Blues Endings, Dominyka Mauliūtė, Benson Nathan Jr

Guitar Practice

Blues Ending Riffs

In last week's newsletter, we looked at some blues turnarounds. This week, let's take a look at a few riffs that can be used as endings (either ending a measure, or ending a song).

We have one riff in C, and two in A.

Riff 1:

Riff 2:

Riff 3:

Guitarist Spotlight

Dominyka Mauliūtė

Dominyka Mauliūtė is a jazz guitarist from Klaipėda, Lithuania who first picked up the guitar at age eight after being mesmerized by the Beatles. Her teacher, Deividas Kontrimas, introduced her to jazz, encouraged her musical growth, and guided her studies at Juozo Karoso Music School, where she plays in the jazz ensemble “Stop Jazz.”

She gained widespread attention when her cover of Wes Montgomery’s “D-Natural Blues” (arranged by Emily Remler) performed on electric guitar became a YouTube sensation, earning hundreds of thousands of views. The performance won praise from critics and competition judges, putting Dominyka on the map as a young talent with both technical skill and expressive sensitivity.

Beyond music, Dominyka balances dual studies: she is enrolled in philosophy at Vilnius University and studying jazz guitar performance at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Her philosophical interests are reflected in her creative projects, one of which is the development of an artificial “music language,” drawing on ideas from logic and the philosophy of language.

Dominyka continues to perform widely—at festivals, clubs, and concerts—both solo and with her ensemble, and she works to inspire younger musicians to explore jazz and improvisation. Her fusion of academic study, creative ambition, and musical talent mark her as one of Lithuania’s promising young jazz artists.

Key Gear

• Ibanez George Benson model (GB10SE-BS)
• Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

Watch Dominyka:

Gear Showcase

Benson Nathan Jr Amp

The Benson Nathan Jr (also known as the Nathan Junior) is a boutique, low-wattage combo guitar amplifier from Benson Amps, designed to deliver rich tone in a compact and portable package. Rated at 5 watts, it might appear modest on paper, but thanks to its carefully tuned circuitry and high-quality components, it produces a surprisingly big and dynamic sound. It’s well-suited for home practice, studio recording, or small gigs—any situation where you want great tone without excessive volume.

Inside, the Nathan Jr features premium components and point-to-point wiring. It runs on a single JJ 6V6 power tube paired with 12AX7 and 12DW7 preamp tubes. The 10-inch Celestion Greenback speaker provides warm mids and smooth highs, while the cabinet is made from Baltic birch for resonance and durability. The control layout is refreshingly simple—Volume, Treble, Bass, and Reverb—making it easy to dial in classic tones. A genuine spring reverb adds lush ambience, enhancing the amp’s overall vintage-inspired character.

At around 20 to 24 pounds, the Nathan Jr is highly portable and road-friendly. Despite its small size, it offers impressive headroom and dynamic response, delivering touch-sensitive overdrive when pushed. Many players praise it for its ability to bridge the gap between studio and stage, retaining clarity and nuance even at higher volumes.

Overall, the Benson Nathan Jr captures the essence of boutique craftsmanship: simple, musical, and built to last. It’s a testament to Benson’s philosophy of creating amps that sound inspiring straight out of the box, without needing pedals or complex setups to shine.

Noteworthy 🗞️

• Fender announced a new American Vintage '62 Super Amplifier. Fender "brown panel" amplifiers bridged the gap between the raw tone of '50s-era tweed amps and the sparkling clean tone of mid-'60s "black panel" amps. The '62 Super features two 6L6 power tubes and six 12AX7 preamp tubes. View on Reverb
• PRS released a PRS SE Chleo Herman Li Signature electric guitar. Developed in partnership with the guitarist in the band DragonForce, it features a maple top and mahogany back with a thin maple neck and ebony fretboard, a 20" fretboard radius, and carbon fiber strength rods for extra sustain. View on Reverb
• Martin announced two new Jeff Tweedy Signature Models - the reissued 00DB Jeff Tweedy and the brand-new 000 Jr E Jeff Tweedy.
• Berklee College of Music is laying off 70 employees due to 'budget challenges'.
• Rick Beato interviewed guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal. They covered his extensive career, his technical approach to the guitar, and the details behind his current musical projects.

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