Back at it

[KenG]

I’ve been gone for a while, haven’t picked up my guitar in 6 months up until a few days ago. I could give reasons, but they are just excuses, what’s important is I want to get back at it and attempt to get to the next level. I can play songs using chords, easing chord charts, I can sort of improvise, using the 1st position of the pentatonic scales, I can play bar chords. But that’s about it. And I’ve been stuck there forever. So my goal is to be able to 1. Play songs using both chords and mixing in licks, as well as to improvise, noodling all over the neck, not just in the 1st pentatonic position. And to be able to get thru some of Brian’s lessons. I find I get lost, even with some of the early lessons and microlessons, when he starts talking about the notes inside the shapes/chords inside the scales, etc.
TBH, I don’t understand a lot of what you guys say in your posts..

So I downloaded these pentatonic charts, posted by a member here, apologies, I don’t remember who, https://www.activemelody.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PentatonicScalesInDetail20220411.pdf and I played around a bit. Then I uploaded them into Microsoft copilot AI, and started asking questions. It gave me a structured set of lessons to follow to learn all the pentatonic shapes

Here it is below. Do you guys think this is a good way to (re)start and move forward? Any comments welcome, and any other ideas welcome…

🔥 4. A 2‑Week Program to Become Fluent Across the Neck

This is the part that will finally get you unstuck.

—

WEEK 1 — Learn and Connect the Shapes

Day 1 — Position 1 + Highway Exercise

• Play Position 1
• Play the Em pentatonic on ONE string (low E) from 0 → 12

Day 2 — Position 2 + Connect 1 → 2

• Learn Position 2
• Practice sliding from Pos 1 into Pos 2
• Play Lick 1

Day 3 — Position 3 + Connect 2 → 3

• Learn Position 3
• Play Lick 2

Day 4 — Position 4 + Connect 3 → 4

• Learn Position 4
• Play Lick 3

Day 5 — Position 5 + Connect 4 → 5

• Learn Position 5
• Play Lick 4

Day 6 — Full Neck Run

• Start on low E
• Move through all 5 shapes
• End on high E

Day 7 — Improv Day

• Backing track in Em
• Force yourself to use all 5 shapes
• No speed goals — just exploration

—

WEEK 2 — Make It Musical

Day 8 — Root Note Targeting

Improv but always land on E notes.

Day 9 — Slide Between Shapes

Every phrase must include a slide into a new position.

Day 10 — Bend in Every Position

Learn where the expressive bends live in each shape.

Day 11 — Horizontal Playing

Play only on the B string or G string — full neck.

Day 12 — Lick Expansion

Take one lick and move it into all 5 shapes.

Day 13 — Call and Response

Phrase in one position → answer in another.

Day 14 — Full Improvisation

Use the entire neck.
Record yourself — you’ll hear the difference.

—

⭐ What You’ll Notice After 2 Weeks

• You won’t feel trapped in one box
• You’ll know where you are on the neck at all times
• Your solos will sound fluid instead of “boxy”
• You’ll start to sound like a real lead guitarist
• Improvising will feel natural instead of stressful

This is the exact path out of the beginner plateau.

Never Stop Learning. Ever.

[Michael Krailo]

“TBH, I don’t understand a lot of what you guys say in your posts..”

Communicating in the language of music effectively eventually requires the student to honker down and learn music theory. As soon as I did that, many doors began to magically open. One of which is to understand what others are saying when they talk about musical concepts.

I recently went through an incredible set of free video’s on music theory centered around guitar by Scotty West. It solidified many things I already knew and enlightened me about things I did not know. It filled in the gaps. I highly recommend going through all of those lessons. There are 32 of them and they are about an hour each, so it’s a lot of material that is covered, but it’s in the best order to grasp everything you need to know to really understand guitar and music theory.

Go slow and practice correct technique, and your abilities will dramatically improve.

[KenG]

@Michael… thanks I have located the 32 lesson video series, and found my way to the website as well. I am going to spend some time on it and see where it takes me.

Never Stop Learning. Ever.

[IAN B]

Hey KenG dustyoldchips here and man oh man is this interesting. After reading Brian’s New Year’s News Note about setting goals etc, I took his message to heart and decided to knuckle down and just do it. Like you I know cowboy chords and play a few songs (sort of), learned some of the pent minor and major scales but was stuck just like you. So what I did I went digging around on the Activity Melody site and found lesson EP493 How to Pratice Guitar. Brian outlines a process along with a list of things to pratice which of course he teaches all of these things in his lessons to which he provides links to these lessons. So have a look at that.
I think you have found a comprehensive plan and I’ll definately look at it BUT I like the way Brian outlines his things to pratice with the direct links to the lessons.
I’m sticking with Brian’s plan and hope to make progress.
I wish you well in this new start on this amazing journey.

[KenG]

Ian, thank you. I’m not married to this approach that I got from Copilot, although I do think it makes a lot of sense for setting a foundation. I am going to look at Brian’s lesson that you mentioned, and spend some time on that at the same time as I work on the basics that I got from copilot.

Thanks for bringing that lesson to my attention. I’m determined to make this sustained effort to learn at the next level, sounds like you are as well.

Edit: I think you meant to refer to EP 498, not 493, which when I searched on , was an entirely different lesson

Never Stop Learning. Ever.

[JoeD1]

Hi Ken. I’m glad to see you’re getting back into it. I’ve been just practicing the 5 Pentatonic patterns for a few months. I finally believe I’m starting to get somewhere, Good luck with your plan!

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[KenG]

Thanks Joe, judging from the videos you’ve posted, you’re definitely making good progress, so I guess the ideas I posted. Working on the shapes of the pentatonic scales, makes some sense.

Never Stop Learning. Ever.

[JoeD1]

As I work on memorizing the shapes I also work on playing some of Active Melody and Quist tabs. I try to find tabs that are Pentatonic and work on techniques like slides, bends, vibrato, etc. I also work on improvising and connecting the patterns. I try to practice an hour a day.

It’s a slow process but I think I’m making progress. Hang in there man and you’ll get there.

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[KenG]

Yes I can see your progress, it’s one of the things that inspired me to get back to playing so thanks.

I’m going to use Ian’s suggestion to start off, combined with what I got off off copilot

Never Stop Learning. Ever.

[sunjamr]

That’s a pretty ambitious 2-week program you’ve outlined, Ken. All of it is good stuff, and I have done all the things you listed, only it took me 2 years instead of two weeks. But that’s OK, because I’m retired and I’m in no hurry.

I’ve been a member for around 10 years, and I’ve seen lots of people sign up who had almost no knowledge of guitar or even music in general. But then, after about 2-3 years, they became quite skilled guitarists. I think the key to success is working on your improv skills. It took me 2 years of just learning Brian’s lessons before I felt confident enough to try some improv. But in fact, I could have been starting the process the very first day I picked up a guitar.

Sunjamr Steve

[KenG]

Thanks for your response Steve, much appreciated. I am taking it slow and I don’t expect miracles in 2 weeks. I’ve been devoting about 60- 90 minutes a day to practicing the different positions, most days. I took Ian’s suggestion (above) and am lookin at the lessons Brian lists in that video, started the “Ultimate Guide to the Penttonic Scales, EP 436 yesterday (and am confused, but will continue to go back to the beginning until I get it) and so I’m on a dual track, using Brian’s lessons plus what I got from Microsoft Copilot.

I need to take a deep breath every once in a while and remind myself to be patient, progress is slow, and not linear.

I’m retired as well, so I have the time.

Never Stop Learning. Ever.

[KenG]

So I’ve been working at this for about 10 days and I’m already confused

I’m trying to start out by learning the 5 pentatonic shapes. I had no issue learning the e minor scale in all 5 positions and even connection the different positions. But then I went to the A minor, and it looks like the second position if the A minor is the same shape as the 1st position of the e minor. So I’m confuse about how I can apply what I learned about the 5 pentatonic positions in E Minor, to other scales.

Also, I noticed that there are pairs, like the e minor shapes are the same shapes and notes as the G major shapes. I’m guessing there is some significance to that, and even vaguely remember learning about “comp,ementary chords / scales when I was doing one on one lessons.

I’m also trying to learn Brian’s EP 273 on the caged shapes, and confused within the 1st 10 minutes.

Anybody with some direction, for me, would be much appreciated. Can’t seem to find what to and (how to ) focus on even though I am “practicing every day. Maybe I’m practicing the wrong things.

BTW, in my original post, which I mentioned I got from AI/COPILOT, IM NOT USING THE AI lessons, I’m finding too many mistakes , plus I’d rather learn in Brian and this forums style, it will be more applicable to what I’m trying to accomplish.

Here’s a link to some of my practice material. One thing I don’t understand is why are there 2 different versions of the A minor/c minor scales, one has more boxes than the other

https://share.icloud.com/photos/04aulqPj_kG3bUfK85d_1Z5Fw

Never Stop Learning. Ever.

[JoeD1]

A minor and C Major use exactly the same notes. You can see in your diagrams the root note is highlited depending on which key it is. But they’re all the same notes.

Once you’ve learned the A minor scale you’ve also learned the C Major scale. Try using a backing track in A minor and hit those root notes. Then use a backing track in C Major and emphasize those root notes.

Now take the shapes you learned in E minor and starting from pattern 1 (for example) put your index finger where your pinkie was and you’ll be playing in G minor. Once you’ve learned the 5 patterns you’ve learned every key in both Major and minor…you just start them on a different note.

I hope this makes sense to you. It’s how I think of it and my wife tells me I often don’t make much sense. 😁

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[JoeD1]

Another thing I just thought of that might help you is when you’re playing a minor key pattern 1 your index finger (on the low E string) is on the root of the key and your pinkie is on the root of the Major key. In the case of E minor, it is the relative minor of G Major.

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[KenG]

Thanks Joe, I’ll try your suggestions.

Never Stop Learning. Ever.

[JoeD1]

“Now take the shapes you learned in E minor and starting from pattern 1 (for example) put your index finger where your pinkie was and you’ll be playing in G minor. ”

I made a mistake and meant G Major, not G minor. E minor is the relative minor of G Major and has all the same notes (like A minor and C Major).

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[JoeD1]

JoeD1 wrote:

“Now take the shapes you learned in E minor and starting from pattern 1 (for example) put your index finger where your pinkie was and you’ll be playing in G minor. ”

I made a mistake and meant G Major, not G minor. E minor is the relative minor of G Major and has all the same notes (like A minor and C Major).

Disregard the above message Ken.

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

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