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Learn to play blues guitar.

Country style lead pattern – Easy way to visualize the Major Pentatonic scale – Guitar Lesson EP630

Description

Learn a Country style lead (played on the low strings) and learn an easy way to visualize the Major Pentatonic scale by attaching it to a single note.

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

  10. Rob N says

    Like Brian, I’m definitely one who likes to slow things down to learn them. Usually 60-70% speed – sometimes even lower. That also gives you time to really think about the notes you’re hitting.

    As I eventually get up to speed I often turn the speed up to 110% or higher – beyond anything I can keep up with coherently – then when I turn it back to 100% it feels manageable.

  11. Don R says

    This was the lesson I didn’t know I needed. I’ve been playing a lot of acoustic finger style lately and this reminded me of the warm Friday nights ahead. The open percussive note was used to great effect in the opening riff to Running Down a Dream. Now I have to learn Thunderstruck too.

  14. Daniel H says

    When you asked us to pause the video at 18.30 in Part 1 and figure out the sound from alternating the 4 and 5 string, I realized that cool sound could be the 1 and 7b of the mixolydian scale associated with the D-shape G chord. That explanation sounds weird but it was a light bulb moment connecting that sound to mixolydian… but surely the sound exists in the other modes as well.
    Anyway, this lesson is a faster pace than your preceding lessons but a refreshing change. I always look forward to my Saturday mornings with AM!

  15. Gary M says

    This is great! Please do a basic set of Tele honky tonk lessons. There is so little out there that isn’t really complicated and hot chicken pick stuff that’s way over my head right now. Thanks so much for making me a better guitar player. I recommend you to so many people. You are truly one of a kind among online teachers.

  19. Ann N says

    I wasn’t sure I was going to dive into this one but as I started watching it this afternoon, I realized it was one I needed and will work on. You make so many good points about pentatonics and major and minor – lots of stuff that you have been teaching is all rolled up in this lesson. I’m getting ready to work on it. Thanks – you do a great job of explanation and demonstration.

  20. Paul N says

    This was great Brian! Not sure if you’ve touched on this Major Pentatonic Pattern before. I’ve seen it elsewhere, but you always make sense of it! Linking it to the shapes as always really helps me! As a “retired, been with you a while, not quite a player yet”, I have had the opportunity to work my way back throuhg your library of lessons, into the 100’s and a few 000’s. You mentioned AC/DC today, and that triggered memory of a lesson way back – “In The Style of Angus Youg”. Like you, and probably a lot of other folks, I appreciate all genres. In your older lessons, you would periodically do some Rock lessons. Not only “In the Style Of” lessons (Angus Young, David Gilmore, the Southern Rock Masters Betts, Allman, Garcia, are a few that come to mine), but a number of your own compostions that I found were excellent. The material, the melody, backing tracks and styles you came up with were awesome. I remember one time in an early years lesson you said something along the lines of “never running ou of ideas”. Well if you do, or just for a change of pace, a Rock lesson would never hurt this “still trying, almost a player”. A couple of your “Spacey Rock lessons” are some of my all time favorites! Thanks again Brian!

  23. Walter Bearse says

    Thanks again Brian. I’ve been getting into country music lately. Being from the Boston Ma, I grew up in an atmosphere where country music was looked down on . What snobbery ! I think that country music has such a great guitar sound. I was hoping you’d do more country lessons. Thank you!

  24. daniel M says

    liked the lesson much. I’m sure I can’t be alone but I spend enormous time on all of your past lessons from the very beginning. I’ve only played acoustic and have tried to replicate all your lessons on acoustic, including electric, and I haven’t done bad, However I’m given in and will be looking at purchasing a better acoustic looking at something in the $3000 range and a electric in the $2000 range. any suggestions? I’ve been playing solid for 15 years and on and off for 30 years. Played in RnR bands in my youth.

  25. John I says

    This is a terrific lesson. Yet another way to work this pattern out (with a country vibe) all over the neck. Playing the changes with this method in a 1, 4, 5, I found my way from the 3rd to the 22nd fret without much thought. Great instinctive workout. The more I recognize these relationships, the more I enjoy playing and improvising.

  32. Philip B says

    Another excellent lesson! You are able to play any genre extremely well. But, Country is definitely in your wheelhouse! So many good licks and lessons. Have you ever played at the Grand Ole Oprey? You should have been invited. If you haven’t? I think we should start a petition.. you’ve earned it !

  36. Paul T says

    Thanks for another great lesson, Brian. It will take me a while to absorb all those cool riffs, but I love the tips on visualizing the pentatonic scale through the symmetrical patterns that you have identified.

  37. Bruce D says

    Hi Brian –
    Great Tele sound – what a blend of twang!

    We should call this the Hereford Sound (Hereford, Texas) – halfway between Nashville and Bakersfield!

    Looking forward to getting this one together, starting now.
    Thanks!

    Bruce

  39. Michael G says

    Hey Brian great lesson…. I’ve been working on these diagonal major and minor pentatonic scales and find them to be so helpful with my playing. What you taught here has helped me make some major break through’s with them. Thanks for a great lesson

  40. MANUEL M says

    Bonjour Brian,
    Connaître ses gammes sur son manche de guitare c’est une chose mais savoir s’en servir pour improviser correctement sur ne serait-ce que sur 3 accords est loin d ‘être évident. Grâce à vos cours je comprends un peu quels notes fonctionnent sur un accord. Car on peut pas jouer n’ importe quelle note car cela risque de sonner faux. C’est un long apprentissage ainsi qu’un travail d oreille,

  44. Georg B says

    Hi Brian,
    I use exactly the same numbering system as you do. And everyone I know who plays guitar also uses your numbering system. I haven’t heard of anyone else numbering the 5 positions differently.
    Best regards,
    Georg

  45. Tim Moran says

    That was great! I don’t think of myself as a country guy, but maybe I am. I was aware of the 3-2-3 pattern, but I hadn’t connected it to the major pentatonic scale; and I haven’t spent enough time on the lower notes in the pentatonic scale positions. And I haven’t used slides between notes enough. Lot of takeaways. Thanks, Brian.

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