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Forums :: General Discussion

Trouble playing along with Gary's Blues jam track

1 reply [Last post]
Wed, 08/23/2023 - 09:07
mtnhank
mtnhank's picture
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Level 3
Joined: 08/18/2020

I asked David for help on this issue and thought it might be a good idea to make a post here as well:

I have been stuck in Level 4 for quite awhile now. I have progressed with Gary's Blues to the point of trying to play along with the jam track, but I am having a lot of trouble knowing where I am in the progession, which, of course, makes it hard to play the choruses.

I am trying to just listen to the jam track without playing along and I even have trouble with that. I don't usually have any trouble knowing where I am in the progression but for some reason this is hard to follow on Gary's Blues .

I thought about trying to add a click track with an accented 1st beat which would help, tho I'm not sure how to do it.

Any ideas or suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

Hank Hamilton

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Wed, 08/23/2023 - 14:00
#1
UkuleleRob65
UkuleleRob65's picture
Offline
Level 8
Joined: 06/06/2014
Rhythms

Hank:

I see that David got back to you on this in his thread here at the Forum. He's right about that "backward shuffle" thing. The bass is the key. One other thning you might do to get into the groove: Listen to the backing track and gently tap your chest with the palm of your hand on the beats that bass is playing. You'll not that what the guitar is doing is playing upbeats as your hand is pulling away and getting ready for the next beat.

This is a particular style (and a fun one). You might go back on David's thread and ask for a list of classic blues songs that use this beat, and then listen to each. A lot of listening, and then as much playing with other musicians as you may be able, are keys to understanding rhythm.

Good luck!

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