Blues Improv Workshop for Guitarists 
(Get me to the nearest Blues Jam)

All levels Welcome

You’ve learned your chords and even a few songs, but now you want to improvise and solo with a band!

First of all, what is a ‘blues jam’?

BLUES JAMs take place in bars and music venues all across America. These are the places where blues musicians network, beginners go to learn the basics and more experienced players go to hone their skills.  Look around and you’re likely to find one close to home. If not, by the end of this class maybe you’ll want to start one.

In this 6-week workshop we’ll learn all kinds of soloing strategies and techniques, plus some of the language of the blues, and the culture around these drop-in jams.

We’ll explore the basic chord structures and rhythms of the blues, some simple scales and patterns used to improvise a solo, and how to apply them in the moment.  What’s a 1-4-5?  12 bars?  8 bars? shuffle?  swing?  rumba?  rock & roll ? a ‘quick 4’?  What does ‘down from the five’ mean? 

Find out all that and more.

6 Wednesdays
Nov 5-Dec 17 , 7:30-9:00PM
NO CLASS THANKSGIVING WEEK

Instructor Evan Schwartz is a veteran blues guitar player, instructor, and a 30-year devotee of the many 'Blues Jams' across the Tri-State region.  He’s had the honor of performing with some of the world’s finest blues musicians as they come through the region.   Evan is currently performing with 'The Downside Up’ trio, an original blues, country, folk, and R&B outfit they call ‘Americlecticana.’