Blues Warm-ups (Sample)

Lesson

In this first routine we’re setting up a warm-up that’s perfect for beginners, but it still has enough challenge to get any player’s hands and ears working.

We’re focusing on eighth-note downstrokes to build a solid rhythmic feel and a more expressive picking motion. It’s about learning how to make even simple blues rhythm ideas come alive through dynamics and touch.

We start by outlining a 12-bar blues in A using a classic power-chord pattern that alternates between A and A6. From there, we add subtle accents and palm muting to bring out a more natural groove, the kind you’d actually play on a real track. The goal is to make that simple rhythm feel alive rather than stiff or mechanical.

Next we move to pentatonic scale work, starting with straightforward alternate-picked eighth notes before shifting into a triplet pattern to challenge consistency and timing. It’s not about speed but about keeping that picking hand moving evenly and confidently.

We finish with a more advanced triplet exercise that combines major and minor pentatonic sounds while moving through positions. It’s a great way to stretch the fingers, work on smooth shifting, and develop control. By the end of this warm-up, both hands should feel engaged and ready to take on more demanding blues material.

(This is one of several lessons and routines available!)

Routine