I’m almost seventy years old and still learning. I NEVER LEARNED THE PENTATONIC SCALES OR THEORY. IVE BEEN PLAYING since ten years old and played pro around the globe . Now I’m branching out of my comfort zone to learn the fretboard. Lots of real estate.❤
I’m 52 but really could’ve used this just as much when I was 17. Thanks, a couple of your videos have really tied things up for me. You’re a Good teacher!
This is pure guitar soloing gold! The 3 notes are easy to find and simplify things a great deal. I can see they are from the A, C, and E chord shapes. Even when you can see the entire chord shape it can be confusing to know which notes to target. This helps a lot.
Wow! I’ve been playing pentatonic scales, eminor and a minor for some times and spent time with basic chords then learning Barr chords which I struggled with, no more. Watching you opened up the triads for me, I’m learning them now. I’m an amateur guitar player whom loves the blues and smooth jazz guitars. Thankyou for the insight. Oh, I’m 63 and love it.
I'm 62 and a new subscriber. This is my 50th year playing almost everyday. So I feel qualified to tell you 2 things. 1 this channel is needed by many. I have even mentioned it to other guys who I know don't play as much anymore. 2 you have fret buzz on the G string at about the 7th fret.
For someone over 50 with a bad memory this is very helpful. I have been discovery triads and they are helping me out of 10 year rut and opening up new doors. Much appreciated lesson with new doors to open ☺
I once played in the pit orchestra for a musical, anyone who has seen the music for musicals knows they hit you with extreme key signatures that put you outside your comfort zone. While knowing the chords isn't a problem, I couldn't keep up with standard bar chords when your eyes are mostly on the music and conductor. While my brain processes common chords quickly, I can grab an E7 right away, but an Eb7 took me a bit longer, even longer with more complicated variations. So I went through and learned all the chords based on 3 note triads and it was so much easier. It eliminated large fretboard jumps so I could play without needing to look at the fretboard
This is great, opened things up a bit for me, would love more lessons like this that simplify everything. I often watch guitar players at my local live venues and watch their hands and sometimes I'm standing there wondering what the hell are they doing? I know the key they are in, I even know the chord changes but it's the shapes that I couldn't understand this has really been a big help
Since i saw all your videos on triads my playing exploded, i started connecting my common shapes and phrases with these magical three notes and i waslike..whaaaaat 🤩 One of these „once in one or two years“ guitar moments, when every little thing connects to a whole new system.. - And I’m playing since 12 years! I’m finally able to play in any key everywhere on the fretboard. Thank you Mark!
That's awesome Lucas !! Must have been pumped no doubt !! Mark definitely has some excellent tutorials !! Cat can play too !! Damn. PEACE from Philadelphia
@@MarkZabel I must add, your videos are excellent. I used to jump all over the place on this internet gadget thing. Lol. I find myself going to one of your lessons to another, to another. Thank you.
@Mark Zabel I'm opposite end of spectrum. I'm 70. Have been tryna teach myself for several years. Watching reading and observing ..need to put fingers to strings and make some noise 🤎✌️🤎 thank u much
This is great. I recently came across the CAGED system and it really ties the triads together. Knowing the basic chord shapes (C-A-G-E-D) very well, since they're one of the first things you learn in rock guitar, I found the CAGED approach filled in the blanks and is helping me learn the whole fretboard and, as a result, I'm able to figure out how to play triads in different keys. But, this is GREAT! Thanks again!
Thanks , I've been playing off these shapes for years but not realizing their potential. You have opened a new door for improvisation playing for me. Sometimes you have to stop and take a closer look. Thank You again for another great video.
These are the E, C, and A shapes reduced to triads. If you're familiar with the CAGED system, you should be able to see the aforementioned shapes, and then use that knowledge to find the proper positions along the fretboard. Not sure if it helps you, but I've found it's a nice shortcut.
Thanks for your comment. I find people often are confused with CAGED, and it often emphasizes larger chord shapes, which are more difficult to visualize for many. But yes, these are in fact the only 3 CAGED shapes available if one limits oneself to the strings D, G, and B. (The G and A are the same and the D shape is missing a 3rd.) It's not separate from CAGED, just simpler ... and one can argue, less complete. There's nothing at all wrong with CAGED in my opinion, but for many people it's too much - 5 instead of 3, uses all 6 strings at once, people attach scales to it, etc.
@Mark Zabel Yep. I just saw the shapes as soon as you started going over them, so it made it simpler for me to process instead of trying to add more knowledge to my already-overloaded brain. Like I said, shortcuts! If people don't understand CAGED, that's okay. If they do, then they can apply it to this lesson, too!
blowing free wishbone ash ive done this solo for many years . and this trick is thru out the whole thing. now i know how to use it on other songs .thanks
For the first time ever I played to a backing and my solos finally didn’t sound like scale patterns.. being 49 and never really delving into really learning, I’d heard others say match the chord tones, but I just never understood how to do that. Last night I unsubscribed to all the other guitar teachers on here and subbed solely to this one. I’ve been Ill and cannot afford a membership right now but soon I hope to be enjoying full access to the courses. In 2 videos and a short I got the triad map, learned how to use it. And then I watched a short and was jamming along to long train runnin before bed time… So awesome.
Also, these are great chord shapes/inversions to learn with your barre chord fingers. The second shape especially (at 3:01), if you barre that at the 5th (shown here at the 9th fret) with your first finger, as if you are playing a min7 barre chord then add the top note on the A string with your pinky making a C shape barre chord which here is the A Maj, this is a great voicing for the major chords, especially lower down the fretboard. If you persevere and perfect this it can save you a lot of movement up and down with chord progressions and vary your chord sounds too. Thanks for another great session Mark.👍
played rock and blues for years, when i started playing in a country band it made me better , learning a new style of playing , country swing style leads that were jazzy, using my fingers , chicken picken etc
Yes, good country playing requires playing the changes and not simply playing scales. Only in rock and blues (that I know of) do people think that simply playing notes from a scale will do it. The good players, however, knew better.
I had a guitar teacher who was into teaching tetrachords as a means to make his students to not be hung up on playing in one position of the neck. He was definitely right because I rarely stay in position when playing guitar. As a child, I started out playing music on piano, so by the time I started playing guitar as a teenager I understood the basic concepts about chord inversions and voice leading. Some good information in the video. Guitar players do get too hung up on scales to the point that most of us aren't making musical statements(I have been there more than a few times mailing it in). That's why I always try to play something different every time I am noodling on guitar. I look at figuring out new paths on guitar as a means to keep my memory engaged.
I am 70 years old no arthritis or nothing in my fingers I can play just like I used to when I was 22 years old no difference at all no no arthritis or anything I still go out it in style that is finger style I guess I’m just one of the fortunate ones👍😃😃🎸😎
Not only do I not have arthritis, but I have a photo graphic memory I guess you could say I have everything it takes to be a good guitarist. I was a slow learner in school a slow learner with a guitar. I started playing and 1974, 1983 I started reading music. I didn’t know what my style would be but as I got older, I finally realize I was a finger style guitarist, and to this day I am a solo instrumental artist, I can play just about anything I walk, most of my life guitar playing was a lot of hard work Johnny fortune that dude soul surfer was my guitar teacher I lived in Ontario California, and I was born in Upland. I love my guitar. It takes away the stress of life get in my room and sat and practice for hours on end, I love it. I hope it loves me as much as I love you I think it does or maybe I’m just crazy ha ha have a wonderful day I like your videos you’re a good teacher one of the better ones on RU-vid. Thank you so much..👍🏼👍🏼🎸🎼🎶🎼😀😀
Thanks for the video - I’m 60 and don’t have the dexterity that I once had - been playing for 50 years and still learning the fret board - I’ll take all the simple tricks in the book - keep’em coming - thanks!
The A,F,D(inversion) shapes are how I think of this. The A shape from fret two is the basic open chord or cowboy chord. The F shape represents the 'easy' F in first position and the third shape is where you'd play the D shaped A but use the C sharp as it's base note. Makes it so much easier with your diagrams Mark.
I'm 30, played strings for 20 years. I found your video well informative. Useful for a player of any level. That's a difficult thing to teach. Great work
Been playing 61 years ... have no idea what a pentatonic scale is! Always good to invent some exercises and run through them when you first pick up your axe ... warm up the fingers, hands and the mind. Then start playing your songs.
I teach a multiplication facts Bootcamp for 3rd and 4th graders and we recite the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10 skip counts EVERYDAY ALL SUMMER because that's the key to success. My guitar teacher had me play the scales everyday until I mastered them and I still do it a few times a month. As far as finger stiffness, 10 mg of Prednisone in the morning of a day I play a gig. Better living through chemistry.
Nice lesson. This is the first time I've watched one of your videos and I really like the way you presented the lesson. I have subscribed and will be definitely checking out your earlier videos. Thank you for this lesson.
Much of my guitar beginnings (which is still where I am) was keyboard transitioning. Because long ago my father a piano virtuoso showed me basic scales and someone in a music store demontrated triads and I took it from there. Fast forward one year as combo-organ keyboardist in a band and I had invented blues licks and takedowns with no help other than playing by ear. Within a couple of years I was improvising new stuff almost in my sleep. But I find doing any of that on guitar from another dimension. And learning about modes at the beginning almost made me want to sell what I had and quit. What does Ancient Greek have to do with guitars? They weren't even invented till centuries later. If not for hands-on clinics by celebrity TV veterans and music teachers from a local university at the several local festivals I was able to attend I might have given up. Instead I learned basic pentatonic scales and even drop tuning for slide work. Now if only can break out of acoustic I might get somewhere. Small house space limited so small amp will have to do. But the electrics I have are out of this world. Projects and pickups - I probably know more about how they're made than how to play them. Wasn't exactly my original plan though. TKS for reading. Time gets short. So much to do. Just wish hadn't waited so long. Peace.
Im 50 and started playing again a couple years back so i love these videos. Back in high school i wanted to be Eddie Van Halen or George Lynch but now im more the David Gilmour or even WG Snuffy Walden style. If you dont know Snuffy Walden RU-vid the soindtrack from The Stand. Hes phenomenal.
63 years old here 52 years playing I metronome scales everyday (well almost) The scales have to be though of as contiguous That is although there are the “shapes” learn them and then blend them Majors, minors, chromatic, pentatonic or more exotic voicings become second nature on a intervalic level Up and down the neck and on any one string I seldom play the same shape as a favorite I play the whole neck and every string as my “shape” Just start a jam track playlist and don’t focus on the root I don’t even look at the root o the track Just start anywhere on the neck And it’s either going to be a blue note or you will bend up to a non dissonant choice Then it’s all about the melody in your head But you won’t get from your head and onto the fretboard without learning all the positions first and all the positions between the positions You can play against and progression using only one string A great exercise is doing just that, string by string Then the double stops will become obvious And you can get a different tonal feel by simply moving around the neck Try playing some of your higher notes on the lower string fretted high and you lower notes on the higher string fretted low It always bewilders me when players say they get bored playing scales since there are so many options It’s the gateway to completely free improve
Awesome video. Liked and subscribed. I’m 38. But I have carpel tunnel syndrome. It’s difficult to say the least. I also started guitar late. 2009. I know my major/minor scales. But little to no pentatonic scales. So when I solo, it’s over natural major or minor. That first chord I was taught as a “Baby F”. Since I could treat it like a barre chord in the same position off the E strings.
Glad you enjoyed it! These shapes saved my bacon so many times back in the day when I played in more serious bands. I remember being told not to ever come back if I kept playing barre chords - they step all over everyone else's space. So I learned to stay out of the way of the bassist, the keys, and especially the singer by using these. It wasn't until later that it dawned on me that I could effectively use them as "targets" when I solo. Makes playing so much fun ... and yes, so much easier to finger!
I came across your video because I'm 51, my fingers aren't as nimble as they used to be, and I'm about to purchase my first electric guitar! I saved the video to come back to it once I get past the beginning stages. If I may ask, what guitar brand is that? Obviously it's a STRAT but I see it's not a Fender. Thanks.
02:15 If you discovered CTTE in your mid teens then you were at once blessed and cursed!! You were never going to hear anything better and you knew that you'd most likely never be able to play like that. Dreams simultaneously nourished and crushed ... but Yes are why I started learning to play and they rescued me from the petty dogmas of my rightwing upbringing ... I cannot thank them enough.
Listened to it (almost) every night when I was 15. Enjoy all of it, but the "Total Mass Retain" movement in CTTE and the ending of the song are absolutely musical highlights for me. I still don't think there's anything like it. Not sure if that was what saved me, but we sound similar.
@@MarkZabel My 4003s5 walnut, always within arms reach of my easy chair, looks at me saying, 'Even if you could play me like Chris (and weren't just a noodling dabbler) what are the chances that you could find four others to concoct with!' ... There's other complicated and well crafted stuff of course, Brand X with Phil Collins, King Crimson and lots of indigestible jazz!, but in all their relentless progressions, genius layering, and inspired convolutions Yes also managed to never leave us without melody, rich, glorious, uplifting and entwined melodies. ... I get up, thank you so much, I get down, but you kinda ruined things!! : ) ... I wonder what you'd get if you asked ChatGPT to write a song in the style of Yes? There's a scary thought! Thanks for your reply and all the best to you.
Thanks for the suggestion. I have done a number of those videos, including the one linked at the end of this video. Here's and example of one of them if you'd like to see how that can work: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lZd5rH_cOsc.html
I am 73 years old still recovering from two strokes and a heart attack. These have me with diminished feel in my right hand, and problems in even holding on to a pick.
Another great tutorial, Mark! Even guys pushing 70 can benefit here (friend of mine...friend of mine). Question; I see you play a Squier Strat. Did you swap out anything on it; pups, pots, etc - or is it stock? Thanks, again!
I'm 76 and started playing guitar in high school. I learned all the usual stuff about chords. Now I don't bother. I play in DADGAD and just play what I need, mostly the melody.
I'm 72 and a couple of years ago my fingers went nuts. I guess it was arthritis, well, I could hardly tie my shoes!!!!! Advice from even even older person had some valuable advise, every day take two table spoons of Brags apple cider vinegar and one table spoon of honey. It took about four or five week to kick in, but can play with no problem. Gain with no pain. I tried many other things, but this worked.
BRAGG! (Not Brags). It is good stuff but always wash it down with some water. Drinking any acidic beverage neat can lead to some undesirable side effects in the medium term.
Hi Mark.. LOVE your channel... I'm a 70 year old guitar lover.. Not a great solo player... yet! As a request, can you teach us the solo, that Bruce Springsteen plays in Candy's Room? I figured a bit of it, but need help for the short solo. Thanks and be well!
Thanks for the suggestion and the support! I don't really teach much note for note stuff anymore outside of my courses and membership. But I'll think about it, since I think Bruce is somewhat under-appreciated as a player. He plays with emotion and "Candy's Room" is a great example of his "raw" sound and style.
@@MarkZabel Hi again! Thanks for the fast reply! So... if you do have a "seminar" for the solo, will you let me know and to which course to sign up. I'm retired with a fixed income.
Oh man, this is weird Mark, I was just using those exact same triad shapes today to vary the chord voicings on Peter Gabriels Solsbury Hill, the live version where David Rhodes strums the chords... Spooky.
LOL! It's Mark from "Not Finding Bigfoot" ... which is what that show *should have* been called. Most amazing show ever. 9 seasons of not finding something. They all deserve medals! :)
I’m 52. My fingers do get stiff. I was recently thinking about trying 10 gauge strings, but wonder…should I stick with 9 gauge? Will 10’s encourage more discomfort? Thanks for any recommendations!
I've recently gone from 10s to 9s and find them much easier on the hands and fingers, with little difference in tone. You can also get hybrid strings (e.g. the top 3 are 9s, so it's easier for bending and the bottom three are 10s to keep a thicker bass sound). I heard fairly recently that Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top now uses 7 gauge strings (super light).
The video I mention to click on at the end goes into some depth on how you can come up for ideas for playing a solo based on chords. So you could check that out. I'm just playing the triads I showed (moving between them) and doing little "chord doodles" while sitting on a chord. I think I stopped once to play a stock lick, but other than that, it was all those 3 triad shapes. I've done a fairly decent number of videos on this and have an upcoming course. Here are a couple of recent ones. 1. Triads for Rock Solos: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-df9hNxLgsog.html 2. Solo Ideas from Triads: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LMlPYY7sZ4c.html 3. Less is more (partial chords): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PwdKfM3ROnI.html
Wow! What a great Idea, Mark. I think this method is a great way to start learning the Blues and Jazz. As soon as I get my guitar re-strung I am going to work on your method. I am tired of playing the same old thing. This method should free me from that. Also, I think using the 12 bar blues progression should help out too. I feel inspired. Love to watch you play. Big Fan.
@@chrismanleyirl Yes, for example C triads are as follow Root Position which is made up of C the Root, E the Major third, G the Perect 5th. 1st Inversion which is made up of E the Major third, G the Perect 5th, C the Root. 2nd Inversion which is made up of G the Perect 5th, C the Root, E the Major third.
