Description
In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play both rhythm and lead in a solo jam session (no accompaniment needed). You’ll also learn a right-hand strum technique and how to play the Mixolydian scale when soloing. Everything is created with just 4 basic chords (E, Bm, A, and G)..
Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson
Part 2 - For Premium Members
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Slow Walk-Through
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Video Tablature Breakdown
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I’m looking forward to learning this one. Thanks Brian!
I’m breaking out the thin body electric acoustic tomorrow….this one sounds awesome!
And the hits just keep coming!
I think these stand alone ones are My favorites, Thanks Brian.
Love it! Lots of tasty ideas here.
Do I detect a bit of Tony Joe White? Looks as if there are lots of goodies here thanks Brian
Hey John, I worked on Lou Reed’s Sweet Jane, there is a bit of that too ! Good music !
Awesome Brian! Looking forward to learning this one 🙂
Think I’ll dig the old acoustic out myself, great mixo comp Brian.
Great Lesson Brian.
Just wondering about studying the style of Dave Mathews sometime ?
Nice lesson, Brian! Finally, a lesson in a major key (E) with a minor 5 chord (Bm). Also, a major 4 chord (A). Sounds very cool!
Larry
Didn’t catch my ear at first listen but then those great rhythm ideas got me. Love that idea of practicing myxolydian licks while making music. New takeaways every week. Thank you, Brian.
John
I hear a hint of Clapton’s She’s waiting.
Brian, I love this rhythm! Once you get it down it flows into such a cool groove. For myself, I think learning a number of completely different rhythms is a big key in be able to play more than a couple of songs for folks and keeping their interest. Keep it coming!
Cool lesson and even though I know mixolydian .. I love the basic theory lesson.. I like the relative concept ..been working on lessons like this and enjoy your take too😀
Great one Brian! Been waiting for a while for an acoustic lesson like this one. Thanks!
I’m ‘ Drifting Back’ with this one Brian. Many thanks for all of the lessons Cheers.
The mode business is not easy to grasp. This is how I try to understand it. The song consists mainly of chords from A major. But since you emphazise the E major chord, the fifth in A major, it becomes E mixolydian mode. And thus, in the solo parts , you can use A major notes. Is that correct?
I’m not not best with theory but thats how I understand it. With that said, I’m confused how the G chord fits in. I thought it should be a G# (diminished). I’ve spent the last hour looking this up and trying to wrap my head around it.
Are you playing E Mixolydian?
Yes
See my above response to Carl Z. How does the G chord fit in. My understanding of Mixolydian is centering around the 5th chord, but the major scale of the first chord can be played over it- in this case A major. If that’s true, then how does that G chord fit in? Wouldn’t it have to be a G#? Love this lesson though!!
excellent Brian! thanks to have avoided to my fingers to play this in G!!! even if it sounds great, maybe another time?
I spent quite a bit of time with this one trying to get the hang of the muted strings and catching the notes when pulling my arm up. I’m often able to keep my arm moving, but it takes a bit to get it to be fluid with the direction you’re going. Great lesson!
I really love this type lesson and this one in particular. The strum pattern is great but I find the b minor bit so difficult, do you actually inject pace into the down up down before the a cord? I just can’t make it seamless or as smooth. Great stuff as always.
brian
is E Mixolydian aMaj
Great lesson!
Thank You,
T.Harper
Nice lesson, love that. Could you create in one of your next lessons a texas blues style with call and response ?
I love these standalone lessons. I was hooked on this one immediately. I’ve already got these parts committed to memory, but have a lot of practice to do before it will be played as easily as you make it look! Well done!
And The Beat goes On !!! Another great lesson. David
Hi Brian,
Quick question. Why does the G chord work in the key of E? Is it because it resolves to an A chord ?
Thanks. Lucas.
Well, this song is not really in the key of E major, it is in what they call the E mixolydian mode.
Mixolydian means we are basing the song around the fifth chord in a scale. So if the fifth chord is E major, then counting backwards we find A major as the being first chord.
All the chords in this song is from the A major scale, and so are the solo notes.
Why not say we are in A major then? Well, A doesn’t play a big part in this song, it revolves around E which gives it a special feel, the mixolydian feel…
Hi Carl,
Thanks for your reply.I am still a little confused I think the A mixolydian mode has a G chord and the
flat 7 which is a G note and based on the key of Dmaj.Maby i am missing something in my logic.
I do know a G chord is used in many songs in the key of E just don’t know why it works.
Thanks again.
You are correct – but if you were describing the key of this song to other musicians you’d say it’s in the key of E – and call it a 1, and a 5 minor chord.
Great Lesson , just draws you in , love it
Cheers Brian.
I hear C.C.R. and a bit of Dead – superb! Another winner, Brian!
Loved it Brian , would like an expansion and breakdown lesson of that blues in G at 8:20 sounds great transposing that open E section to a G barre and C7 D7 . would make a great Micro lesson.
Hi Brian,
A great lesson 🙂 More lessons like this with the mix of rhythm and smal easy licks.
I wasn’t sure if this was for me on first listen but thought I’d give it a try. I’m absolutely hooked now!! Great rhythm take aways, especially the variations on the E and this percussive style is totally addictive once you get it down. Great teaching as always Brian. Thanks 👍
What kind of guitar do you use? I can see Martin, but which one?
How about a tribute to Reggie Young?
It takes me two weeks to either get through a lesson or give up on it. I am going to get this one
I’m new to the guitar and want to learn to play but don’t know where to start. Want to learn to plat finger style
I just thought I’d mention, you should try learning anything you like. You don’t have to learn it all in your “first day”. Just have fun with it. If and when you get stuck, go learn other things. I have struggled with some things. Only to revisit them even years later to nail them. And for me, it takes me an hour to warm up and loosen up. And don’t forget to learn the easier stuff. As you learn techniques, and you will learn them here especially, you will find that you can learn the things you thought impossible before. Minimum 2 hours a day. I try to get 8 to 10 hours when I can. Brian is one of the best!
I’ve been “new to the guitar” for about 24 years… HAHA!! I’ve never taken it seriously. Just learned a little then lost interest. I’ve decided to take it seriously this time though and im actually progressing. Just stick with it and realize you won’t get good overnight.
Thats blues
Maybe the best lesson yet…this draws you in…
This isnt super easy….but…if u take time and learn to play it….u really feel like ur jamming…all by yourself….a great feeling.
Agree with “wrightclick” …. would like to hear more about the part around 8:10 of the second video, where Brian describes transposing the E7 sequence to the key of G7/C7/D7 blues. A microlesson on that would be nice.
Great stuff Brian….and thank you for what u do for your learning and playing community.
hey howzit Brian,
many thanks for the lessonS…. great stuff you’re putting out.
I hear shades of The Who. Shakin’ all over …. LIVE AT LEADS …. offf to the guitar woodshed I goes….
laterz, G
Love it.
I am enjoying this one very much Brian! Just what I needed to challenge me and hone my strumming and rhythm abilities. You are a truly talented teacher. Best on the net for standalone compositions 4 sure!
And this one being just a tad different was a welcome surprise. Great job!
I have learned much from you and that’s coming from a slow learner. But this me be my biggest challenge yet. Because of you, I can’t put down the guitar. I’m not sure if I will get this one down. But it won’t be because i didn’t try. The rhythum is hard for me to get timing down. But I’m sure it will come to me like everything else I’ve learned from you. I really like this. Probably my favorite. Thanks!
I’ve spent all day on part 1. I’m sloppy but moving on to part2…
I really like this one!! Kinda reminds me of being on hold with Comcast customer service or something, but I’m really digging it!! Thanks, Brian!
I don’t reply much, but just wanted to thank you for sharing your knowledge! I’m improving because of your encouragement and teaching method. Also inspired to practice more thanks to your melodic lessons. Keep up the good work!
Love this one – its fun to play and sounds great too!
Terrible explanation of the Mixolydian scale.
Brian, first time I have posted here. May I say you are the first cd/dvd/ on line tech that has so inspired me to move onward. Please provide a technique that would help out in the muting. In this song, should I look to do more with the left or right hand? My first inclination is to play it hard and leave out the mute, but as you know it adds alot to the song. This is one place I loose the rhythm, but if I could only mute better, it might flow better…..peace and many thanks in advance
Hi, I don’t do tab, but I work with music notes. It appears here, but not in a downloadable form. The only download is in tablature. Also, it says to for full view to click on the gear icon and then scroll down for full view; that function isn’t working…unless it is and I’m just missing it. Can you either guide me to it or send me the arrangement in music notation?