2 answers were the overwhelming favorites.

1. Get a DVD/printed copy of the program going
2. Add “more stuff” to the course to make it not necessarily so blues specific.

It’s likely to be months before I am able to get Playing Through The Blues in a DVD format. So, I looked around and noticed that pretty much the only option to most of you is Dan Denley’s Blues Guitar Secrets.

I got a copy of it, and have actually had it for a few weeks now, but haven’t really gotten around to really going through it.

First and foremost, from a lead guitar persepective, it’s a little light. From a more intermediate/beginner standpoint, it’s a winner.

Blues Guitar Secrets contains all of the stuff you should and would expect:

• all 5 boxes (patterns) of the pentatonic/blues scale
• some lick examples of how the boxes/patterns can be used
• how to play several key blues progressions
• what makes a 12 bar blues
• a cd full of jam tracks to practice soloing over
• Discussion of blues “theory” as far as scales and chords are concerned

There are also a couple of bonus things like his “quick start” guide which might be handy if you’re the type who likes your practice routine mapped out for you.

He also provides a CDROM of his explanation of Blues Guitar Theory. This is fine, but since the main point here is to have it on DVD, having it on CDROM sort of defeats the purpose since you have to be by your computer.

For printed materials, most everything that is on the DVD’s is transcribed note for note in the accompanying book. There is also another book which outlines how to play the scales and has a few extra licks.

Personally, I would have taken the second book and filled it up with more solos and lead examples. This is where the course really doesn’t follow through. To me, the main thing to getting “the sound” is in how you approach the blues progression. From Dan’s point of view, it appears that just having a few cool 2 bar licks is going to help with that, and I disagree.

At no point does he discuss using the major versions of the pentatonic/blues scales, or mixing them up properly in a blues progression. That concept is a large part of what makes “the sound” in blues, and many chapters and solo examples are devoted to it in Playing Through The Blues.

For many people, Playing Through The Blues is basically like starting from where Blues Guitar Secrets leaves off.

Bottom line, if you want it on DVD, this is as good as it gets for what I can see. If you are still struggling a little bit with blues rhythms and chords, this would be an ideal place to go. When you are done with it, you’ll be in great shape.

If you can already play a ton of blues rhythms, and maybe even solo a little, this will be a disappointment, and I’m sorry that I don’t have better news.

Visit the Blues Guitar Secrets Website