Major Scale Pattern 1: Basic Improvisation (Guitar Lesson IM-123) How to play IF Stage 2
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0:11 - 0:15Hi, how you doing? Justin here.
Welcome to IM-123, -
0:15 - 0:19which we're going to be starting a look
at major scale improvisation. -
0:19 - 0:22And we're going to be using the G Major scale.
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0:22 - 0:25Which I'm hoping you've kind of
got under your fingers now. -
0:25 - 0:27and you're okay playing it
up and down from memory. -
0:27 - 0:30It's important that you're there
before we start on doing this. -
0:30 - 0:32And what we're going to be doing is
-
0:32 - 0:36looking at using this scale
to make up some little solos. -
0:36 - 0:38And what I'm going to do is
go through some of the hints with you, -
0:38 - 0:41and then I'll kind of demonstrate them
to a backing track. -
0:41 - 0:43Now, I've just mentioned it :
backing track! -
0:43 - 0:46Very, very important that you practice this stuff
with either a backing track, -
0:46 - 0:51a jam buddy, or you record yourself playing
some chords and solo over the top. -
0:51 - 0:54I think, really, using a backing track
is a good idea at this stage. -
0:54 - 0:58Jamming with your mates
is always a good fun thing -
0:58 - 1:02but, at this time, I really think
it might be better to be on your own -
1:02 - 1:05where you're not afraid of making mistakes
and you can kind of concentrate -
1:05 - 1:07and kind of figure out the sounds on your own.
-
1:07 - 1:09So using a backing track is a good idea.
-
1:09 - 1:11There's a free one on the website
-
1:11 - 1:13if you're already on the website,
-
1:13 - 1:16it'll be just below
or just about this video thing. -
1:16 - 1:18And what I want to do
is take you through some tips now. -
1:18 - 1:24So, the first and most important thing,
when you're improvising with scales in general, -
1:24 - 1:26is that you need to stick to the scale notes.
-
1:26 - 1:29Particularly with this kind of major scale soloing.
-
1:29 - 1:32If you hit any notes that aren't in the major scale,
-
1:32 - 1:36it's very likely they will sound pretty horrible.
-
1:36 - 1:37Now, occasionally, you might find
one that sounds cool -
1:37 - 1:40or be able to sneak one
in between two other notes -
1:40 - 1:44but as an exercise for now,
while you're learning to improvise with the major scale -
1:44 - 1:48try and stick only, ONLY to scale tones.
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1:48 - 1:52Second hint: you mainly want
to stick on the thinnest strings. -
1:52 - 1:55You can make a great solo
using the thick strings, -
1:55 - 1:57there's no problem with doing that,
-
1:57 - 1:58but, just when you're starting out,
-
1:58 - 2:01it's usually easier to use the thin strings
-
2:01 - 2:05because they kind of sound
a little bit more like a solo -
2:05 - 2:06if that makes sense.
-
2:06 - 2:07Less like a riff and more like a lead.
-
2:07 - 2:09They don't tend to get mixed up in the chords.
-
2:09 - 2:12That's the problem with the low notes,
-
2:12 - 2:15they tend to get a bit muddily
with the rhythm guitar or the backing track. -
2:15 - 2:17So if you stick to the thinnest strings,
-
2:17 - 2:20then they seem to set themselves aside
a little bit better. -
2:20 - 2:22So, generally, thinnest strings.
-
2:22 - 2:24Explore the other ones if you like,
just to check it out, -
2:24 - 2:28but mainly you want
to be sticking to the thinnest strings. -
2:28 - 2:31Next thing : use the play/rest approach.
-
2:31 - 2:34And what the play/rest approach is all about
-
2:34 - 2:36is kind of using punctuation when you play
-
2:36 - 2:38because if someone is talking to you,
-
2:38 - 2:41if I'm trying to explain this
and I didn't stop at all, -
2:41 - 2:44no little pauses in what I'm saying,
no full stops or commas, -
2:44 - 2:48it would be really difficult to understand
what I was saying. -
2:48 - 2:49And it's the same with improvising.
-
2:49 - 2:51You want to get in the habit
right from the beginning -
2:51 - 2:55of 'play a little bit', 'stop a little bit',
'play a little bit', 'stop a little bit'. -
2:55 - 2:57Now the advantage
when you're learning, of course, -
2:57 - 3:00is that it gives you time
to think about what you're doing. -
3:00 - 3:02To, you know,
have the picture of the scale in your mind -
3:02 - 3:04and making sure
that your fingers are there. -
3:04 - 3:07Maybe even think about what the notes are
that you're going to play before you play them. -
3:07 - 3:09That's cool!
You're learning, that's allowed. -
3:09 - 3:13Later on you want to be all effortless
and free and not thinking about it -
3:13 - 3:15but right now, if you're learning it,
think about the scale, -
3:15 - 3:18think about the notes that you can play
and use them. -
3:18 - 3:20You know : "What am I going to play?
Oh yeah I might try that." Do it! -
3:20 - 3:23"Oh, that didn't sound very good,
maybe I'll try this instead." -
3:23 - 3:26You know, you've got lots of time then
to think about it. -
3:26 - 3:27There's no rush with the improvising.
-
3:27 - 3:30You know, it's all about being relaxed with it
-
3:30 - 3:35and using the idea of play/rest/play/rest/etc
gives you that space. -
3:35 - 3:39Space in the head and space in the music.
It's a really, really good idea. -
3:39 - 3:44Now, leading on from that the next tip
is to stay simple. -
3:44 - 3:47Don't try and make things too complicated yet,
you're just learning. -
3:47 - 3:52Just be cool with kind of exploring
what the different notes of the scale sound like. -
3:52 - 3:54How they kind of react with the changes
-
3:54 - 3:57cause if the chords are changing
in the backing track -
3:57 - 3:59the one note that you're playing
will sound different -
3:59 - 4:01so just keep things really simple.
-
4:01 - 4:04Don't be in a hurry to try and do anything
too flashy or too clever, -
4:04 - 4:08just look for a nice really simple little melody.
-
4:08 - 4:11That's the most important thing.
-
4:11 - 4:13And while we're on that, again,
-
4:13 - 4:17another leading straight between these different points
is repeating licks. -
4:17 - 4:19Now when people are talking,
-
4:19 - 4:23when they start talking about the same thing
over and over again -
4:23 - 4:26then it seems to help it sink in better
and it's the same when you're improvising. -
4:26 - 4:29If you have a little idea that you play
-
4:29 - 4:33and then you play the same idea again
while the chords keep changing in the background, -
4:33 - 4:35it sounds strong, it sounds good.
-
4:35 - 4:40It adds a new color to what you're doing
and reinforces the idea to the listener. -
4:40 - 4:45So don't be afraid of playing
making up a little lick or a little pattern, -
4:45 - 4:47and then playing it over and over again.
-
4:47 - 4:48You know, here you play it,
have a little rest, -
4:48 - 4:51play it, have a little rest,
and see what the effect is. -
4:51 - 4:54Sometimes it can sound cool
to play a little repeating figure -
4:54 - 4:58that goes over and over again
without stopping while the chords change. -
4:58 - 5:00That can be an interesting little thing.
-
5:00 - 5:03Now, I mentioned earlier on,
if you're by yourself -
5:03 - 5:07a really, really cool thing
that you can do is to explore. -
5:07 - 5:10You know, you're on your own,
you're learning this stuff so -
5:10 - 5:12there's no limit here.
-
5:12 - 5:15Try doing solos only on the thick strings.
-
5:15 - 5:17Try jumping from the thinnest strings
to the thickest strings -
5:17 - 5:20and back again or whatever.
There's no rules here. -
5:20 - 5:24So long as you hit the scale 'dots', if you like,
the notes of the scale, -
5:24 - 5:27and you don't hit other notes,
it's going to be interesting, right? -
5:27 - 5:30Notice the word 'interesting'.
-
5:30 - 5:32It might not be brilliant,
but it will be interesting -
5:32 - 5:34and it shouldn't sound, you know,
horrible, like out of tune. -
5:34 - 5:39It just might not sound maybe the most melodic,
nicest solo you've ever heard -
5:39 - 5:41if you're jumping from :
-
5:41 - 5:44. . .
-
5:44 - 5:45It might sound a little bit funny
-
5:45 - 5:47but, you know, we'll get to that
-
5:47 - 5:49cause I'm going to do
some little examples in a second. -
5:49 - 5:50And the most important thing,
-
5:50 - 5:55I've left until last so it stays in your memory,
is to listen. -
5:55 - 5:59Now what you're really listening for
is the effect of the note that you're playing -
5:59 - 6:00and the backing track.
-
6:00 - 6:04To the whole thing together.
Don't just listen to what you're doing -
6:04 - 6:07cause then you kind of,
you're not getting the whole picture -
6:07 - 6:11because somebody that's listening
is listening to your guitar on the backing track. -
6:11 - 6:14It's the effect of those things together
that's really important. -
6:14 - 6:16Not just one of the things.
-
6:16 - 6:21So as you're playing try and let your ears
be listening to the whole thing, -
6:21 - 6:25the whole sound, the sound of your instrument playing
against the backing track. -
6:25 - 6:27That's really what you're listening out for.
-
6:27 - 6:30And with the major scale
it's a lot about listening -
6:30 - 6:33and if you find yourself on a note
that doesn't sound very good, -
6:33 - 6:36move to either one note higher
or one note lower -
6:36 - 6:38and you're going to end up on a note
that sounds really good. -
6:38 - 6:40It's a weird thing with this major scale.
-
6:40 - 6:43You're only ever one step away
from a good note. -
6:43 - 6:45So if you choose one note
that doesn't sound great, -
6:45 - 6:48move to the next note,
and it'll probably sound really good. -
6:48 - 6:52So I'm gonna put on
the G Major backing track now -
6:52 - 6:55and I'm going to run through these little points
with you again -
6:55 - 7:00but with a little bit of playing as well
so you can hear what I'm talking about. -
7:01 - 7:05Okay, let's try out these ideas
that I've just mentioned to you. -
7:05 - 7:07So first of all we just want scale notes.
-
7:07 - 7:10. . .
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7:10 - 7:13These are all going to be good
while we're sticking with the scale. -
7:13 - 7:17. . .
-
7:17 - 7:18Whoops!
-
7:18 - 7:21. . .
-
7:21 - 7:22Oooops!
-
7:22 - 7:24. . .
-
7:24 - 7:27While you stay on the scale,
it's all going to be good. -
7:27 - 7:29. . .
-
7:29 - 7:32Ooops. Whoah, even worse.
Oh, that's much better. -
7:32 - 7:35. . .
-
7:35 - 7:39Now you'll see that I'm mostly staying
on the thinnest three strings. -
7:39 - 7:46. . .
-
7:46 - 7:47That doesn't mean you can't
-
7:47 - 7:51. . .
-
7:51 - 7:53But it sounds better up there.
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7:53 - 7:56. . .
-
7:56 - 7:58Now, hopefully as well, you can see
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7:58 - 8:00. . .
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8:00 - 8:02that I play a bit and rest a bit.
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8:02 - 8:06. . .
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8:06 - 8:07Then you can repeat licks.
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8:07 - 8:29. . .
-
8:29 - 8:31You can also explore!
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8:31 - 8:52. . .
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8:52 - 8:54This it the time to do it, now.
-
8:54 - 8:57Just to play around with what you're gonna play.
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8:57 - 9:12. . .
-
9:12 - 9:14It's a really good fun.
-
9:15 - 9:17And of course,
I probably don't need to remind you, -
9:17 - 9:19but the big thing that you're going to do
-
9:19 - 9:22while you're doing all these exercises is
-
9:22 - 9:24LISTEN!
-
9:24 - 9:25Really, really important.
-
9:25 - 9:27Just keep your ears open
all the time while you're playing. -
9:27 - 9:30Make sure that you're listening
to your own guitar -
9:30 - 9:33and the backing track
or whoever you're playing with -
9:33 - 9:34and you're listening to the effect
-
9:34 - 9:38that the notes that you play
have on the whole sound. -
9:38 - 9:40And if you start to play some stuff
that doesn't sound very good, -
9:40 - 9:43don't play it, play something else
and find something that sounds good. -
9:43 - 9:46Don't be in a hurry to play fast or anything.
-
9:46 - 9:48Just keep it nice and simple,
explore the notes. -
9:48 - 9:53Don't be expecting to be doing
blindingly great solos straight away -
9:53 - 9:55because you've got to let your ears tune up,
you know. -
9:55 - 9:58After you've been doing this a bit,
you start to find, -
9:58 - 10:02your fingers kind of find where the nice notes are
without you even having to try. -
10:02 - 10:05It's almost like it becomes instinctive
-
10:05 - 10:08to find the right notes
rather than having to think about it too much. -
10:08 - 10:10But right now you don't have to think,
you're just learning it. -
10:10 - 10:13So, don't be afraid of thinking
about what you're doing, -
10:13 - 10:16about looking at the notes,
thinking about the scale. -
10:16 - 10:18Let all of that other stuff happen
by itself naturally. -
10:18 - 10:21But in the beginning,
you've got to think of it. -
10:21 - 10:22So I'll leave you with me
-
10:22 - 10:26having a bit of a muck-around of this tune
or that backing track, you know. -
10:26 - 10:30Feel free to have a go at nicking some licks
or whatever you feel like -
10:30 - 10:32and I'll see you for another lesson
sometime very, very soon. -
10:32 - 10:35Take care of yourselves.
Bye bye.
- Title:
- Major Scale Pattern 1: Basic Improvisation (Guitar Lesson IM-123) How to play IF Stage 2
- Description:
-
In this guitar lesson we are looking at basic improvisation using the major scale. Really good fun and easy to make it sound cool if you follow my tips!
This is part of Justin's Intermediate Guitar Method, Foundation. A series of lessons available free online!
http://justinguitar.com/en/IM-000-IntermediateMethod.php
Taught by Justin Sandercoe.
Full support at the justinguitar web site where you will find hundreds of lessons on a wide range of subjects, and all the scales and chords that you will ever need! There is a great forum too to get help, no matter what the problem.
And it is all totally free, no bull. No sample lessons, no memberships, no free ebook. Just tons of great lessons :)
To get help with this lesson (and for further info and tabs), find the Lesson ID in the video title (like ST-667 or whatever) and then look it up on the Lesson Index page of justinguitar.com
http://www.justinguitar.com
Have fun :)
.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- JustinGuitar (legacy)
- Project:
- Intermediate Method (IM)
- Duration:
- 11:49