GUITARHABITS

Free Quality Guitar Lessons

Acoustic Guitar Fingerstyle with Bass Lines

By Leave a Comment

Are you in today for an acoustic fingerstyle with sweet added bass lines? Well pick up your guitar and let’s have some fun!

This lesson is mainly for the intermediate guitar player, but there are certainly components in this piece you can practice as a beginner that will really benefit your playing. 

Have a great one! 🎸🌿

Video Lesson

Acoustic Guitar Fingerstyle with Bass Lines

This arrangement consists of 5 parts that I also refer to in the video lesson and you can see it in the tablature as well, so you can easily follow along. It’s a nice challenge so take your time with it. Once you get the hang of it, it’s a real beauty.

Go get ‘m!

Tabs

If you like the lesson subscribe to Guitarhabits’ Youtube channel for more! 🔥🎸👍

Easy Classical Guitar Etude

By Leave a Comment

Today I have a nice short, mid-easy classical guitar etude for you with some beautiful sounding chords and a Klaus twist. I studied classical guitar from a private teacher for a couple of years and I learned a lot from that. These days I focus more on blues, pop and rock guitar, but I always have a special place in my heart for classical guitar.

Enjoy the lesson!

Video Lesson

Plucking technique

For the plucking / picking hand use your thumb for the Low E, A and D string. Use your index finger for the G-string, your middle finger for the B-string and your ring finger for the high e-string.

Tabs

Easy Classical Guitar Etude TABS

If you like the lesson subscribe to Guitarhabits’ Youtube channel for more! 🔥🎸👍

Cool Nifty 12 Bar Blues Riff

By Leave a Comment

Are you looking to spice up your guitar practice with a cool and nifty 12-bar blues riff? Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, the 12-bar blues is a fundamental structure that offers endless opportunities for creativity.

In this post, we’ll break down a simple yet impressive blues riff with hammer-ons and plucking the strings that’s easy to learn and guaranteed to add flair to your playing. Plus, don’t miss the included video lesson and the accompanied Tabs to help you master it step by step!

What’s in a Name

A while ago I was on holiday with my family and we went the to Veluwe National Park. It’s the largest forest area in The Netherlands. While I was enjoying my coffee, relaxing on the couch and fiddling on my guitar I came up with a 12 bar blues, hence the name Veluwe Couch Blues.

Tabs for the 12 Bar Blues

12 Bar Blues Guitar Lesson TABS

How to Play The Blues Riff

  1. Bars 1-4: Start with a rhythmic pattern based on the E7 chord. Use alternate picking to keep the groove consistent.
  2. Bars 5-6: Shift to the A7 chord. Notice the similar finger shapes, which make transitions smooth.
  3. Bars 7-8: Return to the E7 chord and repeat the opening riff.
  4. Bar 9: Move to the B7 chord and play the designated riff for one bar.
  5. Bar 10: Transition to the A7 chord for one bar.
  6. Bars 11-12: Play the closing riff in E7, resolving the progression beautifully and setting up the next loop.

What Is the 12-Bar Blues?

The 12-bar blues is a classic chord progression used in countless blues, rock, and even jazz songs. It typically follows a structure of three four-bar sections:

  • The I chord (root chord) for 4 bars.
  • The IV chord (subdominant) for 2 bars, followed by the I chord for 2 bars.
  • The V chord (dominant) for 1 bar, the IV chord for 1 bar, and a closing riff in the I chord for 2 bars.

E7 | E7 | E7 | E7
A7 | A7 | E7 | E7
B7 | A7 | E7 | E7 (closing riff)

Why Learn the 12-Bar Blues?

The 12-bar blues is more than just a chord progression; it’s a gateway to musical improvisation and expression. Mastering a few riffs and licks can:

  • Improve your timing and rhythm.
  • Expand your knowledge of scales and chords.
  • Prepare you for jamming with other musicians.
  • Tips for Practicing
  • Start Slow: Use a metronome to keep time and gradually increase your speed.
  • Focus on Groove: Blues is all about feel, so emphasize the rhythmic swing.
  • Experiment with Variations: Add slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs to make the riff your own.
  • Jam with a Backing Track: Playing along with a track can help you internalize the 12-bar structure.

Enjoy!

How to Play House of The Rising Sun by The Animals – Fingerpicking Pattern

By 14 Comments

Today I’m going to show you a simplified fingerstyle version of The House of the rising sun by the Animals. This is ideal for beginner guitar players.

You will recognize the song instantly and most people probably wouldn’t notice the difference. In fact there are many guitar players who just play it this way, and aren’t even aware they are playing the simplified version.

It’s an easy and widely used fingerpicking pattern that you will also come across in many other popular songs. I’d say a win-win situation.

Tip: Try to memorize chord progression of the song in the video. That way you will likely to pick up your guitar several times throughout the day to practice the tune and make progress much faster.

The song and the fingerpicking pattern is a classic, it’s fun to play and should definitely be part of your repertoire. A perfect beginner fingerpicking song.

Enjoy!

Please share your comments below. I appreciate it.