips to get outside typical blues playing and imparts his own brand of style to this classic american music style.

1

Blowing Up the Blues: Series Introduction

Been playing the standard 12 bar blues and looking to add some flare? Look no further than Jeff Kollman's series, "Blowing Up the Blues!" In this series, Jeff dissects the basic tenets of the blues and expands on them through use of genre bending and theoretical concepts.

2:37 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

View this Lesson
2

Swinging with the Metronome

A crucial component to blues playing is to be able to do so in time. To get started in your blues journey, Jeff discusses the importance of the metronome and also demonstrates how to swing your playing with it.

9:25 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

3

12 Bar Blues Shuffle

In lesson 3, Jeff discusses the 12 bar blues shuffle. He Gets to the heard of what this form of blues is and discusses the feeling necessary in the style.

8:54 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

4

Riffs, Licks and Accents

Jeff discusses warm-ups and just being in the moment with your playing. He discusses riffs, licks and accents that you can achieve on a moments notice to help you break out of typical blues molds.

7:45 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

5

6 Positions of the Minor Pentatonic Scale

In this lesson Jeff discusses the minor pentatonic scale and demonstrates how to use it in six positions.

14:49 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

6

Phrase Imitation

In lesson six, Jeff brings up the term "Phrase Imitation." He discusses how learning and imitating popular phrases can influence your own blues playing.

9:16 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

7

Minor Scales and Guide Tones

It's now time to take a look at the traditional minor scales. Jeff discusses guides tones that can help you maneuver within and out of this scale type.

10:57 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

8

Minor vs. Dorian

Now that you're familiar with how the minor scale is functioning in a blues context, Jeff discusses it's differences and similarities to the Dorian scale.

8:45 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

9

Comping Rhythm Over a Shuffle

In lesson 9, Jeff Kollman discusses how to to play differing rhythms over a blues shuffle.

10:33 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

10

Mixolydian with the Blues

You've discussed several different scales to use at this point in the series. In lesson 10, Jeff tackles the Mixolydian scale.

10:43 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

11

Minor Pentatonic and the Half Step Slip

In this lesson Jeff discusses playing in a minor pentatonic sound, but slipping into the major 6th as a key modulation to major.

8:22 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

12

Dominant Pentatonics

Lesson 12 is all about bringing dominant sounds to the pentatonic scale structure. By targeting the notes in dominant 7th chords, you really start to get outside of the traditional blues sound.

9:19 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

13

Chords in the Pentatonic Scale

In lesson 13 Jeff discusses chords found within the pentatonic scales and how they can be utilized in the blues style.

7:25 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

14

Minor Blues Analysis

Jeff Kollman plays over a minor blues and discusses his thought process to soloing over it.

7:40 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

15

Jazz Blues

Like the previous lesson, Jeff plays over a Jazz blues and discusses his thought process to soloing over it.

10:34 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

16

Latin Blues

In lesson 16 Jeff plays over a Latin Blues loop and again discusses his thought process for soloing over it.

9:10 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

17

Horizontal vs Vertical Soloing Approach

In lesson 17 Jeff discusses soloing within vertical boxes as well as horizontally across the neck of the guitar.

10:12 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

18

Blues in the Style of Jimmi Hendrix

in lesson 18, Jeff takes some inspiration from Jimi Hendrix. Specifically he talks about the importance of rhythm to blues playing as well as the importance of phrasing.

9:33 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

19

Major Blues Soloing

Picking up from the previous lessons, Jeff discusses using different scales to solo over a major blues.

10:39 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

20

Rock Rhythm with Three Chords

Commenting on his recent theme of the importance of rhythm playing, Jeff offers up a lesson based on a rock groove and simple three chord progression.

11:03 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

21

Voodoo Child?

Jeff is continuing to take a look at the blues stylings of Jimi Hendrix and in this lesson discusses how he approached pentatonic soloing. He uses a track in the style of Voodoo Child as a vehicle to discuss these concepts.

12:16 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

22

Hybrid Picking and Double Stops

Jeff breaks out the telecaster and gives you a quick lesson on hybrid picking and double stops. He discusses the technique and provides insight into it's use in the Blues.

11:08 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

23

Moody A Minor Blues

In lesson 23 Jeff takes a look at a non-standard Am blues progression. Played in 6/8 time, Jeff discusses soloing and rhythm in the style.

11:51 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

24

Fleshing it Out

In lesson 24 of his series, Jeff discusses "playing with the flesh." What he's really talking about is playing with the flats of your fingers and without use of picks. It's all about round moody tone on this one!

8:37 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

25

Channeling SRV

In lesson 25 Jeff talks about a song he wrote in the style of SRV that utilizes the "skank guitar" rhythm technique. This provides a noticeable percussive element backing up the basic rhythm.

9:55 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

26

Lydian Dominant in the Blues

In lesson 26, Jeff discusses the Lydian dominant scale and it's uses in the blues.

12:23 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

27

Playing Outside Over One Chord

Kollman demonstrates playing outside over one chord while focusing on E and playing Lydian dominate.

9:34 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

28

Half Whole Diminished and the Funky Blues

Kollman demonstrates how to play half whole diminished and the funky blues

14:14 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

29

Chromaticism and Neighboring Tones

Jeff demonstrates the importance and technique of chromaticism and neighboring tones

13:01 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

30

Tritone Substitution

Kollman demonstrates examples of Tritone Substitution in the Blues.

11:10 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

31

Putting it All Together

Kollman concludes on his series and explains how to put everything he has taught in practice.

13:53 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

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The Bombastic Meatbats Mogg/Way, JKB (Jeff Kollman Band), The Sign Of 4, and Edwin Dare.

  • Toledo, Ohio
  • Playing since 1960
  • 31 lessons at JamPlay
Jeff Kollman is an American guitarist, best known for his powerful melodic electric guitar playing, fusing elements of jazz harmony into his hybrid melodic hard rock / funk style. Kollman is also the owner of Marmaduke Records. Jeff has 18 releases on the label. Kollman's other groups include Cosmosquad, The Bombastic Meatbats Mogg/Way, JKB (Jeff Kollman Band), The Sign Of 4, and Edwin Dare. Other affiliated artists- Glenn Hughes, Sebastian Bach, U.F.O., Tizer, Bleeding Harp, Asia F.J.P., California Transit Authority.

Reviews & Feedback 89/100 with 183 ratings
Luciano1966

A little intimidating to see you play, but on the other hand very motivating to see where these concepts can get you...you are fun to watch...thaks.

guywithaguitar

All 3 check boxes apply. This whole course is well organized into understandable chunks that build on each other, Jeff Kollman is so cool, and it is helping me to grow every day.

jvidal

awesome lesson

fgbeatles1

Liked the teacher, the lesson, the explanation, everything!

DrRock

Easily understood, and very much needed...

neillahurd

Great

mclulow

Good material with a simple explanation. Well-positioned for the intermediate player. Great first experience with Jam Play

douglas966

great teacher

frankf

Great player. Inspirational.

AndyPJ1

I love Jeff's playing and how he explains things. This is one of the best courses I've seen anywhere.

riffescape

Love Jeff's playing and this sound. Very inspiring.

myjamplays

Love Jeff’s selections. Really want to challenge myself. Jeff’s inspirational. Love all the breakdowns and details. The more the better to learn and achieve. Will be a task .. setting the goals. And hopefully will be in grained in my playing ov

RockinA

love this! just playing along, listening and not looking at notes or tabs...feeling the notes and beat

leeron

Nice playing!

ChrisDePriest

Thanks for sharing the knowledge!

chad warren

This is a very good series I’m learning a lot.

RenatoQuinones

Very good teacher.