Playing at the 12th fret of your guitar opens a world of creative possibilities, especially when diving into the depths of blues. The 12th fret is not just a pivotal point on the fretboard but a melodic domain that comes alive with some of the most iconic blues sounds. Here, I'll focus on augmenting our licks and tricks around this magical area, seamlessly building on the classic shuffle groove deeply rooted in our blues DNA.
Blues Up The 12th
When you start playing slide guitar, the 12th fret often becomes the focal point due to its essential role in blues. One of the traditional movements is the classic slide into the 12th fret, a key element influenced by the iconic "Dust My Broom." But there's so much more to explore beyond this archetypal move.
Delving Deeper: Key Strings and Phrases
A significant strategy involves utilizing the second, third, and fourth strings rather than jumping straight to the top string. This method maintains a major quality over the one chord, adding more depth and variety to your play.
The third string becomes the centerpiece of exploration. Here, you'll find key notes like the F sharp at the 11th fret and the E at the 10th, which mirror traditional blues patterns on the higher strings. This approach allows for rich phrases that are perfect for the 12th fret milieu.
Next time, we'll take a look at slide tricks and powerful phrases. I hope you enjoy playing with these ideas!
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