Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Blues Lick Ideas! Connecting Pentatonic patterns to chord shapes – Jam Track by Quist – EP626

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn several Blues lick ideas all coming from the Minor Pentatonic scale. The best part is that you can easily remember these licks when you see what chord shapes they’re connected to. Also, the amazing jam track for this lesson was created by Quist!

If you like this jam track, be sure to check out Quist’s social media accounts below:

YouTube channel – full of classy sounding backing tracks by going here
Spotify – Stream Quist backing tracks by going here
Instagram – Featuring some of Quist’s amazing guitar work by going here

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

  5. Mike R says

    This is a terrific two chord progression. Love the way you move up and down the fretboard through the minor pentatonic scales and the licks you pull out of them. Aren’t we implying the 5th or the B chord in the 11th and 13th bars? It would be fine with me if you did lots of these types of tunes. Quist’s jam track sounds great and gives off a real dramatic feel.

  6. Sheldon M says

    Bitchin’ I’m blown away every week by the depth of your imagination and marvel at how you can come up with new things every week. Keep it up man I’ve learned so much watching your videos, and I must say your teaching techniques have continued to improve.

    • Ralph S says

      Brian, I consider this lesson from you
      and Quist to be a super Christmas gift
      To all of us. Thank you for the dedicated
      effort you put into the lessons.
      Merry Christmas to you and your family.

  11. Michael Allen says

    Even though I haven’t been posting comments, just know that I think I’m always saying the same things. I love this lesson as I have loved them all for over 10 years. Thank you Brian and Merry Christmas to you and your family

  12. Rick B says

    Happy holidays Brian, and thank you so much for everything you do! Fantastic lesson on gritty blues. Sweet blues is great but sometimes we just crave the grit. Your licks you teach are timeless and they inspire our own ideas. Love this!

  16. Andreas W says

    Hello Brian
    Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Again a great lesson.
    It would be great if you could count in at least 1, 2, before starting “and now all together” if possible
    This would help me a lot playing with you, thank you very much and stay as cool as you are

    • Michael Krailo says

      There is no rule on when you come in. It’s just what we hear in our head while listening to the track that defines when a particular phrase starts. I’m taking another course in phrasing right now and have learned that using space or silence around notes is really what makes a phrase musical. If we apply a simple scale run that fills in all the gaps, it doesn’t sound musical, does it? Filling in the gaps at higher speeds is called shredding, and there is a time and a place for that, but it’s much better to create musical phrasing that breaths between phrases, just like you breath between words during a conversation.

      You do bring up a very good point that probably does have some folks wondering about how creation process goes down. It would be a great idea if Brian where to create a lesson that focuses on changing the rhythmic structure within a simple backing track such as the one in this lesson. You can certainly experiment with a different rhythm than the one he suggested. You can make a phrase that has more or less space. Try something that comes in on the & of 1 or & of 2 for example and see what it sounds like. If you come in on the ONE, it will likely sound very average rhythmically, but you can make up for that with a great rhythm with a great note order that works.

      Try listening to the track by itself and imagining a rhythm that goes along with the track well without getting too complicated. Now loop your new lick over and over in the track. How does it sound to you? If it sounds good, keep it. If not, try again. I believe this is more or less the process Brian used to come up with licks you hear in this lesson. There are many more ways to play to this backing track.

  21. Michael Krailo says

    Just finished working through all the licks in this weeks masterpiece. Everything in here is so good in so many ways. It’s a pentatonic connecting the shapes workout. It’s a lesson on mixing in a repeating rhythm with each lick. The tempo of it is perfect for most beginners to intermediate players. Find all the flat 3rd’s in all the patterns and know that you can 1/4 bend them up in all the licks if desired. When Brian said you just have to learn where they are, the easiest way to do that is to simply identify the note name. In this case it’s the G note is the flat 3rd. If we were in the key of A, it would be the C note etc… I find it much easier these days because I spent a lot of time learning my intervals and I just know that the b3 is always up a minor 3rd from the root. It is a simple interval pattern that once you learn it, it doesn’t leave you. This is why it’s so important to eventually know where all the notes on the fretboard are. I’m still working on it myself in some areas, but I’m almost there. And as he noted, it’s really the top strings where most of the bending occurs, so that narrows down the list of b3’s you need to identify.

    It’s much easier to improvise on this particular Quist track than some other tracks due to the two chord structure. I just got out my bag of Em licks and started to work them into this groove and I can see how many of the members here are going to have a blast with this one. If you are brand new to the site, don’t think for a minute that you cannot do this, you will get there after you pay your dues in time spent learning the basics really well. It takes some time to build up an arsenal of licks that you are comfortable with.

  22. John I says

    What a very helpful way to approach the chord shapes and their respective scales while improvising.
    And the simplicity of the chord structure makes for a great workout with the minor, major, or blended pentatonics. And another 1st rate Quist jam track to back it up.
    Friday nights rock. Thank for another brilliant year, Brian.

  23. Martin J says

    Hi Brian, I took some great licks from this one. I love when you team up with Quist. I’ve been a supporter of him since December 2022. I’m on my 2nd year with you, I’ve taken away so much from both of you. Thank you and Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, New Year.

  27. Dale G says

    Great lesson! Right up my alley! Plus puts explaining the different pentatonic positions working down the neck all in one lesson. Kinda like the Swiss Army knife of pentatonics. 😁 Love the tempo, easy yet great lick ideas to work in improvisation.
    Thanks again Brian and merry Christmas to you and family!

  31. Mark H says

    I pretty much do everything finger style, and this one is no exception. I realized that’s what works best for me, I feel more connected to the instrument.

    The effect of simply timing the first phrasing run to start on the second beat of the bar blows my mind. I’m getting the feel of that into my playing.

    Great inspirational workout, I take my somewhat plainer hat off to Quist & Brian.

    Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year,

    Mark.

  36. Thomas L says

    Should have remarked sooner Been following you since COVID after leaving the guitar behind for almost 40 years. I’ve gotten some motivation and information since I discovered online lessons. Thank you you’re motivating

  37. Kevin S says

    Really nice stuff. Hearing some old school Dire Straits. Love it! Has anyone commented about your hat? Always love the cool hats you wear, but this one? Doesn’t grab me. Kinda has that drinking beer on a houseboat vibe. (just one man’s opinion):-)

  38. Roy L says

    Loved this lesson. Basically simple but sounds soo great. Your collaborations with Quist are always magic. I particularly liked working up the keyboard and back.
    Wishing you a Merry Christmas. Look forward to more in 2026. I don’t know how you manage to produce something different every week.?

  40. Lance J says

    This was really helpful. Seeing all five scale patterns used and linked to chords was great for me. It reinforced the patterns and I also realised I wasn’t clear on which chords I could connect them to.

    The lessons in this website really shine a light on what’s going on across the guitar neck. Before I signed up, I didn’t even know there were five scale patterns. That’s despite playing for years and seeing teachers. I’m hugely grateful for the way all the key points are brought together and laid out so clearly. It’s an awesome website. Thanks Brian

  41. Daniel M says

    Such an awesome groove on that backing track by Quist and some excellent and fitting guitar soloing over the top, Brian. Thanks for bringing the magic each week! I’ve learned so much from your lessons over the last few years I’ve been a member. Merry Christmas to you, your family and all the other guitar players plugged in here.

  46. Bob B says

    Robert G

    Very helpful comment!

    I find that ‘instant comments’ must be based on only listening to the lesson. It’s much more informative to read later (i.e. at least a few days) comments after members has tried to play the piece and understand the various aspects (phrasing, chord connections, etc,) Later comments offer much better insights into these.

    Bob

  47. michael f says

    Great as usual Brian. I bought a bass recently and your explanations of major vs minor pentatonic scales are helping me use alot of same guitar licks albeit its tricky finding the same shapes because of the lack of the first and second string which are the main focus of guitar players. and help anchor where the root is.
    Can I clarify a point or two with you at the risk of getting lost in the weeds: Doesn’t the backing track use 3 chords? When you play the middle strings open, aren’t you actually playing a G major chord? That’s cool because G is in both major and minor pentatonic scales as is A is also in both pentatonics as well. Is it the lack of a minor third in that E5 root or 1 chord that makes this progression so flexible in terms of playing major or minor? Or is it the fact that both G and A are in both scales?
    You also advised as a teaching point to play this progression over E major licks but I think you meant to say G major as that is the relative major of E minor: same notes in both scales so same fingering just start and end on a different note: G for major and E for minor. So this progression has alot of freedom built into it: you can play just major or just minor throughout it OR ideally mix both major and minor in that position. I’m so glad you mentioned that because playing it in G major pentatonic is completely different than playing it in E min or pentatonic. Both sound great.

  49. Marc D says

    OMG! I never comment but, its 9:00am Christmas morning 2025 and I want to thank you for this lesson! I’ve been trying to understand the guitar for 56 years and this lesson is enlightening! Merry Christmas to you and a Blessed New Year! Thanks for your devotion to assisting this slow learner in becoming a better guitarist!

  55. Mark C says

    By far, the most valuable lesson this week was linking the scales up and down the neck. If you could do this more, with major and minor chords, that would be very helpful to cement everything in. The transitions for me are not always obvious.

    You have given us all gifts all year, Brian. I wish you and your family a very healthy and blessed 2026. Thank you. Mark

  57. Brian W says

    I don’t comment much but this is a very helpful video at a really good time! I enjoy all the lessons of course but this is one of my favs among my years as a subscriber. Thank you!

  59. Geoff says

    This is all stuff I have learned from so many of your other great lessons but I do always enjoy your theme of tying chord shapes back to melodies.

    I am going to have fun with this one.

  61. Guillermo V says

    Brian is the best guitar teacher ever. This year I really want to be consistent with the practice (last year I paid the subscription & didn’t learn a single lesson, but this year is starting well).

    God bless you all!

  63. Michael E says

    Great music wish I was more advanced so I can learn this faster. Brian I just joined you a week or two ago loving this so far! Can’t see why I would not love its great music and you are a great guitar player. THis is a great online guitar course. I will learn this if it kills me.

  64. Tom S says

    This is a great lesson. I love the licks you played with the jam track, and I love how you always relate the licks you play to the underlying chord shapes. I’m still not clear how you know which notes in any given chord shape belong in that shape’s major or minor pentatonic scale. Maybe in a future lesson you could elaborate on that? Or maybe you’ve done that in a prior lesson? In any case, this was a fun one! Thanks!!

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