Guitar lessons, music theory and personal philosophy on video, presented by Tomo Fujita, professional guitarist and Professor at Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts USA.
The guitar tone on the fender pro is so cool. It sounds burly in the blues shuffle, I like that. It seems that the space is very even and right on the beat. Pick up tip for this video is the mute in both hands :). Getting some good low end burly rumble in the notes. I was listening to a vinyl with Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, and Robert Cray, very slow Blues and a bit of stylish groove about 65bpm back beat, it had the same slow drive appeal. Will be trying this, and yes, even slower. Like the video a lot, very much lesson oriented. Thank you for filling us in on the new videos for YT, very cool to have a VIP like that. Cheers - johno
Thank you Johno! So glad to hear that you enjoyed those new videos. That Pro Reverb is a great amp! By the way.... I just made another one tonight! What a great blues records! Slow blues is so good!
Many requested me to teach "The Girl from Ipanema" lesson so I made this video tonight. 1969 Fender Bronco! I did use a Boss DD-2 delay pedal too! 1965 Fender Pro Reverb & Fender Blues Jr. 30th Anniversary version. One Control Beth Reverb (Plate reverb side)
That is the one Tomo, that "old Fender Pro Reverb & 1992 Fender SRV Strat with the Grinning Dog Funkmaster pickups!" all fixed up an sparkly clean, deluxe sound!! Happy New Year 2026 :) - johno
I made this lesson video today. I cannot thank enough our members for positive inspiration! Thank you so much! You guys made me wanting to practice my daily guitar practice routing (3 things to do!) I will post tomorrow morning.
Thanks Tomo - great messages, and also good to see your 3 focus areas. I am going to learn one of the standards you mentioned to expand my R37 swing practice. All of Me has been great for improving my muting, but I (and the people around me) could use some fresh tunes.
Thank you Clay! I just finished practiced 3 things. So I can work out now! Glad you liked this video. Do less things and gain confidence and comfort through these exercises. Blues to Jazz Blues then some standards...just handful... I highly suggest to practice "There will never be another you" (I think about my wife while I practice this song!) All of me is so great too! Pick one song that very special to you.
I made this video tonight! Blues Shuffle Bassline that I think everyone should know and how to play it. I had so much fun making this video. I would like to make more foudation videos for my YouTube channel. Thank you so much for checking my YouTube videos. Thanks so much!
So much great content in this! Such beautiful timing, playing over chord changes, and hitting the pocket. I really needed this one. I am trying to apply fretboard and scale knowledge yet find it difficult to implement smoothly.
Question on hitting the chord changes so beautifully, are you thinking Major, Min, Dominant scales, or you just know the notes so well you flow across all of them without thinking structures?
Thank you again for doing such a comprehensive overview in a consumable format.
Thank you Cruz for your kind words! Shuffle Blues Bassline is so important in order to play a good solo. Keep it simple and do not improvise anything but simple bassline.
For soloing, When improvising and when practicing... different. When I am soloing... I don't even think about any scales at all but I hear some phrsaing that I used to hear... I outline those and develope my own which is influenced by jazz besides straight ahead blues.
Basically I hear each chord sound and possible phrasing over each chord and chord progression. Don't worry about soloing. Once you have a stroong foundation, it's not too hard to do but it not easy. Good preparation in depths.
You're very welcome! Thanks for your feedback! I am trying to make more lesson videos during my winter break from Berklee. I would like to focus making "Foundation Lesson" like this one and a little fun gear videos.
Trying this lesson out. I made a loop of the blues baseline, though not solid, and tried improvising over it. Guitar is Fender Telecaster Thinline Suona, Headrush, Boss DR-01S, and TC Helicon Harmony Amp. Amp has an looper.
Appreciate any feedback.
Wore dark glasses to get in the blues scene. Put a bar in the background
Thank you Cruz for posting this video. Sounds so good! If you are aiming Buddy Guy , Otis Rush ish minor sad feeling blues. This is so good! (Do not make any sound from your foot!)
You played R and b3 as main theme (in the beginning) so it sounds very minor-ish sound which I love! That soloing over the bassline lesson's demo was a little more toward chord tone playing. I hit M3 of each chord more often. So you can also play triad plus M6 and b7 like bassline or horn line. I am curious that when you are practicing this soloing... what are you trying to do? Or what you are hearing in you before you perform this?
When I practice any soloing... I need to have "Song" so that I have one melodic direction. And that song must have very unique chord sounds and direction even only 3 chords / 12 bar blues chord progrressions. To me... I need "Song" which has "Melody" and "Chord Progression" without these.... feel like a child without parents!
Good job on playing simple bassline too! (Not same as i played. So check "Simple Bassline") What would you like to do? More specific idea will help you. I can make additional soloing idea video later.
I am already cooking "ideas" from your video. I made new backing track playing that super simple bassline R R 8 8 b7 b7 5 5 with no filles. I played it with my 1965 Stratocaster then I added same bassline with my 1965 Fender Precision Bass. Then I was folloing your idea with strong minor pentatonic taste for a few times (only using 5 notes a la Stevie Ray Vaughan. Then I stareted playing 3rd & 7th comping around that bassline. I think you need to hear those if you want to play over chord changes.
Way to break the ice Cruz with shuffle blues shades and all, you too Tomo!! Nice to hear the guitar play, sweet model. Hope CES is not too crazy or too much AI to take in. Thank your for the share and details.
-johno
Wow reading this comment and questions, really blew my mind because I never thought of any of that :). I just go to what feels right at the moment lol. I have so much to learn! I did try to stay in the groove as much as I could keep up with :). Once in a while I try to leverage a tool like major/minor scale, caged, dominant but like my question this morning, if the song is moving along my recall of those tools is a bit to slow at the moment. My long term goal is to take all these new ideas back to Gospel as nothing motivates me more than seeing someone feel new hope from inspired music.
These questions you asked are so good I think I will be thinking of them all this week while traveling.
Thank you Tomo so much! I think I will learn so much from you as I listen and stay with GW.
PS The beat in the background is my Boss Rhythm partner.
Looking forward to hear what you mentioned! :). Yes trying to hit chord tones so can hear the chord changes like singing along.
Thank you for your reply! I wasnot sure how much you want to have my feedback but I did a few things in general. I was going to make an additonal video but it's a little bit personal so I decided to make it as my YouTube lesson video. Hope you don't mind ... I use your phrasing and explained what's really going on and I explained what could have happened if you know, if you do... etc. I had a lof fun making this video. Thanks so much for your inspiration.
I am so happy to hear that my suggestions were helpful! Feeling is important... but you want to use "feeling" and something "specific" so that you can use "things" and your feeling! Often I use my feeling when I am driving ... so I often get to lost! For driving.. feel like a lot of waste of time.... Guitar playing, you don't feel that way so easy to repeat that way which not so effective to improve.
Now you can watch this new video soon!
I love this place! We are working together!
I am an open book, please do share when you get time :). Looking forward to it. I need a guitar for my suitcase so I can keep up with GW while on the road.
Thank you Cruz. So glad to hear that. I just made this video so I don't decide a title and description yet. I think this lesson video is helpful to many people. Good job! Have a safe trip!
I made shuffle blues bassline loop (simple bassline with no fills). I demo with your phrasing. By the way, it was a perfect (ideal length) especially for any challenge. A little over 2 minutes. Blues form 4 times. Main position. Lower position, Higher position and back to main position. I played a la SRV style.... Sweet Home Chicago soloing idea... 3rd & 7th fills to show chord changes... Triadic phrase... a la BB King style and mixing my own style. I am very curious about your reaction to this video.
Tomo
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Description updated!
What's next after Shuffle Blues Bassline... Soloing? One of my Guitar Wisdom members posted his challenge video on GW Forum. He asked me any feedback if I have so why not? I can suggest something here for all. Good question would be "How to get out from minor pentatonic blues soloing?" So let's check a few things together here so you can learn something new. Sound good?
1) Let's review the simple shuffle bassline from last lesson video.
Check the bassline carefully with the details.
2) Think about "Blues Phrasing" You can think about Stevie Ray Vaughan sound but you should think about your phrase can point to IV chord strongly and feel strongly go to V chord.
Bassline & Blues Phrase (Blues phrase between bassline)
3) Make enough space between phrases. Think about your "Pacing" 09:25 - 10:56
4) Changing direction with M3 and chord tone playing. 10:56 - 12:02
5) When you are hitting b3 of minor pentatonic scale, you should bend a little (To Major 3rd)
6) Bad example. Minor pentatonic scale with no feeling but visual aspect of playing 14:28 - 15:55
7) Good example. Feeling with good knowledge. 15:10 - 17:02 (So much fun!)
8) How to play "Guide Tone = 3rd & 7th" (Need to know chord tone too!) over Blues Chord Progression. 18:42 - 20:16.
9) A little jam with horn line, harmonized phrase. 20:15 - 22:34
10) One more jam! 27:58 - 29:43 .... Solo guitar! 29:45 - 31:12
... more things that you can catch them if you want... please watch to the end of this lesson video. (more fun ideas toward end!) Thank you for watching my video! Encouragement is so important!
My gear:
Ibanez AZES PINK
One Control BJF-S100 amp head
String Driver 2-12s cab
One Control Beth Reverb
Providence Cable E205 Model
Pickboy 1.00mm Celluloid Pick
What an awesome review of what's possible with this style of what I might refer to as call and answer blues. So many nugget comments I will need to watch over all week on the road :). Some phrases I've never thought of and I cant wait to try.
I do agree just feeling and just information is not enough. I think your saying have a direction with understanding. Anyway, can't wait to dig into this on guitar and will be watching the forum from CES Vegas this week. Thank you so much!
I think I'm starting to notice you say all the same details in each lesson video.
But as I am practicing over time, I am hearing or able to understand, or comprehend new details and incorporate into the technique.
It is helping a great deal. Slow practice with listening and focus. Starting to get it. :)
I agree with how you defined "bad habits".
When you mentioned Eddy Van Halen blowing up amps I got lost thinking about that until you said "you! who asked the question" pointing at the camera. That woke me back into the moment! Caught daydreaming in class haha.
Am I enjoying my practice Tomo, thank you. I have to watch this several more times over the next few day as I continue to work on R 3 7, B♭ swing groove blues.
My pleasure Sunil! Good job for noticing in depths! This will take some time. Please take your time even before you make any videos of yourself for checking (One week or more!) So glad to hear that you are enjoying your practice! Yes! Good job! 4-5 times! You're very welcome!
This video is very R37 forward details. The sound is very distinguished between amplifiers and setups. The pedal lehi sounds very good when switching, I like that, still super clean no buffer. Your details on the R37 stand out in the example, sound and blues quick four are easy to understand, lots of blues. I need my T-shirt to watch again. "R37, driving it home", really an amazing foundation to share, way beneficial. Thank you, - johno
Thanks so much for watching that R 3 7 lesson video. I was trying just like as if I were teaching in private lesson. The Lehle Little Dual II Amp Switcher is one of my favorite pedals! So good! Very effective to run two amps and enjoy each amp's tone and more!
Thank you! I love practicing R 3 7 Swing Groove everyday! So deep! Yes! R 3 7 T-shirt is very helpful. The road of R 3 7! So happy to hear your reaction Johno!
I made this video for showing the BJF-S100's amp distortion sound. I am not sure... this video is good enough. Please let me know your reaction. Thank you so much!
GEAR:
Ibanez AZES
One Control BJF-S100 amp head
String Driver 2-12s cab
One Control Beth Reverb (FX Loop)
D'Addario EXL110
Providence Cable E205
Pickboy 1.00mm Celluloid pick
That BJF-S100 is so compact and versatile, really cool. It is nice since it can transport so easily (no wheels!!), being modile with the amp and your true Amp sound (like!!). I wonder how the house crew handles it when you show up and say, "hook it up", XLRs or 1/4 inch plugs, adapters direct to sound board? I have researched the Amp a bit, totally tempting and recently on sale.. Those build in effects are also inviting, light distortion is nice, and also no buss in clean mode. Those game tricks were far out tight delay!! Great video Tomo, it tells a good story on you sound.
-johno
This has everything.
If a total beginner only had one lesson, they could study this and be able to play all kinds of music for years.
Especially the G Slow Blues!
Love this one and how much important ground you cover. Then a great jam at the end.
Thank you!
Kurt
Sounds great! I spent some time on this tonight. I am Familiar with first two sections so I focused on the 9th chords.
Can you explain the turnaround chord at 14:51?
I think you played D, F#, Bb, D. Sounds great not sure how it functions with a Bb in it. D7#5?
Thank you Kurt for your feedback! I am working on better lessons, easy lessons for my YouTube channel. Mosty people learn What to play guitar from tabs visually so I want to bring back HOW to play guitar by listening experieces. Once you understand these steps then I can play chord slide and fills without confusion. Same as Hendrix style… first you need to know Major and Minor triads then fills after that. Not all include because Hendix did not learn that way. He was a biginner first! Then he listens more piano chords.
Slow Blues T-bone Walker style type with and modified slow turn around I IV I V resolve. Lol, "turn around to see if anyone is there" it makes sense, don't want to lose the band or at least see if they are paying attention, checking in. The ET diatonic triads have the experience of the B b7b5, so that is good. Then add the Key root G to not be 'root-less' chord. The open form CAGED I don't routinely practice those (bar chords OK), I do have a copy of the D - CAGED form screenshot on the music stand. The ninth chord has my ear to fit the T-bone style, that is the new learn and main practice take away. Great video with some funny quotes and history lesson of slow Blues.
Thank you,
-johno
Thanks, Tomo .Don't know why most of this was so hard for me to pick up. I couldn't really figure out what your fingers were doing for most of the multi-string turnarounds. I just need to watch it many. many, many more times.
Most importantly for me, I did bear down and figure out how you play that fantastic Freddy King Sweet Home Chicago intro. It seems basic now, but I was struggling. I'm happy to know it. I've listened to it many thousands of times on 1934-76 album.
Thanks for these lessons.
Kurt
Thank you Kurt for sharing your side. Those turn around is not easy! It will take some time. So don't worry! Even though you don't know what really going on... keep listening same thing over and over for a while! Keep repeating that part over and over!
Sweet Home Chicago by Freddie King! So good! Good thing will take some time. Keep listening it for 2-3 weeks then you will get it! Yes! I have listened that album everyday! You're very welcome!
I will post "Blues 9th chord slide & cool turnarounds" tomorrow morning. I made a few "Super Simple Series" so now you can watch One String One Finger Approach lesson.
Thank you Tomo! I appreciate the chance to take the screenshot. This is also in my Real Book on page 42, but notation is in a higher octave.
Going to take my time learning this fun song!
These lessons are pure gold!
Kurt
Thanks Tomo. Back to this thread next. Been on the ear training one a couple of weeks now. Went to GC and played a bass for the first time in my life for the last post. Pretty fun playing bass (EADG). lol.
Looking forward to coming back to this again and hoping the 7th chord work in the other makes this even easier to move to Eb :).
Nice breakdown - very easy to understand. I want to learn some more melodies, but I'm sticking with v2 and v3 of Blue Monk for now. Also about to graduate myself from "Here We Go Again" duet on Leavitt pp16-17. It's been like 9wks on that one! I'll definitely come back to this.
Great job Clay!
Here We Go Again is a classic :-)
Way to take time to absorb it.
The tempo (and fun) picks up when you get to Eighth notes on the next pages!
Kurt