Most guitar players… and it seems especially blues players…
Have this goal of “mastering the fretboard,” which sounds really cool, until you try to work out how that’s going to be done…
For example, MANY of my students come to me saying they’ve been practicing all 5 boxes of the pentatonic scale or blues scale… but they still can’t really solo.
That’s because, plain and simple, you need to focus on small areas of the fretboard at once.
And that is ESPECIALLY true when you start trying to change sounds from major blues to minor blues or anything else you want to throw in (like the house pattern, or borrowing notes from another scale… etc.)
So in this video, I’ll show you one of my favorite spots to start fishing for fun sounds 🙂
22 replies to "Lots Of Sounds In One Place"
The tab for box 3 minor and box 4 major along with chords would be great.
Peter Green was a favorite of mine b/c he was not a shredder. He knew what to play and more important; he knew what not to play. As a result, he always reminded me of BB King who played in a similar fashion.
In early ’68 I stood two yards in front of Peter Green all evening at a gig in the upper room of the Railway Hotel in West Hamstead, London, watching him play like that. At the time I had no idea what he was doing, of course. I just thought it sounded like one of God’s chosen angels standing on the stage putting everybody on cloud nine. Griff has certainly nailed it and can teach it. BTW Buddy Whittington does a great job on Need your love so bad, but most folks on here will already know that.
Need your love so bad..
Hi Griff, I’ve been working through your courses for some years now and have been trying to target practice sections on the guitar. This lesson was one of the best from your e-mails. Real cool cord progression and nice position on the fretboard for soloing. Thanks!
It would still be nice to have the tab to THIS class and others when trying to learn them.
Thanks
I suggest you try listening very. carefully several times to what you want to play and then just tell yourself you can play it and then just relax and do it. Yes you will be slow at first and make mistakes, but with perseverance you might succeed far better than you ever dreamed possible. It can become much easier and quicker and more satisfying than bothering with tab. You do not need to create a perfect and exact reproduction as long as it sounds good to your ears. After all, accomlished musicians rarely play their music exactly the same way every time.
You’re so right Rod. None of the good guitarists play the same solo every time. Whether it be Gilmour, Clapton, Trout, Snowy White, BB or anyone. Listen to many variations of their best solos and they’re all different. All are “correct”. So then if we stay in the key then we’re not playing anything wrong either. We’re just doing our variant and we get better at it. And those guys would nod at you, meaning “yeah ok!”.
Wanting tab for this video, write your own tab.
You can do it. The video is being shot head on, so the fingering is easy to make out.
Watch the video on YouTube.
You did notice that this video is on YT!
Have you ever clicked on the YT Gear in the bottom right hand of the screen?
You will find playback speed – both slower and faster. There is one problem with this, it does not correct the sound when changing video speeds.
The YT Viewer has another feature that is worth using. Check out the rectangles in the lower right corner of the viewer. Click on them and you have instant screen resizing.
You are one helluva teacher! Fantastic and much thanks for your insight. Some of your videos are worth their weight in gold.
I’ll second that, Vince.
There was a bit of “Someone” in there too.
great lesson i keep forgetting that just do major over the 1 chord
The 6 = the 3 of the 4 that’s why it works so well .. It’s a chord tone of the 4 ..
I noticed Griff’s guitar fretboard is a bit finger oil stained where he tends to play, and is a reasonably good guide to where to solo!
Great lesson – Definitely hear Peter Green – Need your Love So bad….
Exactly. Great tune.
Always good to open up with some Peter Green…
Hi I don’t normally comment more of a covert stalker really. But probably one of the best videos you’ve done Griff on the basis that less is more & the subtle interchange of knowing the major/minor boxes and a simple half note bend can convey the simplicity of the blues, good for training the ear, but with a great chord sequence to bring out the blues melody. Thoroughly enjoyable will require several retakes to assimilate. I’ve played for over 50’yrs but never had a good ear and many bad habits, such as fretboard gymnastics with a rock background so a more minimalist approach will help to refocus & save finger tip wear. Thanks Griff. Ian Wirral UK
Lightbulb moment, thanks Griff
Thanks Griff, good lesson as usual. Hit that area once in awhile, but not to this extent. I’m going to try to focus some improv solos only there and also try it in a couple of other keys. Thanks again and enjoy your day.
Boxes 3-4, a/k/a the “unknown” boxes. Boxes 3 and 4 rock. Thanks for the chords too…Ain’t Nobody’s Business But My Own. Nice lesson.