The two finger blues shuffle guitar technique is one of the most useful and musical ways to play a 12 bar blues progression on guitar. This blues shuffle lesson is the second in Colin Daniel’s beginner blues series, building directly on the foundation of the one finger blues lesson. By adding just one more finger to your playing, you’ll create a much richer, more authentic blues shuffle sound that works in blues, rock and roll, and country music.
What makes this blues shuffle guitar approach so powerful is that you’re not just playing static power chords anymore—you’re creating movement and tension by adding the major sixth interval. This back-and-forth motion between the perfect fifth and the major sixth is what gives the blues shuffle that characteristic sound you hear in countless classic songs.
Review: The One Finger Foundation
Before we add the second finger, let’s quickly review what you learned in the one finger blues lesson. You learned three positions using just your first finger:
The A position: Using the fifth and fourth strings (the open A string and the second fret on the fourth string)
The D position: Using the open fourth string and the closed third string (second fret)
The E position: Using the open sixth string and the closed fifth string (second fret)
These three positions gave you everything you needed to play a basic 12 bar blues progression. Now we’re going to enhance each of those positions by adding the major sixth interval to create the shuffle rhythm.
Adding the Major Sixth for the Blues Shuffle
The major sixth (abbreviated as +6 in music theory) is the extra note we’re adding to create the blues shuffle guitar sound. Don’t worry too much about the theory—just know that this interval creates that characteristic shuffle rhythm.
Here’s how it works: You’ll keep your first finger in the same position as before, and you’ll use your third finger to add the major sixth on beats two and four of each measure. This creates a rhythmic pattern that goes: root-fifth (beat 1), root-sixth (beat 2), root-fifth (beat 3), root-sixth (beat 4).
The pattern uses eight notes to complete one bar: one long note, one short note for each beat. On beats two and four, you put down your third finger to add that major sixth interval.
The A Position with Two Fingers
Starting with the A chord position, your first finger stays on the second fret of the fourth string (just like in the one finger blues). Now, on beats two and four, add your third finger to the fourth fret of the fourth string.
The counting pattern is: “One-uh, two-uh, three-uh, four-uh.” On the “two” and the “four,” that’s when your third finger comes down.
Here’s the critical technique point: Leave your first finger down the entire time. Your first finger stays anchored on that second fret while your third finger moves up and down to the fourth fret. Don’t lift your first finger—keeping it anchored makes the changes smoother and helps you maintain the rhythm.
The D and E Positions
The same principle applies to the D and E positions. For each position, your first finger stays anchored in the basic position while your third finger adds the major sixth on beats two and four.
D position: First finger on the second fret of the third string (with the open fourth string as your root), third finger adds the fourth fret of the third string on beats two and four.
E position: First finger on the second fret of the fifth string (with the open sixth string as your root), third finger adds the fourth fret of the fifth string on beats two and four.
Important: Watch that your third finger doesn’t accidentally mute the open string when you’re adding the major sixth. Both strings need to ring out clearly together. If your third finger touches and mutes the root note (the open string), it won’t sound right.
The 12 Bar Blues Shuffle Progression
Once you’ve got each position down individually, it’s time to put them together into the classic 12 bar blues shuffle progression. If you still have the cheat sheet from the one finger blues lesson, pull it out now—we’re using the same progression:
4 bars of A (count to four, four times)
2 bars of D
2 bars of A
2 bars of E
2 bars of A
That’s your complete 12 bar blues shuffle. Each “bar” is one complete four-beat count with the back-and-forth pattern between the perfect fifth and the major sixth.
Strumming Technique
Use all downstrokes for this pattern. The rhythm is: one long strum, one short strum for each beat. The counting is “one-uh, two-uh, three-uh, four-uh” where you’re hitting both strings together on each stroke.
The trickiest part is making the changes between positions while maintaining the rhythm. When you move from A to D or from D to E, you need to keep that same rhythmic pattern going without breaking the flow. Practice each transition slowly until it becomes smooth.
Practice Tips for Blues Shuffle Guitar
Start by practicing just the A position until the back-and-forth motion between your first and third finger feels natural. Count out loud: “one-uh, two-uh, three-uh, four-uh.”
Once the A position is solid, add the D position. Practice moving between A and D while maintaining the shuffle rhythm. Then add the E position.
Finally, play through the entire 12 bar progression slowly. Don’t worry about speed—focus on keeping the rhythm steady and making clean changes between positions. Speed will come naturally with practice.
Why This Blues Shuffle Pattern Is So Useful
This blues shuffle guitar technique is a foundation that you’ll use in countless songs. It’s a chord substitution pattern that appears in blues, rock and roll, and country music. Once you have this down, you’ll recognize it everywhere—from Chuck Berry to the Rolling Stones to modern blues players.
The pattern works because it creates movement and interest without being complicated. You’re not playing full chords, but you’re creating a harmonic rhythm that drives the music forward. The back-and-forth between the perfect fifth (your power chord) and the major sixth creates tension and release that makes the music feel alive.
If you want to dive deeper into authentic electric blues rhythm and lead playing, check out Colin’s Electric Blues Kickstart course where you’ll learn the essential techniques, licks, and rhythms that define electric blues guitar. You’ll build on these foundational patterns and develop a complete blues vocabulary.
