Blues in the Key of E (Guitar Lesson)
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Blues in the Key of E
Mary is back with another lesson filled with tips on playing the blues in the key of E.
Taught by Mary Flower in Fingerstyle Blues seriesLength: 6:07Difficulty: 2.5 of 5
12 Bar Blues Form
Measures 1-4: I chord (E7)
Measures 5-6: IV chord (A7)
Measures 7-8: I chord (A7)
Measure 9: V chord (B7)
Measure 10: IV chord (A7)
*Measures 11-12: I chord (E7)
*Note: The V chord can be substituted for the I chord in measure 12 to create a stronger resolution back to the beginning of the form.
The ideas in this lesson are based on a very simple minor pentatonic lick that works over all three of the chords found in the progression. This lick uses a few hammer-ons, pull-offs, and trills, but is within reach with a little bit of work. In order to make the lick really sing, Mary demonstrates a micro-bend (1/4 step bend) technique that adds a bit of soul to her lick.
Playing Over E7
An additional note must be added when playing over the E chord. Over this chord, Mary includes the major third of the I chord (G#). In this scenario, a G natural note will also work over the tonic E chord. The G natural rubs against the G# in the chord to create a bluesy sound. However, adding the major third helps the chord progression find a nice resolution.
Final Thoughts
Explore these ideas and try to mix them with the previous licks you have memorized. Using these new ideas can help you create some interesting ways to play the blues.
Video Subtitles / Captions
Supplemental Learning Material
Fingerstyle Blues
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsThe 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
Series Introduction
In this lesson, Mary Flower introduces herself and her playing style. She also discusses essential blues listening.
Length: 11:14 Difficulty: 0.5 FREELesson 2
Blues in Drop D
In this lesson, Mary Flower talks about playing the blues in drop D tuning. She teaches two amazing song examples to get you started.
Length: 21:50 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Playing in the Key of A
In this lesson, Mary plays in the key of A major in drop D tuning.
Length: 8:36 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Eight Bar Blues
In this lesson, Mary Flower talks about the eight bar blues. She demonstrates it in a couple different keys.
Length: 14:29 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
8 Bar Blues Progressions
Mary Flower shows several songs that demonstrate the 8 bar blues.
Length: 11:40 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
How Long and Statesboro Blues
Mary Flower demonstrates two classic songs that feature an 8 bar blues structure. The songs are "How Long" and "Statesboro Blues."
Length: 14:36 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Sounding Like a Piano
Mary Flower discusses various blues guitar techniques that can give your guitar a wonderful piano sound.
Length: 13:41 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Twelve Bar Blues
Mary uses the songs "CC Rider" and "When I Lost My Baby" as examples in her discussion of the 12 bar blues.
Length: 16:31 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Blues Duet
In this lesson, you will learn a blues duet that you can play with someone else. Or, you can record yourself playing one part and play the second part over it.
Length: 16:53 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Blues in the Key of E
Mary is back with another lesson filled with tips on playing the blues in the key of E.
Length: 6:07 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Midnight Hour Blues
Mary talks about the song "Midnight Hour Blues" and gives some great tips on how to play this beautiful tune.
Length: 9:36 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Movable Chord in the Key of E
Mary Flower dives into more blues in the key of E by teaching a movable chord.
Length: 4:30 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Arranging Songs
Mary talks a little bit about arranging songs and uses the song "John Henry" as an example.
Length: 9:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Spike Driver Blues
Mary teaches and discusses the history behind Mississippi John Hurt's song "Spike Driver Blues."
Length: 15:47 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Diminished Chords
Mary talks about diminished chords and looks at various different shapes. You will learn the song "Walking Across the Country" as an example.
Length: 16:35 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Buck Rag
Mary teaches the classic song "Rag Time" by Rev. Gary Davis in this fun Blues lesson.
Length: 23:16 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Mississippi Blues
Mary teaches a song called "Mississippi Blues" by Willie Brown.
Length: 32:03 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Saturday Night Rub
Mary Flower teaches the fun and catchy song "Saturday Night Rub" by Big Bill Broonzy.
Length: 25:52 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Key of F
Mary talks about the key of F in this fantastic lesson.
Length: 8:20 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
South Carolina Rag
Mary teaches the song "South Carolina Rag" by Willie Walker.
Length: 12:35 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Open D Tuning
Mary Flower talks about the advantages of open D tuning.
Length: 12:44 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Boogie Woogie Dance
Mary Flower shares her interpretation of a classic blues slide tune called "Boogie Woogie Dance."
Length: 16:44 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Alabama Bound
Mary Flower shares some thoughts on the bass notes found within the song "Alabama Bound" in this lesson.
Length: 6:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Blues in A
Mary Flower talks about improvising a blues in A.
Length: 13:05 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Sugar Babe
Mary Flower teaches her rendition of "Sugar Babe," a Mance Lipscomb tune.
Length: 9:49 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Michigan Water
Mary Flower teaches her rendition of "Michigan Water," a Jelly Roll Morton tune.
Length: 13:18 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Bye Bye Baby Blues
Mary Flower teaches her rendition of "Bye Bye Baby Blues" by Little Hat Jones.
Length: 12:47 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Mary Flower shares her rendition of the spiritual song "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" in this lesson.
Length: 10:33 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
River of Joy
Mary Flower shares an original song called "River of Joy."
Length: 16:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Open D Tuning Song Exercise
Mary Flower shares a song played in open D tuning that features alternating bass and syncopation.
Length: 12:34 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
M & O Blues
Mary Flower teaches her rendition of "M & O Blues," a Willie Brown song.
Length: 15:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Colored Aristocracy
Mary Flower teaches her rendition of the song "Colored Aristocracy."
Length: 13:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Turkey in the Straw
Mary Flower shares her modern rendition of "Turkey in the Straw."
Length: 10:24 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Trouble in Mind
Mary Flower shares her rendition of the catchy blues tune "Trouble in Mind."
Length: 8:22 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Crow Jane
Mary Flower demonstrates Carl Martin's arrangement of the song "Crow Jane."
Length: 15:52 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie
Mary Flower teaches her rendition of the song "Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie" by Elizabeth Cotten.
Length: 11:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About Mary Flower
View Full Biography
Working in both the intricately syncopated Piedmont fingerpicking style and her own deeply bluesy lap-slide guitar, Mary has earned rave reviews from critics and audiences alike for her springwater-clear vocals and mastery of multiple guitar styles as well as her own compositions. Though she can create prewar blues and ragtime with the best of them, Mary draws on traditional, contemporary and original material to create something new: a sound uniquely her own that remains true to the timeless power of the blues.
Flower's elegant, funky and inventive playing on vintage guitars makes her one of a mere handful of women guitarists admired for their instrumental prowess. In 2000 and 2003 respectively, Mary placed in the top three at the National Fingerpicking Championship. Her career as an internationally known performer and teacher has spanned more than three
decades.
A recent transplant to the Northwest, Mary cut her teeth on the Colorado music scene where she played with the likes of Katy Moffatt, Pat Donohue, the Mother Folkers and more. Mary took a detour in the 80s to raise a family, all the time woodshedding and performing locally.
Mary's CD Bywater Dance, recorded pre-Katrina in New Orleans for Yellow Dog Records, has garnered widespread acclaim. An award-winning player with seven solo cds and 5 instructional DVDs to her credit, Flower is in demand for festivals, concerts and guitar workshops on both sides of the Atlantic.
"Unassuming blues heroine Mary Flower proves one again that she's one of
the nation's premier fingerstyle blues guitarists-- her technique is exceptional
throughout, and in the end, serves the highest purpose, the music--unfailingly
sweet, hot and sassy--every track on this album has something about it that will
give you the shivers... This is one of the most satisfying albums of the year."
- All Music Guide to Blues
"Her crisp, fluid fingerpicking sounds deceptively effortless, with flawlessly executed syncopation, the hallmark of a bouncing, upbeat Piedmont style. From casual listeners to devoted blues fans, Flower's music is accessible to everyone"
- Blues Review
"With her immaculate guitar playing and warm contralto, Mary Flower finds the
sweet spot between modern and rootsy in twelve tunes bred of back porches,
parlors, street corners, juke joints and country churches...one of the best blues based
singer songwriters working today."
- Acoustic Guitar Magazine
"Mary is one of those rare artists who manages to create a tincture of the aged
authentic with the freshly original."
- Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine
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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.I loved Mary's lessons when I first began playing and discovered JamPlay in 2011 and I am loving them again in 2014. I wish she would do more! I am finding her stuff a bit easier as I re-visit now but still struggling with the bass muting. Anyone else find this difficult?
i ran across this after years of playing guitar, I wish I would have seen this earlier, all beginners, this is a milestone
Great stuff Mary!!!!
More PLAY...less talk and history
Dazzling....... simple....? not for me just yet. I'll work on it though.
This lesson is just like 'pepper sauce' on the turnip greens. It just adds that extra something to make the results special. I just can't get enough of these practical tips...thanks for sharing this Mary.
Wow, I picked this right up and just spent quite a while working on variations of the same. Thanks!