January 12, 2025 by Klaus Crow
Looking to spice up your blues guitar playing? You’ve come to the right place! In this post, we’ll break down a Blues Lick in D that’ll add some serious flavor to your solos. Whether you’re just starting out or an intermediate player looking to expand your skills, this lick is a fun and powerful addition to your repertoire.
Why Play in the Key of D?
Before we dive into the lick, let’s take a moment to explore the key of D—a fantastic key for blues guitarists. Why is D so popular? For one, it’s relatively easy to play in, thanks to its open strings and familiar chord shapes. But more importantly, it has a raw, distinctive sound that feels right at home in blues music.
In the key of D, the primary chords are D7, G7, and A7—the classic I-IV-V progression that forms the backbone of countless blues songs. When improvising, you can lean on the D blues scale (or D pentatonic scale) to create those soulful, expressive lines.
A Simple 12-Bar Blues Progression in D
Let’s set the stage for this lick with a 12-bar blues progression in the key of D, a standard format in blues music. This is the perfect structure to practice over:
| D7 | D7 | D7 | D7 |
| G7 | G7 | D7 | D7 |
| A7 | G7 | D7 | A7 |
Feel free to jam over this progression to really get the feel of the key. Now, let’s move on to the good stuff—the lick itself!
The Cool Blues Lick in D
In the video lesson, we’re playing a Blues Lick in D based on the D blues scale. The lick incorporates double stops—playing two notes at once for a fuller, richer sound—and uses bend-ups and bend-downs. These techniques are classic in blues guitar and help create that signature emotional pull in your playing.
The beauty of this lick lies in its simplicity and expressiveness. By combining these techniques, you’ll be able to craft a line that sounds both bluesy and melodic, with just the right amount of tension and release.
How to Play a Blues Lick in D
Ready to play? Below, you’ll find the tablature for the lick as demonstrated in the video. Take it slow at first, and focus on nailing the bend technique and the timing of the double stops. Once you’ve got the feel, try speeding it up or adding your own personal touch.
Tabs for the Lick:
Final Thoughts: Take This Lick to Your Next Jam!
With these new techniques under your belt, you’re ready to incorporate this lick into your own solos and jam sessions. Try it over the provided 12-bar blues progression, or adapt it to different keys and progressions for added variety. Remember, blues is all about expression—don’t be afraid to play around with the lick and make it your own!
Enjoy the journey, and keep on playing!
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