Muddy Waters-style blues

Try out your best blues licks as you jam along with TG’s 50s-inspired jam track

This month we’ve recorded a traditional blues track for you to jam over inspired by the legendary Muddy Waters, in particular the classic 50s era with Jimmy Rogers on guitar. Our track uses a handful of blues tricks which will help keep your ear locked in as you jam along.

First up is the verse, which is in B minor. The chart shows a Bm7, but, in fact, this chord is never played. Instead we’re playing a riff that uses the notes of the chord to imply Bm7. It’s a neat trick used by nearly every blues rocker since the 50s.

The chorus changes to a ‘dominant’ chord progression (E7, B7 and so on are known as ‘dominant’ chords, hence the name). These chords have an edgy, bluesy sound that contrasts with the steadier sounding verse. B7 to E7 to F#7 is a standard blues progression, but, by starting on E7 here, the chorus comes in with momentum – another trick that’s been used by everyone from Chuck Berry to Jack White.