Fender Play Live: A Blues Playlist

Fender Play Live is a weekly studio show that dives deep into the Fender's legendary gear and the iconic music that was made by it over the years.

In this edition of the program, host Pete Griffin is joined by guitarist Christone "Kingfish" Ingram to break down the basics of the blues. Ingram will have his trusty Stratocaster in tow to show some of the blues techniques he uses and play through a few blues classics.

You can watch the show each Wednesday at 5 p.m. PST on Fender’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitter channels. The Fender Play Live blues episode is also embedded below.

To accompany Fender Play Live, we've compiled a special blues curriculum for every level of player to follow through Fender Play. Check out the lesson lists below, and if you're not a Fender Play subscriber yet, start your free trial here.

Blues Crash Course: Level 1

Show Me: String Muting

String muting is accomplished by gently applying pressure with the palm of your strumming hand on the strings immediately after you strum. It gives your playing a "pulsing" or percussive sound, a technique many blues players employ.

Learn how to mute strings in this video.

Show Me: Power Chords

Power chords are essentially two-note chords that are played on two or three strings. Thre are great because they're pretty easy to fret and have a versatile nature giving them a wide variety of uses, both on acoustic and electric guitars. Try some one-finger power chords in this lesson.

Exercise: E - A - B7 with String Muting

Now that you've gone through the concept of string muting, practice muting strings while playing some simple chords here.

Show Me: Power Chords and Standard Chords

Not only does blues use power chords, but the genre also regularly combine those power chords with standard chords.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to combine both types of chords over a blues progression.

Riff: "Spoonful" by Howlin' Wolf

Howlin' Wolf was a master of the blues, inspiring countless of other blues musicians that followed him. And one of his biggest songs - with one of his baddest riffs - was "Spoonful." The one-chord, modal blues structure of the track was a staple of Wolf's repertoire.

Try your hand at the "Spoonful" riff in this lesson.

Blues Crash Course: Level 2

Exercise: Play Your First Guitar Solo Over a 12-Bar Blues Progression in E

Soloing adds an extra layer of magic to your playing style, giving you a wider musical vocabulary. And you can create a great solo over a standard 12-bar blues progession. Learn how in this video.

Exercise: Drill the E Minor Pentatonic Scale

Now go deeper into soloing with this course that further explains 12-bad blues.

Muddy Waters - "Mannish Boy"

You can't have too many great blues riffs in your collection! Learn a blues standard while practicing your quick changes.

Learn how to play "Mannish Boy" here.

Howlin' Wolf - "Smokestack Lightnin'"

Learn pull-offs with one of Wolf's most famous tracks, "Smokestack Lightnin'." Pull-offs are one of the blues' most frequently used techniques, as it adds style and color to your palette.

Learn how to play "Smokestack Lightnin'" here

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram - "I Put a Spell on You"

Screamin' Jay Hawkins originally had a hit on his hands with 1956's "I Put A Spell on You," and it was so influential that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included it on its list of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll." Clearly, it also influenced Kingfish, as he delivered an inspired version for Fender's Vintera Series campaign.

Learn how to play "I Put a Spell on You" here

Blues Crash Course: Level 3

B.B. King - "Every Day I Have the Blues"

B.B. King's classic "Every Day I Have the Blues" proves why he helped lay the foundation for blues guitar. King recorded this standard in 1955, and it quickly shot to No. 8 in the R&B chart and appeared on several of his albums.

Learn how to play "Every Day I Have the Blues" here.

John Lee Hooker - "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer"

John Lee Hooker’s take on this Willie Dixon classic brings his signature rhythm guitar work to your blues alternate strumming toolkit.

Learn how to play "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" here.

Buddy Guy - "Let Me Love You Baby"

One of the great blues legends reminds us of how you can tell a story with a strong lead and a few riffs. Learn Buddy Guy's iconic song to work towards telling your own story, too.

Learn how to play "Let Me Love You Baby" here.

ZZ Top - "La Grange"

ZZ Top put Texas boogie on the map by taking John Lee Hooker's rhythm approach and adding modern hard rock picking and lead work.

Learn how to play "La Grange" here.

Rev. Gary Davis - "Hesitation Blues"

Hot Tuna and Rev. Gary Davis both had hits with this traditional, a great addition to your blues repertoire.

Learn how to play "Hesitation Blues" here.

For more Fender Play Live, go to Fender’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitter channels. And if you're not a member of Fender Play yet, click here for a free trial.