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4 Simple minor lead guitar ideas to start using right away – Guitar Lesson EP487

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn 4 easy minor lead ideas using triads and scale patterns. Nothing technical in this one. At the end we’ll tie all of these concepts together into a single solo.

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3 Note Pattern Example

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4 Note Pattern Example

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Solo Example

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Comments

  1. Michael Allen says

    October 14, 2022 at 5:48 pm

    I love the idea of extensions of the last 2 lessons. I’ve really enjoyed them and look forward to this lesson. Thanks Brian

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  2. Michael W says

    October 14, 2022 at 6:09 pm

    Another great lesson. The perfect compliment to the prior two lessons.

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  3. Tyrone M says

    October 14, 2022 at 6:14 pm

    This one is nice and smooth I can tell by hearing the track it’s gonna help me alot with feel and control👍

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  4. Michael T says

    October 14, 2022 at 6:24 pm

    Thank you. Very nice lesson, though it almost makes me want to play bass.

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  5. kennard r says

    October 14, 2022 at 6:27 pm

    Good lesson, thanks.

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  6. San Luis Rey says

    October 14, 2022 at 7:04 pm

    Sweet lesson Brian! Fun to vamp over this track using your ideas. You are going to make some pretty good
    players out of us yet!
    Mike

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  7. David S says

    October 14, 2022 at 7:18 pm

    Thanks Brian, These last three lessons have brought together a lot things I needed to proceed with my guitar playing.Going to stay on these for a while till I can do it without thinking about it.Thanks for keeping it up. we need this. Have a blessed week. Dave

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  8. Chris R says

    October 14, 2022 at 8:12 pm

    Superb content Brian. What a lesson! How could anyone possibly be short of ideas for rhythm and lead any more? And, of course, the best thing of all is that there’s no ‘note-for-note’ learning in it. It’s just perfect for improvisation, and so simple to play and easy to remember. One of your best lessons ever as far as I’m concerned. Thanks for keeping the guitar gifts rolling, week to week. You’re the best.

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  9. Robert M says

    October 14, 2022 at 8:12 pm

    This one opens a lot of doorways for me. It’s a nice bluesy/jazz type feel. It’s listening music, nice job Brian.

    I might even take my 335 out to work on this one.

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  10. Sharon C says

    October 14, 2022 at 9:19 pm

    I am hearing some LA woman. Sounds great.

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    • Mark G says

      October 15, 2022 at 5:25 pm

      Same

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      • Nick Ll says

        October 16, 2022 at 6:38 am

        I was getting notes of Riders on the Storm, especially with the descending scale pattern.

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  11. Bill B says

    October 14, 2022 at 9:25 pm

    Very nice job on this one.! I love this approach with the music playing and you talking through your ideas as you go. Thanks for yet another great lesson.

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  12. deece says

    October 14, 2022 at 11:05 pm

    Thank you, thank you, Brian. Well done. Love how you’ve been tying things together over the last three lessons and reinforcing CAGED shapes, triad shapes, pentatonics….

    Best,

    deece

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  13. Cliff Carbaugh says

    October 15, 2022 at 12:33 am

    Brian, You’re a Mind Reader! I was just noodling with Am, Dm and Em bar chords and thought, “I would love to learn some lead licks to include in a 12 Bar tune,” then this lesson magically appeared! Thank you so much – your timing was perfect! 🙂

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  14. Malcolm D says

    October 15, 2022 at 4:19 am

    Super cool lesson yet again, with a simple structured approach to learning guitar. 🙂

    Big thank you Brain.

    Malcolm.

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  15. Jeff H says

    October 15, 2022 at 4:59 am

    Wow! What a fabulous lesson. Every week is a surprise. I love the sound and feel of this one, so inspiring, gives me lots of ideas. Thanks again Brian.

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  16. Paris w says

    October 15, 2022 at 5:34 am

    Loved how it’s a follow on from the last two. I’ve got the major triad one sorted as of today, so now gotta get started on these two minor lessons. Improvising will be way better knowing these concepts

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  17. Jim says

    October 15, 2022 at 7:11 am

    Was the backing track made with a keyboard? If so – what key is the bass in? Thanks, Brian! Love these lessons!

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    • Brian says

      October 15, 2022 at 8:31 pm

      Yes, both bass and drums played on keyboard. It’s in the key of A

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  18. David S says

    October 15, 2022 at 8:13 am

    guitar simplified ….thank you Brian…this ole fart is finally getting it…

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  19. M & N says

    October 15, 2022 at 8:25 am

    Yep….Ditto to all these comments, I’m really enjoying these lessons on Triads and M m scale improvising . I couldn’t grasp what “unlocking the fretboard was but I feel like Triads are like having the keys to the car.

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  20. Jim M says

    October 15, 2022 at 8:31 am

    I like the sound of the flat 7th, minor triad movement, and the reminder to let the solo’s breath. Thanks Brian.

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  21. Jace H says

    October 15, 2022 at 8:58 am

    Great lesson Brian ……its got 60s Pennyworth groove …..Love it.

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  22. Geoff says

    October 15, 2022 at 9:16 am

    I love way this builds on EP484, EP486. Like one of the other members says, I am busy working through both of those this month and I will certainly move onto this one next.

    One of the things I particularly like about this lesson is I think it will give me ideas on how to play more economically. I used EP374 as one of the lessons to learn how to do that and this will add to that and the previous two lessons very nicely.

    Thank you, Brian.

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  23. alasdair L says

    October 15, 2022 at 10:42 am

    Great lesson, Brian, one of those classes that really inspire.I imagine it won`t be half as easy for me as it was for you but it inspires me to try, Cheers and keep it up.

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  24. Raymond P says

    October 15, 2022 at 12:32 pm

    A great lesson Brian, I really enjoyed the way you too what a first glance looked like simple notes and turned them into so many uses. Very cool.

    Thanks
    Ray

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  25. John B says

    October 15, 2022 at 12:44 pm

    A light bulb went on!!

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  26. Martin G says

    October 15, 2022 at 3:27 pm

    I am hearing the Doors! Excellent lesson.

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  27. John Tillis Jr. says

    October 15, 2022 at 3:55 pm

    Brian, This is by far your best lesson for ME yet!!!! This backing track is the bomb Along with the three and four note exercise is what I personaly have been waiting on.
    I have been with you a year now and was thinking after 30 years on my own and a year of learning why things work the way they do,? CAGED System This lesson and the caged system really came to life for me.. This lesson should continue with the the sytem Like the G Worked really good with the 3 and 4 note patterns you shared.. LIGHT BULB BABY LIGHT BULB
    Now if I could just develope some rythm.. lol

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  28. Steve (Ruffcutt) R says

    October 15, 2022 at 6:33 pm

    Some lessons I just am lost and have no idea, while others I absorb it like a sponge. This is that lesson for me, and although I may be lost on others this one took my level up 3-4 notches!

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  29. Robert G says

    October 15, 2022 at 7:06 pm

    Fantastic lesson for SRV and EC but too advanced for this beginner Brian!

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  30. Mark H says

    October 15, 2022 at 8:25 pm

    I love it. Great presentation, much to steal and tons of jamming fun.

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  31. Mark H says

    October 15, 2022 at 8:35 pm

    Also, ‘scale patterns’ was yet another term I’ve been searching for forever. It’s one of those things I do but didn’t know how to verbalize it, like another recent one, ‘enharmonics’. It’s so cool to be able to connect what I do with my ability to talk- and think about it.

    Thanks coach!

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  32. Michael J says

    October 16, 2022 at 1:17 am

    G’day Brian,

    This is just too good! LUv it!
    M.J.

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  33. Patrick J. G says

    October 16, 2022 at 9:34 am

    I wish I would have found years ago. Grateful I found you now. You are the man, Brian!

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  34. Michael R says

    October 16, 2022 at 11:29 am

    One great lesson follows the next. That’s how you learn to play.

    Great job Brian!

    Many thanks

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  35. André U says

    October 16, 2022 at 11:31 am

    I consider this to be one of the most usefull lessons you ever did! Thanks so much, Brian!

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    • Paul N says

      October 16, 2022 at 3:02 pm

      I absolutely agree Andre. I’ve been with Active Melody for a couple of years now, faithfully checking out each new lesson. and also working on a lot of Brian’s vast archive of lessons. For some reason, this thing just clicked. Simple is Best? Really good stuff. I think the simple backing track, along with the techniques of course, for some reason just made it happen for me.

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      • pan054 says

        October 16, 2022 at 11:40 pm

        Yep, I agree too. Together with the previous two triad lessons, they form a solid basis.

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  36. Bill W2 says

    October 16, 2022 at 7:17 pm

    Outstanding lesson Brian !! Great to see your videos/lessons developing over the years adding newer dimensions to our playing

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  37. Charlie R says

    October 16, 2022 at 7:20 pm

    Love that 4 note pattern! Zappa used that to great effect on Magic Fingers (from 200 Motels).
    Great follow-up lesson to the previous 485 & 486.

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  38. kurt neumann says

    October 16, 2022 at 9:59 pm

    Brian, great! Do you use the 3 and 4 note sequence in major scales as well, and if so, which positions are the most Useful to get under our fingers?

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  39. pan054 says

    October 16, 2022 at 11:37 pm

    Excellent, excellent, excellent!!! The ‘simpler’ it gets, the more inspiring it becomes. Thanks B.

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  40. Phil67 says

    October 18, 2022 at 5:44 am

    i really appreciate this lesson, but also its different format : rather than taking a complete piece and extracting the take away, here you introduce the takeaway first and finally build a musical piece with them -this is the way i feel the lesson – : it is a different point of view, same result, but matching better my mindset.

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  41. Peter B says

    October 18, 2022 at 4:44 pm

    I’m sorry Brian this format switches me off.
    I will try again tomorrow, see if i can cope with the bells and whistles.

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  42. JoLa says

    October 18, 2022 at 6:07 pm

    One of your best lessons, Brian!
    With the jam track playing in the background this seems like a real time tutoring, teaching us how to jam INSTANTLY! Love the simple concepts applied here, easy to understand, easy to remember, and easy to apply right away – and yet so effective (sounding good)! I hope to see more lessons in this format!!!
    🙏 👌💕

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  43. joe p says

    October 18, 2022 at 6:41 pm

    Great lesson thanks Brian

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  44. Drew D says

    October 18, 2022 at 7:15 pm

    fantastic lesson and oh, that sound of those triads!!! Dig it.

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  45. Ronald M says

    October 19, 2022 at 10:57 am

    “Break on through to the other side!”

    I found myself waiting to hear Jim Morrison’s vocals. Thanks Brian!

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  46. Paul B says

    October 19, 2022 at 12:00 pm

    Thanks, Brian!
    Another great lesson. Lots of fun and a great way to learn to improvise. Always amazed at your ability to come up with new lessons every week. Your dedication is commendable. And, I liked how you added your music under in the intro, along with the computer graphic – looks great. Thanks again! Really enjoying learning from you!

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  47. [email protected] says

    October 19, 2022 at 1:56 pm

    Another great lesson Brian. And you break it down so well. Keep ’em coming; great stuff here.
    Jay

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  48. Bill L says

    October 19, 2022 at 5:04 pm

    Thx, Brian. These last two lessons have been spot on for what I was looking for to expand my soloing.

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  49. David S says

    October 20, 2022 at 10:20 am

    Brian, having trouble with video examples????

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  50. Paul M says

    October 20, 2022 at 12:25 pm

    Great lesson. Perfect follow up for the last two lessons. Good lesson concept, easy to follow and play along to. Many thanks!

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  51. David S says

    October 20, 2022 at 7:28 pm

    Sorry Brian. Rebooted&OK.

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  52. Steve says

    October 21, 2022 at 2:03 pm

    Brian – IMMENSE thanks for lessons like this one that is easy-to-play and learn, yet sophisticated in their in their sound and tone variance of combined rhythm and lead . Please – more!!

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  53. Bob L says

    October 23, 2022 at 9:29 am

    For me, this is the most fun i have had with any lesson bar-none.

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  54. Benjamin G says

    October 26, 2022 at 8:56 am

    Great lesson Steve! Simplified and addictive. Thank you!!

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  55. Jai Hari K says

    October 26, 2022 at 8:46 pm

    Brain, this is a great lesson. Now, if you could follow it with one using the one and four chord followed by one using the one, four and five chord using the same format
    and lead ideas.

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  56. Aaron P. says

    November 12, 2022 at 8:04 pm

    LOVE this one Brian. I seem to get the most out of the “simple” lessons. Thanks so much for pushing out great lessons week after week.

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  57. silver_surfer says

    November 14, 2022 at 6:59 pm

    Enjoyed the lesson, but I have a question.

    In the 3-note pattern, shouldn’t the ascending run be a mirror image of the the descending run? In the tab, and in Soundslice, it’s not, and I’m confused as to why?

    Also, I’m messing around a bit with a bass guitar – any chance of posting the tab? (I realize that’s two questions but math is hard.)

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  58. Norman D says

    December 27, 2022 at 10:34 am

    Wow. Simple, easy and very, very cool. The difference between a noisy shredder wanna be and true musicianship is made clear by the master.

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  59. Roberto B says

    February 9, 2023 at 8:49 am

    I have a Kork M50 with a MIDI sequencer but I do not know how to record tracks on it. Do you have a lesson for this particular issue? Thank you kindly

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  60. Dave S says

    March 1, 2023 at 4:43 pm

    WOW! I’m new to A.M. and this lesson alone is worth the price of admission. It blew me away, I’m so happy I joined. This lesson enabled me to connect the dots on few items I’ve struggled with for quite some time. Very well done, THANK YOU… Probably just me, but I got a Randy Bachman vibe from this, and gave me the urge to break out some old BTO albums. Thanks Brian!!

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