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Blues Guitar Licks : Robben Ford

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Robben Ford is in the first place known for his blues guitar playing and singing, but he has known a diversion form the genre in his early 20's. At that time he got discovered by Tom Scott who invited him to join his fusion band 'L.A. Express', the backing band for Joni Mitchell's 'Court and Spark' tour. Robben Ford eventually played on two of Joni's albums : 'Miles of Isles' and 'The Hissing of Summer Lawns'.

From 1977 to 1983 he played with 'The Yellowjackets' from which he was a founding member.
In 1986 Robben Ford toured with Miles Davis ( 'The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux').

Recommended listening : 'Sunrise'

Minor Lick

1) This lick is king of bluesy and uses the A minor blues scale. Play it over A minor or A7 blues.

Dominant Lick

2) This is a dominant lick that uses the G minor blues scale. Notice the alternation between the flat and the natural third. The flat third gives us a bluesy sound on a dominant chord.