How to use the Major Pentatonic in a Blues (and sound good) 

Lesson 2 is live now - a super easy and fun lick that will really help you get 'playing the changes' :) www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-pentatonic-study-lick-1-bl-802

I have played guitar for 9000 years and this lesson finally made it make sense to me.

after 857 years of playing guitar this lesson taught me a lot

After 30+ years of playing, I've had one of the biggest eye openers in this - you can't just move your licks down 3 frets and expect them to sound good! Thank you for this, suddenly this all makes perfect sense!

Surprising that such a critical area of playing like this hasn't been thoroughly covered yet. Once again, Justin to save the day. You're the man and you somehow have such a great sense of what the general guitar player population is missing/needs.

Man, I think you’re the best teacher out there on internet land. I keep turning friends and guitar colleagues on to you, and I keep coming back! Thanks, good job!!

After having played guitar on and off for 40+ years this lesson was a revelation and a lot of things are now starting to make sense - thank you so much for this excellent lesson

There are literally dozens of videos on the net talking about mixing minor and major scales. This one is exceptional for making sense of it all. Thank you so much Justin!

“…when you change the chord from an A to a D, you need to change the scale from an A-major pentatonic to a D-major pentatonic.” After listening to 200 videos over the last couple years, this is the first I ever heard of this. Justin should be a guitar teacher for guitar teachers.

Been playing guitar for over 25 years, this lesson was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

this is one of the most useful lessons i've found on youtube thank you justin.

I play guitar in a local Rockabilly Band and love western swing, blues, jazz guitar. I have a lot of bad habits, but when I do the D part in the A bar blues scale I incorporate rolling from the E note 5th fret on the B string to the F# 7th note B String then finally A on the E String. Or using slide stops on the notes F Sharp on B string and A note on E String. With the rolling I use three fingers, 1st, 2nd and third fingers. If you play the F# on the B and the A note on the E, it'll fit with the D. I've been playing guitar since I was fourteen only had one lesson and the rest I taught myself. The guitar teacher back then is still playing today, busking around Europe. The best recommendation for anyone learning the guitar is to listen carefully to the music and work out what fits best. When I started learning lead guitar, I was listening to very advanced musicians, like Grady Martin, Cliff Gallup, Brian Setzer. the licks these players played just blew me away, especially Grady Martin. He played lead guitar for Red Foley, Johnny Burnette, Gene Vincent and also done session work too, for obscure recording artists of the 50's. Loads of videos here on RU-vid with Grady Martin. His phrasing was just spot on. I'm having to go back to basics, because of all the bad habits I have accumulated over the years. It's a bit like driving and all the habits people pick up, after maybe a year or so after passing their test, like not indicating, or putting their seatbelt on after they've driven off. I have the same sort of thing with too many influences in my playing. Some people say that's a good thing, I reckon I need to just take a back seat for a while and listen to what I'm trying to play, rather than just improvise all the time. The band I'm in we're called The Tea N Biscuit Boys. We've all been in and out of bands over the years, my brother and I started off as drummers, then I went onto guitar, tried double bass and bass guitar, keyboards too and harmonica. I'm now 47 years old and still learning. There is always something new to learn, when you've been playing as long as I have and enjoying your videos. Thank you

4:46 "it just ain't right" I spit my coffee out when i saw that part. Summed it all up in one sentence Justin you are the best!

It suddenly makes sense! After years of trying! Very well explained, I really like your videos. Keep going!

I love the faces you make when you play “the clanker”. The humanity!!! lol. Great lesson as always. Thx!

Great lesson Justin, exactly what I needed..been stuck with minor pents and couldn't work out what to do with the majors for so long, your a star..!!

This is probably the best explanation of this I've ever heard.

These lessons are really inspiring to get me out of the rut + the ones with Lee, because I'm kinda on his level but not improving much throughout the years. Thanks Justin!

Perfect, exactly what I need right now. Already this is going to unlock so much for me and there's more to come!

Big thumbs up, I always wanted to understand how to do this. Thanks.

This guy is such a great teacher, probably a good fella as well. He taught me a lot about guitar since I've stared to learn it, you and Marty are the best so far. Best regards Justin.

Top lesson Justin. Not enough is said about this scale,it is fundamental for every aspiring player and even better to be able to weave the minor/ major together.

This is some of the best advice I have ever received about playing the blues. Thank you!

THANK YOU Justin! I've been trying to figure this out for a very long time with no success, this was a revelation for me, thanks again!!

Anyone new to this info owes Justin a HUGE thank you. I spent a lot of time when I was younger trying to figure this crap out. (yes, it was before RU-vid) but still....no one teaches this!

This is the video that made it all click in my head. A million thanks!

Brilliant, simply explained and incredibly effective. Thanks Justin x

I've been watching your videos since 2007! Great work I always learn something new. Now my son is watching the same videos on his journey to guitar greatness. Keep it up justin

I've been chasing this concept for 5 yrs. This made it all click. Thank you my man

I love how old u and Marty are now. It was nice growing up with u guys teaching us guitar. One American one British.

As always - a superb lesson. Goes to show that sometimes showing something clearly wrong is a great way to drive home a point.

No-one teaches like Justin.

This is bloody amazing Justin! Its still above my level of understanding but you make it so accessible. Something I will play around with!!

I watched and benefited from your basic blues lead course. This one was long overdue, and gratefully welcome.

This is really good. I'm entirely self taught. Im 35 and I've been playing most my life. Been playing seriously for 20+ years. I don't recommend this. You could learn in 5 yrs what tool me decades! Still, it was useful for developing my ear somewhat. I seen your lessons with Lee Anderton and want you to know that you're a great teacher. Really. They are the most useful lessons I've ever seen given away and I want you to know how much I appreciate it. I subbed to your channel because of this. I don't have much, but I would like to support you if I can. I have to figure that out. Great work. What a great guy you are!

Great lesson. I always made that mistake for playing along the major scale the over all the 12 bar. Justin, you resolve the mystery. Thank you very much!

Man, that first statement about when you can play the major pentatonic: pure gold, lightglobe!

I've watched a lot of videos explaining this topic and Sir you were the key! Looking forward to this series 🍻

This video popped up and I recognised you! I watched some of your videos 8 years ago and they really helped me when I started learning guitar. I am really not very good but your vids helped me learn the songs I love. I was playing a song I learnt from you - 'wish you were here' - to my 2 year old son the other day! Thank you so much.

extremely helpful video as always. I have been playing the Minor 12 step blues in the Key of E and A everyday for 10-20mins to perfect my dexterity. this major inclusion will help me to add a next step to my practice.

No one every told me that you can't play the major pentatonic over every chord as you do the minor. Super useful. THANK YOU!

Justin you are absolutely the best teacher I've ever come across. And a killer player of course! This lesson was gold! Thank you so much! Can't wait for you to hit a million subs! You've earned that and way more!

this opened my eyes, been working on my lead and this has opened a great deal of options, thanks!

This is the lesson I've been missing! I've been looking for these answers for years! THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!!!!

Extremely fine explanations of the difference in playing the right/wrong pattern in blues. Once I heard a band in an open air gig, I couldn't exactly hear, whats goin on, and now , some years later, I checked it: The guy used the minor pent over a major blues! It felt like someone spit in my beer and gave me a punch into my stomach, but nearly the whole crowd even didn't recognize it (@that time I was a student in music beginner class, but it felt horrible to hear that)! Thanks for learning with and from you and I will join your homepage program!!! Thanks, Henry

around 1 min, Mind Blown,..for real!! thank you Justin!

I feel like this has been the missing link in my blues playing, my mind is flashing back to a band i was in a few years ago, we'd have some great minor blues jams then the other guitarist ( my friend who was 10x better than me) would play some major blues and even though i could play the chords and thought i knew what i was doing my solos always went to shit! hadn't ever really been able to figure out why. i remember the other guy being like just play the major over the 1 and the minor over the rest but i could never really get it to work. YOU HAVE SAVED THE DAY ONCE AGAIN! long time follower of the channel. you've taught me a lot. Thanks!

Thank you very much for this lesson. To me, it looked subtle but made a huge difference. I tried after your lesson.

fantastic wee lesson, thanks so much Justin!!!

That is actually the best material on whole UTube about major pentatonic use! Big thanks!

I’ve been avoiding the soling with the major pentatonic until now. This video was a life saver.

Great lesson, finally I understand a little more from music theory. Thank you Justin, you're a great teacher!

Thank you sir, I was really struggling to find information about how to improvise switching between major and minor, I couldn't find anything on the web so I tried getting it right by ear but I was lost in the dark depths of my musical ignorance... You saved my day, great teaching, you have a new subscriber from Italy!

Finally, after all these years, the answer to the question I was unable to formulate, other than why does that sound crap! A massive light bulb moment for me. Many thanks Justin. Definitely one of the best tutors on youtube.

5 years of learning guitar on my own ->> me after watching this video = MIND BLOWN!

Great video. When I learned this years ago the tip I always remembered when soloing using a major pentatonic was to resolve on the root note. Whereas in a minor you have the option of a nice sound resolving on the 5th l, you don’t have that option when it’s major.

i have been trying to play guitar since i was 21 and and now 62. Not a natural and it is hard work to learn. So, practice and playing as you suggest. Never been much of improvised soloist. I love theory BUT this is the best posted tip on how to solo I have ever come across. I have been using your site for years and have learnt heaps. I found that if you want to play gigs and jam, learn the Bass or drums because they are crucial in a band and very rare in Perth WA. Playing bass is easy to pick up if you already know guitar and even if you only play root notes, the guys will take you under their wing and help you to improve. I had been playing bass for 10 months and was asked to play in some gigs at the local pub. was scared sh*tless and it is hard to relax but generally you cannot see any audience due to lighting effects. As long as you got the timing, play the basic notes and a couple of chromatic lines every one is happy. It helps to play in the same key. Practice your song list with the guys and at home and Keep on rockin'. cheers Terry

Man thank you so much , I don’t think think most people understands the seriously of what you are teaching, man I do appreciate it so much , this is the back bone of playing properly and mature . That’s the juice and spice in the meat , I’ve been trying to understand this for years , all those legendary players such as Albert King , Jimmy Page , Ritchie Blackmore and Johnny Winter knew and knows that very well , Specially Slash , Slash have amazing solos changes over chords changes he’s spotless . Thank you valuable insight man I sure took it in seriously . Australia 🇦🇺

Great video! When u don't have anyone to answer outright questions and you're learning with RU-vid, some video's are like light bulb moments so eye opening. This was one for me.

This was a really great lesson! thank you very much!

As for me, you never have to apologize for explaining concepts. Theory is not a four letter word. Thanks for all you do!

been looking for this info everywhere thanksman!

hey Justin i just gave this a thumbs up before i listened to a second of it ...... why , well cos your the man . ps i have listened to and of course its brilliant

Great lesson. Thanks, Justin

Thanks Justin. This happens to be exactly where I'm at in my improvisation education. I know my minor pentatonic pretty well forward and back and the diatonic major scale. But that's about all. So this was perfect!

Great lesson and beautiful guitar! Thanks

Really good lesson ! Out of all of the major minor pentatonic lessons I have seen on-line. This lesson really helped a ton. Thanks Justin. Nice job !

Thanks Justin, I hate it when people make video "tutorials" and tell people to play major pentatonic scale over blues WITHOUT telling these details

This is exactly what I’ve been struggling with...thanks!

Oh Man! I have been waiting for these lessons, amazing job.

I love these one on one format lessons. More the better IMHO. Keep them coming. Thanks.

Super lesson. I now understand the minor and major pentatonics.

Nice lesson Justin. Glad to see this series continue. Did your Blues essential a few years ago and loved it.

this lesson literally changed the entire way I play. Justin you're a hero

Great lesson, thanks! REALLY helpful.

You just answered so many questions I had! Everyone writes 12 bar blues off as simple or you should know this already. Its been a hard fought journey to get to my goals and this video helped me not have to just trial and error my walkthrough the 12 bars. Cheers Justin! You are the man

Clear to the point, excellent

Great lesson Justin, I picked up my guitar after many years of not playing after seeing one of your videos a few years ago. Thanks for the inspiration mate!

Great lesson. Thank you

Justin, just seen this video even though it is a year old. How you opened up doors for me explaining this. Thank you!!👍🏻

Looking forward to the rest of this series. Thanks

Omg, never heard this before and bloody amazing

Great lesson . Very detailed and really gets point across. Well done ? Thank you 👍

I always have great learning experience from your simple practical useful lessons.

Thank you,I’ve been struggling with concept for years

Just where I'm at right now! Thanks as ever. (Gotta love Justin's face playing the A major pentatonic over the D7)

I really enjoy your teaching style. Keep them coming. Thank you from The Coast of N.C.

I subscribed to your course one month ago and I must say, through your leading I'm progressing very good! Would recommend you every time and I'm looking forward to the time, where I'm able to play pentatonics and improvise :)

Justin, you earned another subscription for two reasons: 1) you're a great teacher and 2) you don't feel obligated to end every demo phrase with vibrato. Note to other teachers: we get it! We won't die if you don't waggle the last note.

Great lesson. Well Done !

Bravo Justin. Possibly the best guitar tuition video on the net right now imo

Great concepts and exercises man it's refreshing

Thank you Justin, This had always been a bit of a mystery to me.

Great lesson

Good tips! thanks!

Yeahhhh it was amazing!!!!

Thank you for the lesson Justin ... :) .. greatly explained ... keep rockin'

I am just working on that with my guitar teacher ! Awesome you are once again..Kind regards from France

Wow excellent, thanks.

Cheers great lesson as always.