Instructor
Jonny May
Quick Tip
Intermediate
06:49

Learning Focus
  • Riffs
Music Style
  • Blues
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Want your blues playing to sound a whole lot more… legit?

In this week’s lesson, I’m breaking down 5 of Ray Charles’ signature blues licks that you can start using right away.

The cool part? Most of them are built from the same simple blues scale with just a few clever twists. Ray had a way of taking basic ideas and making them sound absolutely unforgettable.

In this lesson, you’ll learn things like:

🎹 The tiny note that gives your blues lines instant attitude

🎹 A crunchy “runner” lick that flies up the keyboard

🎹 How Ray mixed country slip notes into his blues playing

🎹 The secret fourths that gave his playing that unmistakable sound

🎹 My favorite Ray Charles lick (it’s way easier than it sounds!)

If you’ve ever wanted your solos to sound more authentic—and a little more like the legends—this lesson is packed with ideas you’ll actually use.


Writer
Jonny May

Jonathan May is a pianist from Southern California who specializes in many styles of piano. At age eighteen, Jonny became the youngest pianist to perform at Disneyland. Each week he entertained thousands of guests with his arrangements of American classics and Disney songs. Jonny has also performed with the Youtube...

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