Music Gurus – Learn Authentic Blues Guitar with Scott McKeon
31 Lessons
Learning guitar runs on a spectrum. The instrument is deviously versatile allowing the amateur novice to be able to pick it up quickly and beguiling master musical theorists their whole lives. Most aspiring guitarists start with the Blues since in technical fretboard logistics the music is relatively straightforward. The Blues, however, is all about feel, attitude and execution. This is at the heart of the lessons taught by master six string wrangler Scott McKeon in the new Music Gurus Learn Authentic Blues Guitar lesson set. Over the course of 31 mini lessons, McKeon breaks down the magical essence of real deal Blues and helps unlock some of the secrets of architects such as Lighnin’ Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, B.B. King, Albert King and both Vaughan brothers.
Blues guitar started historically acoustically and McKeon starts there as well. Focusing on Texas Blues citing Lightnin’ Hopkins and Jimmy Reed as touchstones, McKeon lays the foundation for the classic Blues Shuffle in E. Highlighting the difference between Reed’s groovier style and Hopkins’ “meatier” more raw style, the endless subtle variation in execution is really well described. Most guitarists who would be checking this out would know how to do a shuffle, but McKeon’s attention to nuanced picking details, passing riffs and alternate turn arounds are great additions to one’s repertoire.
Just like the Blues jumped to electric guitar, McKeon jumps the E Shuffle onto his ancient looking Fender Strat. Showing how the shuffle can be filled out and made deeper and punchier, McKeon adds some classic Stevie Ray turn-arounds to the mix. He also demonstrates how SRV used to “scrape” the strings, creating depth in the rhythm for the Double Trouble trio setting. Within this section is the first of a few interactive sessions in which McKeon plays while both sheet music and tablature scroll underneath.
Keeping things rhythmic the next batch of lessons deal with Funk and Soul. At first this seems like a bit of a digression, but McKeon shows how the repetition of a phrase, Funk or shuffle, creates a meditative emotive experience. McKeon also does a nifty multi track sequence in split screen in which he layers parts on top of each other creating some stank.
Everyone wants to be a guitar god and learn how to solo impressively. McKeon obliges by showing in detail a number of different techniques. Extensively working within B.B. King’s tight 4 to 5 note style, McKeon plays along with a backing track and then breaks down the riffs again highlighting that the technical simplicity is belied by the complexity of the execution. Finger picking has become quite popular lately amongst Rock and Pop music, but it has always been a staple of the Blues. McKeon shows us how to do some nifty hybrid picking and how to use our fingers for maximum emotive effect citing Albert Collins and Jimmie Vaughan. There is a cool final session in the section in which McKeon puts all the pieces together into a complex multi-styled solo.
McKeon is a go to session guitarist and has his own solo career. Using a Blues tune he wrote with his band “Take Me Back,” he shows us how to build emotional gravity through layering of parts and thoughtful placement of highly charged phrases. It’s cool to engage with McKeon’s own composition and work along with the recording. This section allows the student to be able to think about what has been presented in a slightly more contemporary Blues setting. It is also fun to hear McKeon reminisce on how the tune was created out of a Jam and tracked live.
The course closes out with a series of one off riff lessons. These are especially cool for learners who have struggled to get that stupid fast SRV riff too frenzied to pick apart or that monumental Albert King phrase – what is he doing with that long bend?? There are also a couple really cool Buddy Guy and Jimmie Vaughan riffs that are not as widely known but add character and complexity to the trick bag. These riffs work nicely in all of the forms and progressions taught previously. McKeon breaks the riffs down and all of them are notated and tabbed allowing for the kind of compulsive repetition needed to get them to flow freely.
The format of these lessons is excellent and very user friendly. The “advanced player” that scrolls sheet music and tabs is very cool and functional. It allows the learner to slow down the lesson and read the music. The sessions are short which is good because you can easily pick out which pieces you want to work on. Additionally McKeon is pretty hip. It’s enjoyable spending some time with him. It’s kind of like being a kid again and hanging with that older teenager who knows about guitar and is willing to take time to teach you. McKeon goes slowly and is very clear. This is an intermediate level course and certainly the sessions will be very stimulating for intermediate players. Some of the beginning stuff around the E shuffle might be review, but stick with it, it pays off.
Learn Authentic Blues Guitar delivers the goods. Scott McKeon clearly knows what he’s talking about and has uncovered some of the six string secrets of the Blues. It’s entertaining, moves deliberately and is packed with many gems. This is a nice refresher and enhancer for the amateur Blues guitarist and a great next step for guitarists in the making.
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NOTE: They are offering a 20% discount for Blues Blast readers with the discount code BLUES20.
