JAM TRACKS tips

Use these tips to navigate our bonus backing tracks

➊ Blues Boogie (G)

Here’s a fun blues shuffle with a touch of John Lee Hooker about it. Use G Minor Pentatonic b-C-D-F) (G-B for a classic blues vibe. You can also approach the IV chord (C) with C Minor Pentatonic b-F-G-B b) (C-E and the V chord (D) with D Minor Pentatonic (D-F-G-A-C). Happy jamming!

➋ Rock Ballad (Gm)

Here’s a slow rock play-along in G Minor, which lends itself well to focusing on your control of dynamics. Use G Minor Pentatonic (G-Bb-C-D-F)

and G Minor scale (G-A-Bb-C-D-Eb-F)

as a starting point. You can also use G Dorian

(G-A-Bb-C-D-E-F) mode for the

(Bb-C-Gm). ‘chorus’ section

Bb ➌ Jazz Blues

This is a standard jazz-blues progression, but as it’s blues you can

Bb (Bb-Db-Eb-EF-Ab) use minor blues scale as your go-to scale, and add Bb (Bb-C-Dsome Major Pentatonic F-G). However, to make it really jazzy aim for chord tones and add chromatic ideas as well. No comping on the track, so plenty of space for you to play with!

➍ 12-Bar Blues Rockout (E)

The turnaround chords of this (bVI-V), progression are C5 and B5 so slightly different from your standard V-IV. Good old E Minor Pentatonic scale (E-G-A-B-D) works a treat, but you can also add in some E Major Pentatonic (E-F#-G#-B-C#) and E Mixolydian mode (E-F#-G#-A-B-C#-D) for some extra positive vibes. Enjoy!