Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

2 Popular Zones on the Fretboard for Easy Blues! Lead Guitar Lesson – EP602

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn 2 popular regions of the fretboard for playing blues lead guitar. This simple triangle and square shape unlocks so much potential for improvising lead, and it’s very easy to find and use!

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Comments

    • Brian says

      Funny I just turned on the Helix Line 6 and went with a default amp emulator – not sure which one.. but i didn’t touch a dial.. just plugged in and played a few tracks to see what I could come up with, thinking i’d find a good tone for later – but when i heard on the playback i thought it sounded good enough. I guess most of that sound is just the pickups on that guitar.

    • Stev G says

      I like this idea too. I’d like to have both, one with chords (video or video tab) and one without chords like it is now with mp3 minus guitar. I’ve spent many years playing in a cover band memorizing solos, but not really paying attention to what I’m playing over. Trying like heck, but it’s a hard habit to break. I feel like having a version showing the chords would help me break out of that box and into improvisation, but I ultimately don’t want to rely on it. Work with that one for a while then transition to the blind version. As if Brian doesn’t have enough to do already!

  10. daniel M says

    Not too hard not too easy just darn cool. I really find this helpful. I work on 556,557,558,559,560 at least twice a week at my level they have been a great routine practice. I know we are all at different levels but you provide so much that we can pick up. As usual thanks Brian

    • Bruce G says

      Thanks for sharing that comment on your practice routine.

      Brian has done similar lessons like this from time to time, just carving out one or two locations on the fret board to focus on improvising. I think his explanations just keep getting better. This is the best yet for me (and perhaps due to just learning more over time)

      Which makes me think–along with your comment— with so many great lessons now (600+)–it would be great to have some suggested “groups” of lessons around particular skills. I realize you can search lessons on keys, styles, etc. But perhaps Brian, or the more experienced members could suggest such groupings? Really becomes powerful to start putting these things together for a practice strategy.

  12. Mark W says

    Brian I just love these lessons so much. For me they just free me up so much staying in the key of the song and your lessons like this remind just how powerful and stimulating it can be. I find myself playing way better when I do this. I often start by learning a few of your licks and that gets me going on the improvising trail. Then I just play your backing track over and over again. At the end I am not sure what I have played but have a smile on my face that lasts for days. Thanks once again for making the highlight of my guitar playing week. Cheers Mark

  19. Ralph P. says

    Such a clever great chord progression. Your Gospel/Blues/Soul lessons are my favorites. You always seem to turn the feeling and emotional side of playing up a couple of notches on those Soulful lessons.

    On first listen, it reminded me of an obscure Clapton instrumental “Snake Lake Blues”.

    This one goes directly to the top of my “Saved Favorites” list.

    Ralph

  21. Kevin S says

    Very nice, and a trip down memory lane for me. You had done something similar with the triangle & the rectangle a few years ago and I glommed onto it on YouTube. I followed the link back to Active Melody and have been a happy member ever since. Thanks Brian, the lessons you roll out every week have gotten me (closer) to the place I’ve wanted to be at for a really long time. To give you some context, my first guitar was a Christmas present in 1960! Well, I think it was Ella Fitzgerald who said, “It’s not where you’re standing, it’s there you’re heading.” Thanks again

  22. charjo says

    Brian, it was good fun watching you trying to talk us down from the “weird” but those elements of weirdness keep your more advanced intermediates engaged.
    I’ve concentrated on lead for so long I think I’ve neglected rhythm. The idea of demonstrating the rhythm and theory of some of your backing tracks appeals to me. Maybe even as a follow up mini lesson.
    John

  32. Adam G says

    Great lesson – thanks very much Brian
    A perfect level for me – going back over concepts that I (should) know but need bedding in!
    I agree with some of the other comments about the interesting chord progression and the relative minor in section 2. I’d definitely be interested in another lesson like this.

  34. Mark C says

    Once again, Brian, you know what sounds pretty and melodic. That is a real gift. A diagram of the major and minor pentatonics at patterns 3 and 4, respectively, would be helpful, as would Lessons about the overlap of the major and minor pentatonics in all five locations so we can begin to visualize them.

    Thank you! Mark

  37. Paul C says

    Another great lesson, just within my basic skill range to follow.

    I have been “playing” for years but am still unable to get my 70 year old fingers moving in the more complicated lessons so this one and any more like it are spot on.

    Thanks Brian

  39. Lesley O says

    Thankyou Brian! I subscribed to your website several months ago ago having been learning the guitar for 6 years….at the age of 66 and having had no previous musical experience. These lessons are perfect for me – I don’t always manage to perfect my playing of them, but very much appreciate your clear tuition and explanations. I always look forward to a new lesson on a Saturday, be it a full EP or a micro lesson – both great!! . Before finding you I just learnt songs that I knew, mostly with open chords, so your lessons have really improved my understanding of the guitar as well as my technique. I don’t normally post my appreciation but realise our posts must be important for you to know that your work is very much appreciated! Thankyou!!

  41. Daniel H says

    Brian, I am liking the “less is more” theme you appear to have embraced post EP600. Regarding this lesson… When I am playing with more advanced players I always seem to have a moment of panic when one them says “Dan, take the next lead” because I don’t have my bearings on the fret board. This lesson has taught me to a visualize a triad whose root (in the key of the song) is on the first or second string with the easy to remember triangle or boxes associated with it. Going into a song now, i just need to remember where the root note is on the 1st and second 2nd string and I can visualize the triad and its boxes (or triangle). The simplicity here is brilliant!
    More music, less uncertainty! Perfect lesson. Thank you so much.

  47. Randy H says

    Brian:
    Great idea of mixing in the Minor Pentatonic with the Major Pentatonic and using the Relative scale to get you there. By adding a chord tone every once in a while may also help. How about having a double decker highway with the scales on top of the chords and playing a mixture of the notes from both…………….. Just thinking…

    Thanks,
    Randy

  50. William B says

    Thanks for the lesson. I never thought to bend up to minor pattern 3 from major pattern 4. I love it when you show how to mix minor and major patterns. Working on phrasing is a major goal and this lesson helped alot.

  52. Dale G says

    First thing I thought was wow I love the tone of this one and I did have my les Paul on the neck pickup and turned my fender combo amp on a pre set blues lead and it was almost identical to what your sound was. Doesn’t happen to often that way! The lesson was really simple but all the fill notes bends and vibratos I can always learn from your lessons. You have a great ear and feel that I’ve learned so much from . Thank you!

  58. Pierre B says

    Hi Brian,
    EP 602 has good pacing with the post-EP600 format of focused themes in mind. In this case, we can focus on creating blues melodies within the zone(s) without worrying about the chord changes so much. The A anchor (part 1) and F#m anchor (part 2) were the A-Ha moments this week: as we land on the anchors, it seems to gives us time to think about the next move(s).

  59. Thomas H says

    I really liked this lesson. The concept of using zones makes it easier to improvise better sounding licks and made hitting target notes a snap! It also made it easier to work on expressivenes and technique.

    One of my favorite lessons!

  60. Andre H says

    I just uploaded my version of this one on Showcase your playing. Love this blues & soul lead. A few light bulb moments for me are the BB King slide on the high note, the chromatic run in bar 7, and the move to minor pentatonic in bar 7 & 8. Thanks, Andre

  66. Michael B says

    Great lesson, Brian. Just right for my playing level. Can you point to a lesson of yours that goes into greater depth about shifting between major and minor pentatonic scales?

    Love your lessons!

  67. Lynne R says

    My biggest challenge is keeping in time by tapping my foot and playing the 1/16 notes. Understanding the concepts and theory behind it is the easy part. Any one else out there struggling with this??

  69. Pentti S says

    Brian, what a great start after your short time off. really helping to find ways to improvise.

    I wonder if you could do a short/micro-lesson about how to apply this to all of the popular keys that blues is usually written to,
    such as Bb, F, G, E etc.
    thank you
    Pentti J

  75. Anthony I says

    SUGGESTION FOR YOUR LESSON. I know the 5 patterns so if you could when you say pattern 4 of the major pentatonic, real quick finger it so I SEE that pattern and can follow it quickly. NEXT, when you show your solos you tell us what finger on what fret which is fine but for me, if you ate are playing the minor pentatonic and I know that is 1, b3, 4, 5, b7 please SAY the number. When the chord changes to 5 and you hammer on 5 (rather than fret number) it explains why it sounds appropriate. It’s especially important when the patters overlap OR when you can use the same pattern for major or minor depending on where you start. I hope I’m making myself clear. It’s difficult to understand how the same pattern can be both major and/or minor but if you shout out the letter ( 3 or b3). You can say “you can use pattern 1 with finger #1 and it’s minor but if you start 3 frets up a start with finger 3 or 4 it’s major. I’d rather hear you say the words 1, b3, 5 when starting with finger 1 OR 1, 3, 5 when starting with 4. It helps us understand WHY He hammered on 5 or bent to 5 when the chord changed to 5.

  76. Dean1 says

    Thank you, Brian, for these simple, targeted lessons. The more complicated ones, the ones where I download tab and take notes, are good for stretching the brain. But I really appreciate these lessons, as a contrast, where I download the backtrack and don’t need to look at the tab or take any notes. Love the gem of the F note in the 13th fret!

  77. Georg B says

    Dear Brian,

    Keep doing what you are doing. This is an excellent way that is enabling me to learn to read the fretboard more and more. The way you teach, I actually get an orientation on the fretboard, which ultimately leads me to what your motto is: Learn to improvise, not memorize. That’s a dream of many people learning to play the guitar. When you keep explaining which pattern of the pentatonic or major scale or natural minor scale or harmonic minor scale (as in micro lesson 104) you are using in the licks and solo passages, I try to understand it and at some point it ends up in my head too.

    All the best,

    Georg

  81. John B says

    These courses are fantastic. I started playing guitar by learning songs, not learning music. And these courses are teaching me the basics behind how the songs are made up. Absolutely amazing. Thank you.

  82. chuck w says

    Great lesson Brian., I don’t comment a bunch, but I do appreciate all your effort in the lessons. I have used other sources however I find I relate to your style of teaching for me, better than others I have tried. I think I have been with you for 4 years now. Could be wrong about that. Thanks again.

  83. Robert M says

    Great lesson. I’ve been with you since late 2017 and learned a lot. This lesson has a little Clapton in it.

    You seem to always gravitate to the telecaster as I do.

    How about doing something from Clapton’s tune Holy Mother?

  84. Tom C says

    Brian, just wanted to let you know that I AM FINALLY CATCHING ON!
    I’ve had a tough time learning from the TAB. . ..I learn way better from playing along with your guitar and the backing track . the lesson is simple enough for me to get it into my ear and my fingers! I can actually enjoy some mileage without a head ache! I never thought Ide make it to this level. . . .at 74 yrs I cant rely on my short term memory, yet my muscle memory and my internal ear recording seems to be just fine. . …it would be interesting to see a 602B , 602C with the same simple patterns but a variety of riffs to play with. . . . .Im a certified alpine ski teacher and we focus on 3 skills. . . . first on easy terrain . . . then move to more challenging slopes. . . .retaining and using the same 3 skills. . . . .works great!

    you get the gold star for insight as a teacher!

  85. Jack B says

    Great lesson, as usual. This was is especially helpful because the patterns work anywhere on the neck. Once you identify your root or anchor note you can just start working those patterns.

  87. Tom D says

    It’s a simple number you can play with a lot of feeling using vibrato with your fingers. I couldn’t get the exact sound, so I used Eric Clapton’s setting for Strang Brew that I had saved on my Fender Mustang amp. Thanks for a great lesson.

  89. Tom S says

    Hi Brian,

    Great lesson, as always. I’ve learned so much in the first year of my membership, Thanx!
    I have just one question: where does the chord progression comes from? Is it used in more complicated blues, that goes beyond the I/IV/V progression. Or is it jazz orientated?
    Hoping to hear from you.

    Tom Scholtus

  96. Kevin G says

    Fantastic! I’m also playing along with the backing track to practice triads on the 2,3,4 strings. So thanks to this lesson, I’ll always remember the triad shape for a 7th chord as well.

  100. Robert N says

    I would like to ask that you include and/or explain your set up for the tones that you use for your lessons. I don’t understand how to set up different tones for the lessons and would appreciate help. I have a Fender GTX-50 amp but don’t really know what to do with it other than to search the presets for something that sounds similar to what you have but not a lot of luck so far. Also, I mainly play either a Fender Nashville deluxe Telecaster or an Epiphone Traditional Pro IV Les Paul if that makes any difference

  102. Rob S says

    Super good lesson! Starting to come together. For a beginner moving slowly towards intermediate, these lessons are invaluable for me. What also helps me is I actually created my own fretboard graphics in most keys with Major scale notes on top and the related Minor pentatonic notes below up to the 17th fret. Accordingly, I can better follow along with your lessons and actually understand your teachings!

  104. Fran M says

    Hi Brian. I’m new to your site as of this month. There’s so much good and/or interesting material offered that it’s sometimes difficult to know where to jump in.

    I’m a beginner/intermediate player at best. For me, this was a great lesson because the material was simple and straightforward. You mention deeper topics (e.g. major and minor pentatonic scales) without getting into much detail which is perfect for what I think you wanted to convey. I also found it beneficial that you spent a minute explaining how to move the same concepts into a different keys.

    In the free portion you mentioned the triangle was pattern 4 of the major pentatonic. Isn’t it pattern 3? I’m just jumping into pentatonic and caged so I may just have everything messed in my head.

  106. Terry A says

    Always enjoy your explanations. I have a question. I have been forever trying to nail down the terminology for the CAGED system. And have listened to various explanations. There does not seem to be a consistent use of what is termed Pattern 1, Pattern 2. I have taken a course and Pattern 1 appeared to be the C form. I saw another explanation using the E shape as Pattern 1. Can you bring some clarification? I could just be stupid. I can see how the CAGED system links the fret board, but always get confused about the use of the terms. Thanks for your instruction. It is some of the best and most easy to understand. Terry A.

  109. Georg B says

    Hello Brian,
    Just a very quick feedback on your lesson ep358. I’m posting my feedback in your current lesson because I imagine you can’t even look at all the comments from lessons so far back due to the amount of messages you receive. Anyway, I’ve returned to ep358 because this ragtime of yours is just awesome. I was pleased to realize that I now understand your explanations, which I didn’t understand at the time. In short: ep358 with all your explanations, playing the two, five, one of the four chord to get me to back to my four chord and also the handling of diminished chords are absolutely great and make perfectly sense. In ep358 there is actually material for quite a few micro lessons if you pick out just one of its contents.
    All the best,
    Georg

  111. James M says

    Awesome lesson! Question: @13:20, you played F sharp for the A minor pentatonic scale instead of G. Not sure why. Thanks, Jim. (I was using pattern 3 from the second string A as a guide.)

  113. Tim Moran says

    I think you had a lesson before on that triangle and box shape, but of course, I had forgotten it, and really liked this lesson as a refresher. (I have a bad habit of watching your videos and then not grabbing my guitar and working with it. I’ll try to do better with this one.)

  115. Mike S says

    Good lesson. For me it was a good reminder to learn all the positions of the major/minor pentatonic. I have gotten satisfied with only knowing some of the positions and then just sticking with them. Great instruction and very useful. thank you

  116. Eric2015 says

    Thanks so much Brian, not just for this amazing lesson, but for all your lessons and your dedication to producing such high class quality of lessons.
    This one is a beauty. Love the simplicity, yet it has such beautiful musical complexity.

    It’s one thing to play lovely tasty music like this one, but I struggle with improvising in my head.
    I cannot seem to formulate any type of tune or lick in my mind, before I could even consider playing it on the guitar.
    I think that’s a barrier that many of us need to learn to overcome. I never listened to much music growing up, and that’s probably the reason.

    Even the first 2 simple notes you begin this lesson with, are so powerful, which grabs your attention instantly and melts straight to the heart.

    Anyway, I enjoy ALL your lessons and experience plenty of “light bulb moments”.
    I try my best to practice as much as I can (about 30-60 Mins a day), but I know that’s just not enough.
    I need to seriously ramp it up. I think I learn a bit slower than others.

    Don’t change anything. Your lessons are perfect.
    They are full of great valuable content and easy to understand explanation.
    I hope you never stop!

    • Henry P says

      I don’t think you learn slowly. We all need to go at our own pace. I’m slow too. I’m learning to just enjoy it and not try to get a piece ‘perfected’ before moving on. (If I did, I’d probably never move on.)

  118. Alan L says

    OMG so funky! Can’t stop playing it 😎

    I was messing around with CAGED triads over the changes and there’s some amazing voice leading in there, lots of nice chromatic movement. Planting the seed for a part 2 with a new lead following these same changes/track… 😀

  120. Philippe M says

    As a recent member from Belgium I am very pleased with this course! I am a classical guitarist willing to learn some blues guitar and this really is the perfect stuff to start with! Thank you Brian for giving me a wonderful start to the blues!

  123. Cullen H says

    This lesson is one of my favorites. “Less is more” concept is right in line with my KISS sort of way of thinking. On top of that, your explanations of where these simple lics are within the pentatonic regions are excellent. I know you always include CAGED and pentatonic areas but this lesson for me was excellent. Thanks. On to more practice fun!

  125. Craig C says

    Hi Brian, like quite a few have said this is also one of my favourites to date. For me I find it so much easier to relate to when you always let me know what pentatonic caged pattern you’re playing out of and the cross over between major and minor especially in the same area of the neck. The pace of the lesson for me was perfect. Thank you

  126. David C says

    The pattern is easy for sure, and I like the progression from one pattern into the next for surely there are a ton like this that will be nice to add into our repertoire when it’s highlighted in such a way. What makes the first video interesting is the emphasis on personal ‘nuances’ and integration into known patterns of major and minor. Generally I like introductory videos because of the rapidity of the content that I can’t always quite get (but draws me in) and the mix of human limitations that I can identify with and theory that I should or need to know. What I get out of this is the theory of a simple pattern, but more the lesson of how it fits and can be made musical.

  128. Tim A says

    Thanks Brian! Great lesson. Been a member for several years now, and have learned and improved so much with your teachings!
    LOL, I could have been a rock star 55years ago had I know this back then! Haha.

  134. David C says

    I’ve been back a few times to this one and love this for the simplicity of a combined major/minor lead pattern that can be played just by knowing the key note. The embellishments are great too. I take on board what you say about ‘making it your own’ and this is an example of where the pursuit of endless theory can result in something that sounds like you, from the soul. Stay with the energy in your teaching.

  135. John D says

    This is probably your best blues lesson to date. I know the licks are pretty simple, but it has really helped me understand playing the chord tones using these pentatonic scales. I like when you have these lessons that are less about memorizing one of your leads and more about using simple phrases and highlighting chord tones, it really helps me improvise on my own.

  137. David P says

    Great lesson. I like that there is a more complex chord progression than a I IV V and there is a little music theory thrown in. Having the C#7 in the mix really adds a new dimension and is a lightbulb moment

  144. Gabe E says

    Brian!!! You are truly doing wonderful things my friend. I’m filled with butterflies right now. So happy. I’m finally making music with my guitar and you honestly speak directly to me with your teaching style. Your words, your cadence, your volume, your style. It’s perfect for me. . I’m a 48 year old man and I’ve wanted to play lead guitar my whole life. I’m finally taking the time and I’m absolutely filled with thankful grace for you and your teaching. You speak directly to me man. It’s amazing.

    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!
    Gabe.

  147. Dennis V says

    The pacing was fine for me. I rewind everything anyway and listen repeatedly. I’ve found that for me anyway if I listen to the entire piece repeatedly it’s much easier to learn and commit to memory. Very nice chord progression. The 2nd string bend on the B string, 12th fret in the first bar would be a great place to comment on muting. The slide on the high E, 17th feet was a nice touch. Fun to play.

    Thanks
    Dennis
    Reno

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