Wanna take a boring old scale and make it cool? Here’s how…

I call them “tweedlies,” but probably the proper term for these types of things are ornaments – it’s a quick hammer-on/pull-off combo that you can use in your minor pentatonic box.

I see Clapton, Matt Schofield, BB King, and lots of great players use this, but it takes what would be a super simple line and makes it WAY more interesting…

And it’s always good to make your soloing more interesting with such a simple thing, right? I thought so 🙂

(PS – this video was filmed live, pardon the few seconds at the beginning…)


    25 replies to "Tweedlies Are Your Salt And Pepper"

    • David Mueller

      I think I rely too much on trills. Therefore my picking suffers. Trying to find a balance.

    • Elwood

      Happy New Year! I’ve been watching your videos for quite a few years now. Just want you to know it always have enjoyed and learn from them. Going to upgrade my looper. Any suggestions?

    • Steven Daniels

      Luv it!!! Thanks Griff

    • Bob K

      Just covered this lesson in BGU!

    • jack bouckeno

      Thanks Griff that’s A something I’m going to use that for sure.
      Jack

    • Paul Kingston

      Trills, mordents and other ornaments were very common in Baroque music. Dr. Stanley Yates edition of Bach’s Cello Suites for Guitar has an entire section dealing with them. It’s an interesting read and certainly applicable to the blues, rock or any other style. Sharon Isbins recording of the Lute Suites has a ton of great examples of Baroque ornaments. Composers rarely wrote them out, it was left up to the performer to use their discretion in applying them.

    • Jack Flash

      Very interesting….

    • tony

      You forgot Carlos Santana he uses them as well .

    • tommy

      what kind of looper pedal do you use.we don’t have a full band anymore and would like to invest in one.I really enjoy your courses

    • Barry

      Thanks Griff—lick (or riff)—seems doable for an old guy like me.

    • Jim

      Thanks Griff. I watch and try these lessons every day.

    • Randy

      I like it !!

    • ugo 53

      really great Griff, this short lesson as many others of yours, open a lot of skyes for notes and solos, for every level of players. tahnk you, ciao

    • jean dominique

      Lots of fun playing. Thks

    • Colin

      I would like to know how to play the jam track you play along to, maybe the tab.
      Cheers, an English fan.

    • tony

      Hi Griff
      love the -tweedlie- video. I use them on the keyboard but never tried them on the guitar. Many thanks for helping me improve. Love your lessons, always something new and useful.

      • PAUL

        MAN I HAVE BEEN WTH YOU ALONG TIME GRIFF. I HAVE MANY OF YOUR BGU CD LESONS. I LOVE DODING TRURIS. YOUR TWEEDLY DEES.
        THE FIRST EMNAIL WAS TIDE AND JOY, WHICH I HAVE SEEN YOU PLAY LIVE AND ALOS SEEMN THE VIDEO.
        AS FAR AS COPY RIGHTS GO, I’M A MEBER OF AFTRA AND BMI. BRODSATS MUSIC INC.
        THEY DOIL OUT ROYALYIES.
        YOU CAN TEACH ANY ONE A SONG NOTE FOR NOTE. THEY JUST CAN’T RECORDE IT EVEN IF THEY CAHNGE A FEW NOTES. IF YOU PLAY THE SONG LIVE, THAT MAY BE A COPY RIGHT PROBLEM. THEN, LIKE SOME FAMOUS SONG WRITERS AND BANDS, DON’T LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP USING THERE SONGS, BECAUSE OF POLTICAL REASON.
        YOUR MORE LIKELY TO GET IN TRUOBLE IF YOU RECORDED THE SONG ON ONE OF YOUR BGU CDS. I HAVE BEEN DOWN THIS RAOD BEFORE , WITH NIEL YOUNG! YOUR THE MAN GRIFF!

    • Bob

      Kool stuff!
      Adding this to my practice routine, thank you.

    • Big E

      Awesome and doable addition. Thanks for the daily mini lessons. They’re a great help and nice break without taking time away from the training program in Classic Rock GU.

    • Wade

      Hey Griff, I started to try and figure out how to do this last night, I woke this morning and your video was waiting in my email. I wanted to thank you for your videos, I started playing almost a year ago and I look forward to your e-mails, they have been educational and inspiring. Thank you

    • John Laatsch

      can you recommend a basic “looper” unit for a beginner guitarist who loves the blues?
      Thanks.
      John

      • Andrew

        Hi John. Check out the TC Electronic Ditto X2 Looper. I use it all the time for practice. Some good tutorials on utube too.

    • topaz tschinnery

      Hi Griff,

      Proper musical name for your “tweedlie” is a trill – very good demo, by the way. Keep up the good work, always something to learn from your vids.

    • DENNIS BOWEN

      Great info. Thanks. Cant wait to try it.

      You are a good teacher. Wish I found someone like you when I was younger.

      • Pete

        Couldn’t agree more. I’ve thought for a long time that Griff is one of the best teachers on the planet. Even his insistence on counting makes him head and shoulders above most YouTube teachers you see. And the courses are really well structured.

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