This is an idea I call “stairstep” pentatonics… and I stole it from Robben Ford, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson, and some other modern blues players.
I’ll provide the tab under the video, but this really only works if you understand the pattern and practice it until it’s memorized – not just memorize the notes. If you understand and can use the pattern, you’ll be able to move it to other shapes… pentatonic or otherwise 🙂
Here’s the TAB:
54 replies to "Stairstepping Down"
I LIKE that. thanks
I recognize that lick in Neil Schon’s solo in Journey’s “Lights”.
At 2:37 Griff gives up the key. “You don’t have to do the whole thing”. In other words you can throw a snippet of it in a solo once in awhile. The whole thing is a good warm up exercise though.
That is just plain AWESOME. Lets us beginners, who are still ‘in the boxes’, do something CREATIVE with them!! Thanks Griff!!!!!!!
Cool stuff Griff. Thanks!
6/3/19
This approach and concept is very visible in the Jitterbug Waltz
this lesson fits in with a bit of zz top’s la grange
Yeah well spotted!
Love the blue burst Les Paul.
Hello Griff, thank you. I’ll have to practice it. sound good. Luther
Thanks Griff. Nothing wrong with Robbin Ford or Joe B. Can’t wait to try it out. Thanks!
Been doing this as a scale exercise for as long as I can remember. Never really thought about incorporating it into licks…interesting.
Does “Modern” allow starting a lick on beat one?
Or were we supposed to spot the deliberate mistake?
🤣😂🎼🎸⁉️
Thanks for the lesson. This will come in very handy
I forgot one thing Nice Gibson , I have a Black Les Paul Studio , Gold hard ware. One of the truly sweet ones I own.
Nice scale Griff depending on the timing and note strikes beginning and ending or in between,your correct in that it has the appeal of being a very cool sound and endless variations. Blues, Jazz, Country , Etc
I started playing this from the musical notation but couldn’t quite get the timing until I counted out loud one and a two and a etc., up to the 12 8th notes per bar. Then it worked, so proving the previous lesson correct.
I find it doesn’t work for me just counting 1234. If it’s in 12/8 it has to be one and a , two and a, three and a , four and a. That gives me the triplet feel nicely.
I will be memorizing this. I use the pentatonic scales for everything.
Hi
Just had a quick look at the notation for this piece. I am principally a bass player and if this progression pattern was in a bass line it would be called walking bass. Used a lot in both blues and jazz.
Must try this one out on my 6 string
Hey Griff,
Great lesson and I think I have seen this in the BGU Course Pentatonic Scales & Technique Mastery which I have.. but a great refresher..
Thanks
Michael- Sydney-Australia 22 June 2017.
Thanks boss I really like the sound of this one. It’s also pretty easy thanks again
Very cool Griff! I like this idea a lot.
A Great Effect when used. Mantovani used the cascading strings effect a lot with his orchestra, which is associated with beautiful music. Had to play your video/tab a couple of times using a Gretsch G6120 and Google “Cascading Strings”, because it sounded familiar.
fron Wikipedia:
“Cascading strings (also sometimes known as “tumbling strings”) is an arrangement technique of British light music. This technique is associated in the U.S. with the style of easy listening known as beautiful music. The cascading strings effect was first developed by British composer/arranger Ronald Binge, but most associated with Annunzio Paolo Mantovani and his Mantovani Orchestra.
U.S. Record producers Hugo and Luigi also did a series of recordings under the name “Cascading Voices” and later “Cascading Strings.”
One effect of the cascading strings technique is to emulate the acoustic properties of a large hall such as a cathedral, through simulated reverberation. The effect is achieved in an orchestra using multiple string sections, which would play slightly different parts from one another, in a cascading effect, thus creating the illusion of reverberation of the original sound.”
Which, after reading, I’m going to have to try your lesson on different Reverb Effects just to see what it does.
Thanks Griff, (Good Idea)
nice approach…thanks…later.
cowboy
Griff. Thanks for the lick. Joe Bonamassa has a similar run to get from one end of the fretboard to the other. I’d like to see that one. I enjoyed your lessons. I’ve learned a lot from them.
Thanks for the quick video. I always love your videos and they help me in more ways than can be imagined. I like the backwards step with a few vibratos along the way. Reminds me of the BB King Blues Box approach too. thanks again
How about reversing it also?
HI Griff ,this is the second time I have seen your video after long time and felt good . I still practice same for internal satisfaction and joy.
Hi Griff,
I really like this pattern and will be playing this everyday until I ‘own’ it comfortably. Great exercise too, what a great lesson, Thank you Griff!
Hi Griff,
What a great sound and exercise. Thanks for the inspiration.
Harley
NICE!
This is a first for me to add a Reply to my own previous Response.
Griff is right as usual when he says to memorize the riff rather than learn the notes. Over my performing career of almost 60 years I have largely played in bands, but occasionally done theater orchestra work. There is a saying in that realm if you take the time to read the (riff) notes you are to play then you have missed your part! You memorize it!!!
Secondly, stop trying to sound like Griff. Even though we all would love to play like him we are never going to sound exactly like him. Griff is unique just like you and I are. If don’t understand that today, you will tomorrow!
Old School & Still Rockin’
griff, for the first time your demo was done at a speed that I could follow. thanks
Hello,
I wanted to learn how Michael Shenker plays that cascading lead on some of his songs.
(Systems failing /built to destroy album)
Can you show me some tablature on that?
Thanks,
Scott Pettigrew
This reminds me of that
Hello Folks,
Another long time Shenker fan here, I would also be interested in seeing this. Many Thanks.
Maybe you would consider doing a few quick video/tabs of classics from established bands for the classic Rock Guitar students. If you stay with UFO here is my wish list.
UFO –
Lights Out – Try Me
and the 7 minute long Love to Love,
No Heavy Petting – Belladonna
Phenomena – Doctor, Doctor
Many thanks Giff, my playing has improved tremendously since I started working with your lessons
Hi There ,
Oh I can’t remember when I read it but it was not long ago,Where a guy said that he plays exactly what you play but can tell or listening back it sounds different.l get that feeling myself, I play what you play, I watch each note as it’s finger ed which corresponds, but it just doesn’t sound right. I realize we are unique, But this does bother me . It’s not just with you I have this problem. I realize it’s a hard one, Any suggestions?
I like a little end on 8th fret, 1/4 note. Back to practicing “5 Solos!”
bend.
That is exactly how I feel, mon! I thought it was just me, my Fender Squirer guitar, cheap Fender Frontman 10G amp and I even added a Distortion DS-1 Boss to my setup. But it just doesn’t sound the same! I’m pretty sure it has to do with the guitar and sound system setup….oh well, just keep plugging along. Da wifey says it sounds good most of the time…ha!
Know nothing about the Frontman. Used to own a Boss DS1 many calendars ago. Used it to push an old Peavey. And this pedal lost something when I turned up the pedal gain and used the amp gain.
Think about you have your guitar, amp and pedals adjusted?
If you feel like experimenting, give this procedure a try and see how you like it.
1. Set your guitar volume on about 7 and dial the amp to a good cleaner sound.
2. Now switch on the DS1 and adjust the volume to unity. How does it sound?
3. Start dropping the DS1 gain. As the gain goes down, you will need to readjust the pedal volume by raising it a bit.
4. Now you should be able to raise your guitar volume and get some grit and roll back your guitar volume for some cleaner sounds.
Think of the DS1 as a pusher rather than the main distortion sound.
The never ending quest for good tone continues.
I have been using this exact lick as an exercise for a good while now.
First became aware of this lick when Billy Gibbons used it in the solo for Blue Jean Blues back in the 70’s.
Hey Griff,Ray here,how’s it going? .thanks again for stairstepping,I got it at about 80bpm on the first try,maybe a week or two more it will sound like yours!! Thanks again. Oh yeah Fri.June 03 is national donut day!!. Stump all your friends!!(hee-hee)
This is a good lesson and I use this kind of riff continually all over the guitar and have been for quite awhile. I actually now practice it with just my fingers and no pic, or the pic and three fingers, and I am also applying it in some jazz riffs too. I think it’s a cool riff to add to solos.
I liked the idea and lick . It can be applied to other shapes is interesting . I wish you could provide one or two such licks . Thanks Griff .
I love the sound of that and often hear Robbyn Ford do something very similar. It’s a great sounding pattern and easy to remember. Thanks!
Very good, Griff. I like these kind of practice licks. And they’re very useable.
okay this is one idea that is a good approach . I will have to memorize this and se how I could apply it . varations of this like sliding into a note etc. etc .as always seems I am like thinking ahead and then just nail it. c ya.
I like this lick
great sound, this is a good practice roll over finger method on e and b string
8th fret, roll into the note not pick it sounds steril
Griff , I really like this lesson . Will be fun to practice it , and apply it . Thank you so much . Mike Z.
This is a lovely post! Once this babe arrives, our children will be 3yrs and 3mos apart. I like that age gap. It has to be right for you and your partner and you do a great job on emphasizing that.
Griff, that is real cool! I’ve heard it done but didn’t know how to approach it! Awesome lesson, Thank you!