Wednesdays, 7:00-8:15 pm, beginning May 6
$120.00 advance / $130.00 after April 27
Register online

Eight bar blues became popular in the era of classic women blues singers in the 1920s (Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith). American popular music, prior to rock n' roll, was based around eight bar progressions that were arranged into 32 bar chord forms. In this class we will look at many of the rhythmic variations of the eight bar blues, including major (Key to the Highway), minor (St. James Infirmary), boogies and jazzy shuffles. Some of the blues we will play will have classic I IV V chord structures and others will incorporate more complicated chord structures. Students should be comfortable playing 12 bar blues and ready to venture out into this very cool blues format.

Pete Madsen is a teacher, writer, guitarist and performer based in Berkeley, California. He has written numerous lessons for Acoustic Guitar and Play Guitar magazines; and is the author of "FretMaster: Slide Guitar" and the "Fretmaster: Funk Book," both published by Backbeat books; as well as "A Guide to Acoustic Blues Guitar" and "The CAGED System for Guitar."