It’s hard to describe exactly what this video is, but it came from someone asking me if I make all these different changes without thinking about it… and the answer is that I do.
 
So I got to thinking about how I originally learned to switch between different boxes or scales or sounds and this is a run down of how to do it.
 
Hope you dig the video and get some ideas from it:
 
 

    37 replies to "How To Ingrain Moves"

    • Mike Hart

      So.. as I was noodling around with these overlapping scale positions of the I and V chords I noticed that it was VERY similar to playing in a mode. Aeolian… I think.
      Am I confused or… am I becoming less confused? 🤔
      Also, I think I hear a G chord wedging itself in there.

    • Paul Nicholas Spiel

      I practice this lesson, every time i pick up guitars, thx Griff

    • Paul Nicholas Spiel

      I practice this lesson, every time i pick up guitars, thx Griff

    • Raymond loffredo

      Well worth the time to listen and practice this lesson. You made it so possible to execute.

      • rustie

        Sycophant!

    • Kamloops

      Excellent, thanks Griff!

    • Gordon Greaves

      This was a great lesson! The problem solving comment really hit a ‘chord’ with me – pardon the pun! The other real takeaway was practicing the boxes from the bottom. I really struggle with changing boxes because I always thing starting from the top!

      • Gordon Greaves

        Think, not thing! Sorry about that!

    • Raul Moralez

      Well done. well done.

    • Walter

      Is this lesson part of the “Blues Guitar Unleashed” course? Over the years I have purchased two copies from you; “Blues Guitar Unleashed” and the 2.0 version, but have never opened them.

      I bought them with the idea that when I retired I would use them but it’s been years and I’m still no retired despite just having celebrated my 70th b’day on “Mother’s Day”.

      So I figure it’s time to open those DVDs and accompanying booklets up!

    • Suzanne

      This lesson was exceedingly helpful and will change the way I practice because it is more “musical” to my ear than playing the I-chord pentatonic scale across the full 12-bar Blues progression. That’s what I’ve been doing and it quickly becomes sonically boring…plus I don’t particularly like some of the sounds it results in against the IV and V chords. Having given this lesson a try, I now understand that my ear wants to hear notes specific to those chords when they occur in the progression. So now I can solidify the Box shapes AND get better at moving between them AND hear something I find more pleasing AND know why I like it better. Thanks, Griff!

    • Chris

      Excellent lesson for all levels. Thank you.

    • Jerry Blank

      Hi Griff, Could you send again? The video did not show up on my end, Thanks.

    • Eddie R.

      This is a very valuable lesson for me, an answer to my question.

    • Rod Woolley

      .How many times have we listened to a good guitarist and wondered how does he (or she) do it? Griff’s lessons are great because he often reveals what is going on in his mind, how he does what he does and why. This lesson is a good example of that. It is like a great magician revealing how the magic is done! Thanks Griff!

    • Mark d.

      I have commented about this before it’s incredible how you know what I’m working on and your States and states away from me then we’ll trying to figure out how to solo over red house and lo and behold here’s Griff explaining the process amazing you’re very generous person drift greatly appreciates your efforts👍👍😎😎

    • Luke Michaels

      Most valuable lesson. Thanks

    • Hennie

      Hi Griff,
      You have so much musical wisdom to offer your thousands of talented online students. But despite 5 years of trying and daily practicing, I still can’t play a song…the arthritis in my fingers doesn’t help. Since there may be others with desire and dedication like me, could I suggest a separate category of tips and online lessons aimed at guys like me in a “guitar for dummies “ type format.
      Thanks

      • Eddie Lee

        Sing, man… sing!

        • Ron Pogatchnik

          YESSIR, That is what I have decided to do. It is great.

    • Dennis

      Fantastic session … it really put’s it in a good “mental model” for me and is a lesson I’m going to work with for a while!

    • william

      beautifully put

    • Robert C

      There again, you’ve created “another” light bulb moment Griff.
      You explain things so practical and easy to understand and just know this little lessons are fantastic. Also really enjoying the courses I finally was able to get, if I keep up my practice routine hopefully I can be at least 1/32nd as proficient as you in a couple of years 😂😎

    • Robert C

      There again, you’ve created “another” light bulb moment Griff.
      You explain things so practical and easy to understand and just know this little lessons are greatly appreciated. Also really enjoying the courses I finally was able to get, if I keep up my practice routine hopefully I can be at least 1/32nd as proficient as you in a couple of years 😂😎

    • Thomas Gracen

      This sounds so cool griff:

      I know box 1. Can you suggest a way to learn/practice
      boxes 2 thru 5?

      • Rod Woolley

        When I was learning the boxes I found it helped to print out an image of the finger board and frets and what notes were needed to play say Eminor pentatonic. (I used the free software “Guitar and Bass” which I very much recommend folks take a look at, to do this) I glued the paper print outs to stiff card. The picture showed the inlaid dots on the FB. At first I didn’t bother with “blue notes” and identification of root notes, but later I added those as I realised their importance. I drew brackets at the sides of the FB identifying each box by number.

        I found that I learnt each box separately at first, and it does take a bit of time, but gradually it sticks. I found that going up and down each box in triplets helps. Also I think once you learn where to play the notes you think of bits of tunes and start to improvise and “noodle around”.

        As you progress, you start to move effortlessly from box to box and then become aware of the two extended versions of the pentatonic scale which are commonly used to move easily up and down the FB.

        It does gradually sink in and get easier over time! For those of us getting on in years, keep in mind that learning things like this is believed to stave off dementia, so that is an added bonus.

        I hope that helps.

        Rod Woolley

        • Jim Edwards

          Rod, I am 71 and going through this very exercise. Your comment really helps to motivate me as I also have some arthritis in my fingers and it is a struggle sometimes to work thru it, but it is will worth it. Thanks for your post.

    • Rob McNiff

      Excellent suggestion on practicing scales………bottom to top….as the bottom strings are more commonly used in soloing. Also a great way to memorize where different patterns/scales over lap.

    • Eugene R

      Griff,

      Every day I think “Wow, that is the best lesson yet from Griff. He will never have a better lesson for me. It’s just what I needed.”

      Then the next day you have another lesson that is exactly what I needed. Amazing!!

      Now I want you to help me manage my stock portfolio … 😊

    • Jim P.

      Wow, thanks Griff for opening up new doors. Didn’t think of doing this to make switching scales to match chords much easier. Can you also show us how this might work for major pentatonic scales? Similar concept?

    • Jack

      Hi, Griff.
      I can’t thank you enough. You just opened a door for me.
      I now have another thing to practice, which will raise my level of playing in a huge way.

    • John Rosenberg

      Well done Griff. I now feel sooo stupid for not doing this before. Makes perfect sense of course, and for some songs keeping in a similar range really suits the melody. Just tried it on some of your backing tracks for fun, and of course works great every time. Nice one!

    • Dennis Frakes

      Far out Griff….this is something that has been an issue that I did not know how to solve and boom – you fixed it.
      AS always – thanks for your guidance and dedication to your students – it is truly appreciated.

    • Skip

      Great lesson. Been moving around like you showed jumping from Am to Em. Did not think about using a different position to play Em. A whole new ball game. Thanks Griff.

    • Paul

      Hi Griff, As always a good useful lesson, as I was watching I was thinking for things like this it would be useful if you could add a download of the loop you are using for those who don’t have a looper to practice over.
      Just a thought

      • fjdion23@yahoo.com

        Buy a looper. Best investment ever.

    • Bob Barker

      Excellent lesson, as always, Griff. Definitely will be incorporating this into my practice regime.
      Cheers

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