The Triplet Rhythm
Almost all blues is played to a triplet rhythm. This rhythm is created by playing three evenly spaced notes per beat (a total of twelve notes per bar). The first of each three notes is played slightly stronger or louder than the other two notes within a beat.
The rhythm is counted 1 and ah 2 and ah 3 and ah 4 and ah, written as 1 + a, 2 + a, 3 + a, 4 + a.
The triplet rhythm is used in the following lick.
It is also common to miss the middle note within a triplet group. The next example uses a rhythm counted as "1 ... ah, 2 ... ah, 3 ... ah, 4 ... ah".
The Bend
The third finger bends the string upwards, with the help of the second finger.
The bend is achieved by bending a string with the left hand in the direction of the adjacent strings, causing the note to rise in pitch. This is done with the left hand finger which is fretting the note. In example 118, the note on the third fret of the 2nd string is bent with the third finger of the left hand.
In order to bend the note successfully, bend the string with the help of the second finger as well. The symbol B and a curved line indicate a bend. The bracketed fret number indicates the correct pitch the note is to bent.
The Release Bend
The release bend is played by first bending the note indicated with the left hand, plucking the string while bent, then returning the string to its normal position. If played correctly the release bend creates a drop in pitch from a higher note to a lower note.
A release bend is used in example 119. Bend the note on the 2nd string, third fret with the third finger of the left hand. Pick the 2nd string with the right hand while the string is bent. Immediately after striking the string and still maintaining pressure on the note against the fretboard release the string carefully to its normal position. The release bend is indicated by a curved line and the symbol R.
Note: for music readers, when two eighth notes are notated together the notes are played as the 1st and 3rd parts of a triplet, indicated by the symbol 6 = z above the music. This rhythm will apply to almost all the examples, licks and solos that follow in this book.
Now a complete 12 Bar Blues progression using a variety of techniques.
