If you haven't already, definitely check out www.zombieguitar.com/. It is a one-of-a-kind site dedicated to helping guitarists learn the fretboard inside and out!!
I know this sounds silly, but if possible, would you do a video on "playing around the root"? Could expand on why knowing root location is important. I can't seem to understand or get myself to "center" around the root and sometimes wonder if I even know what it means. PS. Thanks again for your work. I don't have the money to commit to a membership YET, but am interested in making a donation to the cause (so to speak). Is there a way to do that?
Ur an amazing teacher. I've been picking at trying to learn guitar for years. I really wish these types of videos were around when I was in high-school trying to pick up chick's with my over played and over practiced tabs
He's done it AGAIN! Ten mins of practising along to an a minor jam track and I've just linked up three patterns I didn't really know existed. I'm a member of his site. Highly recommended!
Appreciate you Brian. Obviously a person who has painstakingly committed to honing a musical skill, and is generously giving your hard earned knowledge to others. Appreciate your passion for the music, and for mentoring the rest of us. How refreshing. How inspiring. Good on you! P.S. save the kittens! LOL!
Learning all the pentatonic scale patterns did more for my playing, than anything else. The real pay off is when you understand that the caged system is also embedded in these shapes. Been playing for 30 years, and once I learned the pentatonic scale shapes, my playing and more importantly, my understanding went through the roof. Invest some time in learning these patterns, it will yield huge rewards. Save the kittens 🐱
Only teacher you'll ever hear tell the absolute truth. Very good patient guitar teacher respect. Open chords, bare chords, pentatonic scale patterns. This will get you going. Learn a song of your choice at your own pace (this will expose you to new techniques and then send you on another goal driven path) Modes, cage system your pretty much set. Again if your interested in shredding and tapping that's your goal driven path you will learn scales progressions and techniques specifically for that. Take your time pick your goals. Do it properly and actually KNOW it not just sort of know it.
Just a thing I like - if you’re trying to hum the major pentatonic scale to memorize its sound, the guitar intro to “My Girl” by The Temptations is a straight up one-octave example.
This video could've saved me 10 years..about 30 years ago..I did it the hard way, just me and my 👂 .. swings n roundabouts I always regret not learning to read music..I hardly ever practice scales as its boring for me so never built up much speed..but like I said it took me a long time too learn what you just taught ppl in this video..diamond!
What a compass. I wish everyone would watch this video early in their guitar journey, It would save a lot of time and confusion about all this and make it much less intimidating. I'm really working on my scale patterns, but it's great to see the importance of how I can used CAGED and modes and why they are really secondary and tertiary levels to achieve and work towards. Mad props for all the information!
I agree 100%. After years of shuffling between RU-vid teachers, I use most of my time with Brian now. His website is way better now too. It's endless with info and cost so little to join.
Brian, I really love this approach. As an engineer I know you're aware of systems thinking and use cases. You're explaining the use cases (playing solos, chord tone soloing, playing chords and modes) very well based on the use case of the player. This makes the guitar FAR more understandable. Understand the goal or use case before you start learning / playing is key. You've really developed a fantastic systems based approach to understanding the guitar. Fantastic! This has helped me reduce the complexity and confusion of the instrument.
This lesson is gold! While I can play the all the pentatonic and diatonic scales across the entire span of the fretboard, this video still gives me plenty of insight of how to restructure my practice regimen to target specific goals to further improve my fretboard awareness. Lately I’ve been really focusing on noodling and try to continually shift through the various positions while keeping track of the root. Again, amazing lesson Brian!
One of the best channels out there. I need to set solid goals and stick to them I’m playing a long time but need to get a proper structure of practice in place and set clear goals. Thanks Brian
Recently found this channel and let me just say this blows away most of the other well known channels on RU-vid teaching similar topics. I will be spreading the gospel.
This video allowed me to realise how bad the naming conventions are for the 5 patterns method and how "scale 5" and "scale 2" are actually the most important patterns to start with after learning the base pattern. Thanks Brian!
One of the few teachers who really understands that the core foundation of rock guitar is blues and that is absolutely inescapable. If you want to play rock like a pro you need to be able to handle the pentatonic first, that’s more important that your guitar or your amp brand, more than attempting to play complex modes, tapping and all the fancy things. Start with the basic blues pattern and build from there.
I'm currently taking lessons as a beginner and learning the 5 minor pentatonic scale patterns in A minor, and my friend also a beginner with a different instructor is learning the modes first. Is his instructor wrong?
Dude been watching your videos for about two weeks now. I've been playing for three years learning songs and solos just noodling around not exactly sure what I was doing in some of the songs. This has changed my playing and understanding of the guitar so much. Its so much simpler then people make it out to be with the music theory and "modes" much appricited !
Thank you. You have validated what I figured out on my own 45 years ago. And I indeed did progress rapidly after applying this and working very hard on it. Little bit of advice for newer students: I am STILL working on this and learning from it. If you love music and love the guitar, you will never stop learning and you will ALWAYS keep coming back to the fundamentals. Peace.
Brought up good point. When I teach the major scale I don't show caged I use 3 notes per string system. BY NECESSITY major scale has 7 patterns. CAGED is fine for phrasing but should be taught second Not first. TO START THEORY. works for me
LOVE IT!!! I literally just asked this question on the Zombie Guitar Facebook group, which you should totally join if you haven't. I think this is the most personable of Brian's video's so far. I think he even started to smile once!! HAHAHA #savethekittens
Cool video, brian. I like to use the A minor scale and build a scale built on triads . DFACE for example. Playing that kinda thing on one string. Really helped me. It"s my modal concept too. Circle of fifths/ tonnetz inspired.
This one is funny so here's what you learn EVERYTHING OK let me know how your doing Lol. I tell people its a 1500 piece puzzle. When you get to the center should be onstage somewhere
Wow, what a great lesson. I have to get my fingers working faster, and freer. I know the pentatonic scales, but I've only been playing a month and my sound is mechanical. I have one question for you. Do it matter which form is in what part of the fret board?
Ok I’ve already done this on my own but I still feel in no good. What should I try next? I’m thinking learning all note names on fretboard. I’m just playing in all the patterns I have memorized and can target tones but don’t know what actuall note it is ha ha. Ya know what? I also memorized major scale 3 notes per string 7 positions and still don’t know note names, well a few yes sure. My point is I can impress noobs but in my heart I still feel I can’t play. What should I do next? I know a lot of theory, tons of pieces of tons of songs. I use all 5 of my picks at the same time. I can walk a bass line and melody at the same time. I can jump in and solo to most any song. I still feel I am missing something. I think maybe ear training…. Ah ha! Um I think I just figured out what you meant at the beginning of the video…. What’s my goal…
Thanks, you are an amazing teacher. Ive been learning for quite a while but got overwhelmed and your clear aproach let me see ït". Greets from the Netherlands .
Amazing always …practice your 5 pattern approach scale everyday, focus on that get good at it. That’s what im gonna do. Learn this, forget about the rest for a bit and focus at this. Thank you again.
Subscribe to his website it's a goldmine for every guitarist whether you're a beginner or not, you're the best Brian I will always support you!! ps: I love your original songs!
I agree with you. Ive been playing 7 years and still suck, but learning the scale boxes as well as learning the scale along one string suddenly makes the whole fretboard open up. So rather than playing my really shit licks down one end, I can now do those sum bitches everywhere... yesss 😀
Bravo Brian .... this was a fantastic consolodation of the prime topics involved when learning the guitar. You explained their format and importance perfectly .... and gave awesome additional advice with regard to current practice methods ... well done!! Have you been given a date for the kittens funeral yet?
This is so True not only in music but to everything in life. Most teachers will keep the Path out of our sight because this way they can teach us forever. Conflict of interest is everywhere! Thank you Brian, you are so much appreciated and I was so lucky to find you in the woods of youtube. Thousands of "teachers" are out there but you are the Real deal.
This channel is probably the most sought after goldmine of a guitar channel on this whole freaking website. Those who don't know about it are missing the collection on this channel.
Oh yes. That's a much better way of explaining it. I've heard lots of teachers say to count 3 frets back from the minor but your way is much more intuitive. Thanks a bunch Brian.
Brian the scales sound so musical when you play can you tell me what bpm you generally use. Also can you provide me w some tips on using a metronome. I just can catch the beat using a metronome.
This needed to be said. Hopefully it will stop people going off on a tangent. The easiest explanation of modes I ever heard. Great content as always Brian 👍
Save the kittens !!!!!! 😶😐🤨🙂😃😄😊🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂 Omg Brian .... youre fuckin hilarious bro !!! Thanks for being funny as well as one of the few people online that knows what they are talking about. Thanks for sharing your hard work, you ROCK Bro 😎
Brian: would like to make a one-time (or More) Donation ..... I think all of us can part with $50.00 ... Gee People ... let's do this OK! ... You will never ever get this kind of instruction anywhere and I mean ANYWHERE ... Tell us what to do Brian ....
Hey Harry, I appreciate the offer, but I don't like to ask for donations. I'd much rather have people get something in return for their money. Aside from the main membership to Zombie Guitar, there are a few other things for sale here if you are interested: www.zombieguitar.com/extras Thank you!! Much appreciated 😀
Hi Brian, you explain it like a real engineer, with solid base and ability to communicate simply and clearly. Very encouraging. Thank you and cheers from Indonesia.
Brian, I have the feeling that you must've looked at some kind of social media right before you made this video. You had that sort of exasperation I could sense throughout. But, that's ok. IMHO, social media is the worst scourge ever set upon this earth. Yeah, I can see some good things that've come from it...but overall, look at all the bad things it's created: the way ppl are fixated on it, the "complexes" that kids have gotten from it, how it threatens our elections, national security, etc, etc. Yeah, sometimes I post comments on a friend's post, but I never post, repost or "share" things, and I pretty much just don't participate in it! I'll never be a member of your FB group...unless I'm really desperate for something, like an answer to something I just NEED to have, and cannot get any other way! (I still haven't resorted to that yet, for anything I have ever needed to know!)
It's great that you have the courage to fight the social media by boycotting them, you ,sir are a digital age hero, just like king Arthur and Robin Hood were in their day.
I’d like to add one thing to this lesson, focus on the UPCOMING chord. Land on the target note on beat one of the chord. Count in like & 2 & 3 & 4 & ONE! This is the how to “focus” on the current chord! The noodling should lead the listener to the next chord, it tells the “story” of the song. Land on F on the downbeat of the F chord. Then noodle using some emphasis on F A C. And then target A for the upcoming chord change. And you can even use a chromatic approach. This will create the “flow” of the tune at hand instead of just reacting to it.
Great work Brian. I know that this isn't for this video, but : Am is the relative minor of C major. If you look at the diagram 6:14 you can see the CAGED chords for C major and the CAGED chords for A minor buried in the pentatonic scale. Namaste x
Subscribe to this guy. I've been playing for 23 years and home boy is dropping straight facts. If you want to git gud, follow this guy. This is the quality insightful I wish I had in 02. Best teaching channel on RU-vid.
I love it! OK, everyone, let's save those kittens! (Brian, I had to stop the video while I finished LMAO! It's alright, I love cats, kittens too. But you said it with such a straight face! I gotta show that to my wife & friends.)
Great video. I now practice leads with pentatonic positions chart and triads chart for arpeggios over chords and circle of fifths chart for the backing track loop. The goal is to move beyond playing what sounds cool without knowing why and build on everything as I learn it.
Question: Why does the video at 6:26 present the diagram (upper left corner of screen) for the chord diagram known as the open "F" chord. Or anywhere else?
I didn't mean to say "open" for that F chord. I always just throw that one in when I talk about "open chords", but you're right. It's not really considered an open chord!
Don't you find that the scale patterns correlate with the caged system. I practice scale patterns but think of the caged system more as a concept to help explain the movable chord forms. In each scale pattern for C maj for instance you will find one of the caged C maj chord forms.
The problem with that is it only works SOMETIMES. If you are in the key of C major, then you will find nice overlap with the C major chord in the various different CAGED shapes and the C major scale patterns... However once the context changes, those associations are no longer valid. What happens once you are in the key of G major, but you are still focused on finding the C major CAGED shapes? The C major CAGED shapes all remain in the same spot, because the location of the notes C, E and G teaming constant, but the "scale patterns" surrounding the shapes changed based on the context. This is why it is more detrimental than it is helpful to link CAGED shapes to scale patterns. I did a bunch of lessons about this topic. Here's one that comes to mind: www.zombieguitar.com/5-caged-shapes-vs-5-pentatonic-positions-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
Brian Kelly in this video while you were soloing to show us how each system actually works I heard how this focused approach can help a guitarist play any style or genre of music they wanted to play or write.
