Learn to play blues guitar like Johnny Winter.
If you’re looking to play blues guitar like a master, then you will have to start learning the incredible blues guitar licks of Johnny Winter. This blues guitarist is not as well known as SRV, or Eric Clapton, but he is just as good. Let me tell you this guy smokes! In this blues guitar lesson, I’m going to show you how to play in the style of Johnny Winter.
So how do you learn to play guitar like Johnny Winter?
Well, first you will need to learn the minor pentatonic scale. This is the scale he uses the most, along with the blues scale, and the major pentatonic scale.
You will then need to develop some speed. Johnny Winter played some very fast, very precise blues licks. He used fingerpicks as well, but you don’t have to use them to imitate him. His style is very similar to SRV, and requires a lot of chops to execute his amazing blues guitar licks. His finger vibrato is also amazing!
On the album “3rd Degree“, the title track gives you some killer licks to learn. Also check out “See See Baby”, a shuffle that would make Freddie King proud. If you haven’t heard this album or song, then you are truly missing out on some of the best blues guitar you have ever heard. It really is that good. Johnny makes excellent use of the minor pentatonic scale in this song. All the licks are fiery, bluesy, and outright dirty! This is the blues at it’s finest.
Here’s a common phrase used during that solo in “3rd Degree”.
This style of blues guitar is really exciting, and will launch your blues guitar playing to a new level. I’m putting together a blues guitar DVD on the minor pentatonic scale, that will help you to play this style of blues guitar. Sign up for my FREE video guitar lessons newsletter and I’ll notify you when it comes out and you’ll receive FREE shipping.
In the next blues guitar lesson, I’ll show you how you can use the pentatonic scale to play some Eric Clapton licks. So what do you think of Johnny Winter? I’d love to hear your comments.
For more information of slide guitar and blues guitar please visit Learning Guitar Now.
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Johnny Winter is among the best blues guitarist of all time.
The 3rd Degree album is a must have for all blues fans and a must learn for all blues guitar students.
Can we have more of him, John?
Johnny Winter is probably my favorite blues guitarist. Hes up there in my mind with Billy Gibbons, Duane Allman, Clapton, Thorogood and a couple of not as well known telecaster gods Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan….to list a few…
Johnny Winter is a master at slide, he usually plays in open e or a. he mostly plays a Gibson Firebird, also uses a Erlewine Lazer Headless Guitar. He also has the perfect voice to fit his smoky texas blues-rock style.
For people that dont listen to him or want to, i think i have every one of his cds, some good ones to start with: Captured Live! and Progressive Blues Experiments to start.
He is an albino. he is 62 years old but looks much older due to his disease. He is now blind and cant walk. he also cant sing the same style he used to. Its pretty sad. He can still play very good, but nowhere near his heyday. Go out and buy a few albums
Thanks for the comments. Yes, Johnny Winter is one of the greats. I think he has some of the best blues guitar licks out there.
I saw Johnny Winter at Smithe’s Old Bar in Atlanta this past October.
I was three feet away from him.
When they put the guitar in his hands there was no age, no disease, no blindness.
Just sheer talent - and it is still coming through loud and clear.
He was awesome.
I had never heard of him before today when I received John’s email about him and then I followed the link to view some of his stuff on You tube. I gotta say I am really impressed by him and will probably have to get some of his albums now. Is this guy related to Edgar Winter?
Hey I even know his brother EDGER WINTERS. You see I grew up in the Early 60’s
My second home was San Francisco. Winterland and the Filmore, So yes I grew up around alot of San Francisco’s Groups Besides Mr. Bill Graham made alot of know
Groups from the West Coast. So let’s really talk sometime alot
See Ya
Paul Muratore
Check out his Second Winter album. It is my favorite of his.
We can also thank Johnny for bring back Muddy Waters. Johnny produced Muddy’s comeback albums that revitalized Muddy’s career in the years before his death.
Johnny winter was the first concert I ever went to - at the Spectrum in Philadelphia in 1972. Nice to see he’s getting recognition from you since you don’t hear so much about him anymore
I’ve been a fan of Johnny Winter since his first recording of “Johnny B Good” and have followed his career since. His version of BB King’s “Rock me Baby” is one of my all time favorite songs. His acoustic stuff is pretty awesome as well such as “Dallas”. In the 70’s he won a grammy for producing and played on Muddy Waters comeback album “Hard Again” which is in my top 10 greatest Blues albums lever list. I’ve seen him a couple of times in last 2 years and he is phenominal. Check him out on Eric Claptons, Chicago Crossroads DVD. You can tell that Derek Trucks is awestruck watching Johnny play “Highway 61 Revisited” on the DVD.
That’s for the comments. Good to see everybody’s a big fan. That Rock Me Baby is really rocking!
yep, love Johnny Winter–big fan of the Sinners andSaints album, and love his track with Mike Bloomfield on the Live at the Fillmore East album. One of my all time favourite blues rock players though is Rory Gallagher. Check him out, too. He is criminally overlooked.