Eric Madis is a guitarist, singer and composer, a versatile artist whose playing and compositions reflect his diverse and thorough background in American music. Whether performing in an ensemble or as a soloist, he exudes a love and a mastery of the blues that have been refined by years of experience in jazz, country, rock, and even Hawaiian music. What results are performances that include authentic renderings of old rural blues, personal interpretations of modern urban blue... (more)
Eric currently offers 140 guitar lessons at JamPlay, with 140 intermediate lessons.
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The blues is a distinctly American style of music. Many popular genres such as jazz, rock, and country music draw upon basic blues concepts. Consequently, it is advantageous for any guitarist to study the blues.
In this lesson, Eric introduces himself and his Phase 2 lesson series. He also teaches a basic blues shuffle in the style of Jimmy Reed.
17:35 Runtime
1.0 Difficulty
Eric teaches a few popular Lightnin' Hopkins licks. These licks can be played over the blues shuffle from the previous lesson.
11:46 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric covers a few more essential licks in the style of Lightnin' Hopkins.
7:42 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric teaches a few licks inspired by the great John Lee Hooker.
7:43 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis explains a country blues lick he calls the "Country Blues Double Wham."
6:35 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
In this lesson Eric talks about playing basic lead in the Memphis Blues style.
10:37 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Eric demonstrates how the Memphis blues licks taught in the previous lesson can be used over various chords.
5:52 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric demonstrates how to construct a full 12 bar blues solo by using the Memphis blues licks he taught in previous lessons.
7:25 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric applies the Memphis Blues Lead to a practical blues context.
4:06 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric Madis teaches two licks that can be used over an A chord.
12:16 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric Madis teaches a type of blues shuffle that he calls the "IC Blues."
12:45 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric talks about playing blues lead using licks you already know.
8:58 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis begins to explain T-Bone Walker's style of playing the blues.
7:48 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches a classic T-Bone Walker lick and talks about several different variations you can play.
10:56 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis introduces several new T-Bone Walker licks and explains the ways they can be used.
10:21 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Eric continues his exploration of T-Bone Walker licks and techniques.
9:22 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric wraps up his overview of T-Bone Walker licks and techniques in this lesson. You will be applying what you've learned in the next lesson, so be sure to practice.
10:10 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric teaches a swing blues progression. He teaches the progression in the key of A and explains how licks from previous lessons can be played over it.
14:17 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric Madis teaches the blues progression to "Stormy Monday Blues." This progression is played in the style of T-Bone Walker and Earl "Fatha" Hines.
9:49 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric returns to the world of "Stormy Monday Blues" to teach an amazing introduction segment.
7:21 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches a series of licks that can be used to transition from one pentatonic pattern to another.
9:31 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric Madis demonstrates popular blues licks within the second pattern of the minor pentatonic scale.
16:50 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
In this lesson Eric talks about one of the classic blues tunes, "The Thrill is Gone," by B.B. King.
10:43 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric Madis introduces the third pattern of the minor pentatonic scale. This pattern is used frequently by the likes of B.B. King.
11:27 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis once again talks about third position and how it can be used. He also introduces a slew of new licks.
12:19 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
In this lesson Eric Madis talks about the fourth position of blues playing.
10:04 Runtime
1.0 Difficulty
In this lesson Eric talks about "strategies" to use while playing and improvising.
7:11 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis introduces the alternative blues shuffle, which is particularly useful on guitars featuring humbucker pickups.
14:31 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson Eric Madis teaches licks in the style of Freddie King.
9:38 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson Eric talks about the differences between the minor blues and the "dominant" blues. He also introduces the modes, beginning with the Aeolian mode.
10:43 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson Eric Madis introduces the Locrian mode and talks about how it can be used in blues.
6:58 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric continues his series on modes. This time he covers the Dorian mode and its relation to the blues.
7:16 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric continues his discussion on modes in relation to the minor key blues.
9:31 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches a handful of minor 7th arpeggios in this lesson.
10:34 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric demonstrates dominant 7th arpeggios in this lesson.
7:27 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric discusses dominant seventh arpeggios and how they can be used in blues licks.
6:58 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric talks all about diminished 7th arpeggios and gives five exercises to practice.
10:20 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Learn how the diminished 7th arpeggios from the previous lesson can be applied to the blues.
12:13 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric teaches the catchy blues song "You Don't Love Me."
14:27 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric teaches Freddie King variations on T-Bone Walker licks.
7:53 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric provides an exercise that uses previously learned licks from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th patterns of the minor pentatonic scale.
12:45 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric starts you off on the right foot with an introduction to modes.
28:09 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric explains some common blues applications for the modes of the major scale.
12:43 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis continues his discussion on mode application concepts.
18:30 Runtime
3.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis discusses major pentatonic scale ideas.
6:09 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric shares some more great lick ideas that you can incorporate into your playing.
10:25 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric shares ideas on ending licks, turnarounds, and tags in this lesson.
12:41 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches some great filler licks for your bag of tricks.
14:13 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis talks about some common blues bass lines that will spice up your playing.
13:43 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches some classic ending licks.
16:01 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis introduces the swing style of the 12 bar blues.
8:03 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis introduces the basics of the classic minor blues and talks about how this progression can be spiced up using simple blues techniques.
18:35 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric Madis teaches a popular blues progression in 8/8 time. This rhythmic feel gives the progression a funkier or more rock-like feel than the traditional blues.
7:04 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric teaches a classic blues progression he calls the "Descending Minor Blues."
11:15 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches an interesting minor blues progression he calls the "Modern Block Chord Minor Key Blues."
7:40 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches an amazing blues progression he calls "The Detroit Chicago Funky Blues."
9:49 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis moves on and teaches an astonishing blues progression he dubs "Jimmy Nolen's Funky Groove."
8:41 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis introduces a blues style called "The Bump Shuffle."
7:27 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
In this lesson Eric Madis teaches a second way to play the classic blues progression "The Bump Shuffle."
4:41 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches a bass oriented blues progression entitled the "Chicago Bass Groove."
6:50 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches another powerful bass groove he has extracted from the world of blues.
3:55 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches another useful bass groove for blues guitar.
5:47 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches another valuable blues bass groove.
4:43 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric Madis teaches a blues bass groove inspired by Howlin' Wolf.
4:31 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric Madis teaches a valuable blues chord progression that he calls "Minor Progression Major Chords."
11:28 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric enthusiastically presents a new chord progression he calls the "Sliding Ninth Groove."
5:43 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric pays tribute to Memphis Slim and Jimmy Reed in something he likes to call the "Tribute Blues Shuffle."
8:48 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches a blues chord progression inspired by the Chicago style of blues playing. This progression has a funky rhythmic feel.
9:51 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Slide guitar and Blues go way back, and have a rich heritage of complimenting each other. The slide is a wonderful way to add that "vocal" quality to your guitar playing as well. This technique can be used with all genres of music, but Eric will cover it within the world of Blues.
Eric Madis delves into the world of slide guitar and discusses how it can be used within the blues universe.
26:36 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches two crucial slide guitar licks.
17:12 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric shows how the basic closed lick can be played over a twelve bar blues. He also introduces a lick by Kokomo Arnold.
12:19 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis talks more about the Kokomo Arnold lick and explains some variations developed by Elmore James and Tampa Red.
11:14 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric teaches a few licks from Fred McDowell and demonstrates how they can be used in a blues progression.
10:00 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis explains how Duane Allman put his own unique spin on a classic lick played by Fred McDowell.
9:28 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis demonstrates licks in the style of Duane Allman.
5:29 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis demonstrates how the Duane Allman style "Harmonica Imitation Lick" can be used over different chords and changes.
7:52 Runtime
0.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis talks more about the Duane Allman style of playing and introduces the idea of playing in a box.
8:01 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches two classic licks in this lesson. First he covers a lick called "Son House's Train Lick." He also covers the "Electric Chair Lick."
7:47 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches a classic blues slide lick called the "Elmore James Melodic Lick."
8:51 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis introduces four new blues licks that can be played with a slide. He teaches a Charlie Patton lick, an ascending one-string turnaround, a descending turnaround lick, and also talks about sliding chords.
10:22 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches how to fill empty spaces in an arrangement with common licks. This lesson is particularly useful for solo guitarists.
4:48 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric demonstrates how the licks and techniques from previous lessons can be combined to play a smokin' blues solo.
5:56 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric introduces open A tuning and shows how some of the licks you have already learned can be transposed to the key of A.
11:26 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric offers up some amazing slide guitar tips. He talks about guitar setup, how to hold the slide, which finger to use and more.
13:30 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Learn how to play the timeless Delta Blues using a slide. This lesson uses A tuning.
15:35 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric teaches how to play the classic "Walking Blues" progression using a slide.
14:25 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric teaches a rendition of "Rollin' and Tumblin'" that can be played with a slide.
15:09 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric explains how to take a blues song or progression and make it your own.
9:54 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis demonstrates how blues licks, movable chords and other ideas can be combined to create an improvised blues shuffle.
16:24 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis gives an in depth review of core blues licks in open A tuning.
18:21 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric explains how the classic "Dust My Broom" lick can be used to develop a theme that spans an entire twelve bar blues.
6:01 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis demonstrates some slide licks that use a more linear approach instead of a vertical, box-based approach.
8:44 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis shows how the "Harmonica Imitation Lick" can be used to create a theme that spans an entire twelve bar blues.
6:11 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis combines two classic licks to create a smokin' 12 bar blues theme.
7:10 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis covers a uniquely American style of music, the Blues. In this series he tackles the subject from the acoustic fingerstyle perspective and even throws in a bit of ragtime for good measure.
Eric Madis introduces his Fingerstyle Blues and Ragtime lesson series. After the introduction, he starts things off with a bang by teaching "The Rolling E Blues".
14:13 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis expands on "The Rolling E Blues," which he taught in the last lesson. This time around he adds information to make the arrangement more complex.
8:35 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis introduces the concept of monotonic bass lines and gives an excellent exercise for practicing the technique.
7:24 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis returns to the wonderful world of "The Rolling E Blues" and demonstrates how the arrangement can be made a bit more complex.
6:23 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis returns to "The Rolling E Blues" and teaches an even more complex variation.
5:33 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson Eric teaches a Robert Johnson style blues.
9:56 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis returns with the second part of his lesson on the Robert Johnson style blues.
10:51 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric Madis talks about the Piedmont blues and the musical stylings of Blind Willie McTell.
12:54 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis returns with the second part of his lesson on the Piedmont style and Blind Willie McTell. This time around he makes the arrangement a bit more complex.
8:52 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis demonstrates some opportunities for improvisation within the Blind Willie McTell/Piedmont style arrangement he taught in previous lessons.
11:59 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis introduces a series of diad patterns he calls "The Memphis Diads" and shows how they can be used as chord substitutions.
11:06 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
This time around, Eric takes the ideas from the past few lessons and ties them together effectively within a blues progression.
8:23 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric Madis begins teaching the style of Mississippi John Hurt. He talks about the signature syncopation technique Mississippi John Hurt used and discusses playing with the G chord.
12:12 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis takes the ideas taught in the last lesson and expands upon them. He talks about taking these ideas and playing melodies similar to what Mississippi John Hurt would have played.
9:59 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis begins teaching a common theme in the style of Robert Johnson. This theme will span several lessons. This time, Eric teaches a signature turnaround that gives the theme its flair.
5:29 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis continues with the Robert Johnson theme. This time, he finishes up the first variation of this 12 bar blues arrangement.
8:20 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric teaches a brilliant variation to the Robert Johnson theme taught in the last lesson.
6:39 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
In this lesson Eric talks about improvising using the Robert Johnson theme he has been teaching in the past few lessons.
11:04 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis takes knowledge he has taught in past lessons and applies it to an update of "The Rolling E Blues" that features exciting improvisational variations.
4:48 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric Madis talks about using the 7th and 9th chords in blues progressions. He uses "The Rolling E Blues" to demonstrate these chord options.
9:12 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric teaches a Piedmont blues number inspired by Big Bill Broonzy and the Reverend Gary Davis.
14:59 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric Madis returns to a piece he calls "Big Bill and the Reverend". This time around, he teaches ways you can embellish the song to make it more interesting.
9:57 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric returns to the tune "Big Bill and the Reverend" and talks about D chord substitutions.
12:25 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric shows several interesting improvisational techniques you can use with the E chord and shows how they can be applied to "Big Bill and the Reverend".
11:17 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches a traditional blues tune entitled "Baby Please Don't Go".
9:29 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson Eric discusses variations that can be used when playing "Baby Please Don't Go".
10:36 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis will have you sounding like Robert Johnson in no time with this amazing blues progression entitled "RJ's Lament".
10:44 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson Eric Madis teaches a version of "RJ's Lament" that contains Robert Johnson's signature musical flair.
8:10 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric teaches a 16 bar blues progression that honors blues musician Mississippi John Hurt.
8:02 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In the second part of his "Mississippi John Hurt Tribute," Eric Madis teaches several interesting variations on this 16 bar progression.
9:41 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches a traditional blues and ragtime theme he likes to call "The Americana Rag".
9:35 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis returns to "The Americana Rag". He teaches the melody portion of the song and how to add it into the basic arrangement taught in lesson 31.
7:53 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches the concept of walking bass lines within a new blues chord progression.
11:11 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric starts teaching his blues/ragtime rendition of the classic song "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah". This version he teaches is in G6 tuning. He explains this tuning and the first section of the song.
12:26 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis returns to this song and teaches the second part of the melody.
5:52 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric teaches another melody that can be used with this song. This time the melody features a bit of Hawaiian slack key flair.
8:02 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric teaches a version of this tune that is inspired by Mississippi John Hurt. Mixing this variation in with the others will have you sounding like a blues god in no time!
9:00 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches you how to incorporate some Memphis lead ideas into the arrangement of "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" that he has been teaching.
6:36 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric teaches another way to play this song that includes arpeggio techniques often employed by Chet Atkins.
5:45 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches what he calls the "Blind Blake and Merle Travis" section of the song. Basically this is a version of the song taught in their styles.
7:28 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In the final lesson on this song, Eric teaches the ending and then demonstrates the entire song using all of the different arrangements from previous lessons. These may have seemed like small and easy variations, but when combined, they create an epic masterpiece of fingerstyle playing.
8:35 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches a fingerstyle version of the classic ragtime tune "Maple Leaf Rag". He begins with this simple introduction arrangement and moves on to teach more difficult portions in later lessons.
8:00 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In the second part of his series on "Maple Leaf Rag," Eric teaches a basic version of the melody for the A section of the song.
6:43 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Eric Madis teaches the next major portion of the melody for "Maple Leaf Rag". This melody is a bit more difficult to play, but the sound is worth it.
11:23 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In this lesson, Eric teaches the third part of the melody to "Maple Leaf Rag". When combined with the intro, these three parts form a nearly complete arrangement of this classic ragtime tune.
8:53 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Eric wraps up his rendition of "Maple Leaf Rag" by teaching the ending segment of the song. Afterwards, he puts the entire song together and talks about performing it.
8:02 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
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