12-Bar Blues Riffs: 25 Classic Patterns Arranged for Guitar in Standard Notation and Tab - Book/Online Audio | Dave Rubin Guitar Sheet Music with TAB ... | Beginning to Intermediate

by Dave Rubin

12-Bar Blues 25 Classic Patterns Arranged for Guitar in Standard Notation and Tab by Dave Rubin is a guitar sheet music collection with online audio featuring 25 classic blues riffs presented in standard notation and guitar tablature. Created for beginning to intermediate guitarists, the book combines authentic blues patterns with informative riff history notes, making it a practical resource for expanding blues vocabulary and exploring classic guitar styles. By studying recognizable blues phrases and their musical context, players can gain a deeper appreciation of the techniques and traditions that have shaped generations of guitar music.

Each riff is presented in both standard notation and guitar tablature, allowing players to follow the music in the format they prefer while strengthening reading skills and fretboard familiarity. The included online audio demonstrates every musical example and is accessed using the unique code provided inside the book. Audio files are compatible with PLAYBACK+, offering tempo adjustment without changing pitch, loop points for focused practice, key changes, and left-right balance controls for greater listening flexibility. These interactive audio features make it easy to listen closely, repeat passages, and practice each riff at a comfortable pace.

Studying classic blues riffs helps deepen musical understanding while encouraging expressive rhythm playing, phrasing, and stylistic awareness. The combination of printed notation, tablature, historical commentary, and recorded demonstrations creates a practical reference for individual practice, rehearsal preparation, or expanding a personal blues library. It also serves as a thoughtful gift for guitar enthusiasts interested in traditional blues styles, classic riff construction, and the musical language that continues to influence rock, jazz, and contemporary guitar playing.

32 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

About the author

Dave has played with Son Seals, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin, Billy Boy Arnold, Johnny Copeland, Chuck Berry, members of James Brown’s JBs, The Drifters, The Marvelettes, The Coasters, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, The Campbell Brothers and many others. In addition, he has performed on the Blues Alley TV show in Philadelphia and New York Now in Manhattan and has made commercials for Mountain Dew and the Oreck company.
Dave has been an author for the Hal Leonard Corporation for over 30 years with over 150 books to his credit. Included are 11 titles in his ongoing Inside the Blues series to go along with numerous Signature Licks, Guitar School, and others such as book/CD collaborations with Honeyboy Edwards, Son Seals, Cornell Dupree, Jerry Jemmott, Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin, Smokin' Joe Kubek, Duke Robillard, boogie woogie pianist Arthur Migliazza and The Black Crowes guitar tech Doug Redler. He was the musical director and bassist for the Cherry Lane-Johnny Winter DVD, the musical director for the Star Licks DVD series Legends of the Blues, as well as being featured in the 12-Bar Blues accompanying video for his book nominated for a Paul Revere Award in 1999. He is a featured teacher on the Hal Leonard Guitar Instructor site.
As a journalist, he has written for Guitar Player, Guitar World, Guitar School, Guitar One, Guitar Edge, Living Blues, Guitar Shop and Blues Access magazines. Currently he writes the column “Nuggets” for the online Guitar Tricks Insider. He was the recipient of the 2005 Keeping the Blues Alive Award in Journalism from the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee.