Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Do you want to know how to play and tune authentic blues guitar chords? If you want an authentic rhythm and blues guitar sound, you’ll need the authentic tuning to enhance the chords you play. Keep reading How to Play and Tune Authentic Blues Guitar Chords to learn more.
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How to Play and Tune Authentic Blues Guitar Chords: Electric Blues Guitar Chords
Hand Icon (churien.deviantart.com/art/hand-template-blank-272630198) by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0). Modified by Geoffrey Keith.
Guitars sound great in the key of E, because the sound broad is built to resonate best in that key.
- Because of this, it shouldn’t be a surprise that many rhythm and blues guitar songs are in the key of E.
- So, today you’ll learn these E blues guitar chords: E, A7, B7, E5, E6, A5, A6. Also, in the video, you’ll use a moveable version of B7 that uses fingers 1, 2, and 3, but not 4.
- The numbers on the chord diagram below are finger numbers (see the hand diagram above).
Later in the post, you’ll learn a rhythm and blues song that uses all these chords.
Here are the E blues guitar chords.
How to Play and Tune Authentic Blues Guitar Chords: Authentic Tuning
What is the authentic tuning?
- The song you’ll learn today is the Blues Brothers version of Sweet Home Chicago played by legendary guitarists Matt “Guitar” Murphy and Steve Cropper.
- To give the guitar an authentic sound, we’ll use Robert “Wolfman” Belfour’s version of standard tuning.
- Basically, Belfour strums an E chord, then adjusts his strings by ear without an electronic tuner or any references to fretted notes.
Is there an easier way to get into Belfour’s tuning?
- Yes, there is. First, you’ll need a special electronic tuner that shows you how many cents (a cent is 1/100th of a semitone) sharp or flat your string is, such as the Korg CA-2 Chromatic Tuner.
- In the video below, you’ll see that it’s used by string players to help them hit their notes accurately. (If they keep between the hollow triangles, they’ll be acceptably in tune.)
- Because of this, the Korg displays a graduated scale that progresses from flat to sharp in 5 cent increments with -20 and +20 cents being marked on the display. The equal tempered note is marked by a black triangle.
This turner gives you the accuracy you’ll need to get the authentic R&B sound on your guitar.
Here is the tuning scheme.
- Tune your E1, B2, D4, A5, and E6 strings normally.
- Then, lower G3 down to about -15 cents. (-15 cents is marked by a hollow triangle on the display and is one increment higher than the -20 cents marker dot.)
- This will make your E major chord sound fantastic but will also have subtle effects on the A7 and B7 chords.
- In any case, this will give a good approximation of the rhythm and blues sound.
- Once you’ve got the sound in your ear, you can try tuning using Belfour’s method.
Mobile users: for best results viewing the video, rotate your screen 90o to the right.
Video: Korg CA-2
If you tune G3 to -10 cents, this puts you in a version of Supplemented Equal Temperament, which allows both your guitars and keyboards to work together.
- Learn How to Get a Killer Sound for Your Band
- Flexibility in Supplemented Equal Temperament’s Theory
- Jam Like a Rock Star in Open E
- How to Tune Your Incredibly Cool Microtonal Keyboard
- How to Micro Tune the Keyboard to make the Chords Sound Awesome
- How Chords in Supplemented Equal Temperament Work
- How to Change Keys in Supplemented Equal Temperament
- How Supplemented Equal Temperament Minor Keys Work
How to Play and Tune Authentic Blues Guitar Chords: Learning the Song
Mobile users: for best results reading the music, rotate your screen 90o to the right.
Sweet Home Chicago.
- The lead sheet above gives you the basic chord progression for the song Sweet Home Chicago.
- The first video shows you the Blues Brothers version of the song.
- The second video demonstrates how to play the song using the above chords plus a few R&B licks.
Video: Listen to Sweet Home Chicago
Video: Learn Sweet Home Chicago
Here is the tab for Eric Clapton’s version of the song.
Final Thoughts
Takeaway points:
- If you want an authentic sound, you’ll need authentic tuning.
- First, you’ll need a special tuner that shows you how many cents sharp or flat your string is.
- Then, you lower G3 down about 15 cents. This will give a good approximation of the rhythm and blues sound. Once you’ve got the sound in your ear, you can tune using Belfour’s method.
Have fun playing!
Related Posts
- How to Tune Country Blues Guitar
- How to Tune the Blues Rock Open D Sound Using Harmonics
- Intonation and Supplemented Equal Temperament
© 2025 Geoffrey Keith
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