Blues Rhythm Chops (Slick Rhythm Techniques You Can Use Right Now!)

Sick of those same old blues rhythm guitar shuffles and barre chords? Kick your blues rhythm chops up a notch with this blues rhythm lesson and discover how to use chord fragments, ninth chords and rhythm riffs in your rhythm guitar style.

Ex 1: Chord Fragments

Chord Fragments are fragments of larger chords and they are powerful blues rhythm guitar tools. See this example to learn how to use them straight away in your playing.

Ex 2: 9th Chords

9th chords can act as substitutes for Dominant 7 chords, so instead of playing A7 in your 12 bar blues, you could play A9 instead. This adds much more colour to the 12 bar blues (and makes you sound like a way slicker player!)

Ex 3: Blues Bassline Riffs

Why not ditch chords all together…and play a blues bassline riff instead! Here’s one example of a blues bassline riff you can use. Try out some riff variations of your own remember.

Have fun spicing up your blues rhythm chops with this lesson and see you next time!