'Concise classes, well explained, excellent instructor.'
– T. Byrne
'The course covered a lot of material that was really handy for us to use ourselves to practice.'
– D. McLean
'Very good value for the money...'
– M. Harvey
The classic electric blues ‘sound’ – exemplified by Jimi Hendrix, Peter Green, Jimmy Page and Carlos Santana – emerged from the playing of acoustic blues but requires a very different set of skills and techniques. Electric Blues Guitar provides adults and teens with an extensive introduction to the form and how to play it. The course will cover the following elements:
- Major and minor pentatonics and the blues scale
- Pentatonic to the blues – how to turn the scales into effective lead melody lines
- Phrasing and stressing the blues – introducing phrasing and rhythm into your playing, and making effective use of the blues/pentatonic scales, using slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, trills
- Bending the blues – what notes to bend, different types of bends (pre-bend, slow release, whole tone bends, double stop bends)
- Chromatic and passing notes and minor 7th arpeggios
- Improvising over basic 12-bar blues using all the above techniques
- Classic licks – learn how the legends have done it
- Along the way participants will be introduced to the major figures through listening sessions and numerous practical examples.
Although this course is an introduction to electric blues, it is not a course for electric guitar beginners. (Go to Introducing Guitar for Adults or Introducing Guitar for Teens for information on our beginners courses.) Participants in Electric Blues Guitar should have at least one year’s playing experience, be able to read guitar tablature and have a good grasp of basic open-position chords as well as standard barre chord fingerings. Changing from one chord to another should not be a problem.
Electric Blues Guitar is one of our group courses. Private, partner, group and intensive lessons in electric blues guitar and other guitar styles are also available. Go to Departments & Faculty - Guitar & Bass for more information.
First Term Schedule & Fee
10 weeks, October 6 – December 15, 2010
(No class on October 27)
Wednesdays 7 – 8 pm
Tuition Fee: €170
Francis Long, Teacher
Fran Long has been involved in the music business for many years. At the age of eight he joined the Artane Boys Band, where he learned to play the clarinet, oboe and the bell lyre – before moving on to guitar (in which he has earned an ABRSM diploma) and bass. He has played professionally with different bands, releasing several CDs and recording various artists, including Cathy Davey. Fran has worked in several music shops and was Manager of Waltons Music for five years. Currently teaching guitar, bass, banjo and mandolin at the New School, he has also given lessons at several Dublin-area schools through our In-School Music Programme, facilitated workshops at the Ballyfermot Community Centre aimed at helping young people understand the music business and co-facilitates our Inside Rock outreach workshop.
Enrolment
Enrolment for this course requires a completed enrolment form and full payment of tuition fees. Places are available on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date of enrolment. Early enrolment is recommended, as places are limited to eight.
Purchasing this course as a gift? Download a gift certificate booking form.
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