Let me know how many of you struggle with basic theory and learning the fretboard? We should be learning these things as a beginner I neglected this early on myself. Thanks, everyone.😎
I have been playing for years by ear. Im assuming that may even be better for learning, but doesnt offer any flexibility. I just play lead by intervals. But really need to focus on the fretboard. Im sure it will help alot
@MontyDeane playing by ear is also very important. So that will help you as you move forward, learning the fretboard and getting a little more structure and confidence. I appreciate all your feedback and comments Monty! Thanks a lot my brother 😎
Thanks Karen! The talent I see here on RU-vid makes me feel like a long time beginner sometimes! But I certainly have fun! Always good to hear from you. Thanks a lot.❤️
As someone who has come back to the guitar after a 5 year break and determined to do things correctly this time round this lesson has been invaluable..im a month back in and things are starting to click , even more because of this lesson...thanks Rusty, you're a diamond geezer 👍
I'm a very longtime beginner who's been struggling with basic theory for 40 years now. Thanks for trying to help us stubborn folks get past some of these mental hurdles. Good inspiration.
I can really relate! And so many other players! You don’t have to know theory or the fretboard, but it can help you move forward and be more confident for sure! Thanks a lot for checking out the lesson Tom! Catch you later👍
One would think that after all these years I would be (or like to refer to myself) as an intermediate player but to be honest, I am actually a very long time beginner and I have been in a rut.... just aimlessly noodling around, learning only half a tune...etc.. This particular video has challenged me, especially to learn the notes, ALL the notes on the fretboard. Thank you for posting this particular video which is almost as good as having a face to face personal teacher and it is a kick in the pants that I have sorely needed.
I’m so glad to hear that! If you start learning the notes on the fretboard, all of these lessons will start to make more sense. And you will progress much faster. Thanks for checking out the video. Talk to you soon.👍
I'm a 44 year old beginner - been falling in and out of guitar for 10 years now, mostly just strumming open chords on an acoustic. I've determined I'm going to get an electric and learn this stuff the right way finally and for all. Super on-point video. There's just no way to be an advanced player without these tools at your disposal.
56 year old newbie and I'm loving it. I'm a drummer but wanted a change. I'm in my 2nd month and learning my chords and the 5 scales now. Also like working on them and upgrades to my cheap guitars. Thanks for the lessons!.
Hey Todd, sounds like you’re having fun. With your drummer background, you will be able to use some of your percussion style ideas to your rhythm and lead playing. It’s so important to work on fretboard memorization, and the connection from Scales to Chords. Just do a little by little as you’re having fun, and it will all come together! Talk to you soon man.👍
Older beginner, going into retirement with a new Strat. I’ve nicknamed it Buzz Light Gear. Memorizing the fretboard seems daunting, but I’m working on it everyday. Thank you for posting these lessons, they truly are inspiring and a blessing.
Congrats on the new guitar! That’s exciting! I really believe the better you know the fretboard the better guitar player you will be. Even simple knowledge can expand all over the neck if you know the notes. And the other, RU-vid lessons will start to make more sense also. thanks so much for checking out my videos, Dave! Have a great weekend and blessings to you also👍
Former drummer...and longtime guitar noodler...now I'm a senior beginner, maybe beginner + noodler...been stuck playing the same stuff over and over...,glad I discovered your channel Rusty...very helpful indeed ! Thank you . +
I’m glad you discovered my channel also! We can keep working on this stuff together and have fun doing it. Thanks for checking out the video and let’s talk soon.👍
Hi Rusty, 19 yrs. ago I was lucky enough to find an excellent guitar teacher ( I studied with him for five yrs.) and from the very first lesson I started learning the notes on the fretboard together with music theory! Many students of the instrument don’t bother to learn theory, considering it to be a waste of time! It most certainly isn’t!! I hope that those here pay close attention to what you’ve said. 👍😎
Well said!!! With out these skills you probably won’t ever get to the advanced level. Even as a beginner you need to start working on theory and the fretboard! Thanks so much for the comment! I really do appreciate it! Later bro 😎
Right on Rusty! At the appropriate time you arrive, as an older beginner I’ve recognized the importance of knowing the fret board. As you stated, it’s all connected! Preciate the tip hand! Keep up the good work.
Brilliant lesson .......so important to know this stuff............my brother only recently got his first guitar and reached out to me for lessons.......I told him the first you need to do is learn every note on the fretboard..........I told him it will save you years of heartache if you do this.........thanks Rusty.........Paul from Ireland
Well, said Paul! At least learn the notes within the chords and scales that you use all the time and then expand from there. If you know the fretboard and know some basic theory, all of these, RU-vid lessons will become a lot easier to digest. Always good to hear from you! And greetings from Chicago! Thanks for the feedback buddy👍
I"m watching this at night with my headphones on, walked away for 1 second into a dark hall. That goat scream almost gave me a heart attack. But this is 100% spot on. I'm a (very long) 20 year beginner and only recently started learning the fretboard, intervals, and started on triads. It's like learning a new language.
Hey Nick, wow, I got your attention😂 The better that we know the fretboard the better player we will be. I put off learning the fretboard for many many years myself. Knowing it really helps these lessons make sense! I appreciate your comment here. Thanks a lot for watching my lessons.👍
Thsnk you so much, Rusty. Guitar learning is like fine, healthy cooking. It is so vast a journey, to undertake, but keeping an undyimg passion, I will finally arrive at my eureka moment.
I myself a have a good memory of where various basic chord shapes are, such as G, A, B, C, D, E, F, and a few 7th and minor ones are etc.. My playing routine used to involve playing some simple chords, simple songs like many I'm sure. And the whole time, while I KNEW there are notes within any given chord, I ONLY focused on playing chord SHAPES. I never focused on the underlying individual notes I was holding down that form any given chord. I just knew to play a "C" chord, hold my fingers down here and so on. So yes, I had struggled knowing the fretboard notes and how they connect also. But thanks to videos like this one and others you have shared with us, my skillset of locating fretboard notes has greatly improved! Thanks again my friend. 😎🎸Tim
I'm 61years old played guitar all my year's this is probably the best or dang near the best instructions on how to get where you need to get to start getting better and better and better and better .I love it I'm even ready to jump in Yeah I got stuck in that Rut Myself
Once again, Rusty, your unique take on showing us how to navigate the fretboard, makes os much sense, and de-mystifies old teaching methods. Great lesson, great teacher.
Hello Rusty, I'm from over the big eastward pond plus a little further; 64 yo with a left hand issue, called Dupustren's Contraction. I'm contemplating an operation and therefore want to freshup & deepen the fretboard in advance of recovery. I hope all will turnout just fine and your lessons do help me by visualising my guitar. Greetz from 🇳🇱
Greetings from Chicago! Yes, I hope everything goes good with the surgery if you do that.🙏 but there are things you can do even if you can’t play the guitar. Memorizing the notes and triad shapes and scales around the fretboard! Let me know how it goes buddy no👍
Just read one of the comments that was posted a year ago,I'm 56 an have been playing on & off from about 11 so quite a while but never had any lessons untill I was 26 when I discovered Jamie humphries on lick library,I had discovered tab & would try & work out bits & pieces of songs still without any knowledge of theory,the caged system helped but I jumped straight to that without any idea of how chords were made up & how chords fitted together which was on Jamie's beginner's lessons!! Bad mistake because chord progressions never made any sense.. Have only recently come upon this revelation & it's made a massive difference to my playing,your lessons have reaffirmed this am really enjoying them & am now starting to enjoy playing again after a long absence,thanks Rusty appreciated man.. ❤️ 🎸
I’m excited to read your comment here Mark! When we make those new connections on the fretboard,it’s a lot of fun. Let’s keep working on this stuff and enjoy the rest of your Sunday Mark.👍
As someone who has given up many times and always begining again I wish you had been around a long time ago your comments about not knowing the fretboard conecctions are spot on.
If we just make those small connections every day, we will move forward every day! But have fun along the way! Thanks, Stephen and have a good weekend😎
YOU're one of the best teacher i know, so clears explanations, about relationships between chords and scales. Many thanks from a longtime AND older beginner, I would have been a guitarist sooner if I'd known you earlier, but luckily it's never too late. i've took again a guitar 4 years ago, i'm 58 now ;) Pascal from France
Your first learn the fretboard picture, the one with all the notes, is what it looked like to me. Insane! No way! The thing that got me started was discovering how to move chords. I realized there was really a practical reason to learn the notes even if I don't plan on playing solos. It really didn't take that long to learn the low E string notes, at least the ones for the chords I regularly use. (Just as you say regularly used chords.) Same with the A string. The little tricks like the 2 frets up and 2 strings down have helped with the others. I still have to think a bit on the other strings but then I don't use chords/triads based on them that often. Time will solve that. The biggest problems I face are that I think of a great melody for improvisation but when I sit at the guitar I go blank. Also I tend to rush through instead of actually timing out my notes. I'm improving quite a bit on the later. Once again, time with the guitar helps with both. (I've repeatedly tried counting but that just makes things worse. Have to play by feeling the rhythm.) Another great lesson.
Hey Harvey, That sounds like my story! I really like the way you describe your journey! Well said! Knowing the Notes is one thing, but improvising with them is another! Just really look at players that you wanna sound like and copy everything they do. That will help you find your own voice on the guitar! Thanks a lot for the comment! Catch you later😎
@@rustysguitar1 YES! RU-vid really helps with that. I sometimes will download the performance video and really it slow down to see exactly what they are doing. Snag a lick from an Albert King video for part of an intro I use for Stormy Monday. His unorthodox way of playing doesn't make that very easy!
@@harveybc That’s awesome man! And it’s good to look at how those licks and phrases relate to the chord that is being played. That’s when the real connection on the fretboard happens. Happy jamming my friend 👍
Thanks for reminding us that we can not bypass the process of learning. Otherwise we just imitating at someone else foot steps and not totally independence and free. Cheers from Indonesia.
Hey Sally, I appreciate your feedback! Definitely are two important things for a beginner to start learning. There will be more videos on these topics. Coming up for sure! Keep working at it. Thanks for your support.❤️
I will certainly benefit from this one. Viewing your other lessons for a short time now i know this is important for me to learn, know and understand. Even on a basic 1 -4 - 5 progression it will make playing easier, for me at least. BEST AND PEACE
I started guitar in about 1968 because of Hendrix, Clapton, etc. Self taught and caught on fairly quickly but hit a brick wall after about two years. A couple years later I just quit out of frustration. Finally picked it back up about two years ago so that, sadly, might be some sort of record for a beginner. I have been seriously trying to learn to play, studying theory, learning the fretboard, etc. I have learned the pentatonic scale in five positions and can play through smoothly and quickly and know where the root notes are. I understand the chords in a key and try to think about that but I still feel sort disconnected about it all. I guess that's progress but I still feel I'm not really catching on that well. Rusty, your videos are definitely helping me but I can't get past this feeling that I just am not ever going to improve much.
Hey Mark, i’m glad you’re playing again! That’s exciting! You are definitely working on the right things. Something good to work on is taking a few classic solos that you really like and break down the theory behind them. That will help you connect the theory to making music. Just tried to get into the head and thinking of your favorite players. I’m glad you’re moving forward and I’m happy to help. Talk to you soon.😎
I'm a 2 year beginner in my 50's. Technique is my biggest hurdle so music theory and learning notes on the fretboard have become my new pastime when I'm frustrated by my fingers not going where they should. I think theory is awesome. Someone already figured out the answers and all I have to do is learn the crib notes? Gold!
I like the way you put it at the end of your message. Someone has already figured it out! The technique will come in time. I do have a video coming out this morning. That’s all about technique and making the notes. Come alive. Thanks so much for checking out the video Joshua. Have a great weekend.😎
I’m a old beginner (61) and this all seems like I should be looking for a English version. It’s definitely not the presenter. I just really don’t understand music I guess.
@@brucemerryman7365 I bet you'd be surprised at how much you already know. Notes go from A to G with some # or b symbols for the in-between ones. You know there's multiple's of all the notes on the guitar because there's only 12 notes and there's over 84 spots for notes (6 strings times 12 frets). You probably already know there's 7 notes in a scale (example, C-D-E-F-G-A-B). Sometimes the note can be the same, but it's an octave higher or lower. From there it's just adding a new concept every so often like what a chord is (and why is it that way), how scales are made (major, minor, and other), why some notes or chords sound good and others don't (which is all a matter of personal preference anyway since someone likes just about everything), and what are all the tricks people use to avoid memorizing every single little thing (which eventually ends up with you accidentally memorizing because you've done it so many times). And the biggest lesson of all is that everyone thinks they don't know as much or can do as much as they want. So, you're on the exact same road as every other person who ever picked up a guitar. Some are just a little further down the road than you. You'll be that guy for someone picking up a guitar in a year wondering why he doesn't know or can't do as much as you can do.
Hi, i just started playing again after years of arthritis. I had surgery in my wrist and now it feels better. I know some open chords. But no scales. I’m starting to learn the fretboard. Thank you. This video makes a lot of sense. Looking forward to more videos
My advice would be actually learning chords and scales. Make sure you keep learning how they connect and what notes you’re playing under your fingers. This is not an easy task, but just do it little by little. It will help you progress so much faster if you do this. Hope you have fun with that Guitar. Talk to you soon.👍
Hi Rusty, great lesson as always, thanks. I’ve been playing for 6 years now but I’m finding this particular stage a real challenge (learning to improvise across the fretboard to specific chord changes). I too find myself playing along to backing tracks sometimes hitting a nice lick or two, sometimes not. Your videos on improvising over sweet home Alabama and also to zz top la grange style jam track (amongst others) have been like striking gold however, really useful. It’s these lessons that I find get the mind into creative mode and move me towards my quest for intermediate status. Thanks again Rusty 🙏
Yeah, we do need to find a balance of theory and actually playing music. There are many players that don’t know much theory at all and sound fantastic. And other players know deep, deep theory, and are fantastic players also. There really is no one way to play the guitar from the heart. But it does sound like you’re having fun! That’s all we can ask for! Keep working at it. Will get better at this stuff together! Talk to you soon.👍
This is great basic stuff for just like Rusty said and spot on. If you listen to what he's saying it's about knowing the single notes and positions on the meat and potatoes offl why we play :D Rusty I've listened to many and you are Wonderful bro please keep sharing
Hey Mark, it’s like learning the alphabet and writing words and talking in sentences. We don’t need to know every word that was ever created. Just enough to communicate well. And then Guitar certainly is like that. I thanks a lot for checking in.👍
This video is the confirmation I needed. I’m not in a rut and I’m not intermediate. And I know some patterns. I’ll glance up at my oversized fretboard map and then go, “wee doggie.” Only painfully reminded it’s not a mysterious puzzle. Learn the fretboard right. I learned at it.
I’m glad to hear you say that Rafa! For most players, it’s the other way around. It just gives you so much more confidence on the instrument. You can be more creative and play from the heart with that confidence. I always appreciate your feedback! Talk to you soon buddy.👌
I'm just old. I used to be pretty good, then stopped playing for a long time. I still remember how to do it. It's just a matter of getting my old fingers to work again.
I don't struggle with theory. I just never learned it. I only recently discovered the advantage of tuning the guitar. I respect the virtue of dwelling in my own rut. Good advice, dude!
You are speaking my language Rusty. That was a wonderful lesson. I am working on that for sure. I am a long time beginner but have an ear for music. I fight the fretboard for sure. Thanks!
Great Video my brother. Thanks for the advice. I’m a beginner myself almost 2 years and I feel stuck sometimes. There’s times that I wanna play the whole fretboard and I can’t and it’s because like you said I don’t understand it so that will be one of my goals. I feel that once I know that I can rise up tremendously. Thanks for the help keep ‘‘em coming!
Just understanding the simple connections that are on the fretboard will level up you’re playing more than anything else. The note names and just some basic theory. As you’re learning cords and scales just start saying out loud what the note names are. And it will start to become natural to you. Have fun on that Guitar this week and let’s talk soon.😎
Sounds nice if that is what a person wants to do. I'd just like to play and sing songs with mostly the open position chords and make it interesting with some melody and interesting open chords.
I’m struggling a little bit to include triads in blues musically, and to master mixing minor and major in my solos. Although now, when I look back, I made a lot of progress since when I started working on them. So I guess it’s just about giving it some time, patiently. By the way, Rusty, it was in one of your previous videos a couple of months ago where I first heard about triads as such and why they are important. And oh man.. they are.. and so powerful. So thank you for bringing my attention to that in the early stages of my guitar adventure ☺️🎸💪🏻
Yes, it is common! You just need to find a way to make the music with all that knowledge. Try to use your theory knowledge to break down some of your favorite guitar, solos and riffs. Then you can see how they make music with scales, triads, arpeggios, and chords. I know it will come together for you. Thanks Phil! Keep rockin bro 😎
Thanks for your encouragement, Rusty!🎸 The image of the fretboard looks scary - No-no-no!)) But it is important to memorize it. Great video, I'm gonna save it, so I can come back to this.👍😊
Most beginners don’t want to hear that. It’s so important to have structure as a beginner. And it will carry through your whole journey! Thanks for checking out the video.👍
My in person teacher (when I was going weekly yrs back to a school) would tell me not to bother with learning the neck, the few friends I know who play all said you have to learn the notes …so I sort of compromised , learned E strings to 12thfret cold ,and the A string with little thought to the 12th fret ….I know why my teach was putting off learning g fretboard (so I’d learn as I went organically ) but it conflicted me terribly
I put off learning the fretboard for so many years. And it definitely does slow our progress down for sure! Thanks so much for checking out the video and have a great week.😎
I regrettably tried to run before i could walk with the guitar, and overlooked all the theory and just tried to lean songs. The result has been that I'm still very much a beginner 15 years later 😕
Learning songs is good. I did the same thing. But learning how the fretboard and basic theory connect to those songs is what we did wrong. I get so many comments saying that players are stuck in a rut. And almost every time they don’t know the fretboard or any basic theory. So I really push some of these concepts along with practical ways to still have fun improvising. Thanks so much for checking out the lesson.😎
Rusty’s that is one of Best lesson on music theory, maybe you should do it on whiteboard so it will be more visual for beginners like me , I’m learning EandA strings to begin with. Can you do more lessons like that? I like to be as quick as you are on sliding in the right fret without screwing up . I’m retired so I try to practice as you mentioned is great. Thant you for sharing.
