Why on Earth would you want to play your entire Pentatonic Scale on one string?
Lots of reasons… so let’s talk about it…
Why on Earth would you want to play your entire Pentatonic Scale on one string?
Lots of reasons… so let’s talk about it…
29 replies to "The Pentatonic Scale On One String…"
The boxes are like the pipes in a multi-story building . They get you from the top to the bottom floor, quickly, in a relatively enclosed space. The one-string intervals are like the flow of water inside each of those pipes.
Shades of Mick Goodwin! He advocated playing scales and modes on one string, then adding pairs of strings, etc. Great video! Thanks!
OOPS! Mick Goodrick! Sorry about that. He died last year.
So much creativity. A pleasure to watch you play. A true master. Thks for sharing
“If you find yourself in a jam”….
….While AT a jam….
This can help.
I can TOTALLY see that now!
Thank you Griff!
Very cool. Thanks Griff.
Awesome video griff. Some of your stuff is way too advanced for me, but this I can not only do, but also maybe figure out the pentatonic boxes. Thank you.
Fred
“I like to think in terms of lines and melodies”
Me too, and that’s also Barney Kessel’s advice. I decided if I’m going to get up and play in a jam, maybe I ought to be able to play along with anything that shows up on the blues channel/radio. So I practiced playing along (both rhythm and solos) with the music for about 2 years, and I still do it for fun. I certainly got a lot better. Another thing I learned, is how often I forget where I was and what key the song is in! Playing music will do that to me, and maybe you too. So Griff’s ideas of getting out of a jam (not the guitar jam, being lost in the guitar jam as to where I am and what key) are good ideas.
Griff: Thankyou for the wonderful lesson. I have learned box one and two. This will force me to memorize the other box’s. You are a great teacher. Dont give up on me.
Awesome stuff Griff!!! So many questions, though. I’m a newer member who is working on your blues solo lessons:
1. Where can I find the boxes for different keys? I feel like I need to get my fingers going more up and down strings and across fretboard
2. Any resource you suggest for learning the fretboard? I can work across one string but always find myself going “ok, that was an E…next are F, then G…ok now A,B, C etc”.
3. Recommendation for a good looper?
4. Fav “blues” guitar? My son stopped lessons and I’m using a Squier Strat….had an Epiphone Les Paul but it didn’t feel right in my hands
A lot of questions which I know you’re too busy to answer. If anyone else reading this has some suggestions, HMU at roberkizik@gmail.com
Thank you Griff sir
Very encouraging
Kind Regards
Martyn
Good video one thing you tend to leave out a LOT when you are giving examples please if you are in a certain KEY. Let us know a beginner won’t know when I are running up and down the fretboard that example,,,you are in key of C. PLEASE LET YOU VIEWER’S. KEY SOME DON’T GET THIS
Great video it helps expand the fretboard and also helped me understand how Buddy Guy could start out with only 2 strings on his first guitar his father bought him for $2.
Hi Griff.
I never comment, so here goes.
I don’t know if you have realised the potential of this lesson.As far as I’m concernedit is one of the most powerful lessons I have ever seen.To me it ranks in the top 3. You say the more ways you see your fret board the better you play.Well this has opened up a new highway through the the fret board for me. A renewal of enthusiasm,that wiil keep me busy for a long while.
Thanks, Johnny ” unvarnihed”
Nice thoughts on using one string. Thanks! I tend to stay pretty rigid to the “boxes” (still learning after all these years!). This will be a nice new view! The only time I ever used all the notes on one string was to learn the major diatonic scale – it really helped to see the SHR intervals. Thanks again!
This is great. It is also a good investment of your time. And now the big secret. The key to a great fuzztone line, at least for me, is a single string or double string melody or lead line.
Good idea. Also helps to learn the chords of a song if you can play the melody on one string
Hi Carl,
Not sure I can see how that works?
Could you clarify please? Excuse my “thickness”?
thank u
You find yourself in a jam. Who you gonna call? RUTBUSTERS!!!
This is good stuff, Griff. I am having vibrato envy cause when I see and hear yours, it is
just so spot on. I have not developed my own style yet, just working toward consistent
correct up and down waves. I love the comment you have made on occasion to the effect: “I made this video for you…I already know how to play!”. That’s for sure. Thank you for your time and effort making these learning treasures available to the common man. The Guitar Gods live on high in rarefied air, and we, the mere Mortals are Blessed when one, (such as yourself) Sir Griff Hamlin, the quintessential Master of both Theory and Musicality displaying the complete wheelhouse of skills and years of practice comes down from the Heavens and gives us a glimpse of what our Future could be like with dedication, consistency, and inspiration. I have just preached myself Happy! I’m off to see the 6 string! Gracias Amigo Griff
Thanks Griff. I found this very illuminating. How a simple one-string pentatonic scale concept can have so many useful, multiple purposes. Great musical tool for the tool box. You are a superb teacher and musician.
I like it!
this segment is why i do not try to copy your solos . i prefer to create my own to be creative . for someone who knows little about guitar could maybe copy you at first . melody is that important to me . yes i do the one string thing . i once heard on the grapevine that most lic or soloing or riff is concentrated on the b and e strings. i have to ask my mummy first boo boo boo . the only thing i like about this lesson is that if you do get lost forget where you are it is a way to find a way home.
Now you’re talkin’! Intervals break the rigidity of and provide a conduit between the boxes.
good job,Ireally enjoy your courses,I’ve learned a lot.I like the minor chord
Thanks Griff, another way of looking at things.
I have been a avid watcher of your videos for many years. I don’t play, can’t play, but absolutely love the language and believe you have provided a doctorates education to me over the years. Each little idea, presented so concisely and clearly in an excited and refreshing manner is a gem of guitar theory and application. I have most of your courses, just because I feel that what you have provided me in discussion and demonstration for free over all those years is worth rewarding. I’ll pass the courses along eventually, but they too are a source of education and motivation even without actually playing. Thank you Griff.
Wow. That’s an interesting post.