Intro to Blues Comping
First, play through an exercise, as written. Then plug them into the eight bar blues pattern, given at the bottom of the page.

 Graph Key: The left number represents the fret on string 6 that you press your finger on. The right number represents the fret on string 1. String 6 is the thickest string. x = don't pick the string. 0 = pick the string open, no fret.

I                              IV                              V
1                              4                                5

1.
x02xxx                    xx02xx                       02xxxx

2.
x02xxx                    xx02xx                       02xxxx             
x04xxx                    xx04xx                       04xxxx             
x05xxx                    xx05xx                       05xxxx            
x04xxx                    xx04xx                       04xxxx

3.
8,10,xxxx                x8,10,xxxx                 x13,12,xxx

4.
022xxx                    x022xxx                     x244xxx

5.
355xxx                    x355xxx                     x577xxx

6.
Riffs on the I chord.
Begin each riff on fret 8, for the IV chord. Begin on fret 10, for the V chord.
Read from left to right.
a.
strings
1--
2--
3--
4--        2 3 2
5--  2 5          5 2
6 3

b.
1
2
3
4
5   1 2 5 2 1
6 3

c.
1
2
3
4    5 3
5          5
6 3

d.
xx543x  xx555x  xx576x  xx555x

e.
1
2
3
4
5 5  7  5  7
6 3  3  3  3

On most of these exercises, palm muting sounds cool. Lightly rest your palm on the strings you're picking, right where the string meets the bridge.

I                                             IV                                 V
. 
                                        A7  x02020                       B7  x21201
1
2
3
4    2
5    0      2 2 2
6 0     3  0 0 0
.
Plug in all the seventh chords you can memorize and make up songs. Sing your guts out! The Blues can be therapeutic. Here are the easier keys to start on.

I.                                              IV                                    V

G7                                           C7                                   D7

D7                                           G7                                   A7

A7                                            D7                                   E7

E7                                            A7                                   B7

                    
             
The Eight Bar Blues Progression

We have eight measures ( |  | ) at four beats to a measure (32 counts). Tap your foot four times between each bar line ( |  | ), to help keep a steady beat. Strum each chord four times per measure, along with your foot tapping. Memorize the eight bar formula; it's used in hundreds of songs.

| I | IV | I | I | V | IV | I | V |