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Blues is often defined as the mother of all music. Down to the memory lane of classic pieces of blues guitars we may find several famous musicians’ names. From the early ages to the modern era guitarists, the essence of blues guitars is still growing with its own distinctive classiness. The feels with the chord structure of blues guitars are quite different from the other style of guitars. To play the sentimental verse of blues guitars, you should give emphasis to the guitar legend’s lessons on their playing techniques and methods.

If you ask someone about the legends of blues guitars, people never forget to mention the names of Robert Johnson, T. Bone Walker, B.B. King and Albert King. Albert king is probably the most significant name among new age blues guitarists. Steve Ray Vaughn is the leading musician, one of the most influential figures contributing to the modern era tradition of blues guitars. Vaughn used to take some important blues guitars riffs through which he introduced the modern era blues pattern. However, the modern era guitarists still remember Albert King as the ultimate blues musician.

B. B. King’s Type – 12-Bar Blues in G Scale

Albert King used to play guitar with his secret type tuning. The standard guitar tune is seen in E- A- D- G- B- E format, but King tuned his guitars in open E-minor tuning with C- B- E- G- B- E format. He also used a minor variation on an open F tuning with the C- F- C- F- A- D format.

Much like B. B. King, he always projected to play off the root of the existing chord. To play a typical King’s type solo on a 12 bars blues in G scale, the roots are to be played on the 3rd and 2nd string. Like many examples of blues guitars are just opposed to this pattern. The usual pattern uses to play off the roots of 1st and 6th string.

The finger style of Albert King was different from others. If you would like to play as King, you need to be first accustomed with the finger pattern of the legend of blues guitars. Instead of using the first finger to play the chord roots, King preferred the third finger in style. The using of third finger to play the chords provided different sound vibratos which distinguish King’s unique pattern blues from others. This can open up a potential of diverse riffs.

The bends sound is one of the important facts for a better sound output. The bends should be antagonistic and persuasive rather than weak. Last but not the least, if you would love to play blues guitars like Albert King, remember that it is the attitude that matters the most.

By Music Editor

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