In this lesson, Eric explains some common blues applications for the modes of the major scale.
Taught by Eric Madis in Electric Blues with Eric seriesLength: 12:43Difficulty: 3.0 of 5
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.
Lesson 1
In this lesson, Eric introduces himself and his Phase 2 lesson series. He also teaches a basic blues shuffle in the style of Jimmy Reed.
Length: 17:35 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 2
Eric teaches a few popular Lightnin' Hopkins licks. These licks can be played over the blues shuffle from the previous lesson.
Length: 11:46 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 3
Eric covers a few more essential licks in the style of Lightnin' Hopkins.
Length: 7:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 4
Eric teaches a few licks inspired by the great John Lee Hooker.
Length: 7:43 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 5
Eric Madis explains a country blues lick he calls the "Country Blues Double Wham."
Length: 6:35 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 6
In this lesson Eric talks about playing basic lead in the Memphis Blues style.
Length: 10:37 Difficulty: 1.5 FREELesson 7
Eric demonstrates how the Memphis blues licks taught in the previous lesson can be used over various chords.
Length: 5:52 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 8
Eric demonstrates how to construct a full 12 bar blues solo by using the Memphis blues licks he taught in previous lessons.
Length: 7:25 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 9
In this lesson, Eric applies the Memphis Blues Lead to a practical blues context.
Length: 4:06 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 10
In this lesson, Eric Madis teaches two licks that can be used over an A chord.
Length: 12:16 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 11
In this lesson, Eric Madis teaches a type of blues shuffle that he calls the "IC Blues."
Length: 12:45 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 12
In this lesson, Eric talks about playing blues lead using licks you already know.
Length: 8:58 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 13
Eric Madis begins to explain T-Bone Walker's style of playing the blues.
Length: 7:48 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 14
Eric Madis teaches a classic T-Bone Walker lick and talks about several different variations you can play.
Length: 10:56 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 15
Eric Madis introduces several new T-Bone Walker licks and explains the ways they can be used.
Length: 10:21 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 16
Eric continues his exploration of T-Bone Walker licks and techniques.
Length: 9:22 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 17
Eric wraps up his overview of T-Bone Walker licks and techniques in this lesson. You will be applying what you've learned in the next lesson, so be sure to practice.
Length: 10:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 18
Eric teaches a swing blues progression. He teaches the progression in the key of A and explains how licks from previous lessons can be played over it.
Length: 14:17 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 19
In this lesson, Eric Madis teaches the blues progression to "Stormy Monday Blues." This progression is played in the style of T-Bone Walker and Earl "Fatha" Hines.
Length: 9:49 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 20
In this lesson, Eric returns to the world of "Stormy Monday Blues" to teach an amazing introduction segment.
Length: 7:21 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 21
Eric Madis teaches a series of licks that can be used to transition from one pentatonic pattern to another.
Length: 9:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 22
In this lesson, Eric Madis demonstrates popular blues licks within the second pattern of the minor pentatonic scale.
Length: 16:50 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 23
In this lesson Eric talks about one of the classic blues tunes, "The Thrill is Gone," by B.B. King.
Length: 10:43 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 24
In this lesson, Eric Madis introduces the third pattern of the minor pentatonic scale. This pattern is used frequently by the likes of B.B. King.
Length: 11:27 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 25
Eric Madis once again talks about third position and how it can be used. He also introduces a slew of new licks.
Length: 12:19 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 26
In this lesson Eric Madis talks about the fourth position of blues playing.
Length: 10:04 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 27
In this lesson Eric talks about "strategies" to use while playing and improvising.
Length: 7:11 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 28
Eric Madis introduces the alternative blues shuffle, which is particularly useful on guitars featuring humbucker pickups.
Length: 14:31 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 29
In this lesson Eric Madis teaches licks in the style of Freddie King.
Length: 9:38 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 30
In this lesson Eric talks about the differences between the minor blues and the "dominant" blues. He also introduces the modes, beginning with the Aeolian mode.
Length: 10:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 31
In this lesson Eric Madis introduces the Locrian mode and talks about how it can be used in blues.
Length: 6:58 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 32
Eric continues his series on modes. This time he covers the Dorian mode and its relation to the blues.
Length: 7:16 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 33
Eric continues his discussion on modes in relation to the minor key blues.
Length: 9:31 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 34
Eric Madis teaches a handful of minor 7th arpeggios in this lesson.
Length: 10:34 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 35
Eric demonstrates dominant 7th arpeggios in this lesson.
Length: 7:27 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 36
Eric discusses dominant seventh arpeggios and how they can be used in blues licks.
Length: 6:58 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 37
Eric talks all about diminished 7th arpeggios and gives five exercises to practice.
Length: 10:20 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 38
Learn how the diminished 7th arpeggios from the previous lesson can be applied to the blues.
Length: 12:13 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 39
Eric teaches the catchy blues song "You Don't Love Me."
Length: 14:27 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 40
Eric teaches Freddie King variations on T-Bone Walker licks.
Length: 7:53 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 41
Eric provides an exercise that uses previously learned licks from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th patterns of the minor pentatonic scale.
Length: 12:45 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 42
Eric starts you off on the right foot with an introduction to modes.
Length: 28:09 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 43
In this lesson, Eric explains some common blues applications for the modes of the major scale.
Length: 12:43 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 44
Eric Madis continues his discussion on mode application concepts.
Length: 18:30 Difficulty: 3.5 Members OnlyLesson 45
Eric Madis discusses major pentatonic scale ideas.
Length: 6:09 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 46
Eric shares some more great lick ideas that you can incorporate into your playing.
Length: 10:25 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 47
Eric shares ideas on ending licks, turnarounds, and tags in this lesson.
Length: 12:41 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 48
Eric Madis teaches some great filler licks for your bag of tricks.
Length: 14:13 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 49
Eric Madis talks about some common blues bass lines that will spice up your playing.
Length: 13:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 50
Eric Madis teaches some classic ending licks.
Length: 16:01 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 51
Eric Madis introduces the swing style of the 12 bar blues.
Length: 8:03 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 52
Eric Madis introduces the basics of the classic minor blues and talks about how this progression can be spiced up using simple blues techniques.
Length: 18:35 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 53
In this lesson, Eric Madis teaches a popular blues progression in 8/8 time. This rhythmic feel gives the progression a funkier or more rock-like feel than the traditional blues.
Length: 7:04 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 54
Eric teaches a classic blues progression he calls the "Descending Minor Blues."
Length: 11:15 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 55
Eric Madis teaches an interesting minor blues progression he calls the "Modern Block Chord Minor Key Blues."
Length: 7:40 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 56
Eric Madis teaches an amazing blues progression he calls "The Detroit Chicago Funky Blues."
Length: 9:49 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 57
Eric Madis moves on and teaches an astonishing blues progression he dubs "Jimmy Nolen's Funky Groove."
Length: 8:41 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 58
Eric Madis introduces a blues style called "The Bump Shuffle."
Length: 7:27 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 59
In this lesson Eric Madis teaches a second way to play the classic blues progression "The Bump Shuffle."
Length: 4:41 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 60
Eric Madis teaches a bass oriented blues progression entitled the "Chicago Bass Groove."
Length: 6:50 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 61
Eric Madis teaches another powerful bass groove he has extracted from the world of blues.
Length: 3:55 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 62
Eric Madis teaches another useful bass groove for blues guitar.
Length: 5:47 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 63
Eric Madis teaches another valuable blues bass groove.
Length: 4:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 64
In this lesson, Eric Madis teaches a blues bass groove inspired by Howlin' Wolf.
Length: 4:31 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 65
In this lesson, Eric Madis teaches a valuable blues chord progression that he calls "Minor Progression Major Chords."
Length: 11:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 66
Eric enthusiastically presents a new chord progression he calls the "Sliding Ninth Groove."
Length: 5:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 67
Eric pays tribute to Memphis Slim and Jimmy Reed in something he likes to call the "Tribute Blues Shuffle."
Length: 8:48 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 68
Eric Madis teaches a blues chord progression inspired by the Chicago style of blues playing. This progression has a funky rhythmic feel.
Length: 9:51 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About Eric Madis
View Full Biography
Eric Madis is a guitarist, singer and composer, a versatile artist whose playing and compositions reflect his diverse and thorough background in American music. Whether performing in an ensemble or as a soloist, he exudes a love and a mastery of the blues that have been refined by years of experience in jazz, country, rock, and even Hawaiian music. What results are performances that include authentic renderings of old rural blues, personal interpretations of modern urban blues and jazz standards, and original music that defies strict categorization, but that draws heavily from these traditions.
Eric lives in Seattle where he leads his own ensemble, performs as a solo act and performs in the Seattle Swing Trio. He has released four CDs on Luna Records, and is currently working on a fifth. He is on the faculty of the National Guitar Workshop and Dusty Strings Music and teaches guitar privately.
Eric lived his formative years in Colorado with a family that was musical (his mother was an accomplished opera singer), and began his music study on the piano at the age of nine. He began performing shortly after picking up a guitar at ten years of age. By the age of sixteen, he was performing in Chicago-area coffeehouses. He has accompanied artists as diverse as bluesmen Big Walter Horton, Sunnyland Slim, Deacon Jones, Hawaiian luminaries Irmgaard Aluli, Kekua Fernandez, Emma Sharpe and author/poet Nikki Grimes.
He has led bands in Illinois, Texas, Colorado and Washington. He has opened shows for Robben Ford, James Cotton, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Mem Shannon, Hawkeye Herman and author Sherman Alexie. Eric's four albums have received critical acclaim, including regional airplay and nominations from NAMA and Washington Blues Society (WBS). He has received 16 Best Blues nominations from WBS, was a finalist in the New Folk Awards at the 1981 Kerrville National Folk Festival, a finalist in the 1991 Seattle Guitar Starz competition, and has music featured on five film soundtracks. Eric has taught guitar classes at Denver Free University, University of Washington's Experimental College, Northwest Folklife Festival, National Guitar Workshop, and Canada's Guitar Workshop Plus.
Whether performing in a group or as a soloist, at a concert or a small club, teaching privately or a large workshop, Eric is a dedicated professional, with commitment to the quality of his art and to his audience.
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Eric, when you started talking about the Phrygian mode up at E for a minor you then mentioned that the mixylodian mode is great for playing minor keys. Did you actually mean phrygian? Just thought id clear that up to avoid more confusion
I have a question regarding the use of mixolydian over the dominant chords. I'm taking theory courses right now, and we were discussing avoid tones, of which the mixolydian scale has one (the 4) so I was wondering...why don't people instead use scales like the mixolydian #4? This adds an interesting colour to the scale, and never sounds "off" over a dominant chord. Is it mostly from the fact that major scale modes just tend to be more commonly known/used than the melodic minor modes? Or does the pentatonic nature of the blues mean that the sound of an 11th on a dominant chord is ok in this particular genre?
Eric, You're one of the most instructive teachers on JamPlay. I find that your commentary and insight that is informed from your experience is most helpful in making the lessons 'real' in my guitar practice. You constantly present 'lighthouses' for me to see and better understand where this is going. Good on ya! Rob
Hey Rob, Thanks very much for your kind comments. I appreciate that you are connecting with my style of teaching. And yes, you are right: most of what I teach is based on experience and is meant to help you to achieve immediate results. Take care, Eric
WOW! The modes combined with the blues scale sounds awesome. I am going to have to play with that concept.
Alright, progress continues! Thanks for letting me know. - Eric