Course Description

This course introduces acoustic guitar players to the world of learning blues finger picking guitar and focuses on the important basics that are vital for fast progression to more advanced patterns.

The seven videos presented feature discussions and slow demonstrations of the picking hand finger movements and include on-screen guitar tablature.

Video 1 - Should You Use Picks Or Bare Fingers?
Video 2 - Blues guitar - The Thumb Is KING!
Video 3 - Guitar Blues In E
Video 4 - Guitar Blues In A
Video 5 - Dropped D And open D Guitar Tunings
Video 6 - Open G Tuning And Bottleneck Guitar
Video 7 - On To Ragtime Guitar

The average length of each video is approximately 6 minutes and the course gives a broad insight into learning blues finger picking for acoustic guitar, providing a solid basis for more advanced study in any of the styles presented.

Jim Bruce was voted N°2 Internet Guitar Instructor by Truefire in 2013.

There is no more exciting thing than beginning to finger pick the guitar. Acoustic blues guitar is where it all started really. In the beginning, rhythmic strumming patterns turned into a basic finger picking pattern and gradually became more and more complex as players tried to invent other styles and basically out-do other guitar players!

No matter how complex guitar arrangements become, the basic movements are identical to the ones we first learn. These first steps in playing acoustic blues guitar are crucial - the rest of your playing career depends upon them

  • Over 11 lectures and 1 hour of content!
  • In this course you will learn the following important aspects of blues finger picking guitar
  • - the differences between using finger picks and bare fingers
  • - how to finger pick a basic blues in the key of E
  • - how to finger pick a basic blues in the key of A
  • - learn the basic alternating thumb pattern for ragtime finger picking guitar
  • - how to tune the guitar to open G and use a bottleneck
  • - picking in open D and dropped D guitar tuning
  • - the importance of the picking hand thumb action when finger picking guitar

This course is perfect for guitarists between beginner and intermediate level guitar students who want to start finger picking blues guitar.


Acoustic Blues Guitar Instructor

Jim Bruce

Acoustic blues guitarist Jim Bruce was voted Number 2 top guitar instructor on Truefire in 2013 (Number 1 for acoustic blues). Jim still plays blues guitar on the street in Europe and also gives concerts - plus teaching old style finger picking wherever he goes! Now online students can benefit from over 40 years of real experience playing blues guitar in the authentic way. If you want to play real blues guitar just like the old blues men, then is where you come to find out how. Keep it real with Jim Bruce and play blues guitar like it was originally played. A word from Jim - " My playing career goes way back, to the folk clubs on the UK in the sixties, clubs pubs and bars in six countries, and on the city streets of Europe. This is how I learned my trade. One day someone asked me to slow down a lick to show them exactly what I was doing with my hands. As I tried to do this, I found that I was doing much, much more than I realized. It was these tiny hand movements that make acoustic blues so exciting when it's performed properly. This is the main focus of my lessons - to show students exactly how to play the blues in great detail. " Peace, Jim Bruce (Jim's guitar lessons follow a well proven and award-winning formula guaranteed to have you playing the blues in the shortest time possible.)

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Introduction To The Different Styles of Acoustic Blues Guitar

    • Bare Fingers or Finger Picks? What Are The Differences?

    • VIDEO - Picks or Bare Fingers?

    • The Thumb Is King!

    • VIDEO - The Thumb Is Key To Your Finger Picking

    • The Blues In E

    • VIDEO - A Slow Blues in E

    • MP3 - Blues in E Practice Audio

    • PDF - Blues in E Practice Tab

    • VIDEO - The Sructure Of The Blues in A

    • MP3 - Blues in A Audio Practice

    • PDF - Blues in A Practice TAB

    • Dropped D and Open D

    • VIDEO - Dropped D and Open D Guitar Tuning

    • Open G and Bottleneck Guitar

    • Open G Tuning And Bottleneck

    • Towards Ragtime Guitar Picking

    • Truckin' Little Baby Practice Audio

    • Beginning Ragtime

    • Truckin' Little Baby TAB

    • VIDEO - Conclusion