How to bring the Natural Minor Scale into your blues soloing – 10:45 min

In this lesson Ben Zinn teaches how you can bring the Natural Minor Scale or Aeolian Mode, into your blues soloing. Ben first teaches when its appropriate to use the Natural Minor Scale. Natural minor works great over minor chords. Ben plays in the key of G minor for this lesson. The chords used in this lesson are Gm – Cm7 – Dm7. Basically a I-IV-V minor key blues progression. The natural minor scale has intervals of 1,2,b3,4,5,b6,b7. Ben then takes you through a few positions of the natural minor scale, as well as the blues scale. You can also use natural minor over all the chords when playing what relates to all when there is no major IV chord or minor ii chord. Ben then gets into some classic blues vocabulary licks and how natural minor can really add some color to your blues playing. Try these examples over the jam track and be sure and vary them and try to come up with your own licks and put your own spin on them. Be sure to exploit those half step bends as they are so melodic – enjoy! 

Easy soloing techniques with major and minor pentatonic scales and devices – 11:28 min

In this lesson Ben Zinn teaches some electric blues lead guitar soloing devices and techniques. This lesson focuses on getting the most from a small amount of fretboard space – so it will not overwhelm the beginning lead player – we will get the most out of a small part of the fretboard or how to say a lot with a little. Ben starts off by teaching a few scales within the span of one octave on the neck. This lesson is in the key of C, and playing over a one chord vamp to keep things simple in a traditional blues format. Ben focuses on phrasing the licks around your root notes, in this jam, the C notes. The root notes of the key are great landing notes, or home base notes with great resolution. SO be sure and find the C notes as Ben teaches them. You want to try and get familiar with the notes on the neck and you can learn them over time as per other lessons on the site. Ben then teaches some major pentatonic scale positions and licks. Be sure to try and vary the licks and change them up to vary them and make some licks on your own with your own spin on them. Start off slow and remember to try and land on the root notes, C. STart at one root note and work your way down to another. Ben also teaches you about repeating your licks, adding vibrato, adding minor pentatonic and more – enjoy and try these devices over the rhythm and have fun!