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Hey, I'm looking for a rhythm guitar player for my virtual blues band. Can you play the blues? You can? Great! Would you like to audition? You would? Fantastic! Come on, step into my virtual rehearsal room and meet my virtual band mates. We've got a big virtual tour coming up and we desperately need a virtual rhythm guitarist. By the way, what's your name? Stevie? Nice to meet you Stevie, I'm Pete. Come on, come inside.....

CUT TO.....

VIRTUAL REHEARSAL ROOM -EVENING

A dimly lit room with graffiti on the walls. The drummer and the bass player are jamming a jazz blues. Pete and Stevie interrupt.

PETE: (Shouting) Guys

They don't hear him

PETE: (Shouting louder) Guys, QUIET!!!!!!

They stop playing.

PETE: Thank you. This is Stevie. He says he can play the blues.

JAKEY THE DRUMMER: Hi Stevie, I'm Jakey

COLIN THE BASS PLAYER: Yo, I'm Colin

STEVIE: Nice to meet you both.

JAKEY: So you play the blues, huh?

STEVIE: Sure, anybody can play the blues.

PETE: Ok, grab a guitar Steve. We'll have a jam.

Jakey adjusts his high hat. Colin turns the volume up on his amplifier.

COLIN: Ok, how about something simple to start off with.

JAKEY: A 16 bar?

PETE: Sounds good, key of C sharp.

Jakey starts counting in

JAKEY: 1...2...3..

Stevie interrupts

STEVIE: Sorry, a what bar?

PETE: A 16 bar

Stevie has a blank look on his face. Colin and Jakey exchange glances.

PETE: Have you played a 16 bar before?

Stevie shakes his head.

PETE: Ok, erm...I know let's try an 8 bar blues.

COLIN: Yeah. Let's do it in A flat

JAKEY: Great! 1....2....3....

STEVIE: (Interrupting) Hold on guys.

Everybody looks at Stevie.

STEVIE: I'm sorry, I'm not too sure how to play an 8 bar.

PETE: I thought you said you could play the blues...

STEVIE: (Angry) Sure I can play the blues. I've been playing the blues for years. I grew up playing the blues.

PETE: Erm, ok then, let's try a minor blues in F sharp,

JAKEY: 1...2...3...

STEVIE: (Interrupting) Er...no

PETE: But you did say you can play the blues.

STEVIE: Course I can play the blues.

COLIN: Ok, your call Stevie, what shall we play?

STEVIE: Well, how about a 12 bar blues in E?

PETE: Yeah, ok. Let's give it a go. We'll make it a quick change 12 bar in 12/8 time. Oh yeah and lead in with the turnaround.

JAKEY: 1...........

STEVIE: (Interrupting) Erm.......

Pete, Jakey and Colin are puzzled

PETE: What?

STEVIE: Quick change? 12/8? Lead in with the turnaround?

PETE: But you said you can play the blues.

STEVIE: yeah, well not this sort of blues.

An awkward silence fills the room.

STEVIE: (Embarrassed) Erm...maybe.....I should...er......go

Stevie turns and leaves

Jakey and Colin glare at Pete

PETE: But he said he could play the blues....

Cymbal crash - THE END!

Ok, let's step out of virtuality and back to reality. I have a question for you.....

If you were in Stevie's shoes, what would you have answered when asked you if you could play the blues?

Be honest, would you have said yes? I think most guitar players would have. It seems as though a lot of people think the blues is an easy music. Three chords in a 12 bar format. Well, a lot of it is three chords and a lot of it is in a 12 bar format. There is no denying that. But, there is also a lot more to it than most people think.

Let me ask you another question. Once again, answer honestly.

Imagine it was you in the audition room and not Stevie. Could you have played the 16 bar in the key of C sharp? How about the 8 bar or the minor blues? How would you have coped with the turnaround intro or the quick change? Would you have known what 12/8 time was? Would you have been comfortable in the keys that were suggested? C sharp?, A flat? F sharp? Remember, you are being asked to play these things on the spot.

If you answered yes to all the above then, great! You need read no further. Go reward yourself with a jam doughnut, you deserve it. For those of you that answered no to all, or just one of the questions, we need to do some work. Maybe you could argue that "feel" would have got you through the audition. What is this word; "feel?" Well, it's great to have it, but a bit silly to rely on it. Sometimes we need a little bit more than feel to get us through tough situations. The truth is we need knowledge!

If you are serious about becoming a professional guitar player then you really do need a good knowledge of the blues. It is a language that all musicians love to use. The way to get this knowledge is to work hard and commit yourself to your musical education. A solid understanding of blues progressions is essential to your development. Sorry but a 12 bar in E just will not do.

That's why we, at Jack Sky Ltd, have produced an excellent blues rhythm guitar study entitled "Blues Progressions." This 32 page e-Book covers 8 bar, 12 bar 16 bar, minor blues, jazz blues plus many variations of these progressions. It also includes a chord syllabus with chords that are commonly used in blues music. It really is packed with information that will equip you with the skills required to jam with any blues band.

The next time somebody asks "Can you play the blues?" make sure you are in a position to stick out your chest, lift up your head, look em in the eye and reply...."Yes, I play the blues!" Grab this fantastic e-book today. Visit our on-line store at www.jack-sky.com

Knowledge breeds confidence. Confidence will, in turn, create opportunities. Opportunities will bring experience. Experience will bring success!! Here's to your success! Work hard and feel yourself improve......

Oh, and by the way, can you play the blues...........?