How To Make Blues Lead Sound Country

In Lesson 9, we explore how to take familiar Blues pentatonic shapes and adapt them to a Country music context. We can capture the distinct Country sound, using the tools we already know.

Context is Key!

Much of what we already know on guitar, such as bluesy licks in a minor pentatonic scale, is very usable in a Country song by virtue of the fact we're playing in the style of the genre and essentially changing the Musical Context. If you’re playing over a classic country rhythm, like a Johnny Cash-style "train beat" with walking bass lines and quick skiffle-like drums, your blues licks will naturally start to sound more country.

We also want to choose the right guitar 'sound'; a clear guitar tone, that's brighter and twangier than your typical Blues guitar tone is going to sound much more authentic. Over these backing tracks, an overdriven rock sound won't deliver a classic Country sound so we need to be aware of tone choices!

Following the Chord Changes

Now we can look specifically into note choices and more techniques that transform our playing from Blues to Country!

As we have already touched on in this course, there is an emphasis on the Major sound and Major pentatonic - this isn't exclusive to Country guitar and can be found in Blues but we need to shift the focus and use Major pentatonic/Major Blues in a purposeful way...

Before we go any further, let's quickly remember that in Country music, it’s common to outline the chord changes more distinctly than in the Blues. This means transitioning smoothly to other scales and describing the chords as you solo/lead play. We want to play licks, arpeggios, and triads that follow the chords in the progression (moving from the I chord to the IV or V chord positions) - This approach is more akin to Jazz guitar playing, creating a more melodic and harmonically aware style, characteristic of Country music!

Major to Minor Licks

The main focus of the lesson from this point focusses on mixing Major and Minor which is particularly effective in Country guitar. We can start quite simply with just adding the Major third to our Minor Pentatonic scale, taking our Blues and Countrifying it!

Adding Major third to 'Box 1' and 'Box 2' Pentatonic Shapes

The familiar pentatonic "boxes" we use in Blues are still relevant in Country playing! In 'Box 1', which most of us players are comfortable with, finding the Minor and Major thirds adds that Country flavour.

As we move across into 'Box 2, essentially up an octave, continue to find and add Major thirds - The Major third is always just one fret up from the Minor third on the fretboard, making it an accessible and effective technique to "countrify" your playing.

For example, incorporating a Minor to Major hammer-on or slide at the ends of licks is a great way to finish Country style phrases as Country guitar often emphasises sweeter sounding melody, achieved by leaning more on the Major Pentatonic.

More licks!

This lick starts mixing major/minor pentatonic but ends adding double stop 6ths! Just like in previous lessons looking at 3rds and 6ths, this demonstrates the blend of techniques that bolsters our solos and is very common in Country lead guitar. Many of the greatest players seem to be flying through scales, technique to technique all in an instant, but it all starts with these building blocks.

Major and Minor Pentatonic positions

To deepen our understanding of Major and Minor Pentatonic scales and there positions across the neck, there is a great tool we can utilise...We need to be aware of the 3 fret relationship between the two scales.

In playing context, this knowledge is like a tool which allows you to locate these scales easily - use the bright, melodic tones of the Major Pentatonic and seamlessly jump to the Bluesy feel of the Minor Pentatonic. We can start to see that these scales often occupy the same areas of the neck and the same shapes too.

To simplify, just look at or play an A Minor Pentatonic Scale (starting on root 6 5th fret), then move it up by 3 frets, play the same scale shape and you now have an A Major Pentatonic Scale. This applies all over the guitar neck and it's really a matter of learning the shapes and finding your own understanding from there - Plus throw in some of these licks for good measure!