Blues Guitar for Beginners: What to Practice First - 5 Minute Fix

New to blues and unsure what to focus on first? This 5-Minute Fix gives you a simple, effective roadmap to jumpstart your blues journey with confidence.

The Question

"As a beginning blues guitar player, what are the three things I should be practicing first?"
— Andrew (listener)

This is a great question — and an important one. A lot of players dive in without knowing what to focus on and end up stuck or frustrated. But with just three foundational skills, you can set yourself up for success!

Let’s break them down.

#1: Learning the 12-Bar Blues Progression

Blues rhythm is king. Before you dive into licks or flashy lead lines, you need to feel the structure of the blues.

Start with a simple 12-bar blues in the key of E:

Chord Progression:

• 4 bars of E7
  
  
• 2 bars of A7
  
  
• 2 bars of E7
  
  
• 1 bar of B7
  
  
• 1 bar of A7
  
  
• 1 bar of E7
  
  
• 1 bar of B7 (turnaround)
  
  

Each chord gets 1 measure (4 beats), and the turnaround at the end resets the progression. This structure is the backbone of almost every blues song. Once you can feel when the changes happen, you’re ready to play along with real music.

#2: Playing the Minor Pentatonic Scale

This is your go-to soloing scale for the blues — especially in E.

E Minor Pentatonic Pattern 1 (12th fret position):

• E string: 12 – 15
  
  
• A string: 12 – 14
  
  
• D string: 12 – 14
  
  
• G string: 12 – 14
  
  
• B string: 12 – 15
  
  
• High E string: 12 – 15
  
  

Learn this pattern and get comfortable playing it up and down.

Bonus Tip: Start connecting the notes in the scale to the chords.

   For example:

• E root notes: 12th fret on low E, 14th fret on D, 12th fret on high E
  
  
• A root notes: 12th fret A string, 14th fret G string
  
  
• B root notes: 14th fret A string, 12th fret B string
  
  

This will help your solos sound more connected to the rhythm — and feel more musical right from the start.

#3: Practicing Phrasing

Now that you know the chords and the scale, the next step is phrasing — making your solos sound musical.

That means using:

• Bends
  
  
• Slides
  
  
• Vibrato
  
  
• Raking
  
  
• Simple licks with space
  
  

You don’t need to play fast or complicated stuff. In fact, try limiting yourself to just 2 or 3 notes and see how expressive you can get.

Example Practice Idea:
Create a solo using only the top three strings (G, B, and high E). Use bends, slides, and vibrato to bring it to life. Don’t overplay — just let it sing.

Want Help Getting Started?

This is exactly what I cover in my free course:

Blues Solo Breakthrough: 6 Steps to Confident, Killer Solos

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start playing real solos with clarity and confidence, this course will walk you through every step!

Final Thoughts

The fastest way to grow is to focus on the right things, in the right order:

1. Understand the structure (12-bar blues)
   
   
2. Learn your tool (minor pentatonic scale)
   
   
3. Make it musical (phrasing)
   
   

Stick with that, and you’ll sound like a blues player in no time.

Thanks for tuning in — this has been your 5-Minute Fix.
See you next time!

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