Simple Sample Blues Licks

Remember our guitar-friendly blues scale in the guitar-friendly key of A? Here it is again for your review.

Here are a collection of short blues licks in Am. The licks are played as short clips on an acoustic guitar at about 3/4 speed so you can hear really well what's going on. Try each lick on your own guitar, and pay attention to the bends, slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, double-stops, chops and rolls that are very common in blues.

Most of the licks are played in the 5th position (1st finger on the 5th fret) but some of the licks slide up to the 7th position on the upper notes, and down to the 3rd position or even the open position on the lower licks. These positions are very comfortable.

Remember that in blues, it's all about the groove and the feeling. Practice each of these licks until you can do it smoothly and with soul. Mix and match them, then make up some of your own.