Blues You Can Use: Complete Guide to Learning Blues Guitar

I said this book was for relatively new beginners. By that I mean that you need a bit of basic knowledge about chords and you also need to be reasonably familiar with reading and using guitar tablature and to be able to associate that with fretboard positions at the top of the neck (up to the 5th fret at first, and then the 7th. By the time you reach that stage you will be proficient enough to move on down towards the 10th and 12th frets).

Although based upon electric guitar playing - the CD uses such a guitar - the book can be used very successfully with the sound qualities of an acoustic, though probably less well so with a nylon-strung guitar. However, it wouldn't be impossible if you accepted that you wouldn't get that 'low down and dirty' sound that seems to typify many of the blues types and examples.

And what's the flaw that I mentioned in my review heading?

A previous reviewer commented that the one thing the CD lacks are a few examples of pure backing tracks to help you practice and jam. I totally agree. That is a really bad oversight and would have made the whole enterprise as near perfect for a beginner as it would be possible to get.

I'm still awarding the book 5 stars because of its quality and content ..... but that one oversight is such a shame. However, there are solutions in the form of 'jamming' CD's that can be bought in guitar shops, or simple software that can be found which allow you to program your own chord rhythms and sequences. Some of that software is even free (like the simplistic but interesting 'Chordplay') or at least, not very expensive. The only one that Amazon seem to stock is Jammer Pro 5 which is pretty expensive --- but look in 'remainder' stocks for earlier versions or do your own searches.

One last tip, When you are reasonably proficient, it does become possible to backtrack to earlier tracks on the CD and play 'against' the given solo. This isn't easy, but it's worth trying ..... but don't try it too soon or you'll end up feeling schizophrenic!


Route Map from the Crossroads   January 27, 2005
Blue6string (Salisbury, UK)
33 out of 35 found this review helpful

To paraphrase the well-known varnish advert: "It does exactly what it says in the title". I have been playing/trying to learn(!) for about 4 years now, have had some lessons, bought a shed load of different tutor books, CDs etc, and watched different players. All have contributed to my progress to some extent or another, but none so much as "Blues You Can Use". This book has singularly progressed both my understanding and my ability, in easy steps that are also fun. It is really well constructed, with some theory at the beginning of each stage, followed with a piece to learn which puts the theory into practice, with an accompanying CD so you can hear what it should sound like!. And each stage builds on the last, progressing through licks, phrases, chord shapes and scales. Most importantly it links these concepts together so that it all ultimately makes sense, at whatever level you want to understand it.
As other reviewers have already said, if you are an absolute beginner you might struggle without some assistance, but if you have been learning for a while, and perhaps reached the legendary "crossroads", then this could be your route map to greater understanding (and playing pleasure) of the fantastic musical genre that is the Blues.


I cannot imagine a better tutor (nor have I found one)   March 14, 2009
A. K. Johnston
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I have bought a few tutors now since deciding to get serious about guitar, including:
-Guitar for Dummies
-Fretboard Roadmaps
-Fretboard Logic

And also miscellaneous chord and song tablature books of CDs/Bands I like. But nothing has come close to Blues You Can Use, it is simply the best. The progression in each lesson is just the perfect pace: you learn the minor pentatonic scale on the first page, along with 7th chords and the I-IV-V progression, and then you are off on your first blues study. The lessons progress logically and at a good clip, and I find that I'm learning all the things I want to as fast as is humanly possible. All the other books I bought were either to hard or too easy or too boring, BYCU is just right and since I bought it I simply can't put down my guitar, I have been playing for hours a day (currently unemployed).

Moreover, I cannot let the above comment stand which claims the songs are 'cheesy' etc. The songs are EXTREMELY catchy and fun to play. That Ganapes was able to compose a catchy tune for each specific lesson is a remarkable accomplishment, I have listened to his own production online and can affirm that he is a talented musician and songwriter. Also, the tracks on the CD all use a real band, which is extremely refreshing after the usual synthesized blues backing tracks in most tutors.

Additionally, the book is fully supported on Ganapes' website (google 'Blues You Can Use') which included anything that one might have wished to see in the book (not that I found anything to be missing, but if you need to have numbered fingering, its on the site, and backing tracks are available for order as well).

I simply cannot imagine a better way to learn guitar. Anyone beginner to intermediate guitar player who buys this book will not need to buy another tutor for a long time.

10 stars.


Brilliant as long you know a few chords   January 26, 2006
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

This really is a brilliant book; together with the cd, work through the lessons and I am surprised how quickly I'm "getting it into my fingers"! Over the years of struggling on my own with more books I care to list, I am really getting somewhere.

If you have a guitar, a bit of knowledge, you can't go wrong with this book.


TOP BANANA   November 25, 2004
Mr. C. A. Wright (UK)
15 out of 17 found this review helpful

Its a long hard road learning guitar and if you get to lots of dead ends like me and just cannot seem to progress any further this is the light at the end of the tunnel.This book will teach you step by step each of the pentatonic minor boxes you have to know if you want to be a lead guitarist and how they are applied alongside lots of cool blues track's.I was'nt really into blues when i bought this book but now i definately am realising what better place to start at than where it all began "the Blues" the grandaddy of rock'n roll etc.I would not recommend this book for a total beginer as your expected to be able to fret basic chords from scratch.Another good thing about this book is you seem to be able to learn the tracks quite fast(and remember them) which prevents agitation creeping in and the book being discarded in a dark corner somewhere never to be used again and your money wasted.Im well happy another brick wall knocked down and im only a quarter of the way through.