How to Play Blues Guitar Shuffle

All blues music is based on a repetitive beat that comes from a call-and-response sound. Most blues sounds come from a basic beat called a shuffle. A guitar may play the shuffle over and over to keep a steady bass rhythm. Learn a simple shuffle to begin playing blues music on the guitar.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Guitar
• Pick

1. Use your right hand to strum the guitar with a pick. Use the palm of your right hand to mute the ringing a bit by gently placing the hand on the strings just above the bridge.
2. Play an A chord strumming strings A and E first.
3. Switch to a D chord after 2 counts of 4. Play the D chord by strumming strings E and D. Switch back to A chord after 2 counts of 4.
4. Change the notes played on the frets with the left hand. Play the open note E and B together on the up and down stroke. Play the B by pressing the A string second fret.
5. Move to a C sharp on the fourth fret of the A string on the second downward stroke or strum. On the second upward strum, play a B again.
6. Add a hammer-on at the end of each 4 count. For the hammer-on, play 3 notes in 1 count. Start with an open note G using the middle finger, move to G sharp with the ring finger then on to a B with the index finger.
7. Repeat this sequence of notes over and over until it flows very smoothly.