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Learn to play blues guitar.

Dickey Betts style lead guitar lesson plus the 3 things that give him his sound. Guitar Lesson EP565

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn a Dickey Betts inspired lead that is played using a hexatonic (6 note) scale. Plus you’ll learn Dickey’s approach to a harmonized lead and his approach to timing.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2- For Premium Members

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Slow Walkthrough

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  9. Vernon says

    I heard Southbound on the radio and I went home to listen to it again. Then I revisited your last Dickie Betts lesson. The next day, Dickie had passed…..after you practice this lesson, listen to Southbound, and watch the live 1973 video. Just fantastic. RIP Dickie Betts. Thanks for another great lesson Brian.

  11. Bruce G says

    Fun lesson! I think the Slow Walkthrough, and the For Premiums Members videos are swapped… easy to figure out…

    The Soundslice part looks different on my computer, but not a problem to use….

  23. John C says

    Brian–long time fan, third year subscriber, first time poster. I had a hunch you’d do a Dickey Betts tribute like you did for B.B. Thanks for this one , for EP404, and for the many other jam band, Allman Brothers and Jerry Garcia lessons over the years.

  26. charjo says

    Your admiration of Dickey Betts shone through on that lesson, Brian. I miss the “in the style of ” lessons. Another great who’s been on my radar lately is Peter Frampton. How about a lesson with elements of the solo style in “Do You Feel”.

  27. Stobes says

    I started jamming over the backing track and threw in the chromatic run and hey presto I started to sound musical and loved it!! Also, whilst jamming, I started playing A mixolydian and that worked too! Therefore playing B Aolian would work also.?

  28. Allan D says

    As soon as I saw the sad news I knew that you would be doing a lesson like this. Respect to you, Brian. A truly fitting tribute and memorial to one of the greats. I will cherish this particular lesson. Time to put my PRS to work. Thank you.

  35. Michael Allen says

    Great tribute Brian. The Almond Brothers were almost like a house band at The Warehouse in New Orleans. I saw them numerous times there and at other venues before and after Dwayne died. Dickey Betts always blew me away! I can’t wait to learn this lesson

  36. Tim C says

    Excellent Lesson Brian, a tribute to one of the greatest. I saw the Allman Bros twice in concert. Dicky, Warren Haynes, Greg on the keys and 2 drummers. It’s a rock orchestra. They have made a lot of music we all love. RIP Mr Betts!

  40. Joe N says

    Hi Brian
    Thank You for correcting refrence to C#m. I was a little stumped at first but now I better understand the relative minor chord and scales following this correction. Love the tribute to Dickey Betts and your excellent explanation of his unique style. Blue Sky is one of my favourite Allman Brothers tunes worth applying your lesson to.

  42. Robert Burlin says

    I Saw the Allman Brothers and The Ramblin Man Dickey Betts in the 70’s a few times. He was Bob Dylan’s favorite guitar player Bob even said that he himself should have wrote Ramblin Man, Maybe you can keep this tribute up for a few lesson and do some southern rock rhythm lessons. And maybe some other southern rock players from the day. That sound was and is so critical to the whole sound of the 60’s and 70’s. I am enjoying playing this so much. It feels so good to play. I think I can write something that sounds like this now. SO COOL!

  43. Bill says

    Thanks Brian! I caught the ABB in September ’71 six weeks before Duane died and two months after At Fillmore East was released. Changed my life. Still the best of the hundreds of concerts I’ve been to.

  46. Charles R says

    Awesome lesson, thanks. RIP Dickey Betts.
    Just another reminder, EP404 and EP030. I can’t wait to look at all the In the Style of Dickey Betts lessons together.
    The most difficult part of this for me to understand is the timing. The theory, the hexatonic scale, etc. is quite clear and I appreciate the clear presentation.
    I get the timing in the abstract but it is difficult to hear the relative times of the notes played vs the beat in my ear, or to get a sense of how to accomplish that in my playing. Not sure how to approach that, maybe by slowing things waaay down.

  47. Dale G says

    Thanks Brian for the DB tribute. I’m from an area where allman broths got their start in small clubs and venues. So it’s really a privilege for me to learn more of their style. Love learning and play along with your harmony backing tracks. Still do EP 404. It really helps my timing a lot. Thanks again for sharing your talents and making guitar playing fun again!

  50. Susan D says

    i love the timing and the scale Dickey Betts used, already i am learning this lesson and having fun. I am very happy because its not so hard for my level of playing skills thank you. Also i feel you saying we are losing so many greats, but at the same time i realise how lucky i am to be alive and to have witnessed and enjoyed these wonderful musicians that have brought so much joy, they are the soundtrack to my life and millions of other music lovers. Long live the music of Dickey Betts

  51. Mark L says

    Asking this question again. I play acoustic guitar only. What are thoughts on replacing some of the full bends to whole step slides? Not every single one. But seems to flow better sometimes instead of so much tension. Thanks, Mark.

  52. Robert K says

    Hi Brian, Robbie Here… I saw the original ABB 4 times and then with just Dickey several more times. Just FYI, Duane did a lot more than just play slide. They played those harmonies together on stage as well as Duane kicking ass on numerous solos played with his fingers all over the neck. He only played slide some of the time so perhaps Duane inspired your early playing more than you thought….
    BTW I was noodling and got to wondering how/if that hexatonic works in minor pentatonic settings? Did Dickey (or anyone else of note), ever use that trick in a minor setting?

  56. Martin B says

    I love that fourth note of the scale that Dickey Betts used. It adds a such a lilting, melodic quality to his solos. Thank you Dickie Betts, for the gift of your music. The world is a more beautiful place for what you gave us, but a little less beautiful now that you’re gone.

  57. Steve says

    Great for playing along to, nice variety of lesson. How did you get that sound? sounds slightly double tracked. I use Ableton Live on the laptop and would like to try and approximate it.

  58. Paul D says

    Hej Brian
    Love this one (and the previous Dickey Betts style you did long ago)
    Its gone straight to my favorites 🙂
    The tab for the harmony parts would be great too – so I can practice with a friend 🙂

  59. michael f says

    I think I heard the news on Thursday afternoon. So that would give Brian a day to put this lesson together.

    Unless he is like the obituary writers from the New York Times who have already written their homages before their deaths actually occur, pulling together this lesson in such a short time span is remarkable. Harmonies, the hexatonic scale without the 7 or flat7, timing on the beat … Brian is doing his part to keep Dickie’s memory alive! Ty

  61. Nick Ll says

    Great lesson Brian – and a good example of your blue sky thinking.

    Hadn’t heard the sad news that one of my favourite guitarists had died but this lesson serves as a respectful tribute, thank you.

    • C.J. G says

      I’m right there with you, Dan! The previous Dickey lessons from Brian were transformative for me and have seeped into my playing over the last year or so. This most recent lesson really solidifies some of the techniques and attributes that contribute to that overall sound.

  64. Tom B says

    Brian, I love this lesson. It is so cool to be able to play a little Dickey Betts. If possible , if you could feature a few more lessons that focus on some of these legends it would be very cool.
    Keep up the great work! I look forward to each new lesson as it comes out every week! It definitely keeps me on a growth curve in my guitar playing.

  65. Loyd C says

    Bryn … I gain so much and so many a clearer understanding playing along and sometimes just listening to you explain! Dude you rock for me man! I’m not new at lessons but I do feel music teachers like to leave me feeling somewhat confused with their explanations. I guess if teachers were to give it to us (as you do) the simplest of understandings we’d be off jamming and playing and possibly not coming back. Your way of teaching surely sticks in my brain pan!! Glad I signed up as a Premium member 🙂

  66. Frank N says

    Great Lesson Brian,
    I am trying to understand the mention you made in part 2 at around 11 mins about when you went to the A chord and switching the key to the Amaj pentatonic scale to play the little triangle. Aren’t those notes still in the D major scale that you were already playing in? Or the Bm scale as well?

    • hairarmy says

      Hope I am not overstepping here, the answer is yes and yes. that house box is a kinda 5 scales in 1 location, depending on your phrasing and what note you start and end your licks on. Remember that every scale houses another scale all along the neck, because every note of the scale is the starting note for another scale, either Major or minor.

  68. Doug C says

    Brian, I’ve been a subscriber for three years and this is my favorite lesson yet! I’ve seen the ABB live three times and you’ve captured my favorite song. Thank you so much! Doug C.

  70. Marc V says

    Hey Brian. Great lesson on great musician. What a loss for the music world. Will definitely work on this.
    Two comments tho:
    It would be good to include backing track without the harmonizing guitar part. It’s great that you included that but seems that like playing to that is sort of next level after getting the part’s down without the harmonized guitar part.
    Maybe a diagram stating that the “6th” note to make hexatonic scale is the 4th scale degree. On rewatching video, you definitely do mention it but tough to pick up unless you are really really familiar with the major pentatonic scale degrees.

  73. Todd F says

    You mentioned there were no borrowed chords or notes, but that’s not true, you’re playing the G7 which has an F note is outside the key of D…I always wonder why this works

  74. Keith S says

    At 71 yes grew up with all those great players and it is sad but that’s life. It was a great time never to be repeated. As Joe Walsh said it was a lot more fun being 20 in the 70s than 70 in the 20s. The world changes. Better time in many ways. Thx Brian!

  77. Chris M says

    I appreciate this lesson as it helps me better understand the relationship of the major scale pentatonic to to the relative minor pentatonic and visa versa. Having a hexatonic note is just a plus to experiment with. Thanks for these fun lessons that continue to reinforce scale theory in a practical way. Thank you for your approach; it works for me !

  78. perry r says

    Saw the ABB 30x, gregg solo 12x and dickie solo 3x. So, I’m an ABB fan. thanks for this lesson. Dickie is the most underrated guitarist rock.
    thanks for this lesson. maybe you can run down his solo from stormy Monday the one after the organ solo. Loved the lesson

  83. Breck H says

    Isn’t the transition to the A7 chord just the 1st position of the D major pentatonic? I got confused when you said you were shifting keys to A, but isn’t it the same pattern as the E shape of the D pentatonic but just emphasizing the A note?

  85. Purple Hazer says

    With this ‘Sad’ time of losing Dickey Betts and his unique style on lead guitar.. it’s great to see that he had/has all this admiration by these present-day musicians with a desire to play his style of music, which will help keep alive..his music.. all that he was and achieved.. for those that are remembered ‘Live On’

    So Brian..it seems you’re doing your part by providing us with some ‘Great’ examples to help us learn the lead style and rhythm for songs that got ‘head turning’ results.. due to Dickey Betts ..and his unique style on lead guitar. .. I’m glad he wasn’t a ‘Player’ type as ‘Jimmi’ ..so more of us can be able to .. achieve..play and enjoy his music. ..As All is going Well! ..Ron …’Purple Hazer’ ..

  86. Dwayne says

    Ok. I’m new Lol..
    I’m currently using my Epiphone 335 ES with my Line 6 Cataylist 60 amp is a modeling amp I think
    How do I setup my amp for this tone sound and my guitar for this tone sound?…I can’t find a lot of info about this …and pedals involved
    .
    I only have one pedal ( a fuzz) .

    Thanks for any help. I would appreciate it

  87. Jim S says

    Thanks Brian. I have been an Alman Bros. fan since the early 70s, and like you tried to copy Dicky Betts. You are such a great mentor and that was one of the coolest lessons ever. I have a large monitor screen and when I want a lesson, I feel like you are sitting across from me in the same room and I can replay what you are showing me until I have it memorized along with another great lesson on how and why it all works together with the chords.

  88. John C says

    New subcriber but long time amatuer player. Brian you are a fantastic teacher. You have opened up my guitar light to a new level. I am an excellent rythm player but a total Chuck Berry fake lead player. Thanks for giving me some of the conbination locks to the next few levels. BTW by accident I saw the Allman Brothers in live concert at a tiny Ohio college April 30 1071 in between recording Filmore East and the release of said album. We did not know what to make of them!!! If you get to San Diego let me know. Love to meet you

  90. Todd B says

    this lesson is near and dear to my heart. I was the lead vocalist enter all my brothers tribute for 11 years. My run ended in 2018. During those years I heard so much of dickies brilliant compositions. It’s really been far out learning this.

    Oh by the way after all this time I think I’m halfway through my second year in active melody I finally figured out how to use the interactive play piece the right way. How to speed it up slow it down ,loop it, use the metronome. Etc.

    I am also trying to learn recording. It’s a real bear. I’m not going to give up though slow and steady wins the race

  91. Derek F says

    What a wonderful lesson covering my favourite guitarist of all time. This was so well done Brian. Interesting that another of the top online guitar educators also cites Betts as a main influence on his playing. Big thanks for making this so accessible to pick up and integrate into our playing!

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