Taught by Artur Menezes in The Evolution of Modern Blues seriesLength: 6:28Difficulty: 0.0 of 5
Endless energy. Youthful Innocence. Vintage vibes. Winner of the ultra-prestigious Gibson Blues Guitarist of the Year, Artur Menezes, now joins the JamPlay roster of artists and educators. We are excited to announce his course, The Evolution to Modern Blues
Lesson 1
Artur discusses his new course, what you can expect to learn, and what you should know going in.
Length: 6:28 Difficulty: 0.0 Members OnlyLesson 2
Understanding the form of the 12 bar blues is foundational to blues guitar playing. Internalizing where the chords land and understanding the harmony is key to mastering the traditional blues form.
Length: 5:11 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 3
We've learned the standard 12 bar form. There are many different feels that fit within that basic form. In this lesson, Artur takes a look at a variation in the 12 bar blues: the slow change and fast change...
Length: 6:32 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 4
Although a very common type of blues, don't be fooled by the word "slow" in slow blues. Slow does not mean easy! In fact, it can be a challenging feel to master. Artur gives us his take on the slow blues.
Length: 9:14 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 5
The shuffle is one of the core feels of blues. In this lesson Artur talks about how to "feel" the shuffle, and gives some ideas of what to play over it.
Length: 3:33 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 6
Turnarounds are lines played over the bars 11 and 12. They're commonly played on blues tunes and their function is to conclude the "sentence"(round). Like when you're reading a book and you finish a paragraph...
Length: 8:48 Difficulty: 0.0 Members OnlyLesson 7
To improvise over a blues tune, major or minor, the Minor Pentatonic Scale is a foundational component. In this lesson Artur explains the scale, and will teach you the 1st shape and give you 4 licks that...
Length: 12:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 8
Now on to the 2nd shape of the minor pentatonic scale. Get ready for the scale plus 4 in position licks that will make you sound amazing!
Length: 8:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 9
Another scale shape, another 4 licks! This time it's shape 3 of the minor pentatonic scale.
Length: 8:18 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 10
The 4th shape add yet more flavors to your minor pentatonic scale licks. Again, we learn the shape and learn 4 cool licks to go along with it!
Length: 7:11 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 11
In this lesson Artur teaches us the last shape of the minor pentatonic scale. And as with the other shapes, Artur will give us 4 licks to go along with shape 5.
Length: 6:33 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 12
Bends and Vibrato are some of if not the most important things to consider when you express yourself through guitar. They are what make you sound like you. In this lesson Artur shows us some vibrato and...
Length: 9:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 13
Have you ever attended to a blues jam session and heard someone yell "Shuffle in D, from the five! 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4..."? What is that! In this lesson Artur teaches you those expressions and licks to start...
Length: 7:58 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 14
Finishing strong is very important when playing the blues! In this lesson, Artur explains how a blues tune usually ends and I'll give you some licks for this.
Length: 8:25 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 15
It's important to copy the masters in order to understand the blues language and with time develop your own phrasing. In this video I'll show some licks from BB King.
Length: 6:04 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 16
It's important to listen to and emulate the masters in order to understand blues language and feel. In this lesson, Artur shows us some licks from the legendary bluesman Albert King.
Length: 7:16 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 17
When we study the blues greats, it's inevitable that their style will seep into our own playing. Just like we can hear Hendrix in Stevie Ray Vaughn's playing, Stevie Ray's playing can find it's way into...
Length: 13:58 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 18
Using movements and chord substitution are very important to make the song more musical, mature and less boring for the players and for the audience. In this lesson Artur focuses on the "half diminished"...
Length: 10:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 19
Now Artur shows us an interesting way of improvising using chords and their arpeggios as the basis of the solo. He also shows us some licks based on the half diminished arpeggio.
Length: 11:18 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 20
Players like BB King and Derek Trucks mastered playing the major scale over a traditional blues progression. In this lesson Artur shows you how to integrate this into your playing.
Length: 10:25 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 21
This lesson is all about an easy but important exercise meant to connect all of the minor pentatonic shapes. Artur also gives us some fast pentatonic runs to help with our speed and dexterity.
Length: 6:53 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 22
Instead of thinking modally, Artur is the type of player that likes to think: Minor Pentatonic + Target notes. In this lesson, he shows us some licks using the minor pentatonic, plus the sharp 4.
Length: 7:19 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 23
The minor pentatonic plus the major 3rd is the subject of this lesson. Get ready to add a major flavor to your tonality!
Length: 6:59 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 24
More flavors to add to your playing - Adding the major 6 to the minor pentatonic scale gives that "dorian" sound!
Length: 5:06 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 25
Adding the major 9 flavor to your minor pentatonic scale licks will give you a more modern sound. Join Artur as he explores this latest addition.
Length: 4:55 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 26
Using the altered scale in just the right spot can start suggesting jazz tonality in your blues playing. In this lesson, Artur shows us the scale and how and where to use it!
Length: 8:27 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 27
Dominant diminished. Yet another scale that takes you into new territory, tonally speaking. Artur gives us some cool licks to use with this very unique scale.
Length: 8:33 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 28
Using chromaticism is an easy way to add a more modern approach and tonality. Artur uses chromatic connecting points to show us this concept.
Length: 7:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 29
The minor blues is a foundational blues style that has it's roots deep in the genre. Artur talks about this feel and shows us some of his favorite minor blues licks.
Length: 7:52 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 30
The more we move towards jazz tonality, the more sophisticated our blues becomes. In this lesson Artur improvises over a song from his most recent album. Talk about a modern evolution! This is entering...
Length: 6:38 Difficulty: 3.5 Members OnlyOur acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
New fingerstyle instructor Don Ross introduces himself, his background, and what you should expect in this series.
Free LessonSeries DetailsRich Nibbe takes a look at how you can apply the pentatonic scale in the style of John Mayer into your playing.
Free LessonSeries DetailsHawkeye teaches several Robert Johnson licks in this lesson. These licks are played with a slide in open G tuning.
Free LessonSeries DetailsAlan shares his background in teaching and sets the direction for his beginning bass series with simple ideas and musical...
Free LessonSeries DetailsAward winning, Canadian fingerstyle guitarist Calum Graham introduces his Jamplay Artist Series, which aims to transform...
Free LessonSeries DetailsNick explains how to play some of the most commonly used chords in the bluegrass genre.
Free LessonSeries DetailsJamPlay welcomes bassist and founding member of Godsmack, Robbie Merrill. In this short introduction lesson, Robbie showcases...
Free LessonSeries DetailsIn this lesson, Freebo covers the basics of right hand technique. This lesson is essential for all up and coming bassists.
Free LessonSeries DetailsIn the classical guitar world, there seems to be a lot outdated instructional advice. And while this type of information...
Free LessonSeries DetailsOur electric guitar lessons are taught by instructors with an incredible amount of teaching experience.
Welcome to Inside and Out with Jeff Marshall! In this lesson series, Jeff takes a bottom up approach to fret board proficiency....
Free LessonSeries DetailsSteve Stevens shows some of his go-to licks and ideas while improvising over a backing track he made.
Free LessonSeries DetailsLauren Passarelli offers up her wisdom on purchasing a guitar. She also includes information regarding proper setup and care....
Free LessonSeries DetailsEric Haugen discusses the goals of his "Six String Problem Solver" lesson series and what kind of material it covers.
Free LessonSeries DetailsTosin explains some of the intricacies of the 8 string guitar such as his personal setup and approach to playing.
Free LessonSeries DetailsHone in on your right hand and focus on getting in the groove. You'll only play one note during this lesson, but it'll be...
Free LessonSeries DetailsLisa breaks into the very basics of the electric guitar. She starts by explaining the parts of the guitar. Then, she dives...
Free LessonSeries DetailsAllen shows you the 24 rudiments crucial to developing finger dexterity. This is a short lesson but the exercises here can...
Free LessonSeries DetailsJamPlay is proud to welcome senior professor and Coordinator of Guitar Studies at the University of Colorado at Denver,...
Free LessonSeries DetailsSignup today to enjoy access to our entire database of video lessons, along with our exclusive set of learning tools and features.
Take a minute to compare JamPlay to other traditional and new methods of learning guitar. Our estimates for "In-Person" lessons below are based on a weekly face-to-face lesson for $40 per hour.
![]() |
||||
Price Per Lesson | < $0.01 | $4 - $5 | $30 - $50 | Free |
Money Back Guarantee | Sometimes | n/a | ||
Number of Instructors | 125 | 1 – 3 | 1 | Zillions |
Interaction with Instructors | Daily Webcam Sessions | Weekly | ||
Professional Instructors | Luck of the Draw | Luck of the Draw | ||
New Lessons | Daily | Weekly | Minutely | |
Structured Lessons | ||||
Learn Any Style | Sorta | |||
Track Progress | ||||
HD Video | - | Sometimes | ||
Multiple Camera Angles | Sometimes | - | Sometimes | |
Accurate Tabs | Maybe | Maybe | ||
Scale/Chord Libraries | ||||
Custom JamTracks | ||||
Interactive Games | ||||
Community | ||||
Learn in Sweatpants | Socially Unacceptable | |||
Gasoline Needed | $0.00 | $0.00 | ~$4 / gallon! | $0.00 |
Mike H.
"I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar!"
I am 66 years young and I still got it! I would have never known this if it had not been for Jamplay! I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar! Ha! I cannot express enough how great you're website is! It is for beginners and advanced pickers! I am an advanced picker and thought I had lost it but thanks to you all, I found it again! Even though I only play by ear, I have been a member a whopping whole two weeks now and have already got Brent's country shuffle and country blues down and of course with embellishments. Thank you all for your wonderful program!
Greg J.
"With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace"
I'm a fifty eight year old newbie who owns a guitar which has been sitting untouched in a corner for about seven years now. Last weekend I got inspired to pick it up and finally learn how to play after watching an amazing Spanish guitarist on TV. So, here I am. I'm starting at the beginning with Steve Eulberg and I couldn't be happier (except for the sore fingers :) Some day I'm going to play like Steve! I'm self employed with a hectic schedule. With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace, rewinding and replaying the videos until I get it. This is a very enjoyable diversion from my work yet I still feel like I'm accomplishing something worthwhile. Thanks a lot, Greg
Bill
"I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students."
I am commenting here to tell you and everyone at JamPlay that I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students. I truly enjoy learning to play the guitar on JamPlay.com. Yes, I said the words, ""enjoy learning."" It is by far the best deal for the money.
Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.The background music is way too loud. Over rides the instructor
Love from South Africa, awesome lessons
I have zero idea what intermediate player means on Jam Play? You go from beginner lessons to "Your in Way over your head lessons" no gradual learning curve on this site. I'm just about done.
No, there is a learning curve, but the problem is you are choosing to study "modern" blues before you tried out the regular blues genre lessons (e.g. Hawkeye Herman, Eric Madis). It only makes sense that modern blues would require more technical ability than traditional blues. You just need to spend more time understanding the site and what to expect. I will say this, though - Jamplay *has* sort of had a weird transition from focusing on hiring actual teachers to instead trying to get "artists" to try and teach - some of whom may or may not have any teaching experience.
Hi BootSQ! You would be considered an intermediate player if you have completed a full Phase 1 beginners course and mastered the skills taught there. Then you would move on to the Phase 2 Skill-Based lessons where you can work through each topic/skill. Phase 2 will cover intermediate to pro-level skills :)
Hello - I am excited about your course - I first leaned blues with Hawkeye here on Jamplay - the course was great - I have also completed many other lessons with other Blues teachers here. I like your style andI look forward. Thanks.
Hi Artur, Bradley here from the Southern Hemisphere side - down south, South Africa way. Thank you for your course. I really appreciate how comprehensive your teaching is with the theory, notes, full notation, tab, and clear teaching and unmistakable love for the blues expressed through your playing and teaching. Thank you Jamplay, another top-class instructor/musician.