I get this all the time… “I want to improve my blues soloing…”
Yeah, I get that, but exactly *how* do you intend to do that?
And, what is “improved” going to be like?
If you have no way to evaluate where you are now, and no way to define where you want to go, it’s unlikely you’re going to get “there” (wherever “there” is.)
Kind of like going on a road trip with no map and no destination – might be fun, but you can’t be mad if you don’t end up anywhere new š
47 replies to "Soloing Levels For Knowing What To Practice"
Hey Griff,
Great lesson and I am probably around level 1, I have learnt the pentatonic minor scales but also find practicing Pentatonic Boxes 1-5 in the key of Aminor/C Major are my comfort zones as well as the Blues Boxes-Key of A minor/ C Major. Sometimes I stray from these experimenting when I am jamming to a Backing Trac in Am. But your lesson as opened up my eyes to get down pat the Pentatonic Boxes and the Blues Boxes. I am now finding it is easier to learn your 5 Easy Blues Solos and the Solos in BGU2 and BGU Classic Rock and use parts of those solos in the relevant keys. At my age mid 70’s memory of the Licks are harder to remember than to just follow the Tabs in your solos or to follow the Pentatonic Boxes.
All good and I will keep reverting back to this lesson.
Michael- Sydney Australia Nov 14,2023
One of your best ever videos, Griff. To break soloing down into ‘complexity groups’ is a great idea. It encapsulates what’s involved and gives you something to shoot for. I personally have to be realistic about my soloing because I have a disability that restricts my fluency and speed. This video captures that idea perfectly. Thanks Griff
Griff…probably the best video you’ve done…a NEW course in the making?…later.
cowboy
I found this perspective INCREDIBLY HELPFUL! I’ve been looking for this kind of framework for years and have never found it … including from my human instructor. Thanks Griff. I now know what’s next for me … get level 1 solidly under my belt first.
All I can say is GREAT! You gave me a lot to work on.
Iām somewhat of a perfectionist so I will probably never get ā thereā but that doesnāt mean I donāt play at a level that satisfies me. There are days when I play at a high level and days when I stink. For me, āgetting thereā probably means being able to consistently play at a high level on a daily basis.
Griff
How can you say , that BB King playing skill is anything advanced ?
If BB King and may he RIP , came out today heād be a nobody simply due to his skill level. That goes for a whole bunch of other famous players as well. Now Iām not talking about song writing skills , lot of those other players had that going for themselves. BB king just came out at a time when there wasnāt a whole lot of great players.
Wow…if BB King’s skill level was that bad, then I am in the gutter. I might as well throw away my guitar and go home.
fantastic explanation, thanks, at least I have a plan now.
One question, every time I “venture” into the major pentatonic, it starts sound very country.
I’m not sure why, but I can’t stand that “sound”
Gosh! At Last I understand…. And although Ive worked through most of BGU2, I am at the beginning of Lever 1 !!! But at leat I know that now. Thank you
I now know where to focus my efforts and most importantly how to focus my efforts.
I have the 5 minor pentatonic scales down pretty good but Iām weak at playing licks. I can noodle in key very well between different boxes when playing against a backing track though. Mixing the 1st minor scale with the 2nd major scale when playing over the 1 chord doesnāt seem like it will be to difficult. I am slugging my way through BGU and am now looking forward to the section that covers thisā¦
Nice breakdown of fretboard ergonomics, really good explanation of the levels of mental gymnastics required to acquire and retain new ways of tackling soloing ššššø
You may not know it, but you just put out one of the most important lessons on YouTube. I am 68 years old, a guitar plodder for too long, and you have now put soloing into a simple perspective that all can understand. Congratulations.
Great lesson! I used Box 1 and the House Pattern of Box 2 the whole time I was playing in bands during the Garage Band Era of the ā60s. To add a little variety, Iād go up the neck to Box 1 an octave higher. I had no idea that was called the āMinor Pentatonic Scale.ā I wish I had known back then half of what Griff has taught me since I found him in cyberspace a few years ago.
This was exactly what I needed to identify where I was and what I need to work on to move forward and evaluate my progress.
Griff, outstanding video, one of your best! Please, please, please put together a course on Every Chord is I (aka level 3). I have nearly all of your courses, and you touch on this at the end of Slow Blues Supplement (one of my favorites), but I think an entire course devoted to this and how one nails the right boxes for each key all over the neck would be extremely helpful for many of us.
One very simple and easy way to play a “every chord is a I” (aka level 3) is to find a good lick or phrase for the I chord. Then on the IV play that same lick, but up 5 frets, then on the V, play it up 7 frets.
The level one approach to this level 3 soloing, is to play the exact same lick (up 5 and 7 frets) on the I, IV and V chords. That’s a good way to approach level 3 soloing IMHO. You can do it with a lick entirely in the minor pentatonic (level 1 soloing), or with a lick mixing major and minor pentatonic (typically just one or two notes from the major pentatonic, and a level 2 soloing). Once you’re doing that well, then you’re ready to make improvisational changes (assuming you can improvise – if not, learn Griff’s 4 note solo which got me improvising).
I have the 5 minor pentatonic scales down pretty good but I’m weak at playing licks. I can noodle in key very well between different boxes when playing against a backing track though. Mixing the 1st minor scale with the 2nd major scale when playing over the 1 chord doesn’t seem like it will be to difficult. I am slugging my way through BGU and am now looking forward to the section that covers this…
Sorry, I didn’t mean to post this comment as a reply!
Dan, you just described what I often hear in many jams, and with a good hook of a lick, it sounds great. Often a player will make variations in that lick/theme across the I IV and V chords. E.G., listen to the 12 bar instrumental solos in T-Bone Shuffle. T-Bone Walker also uses some major notes in there as well and I love his style.
Where do arpeggios fit in the Levels? I’m thinking “level 3”, and I’m also thinking “all of them”.
I love arpeggios, but I don’t see them as level 1, because they often use notes not in the minor pentatonic. I don’t know for sure, but it seems to me often arpeggio notes fit in the major pentatonic but sometimes not. I’d like to understand this better. I’d guess it’s covered in theory, but blues doesn’t always follow the rules, which is why IDK.
Great video as usual!
What course do you suggest in your catalogue to take me from Level 1 to Level 2? Thanks
Terrific overview, and a great model to understand soloingā¦
Based on your model, i’d rate myself as a “B+” Level I and about “C” Level II. I now need to spend some time thinking about the gaps I’ve got in Level I. And how to close them.
Perhaps a next step is to map some of your soloing courses to this framework? Which as Cowboy said, might be the makings of another course… where some of your materials are re-bundled to match this method.
Like was said earlier, I’ve got a lot of your courses, and it can be a bit overwhelming to find the right place for a deep dive. But this helps!
Thanks for laying it out this way…. this is a great explanation of soloingā¦and a guide of where and how to improve.
Griff,
If I understand Scott correctly, I second the need to map all your courses in the order that you think would be most productive to learn them. I have almost all your courses, I’m struggling and I would like to have you point out to me which course to take next for maximum effect. What would be a good, logical course order progression.
Thank you.
I’m 60 years old and have never found anyone on this planet that is teaching this topic of blues/lead guitar. Other advanced players/teachers dance around this topic but never zero in on the digestible details that you have outlined (and that guitar players like me need). Thank you. I’m hungry for more and will continue my journey.
Great informative video Griff. Certainly puts things in place. Just reiterates “the more I learn, the less I know”, but now I have a clearer picture of what lies ahead in my journey and what my options are.
Regards, John-G
Excellent addition to my thinking and to looking forward Griff! You are such a great teacher, and always add something to make my playing better. I will probably never be a great hot shot player but following you has made me a so much better player and also enjoying my guitars so much more. Thanks for all you do!
Jack
An excellent video, Mr. Hamlin! Thank you very much! Very helpful to provide focus for future work. Much to do. Much to do.
Thank you Griff, Fantastic information.
I got your Course full of wonderful lessons. It has helped me a lot in my guitar playing. Your instruction is super cool. Planning ahead is a great point and I follow that. No rushing just making it perfect, relentlessly like BB King’s solos.
I use D’Addario 11/50 Chromes on my Gibson Les Paul to get this special sound echoing an idling 50’s Corvette…
Thank you again
Hey Griff, This ā road mapā video was great! I feel refocused and re-energized.
Thanks,
Dave
Tell me about the strings your using. I have a Fender Mustang and what I have on there seems stiffer than what it looks like your using.
I use Ernie Ball 10-46 or 9-42… usually 10-46 (Regular Slinky).
Thanks for the tip.
Griff, awesome video! Really helped me to know where I am at and where I need to go! This has been one of your best eye openers to open a whole new window to escalate my playing! Never have heard anyone make this so clear and easy to understand!!
Dave
Boise, Idaho
I learned to play blues solos by purchasing Griffās Easy Blues Solos DVD and then listening to the solos one at a time until I could remember all of the notes. Then I followed Griff in the video a section at a time until I could play all of the notes. Then I practiced each solo until I could play them by memory without making errors. Then I used my iPhone to record my playing and I discovered pieces of my playing that I could improve. Then I began to embellish them by adding my own notes or by playing different Parts of them at different speeds and kind of made them I to my own solos. Recording your playing, listening to yourself and correcting the little errors is probably the best way to improve your playing.
Amen!
this is a great explanation of soloing…and a guide of how to improve…I really took some time to think about where I am and where I want to go to…this will be a big part of my “plan”…thanks again and be safe til we meet up down the road…later.
cowboy
possible next course?
Hi Griff,
Great suggestions! My guitar playing is a bit too discombobulated. Iām a singer guitarist in a classic rock band playing mostly rhythm. I enjoy playing lIcks very much, but have limited skills. I leave it to my lead guitarist during our performances. As a kid, I started out learning from Mel Bay music booksā reading basic notes and playing simple songs. Fast forward to today, Iām still yearning to become a better guitarist, but have to say Iām a bit lost. Instead of being spread to thin in my learning materials, Iām spread way too wide. I have your Classic Rock Guitar Unleashed; Classic Rock Speed Builders; and Lessons From The Masters. In addition, I keep purchasing a myriad of other study courses and keep noodling back and fourth among them, including a variety of YouTube lessons. However, my guitar playing skills havenāt seen great improvement. Itās seeming more obvious to me with my limited time, I do more of scanning the material rather than drilling down deep for learning. I need a better roadmap for learning rather than noodling around the world all the time.
Griff,
If I understand Michael correctly, I second the need to map all your courses in the order that you think would be most productive to learn them. I have almost all your courses, I’m struggling and I would like to have you point out to me which course to take next for maximum effect.
Thank you.
One of your best! Thank you. I play in open tuning (slide). Are there āboxesā in open or just in standard?
Griff
I am a big fan and have a lot of your courses…how about a dedicated Level 4 course (and a Level 3 as well)…all the best!
regards,
Blair
Thanks Griff,
Helpful as always.
Iāve been monotonously stuck in a Level One rut ( for a year!) This is, exactly, the direction I was looking for, and the advice I needed, to continue to advance through the āsub-levelsā and arrive at Level Two. Now, itās back to work on the rest of the scales! Thanks, Griff
What a great video! Very clear. It’s wonderful to have a metric to gauge the levels. It’s given me a great idea on how to move forward. Thank you!
Griff,
Love these well-thought out lessons and your perspective on playing and improving. I purchased the Rythm package a few years back and benefitted greatly from that. I mostly play country and gospel in nursing centers(prior to COVID) but Iāve always liked the simplicity of 1-4-5 blues. Great job. Keep them coming!
Stay well
Rick in SC