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How to Play Lead Fills In-Between Chords – EP054

Description

In this lesson you’ll learn how to play lead fills in-between chords to enhance your playing. One of the common ruts that guitar players fall into is feeling like they don’t know what to do to improve their rhythm technique. Most often people are stuck strumming only chords. This lesson is designed to give you some ideas for how you can start to add some filler lead licks in-between those chords. This lesson works well on either acoustic or electric guitar.

Part 1 - Fill Licks Between Chords

Part 2 - Fill Licks Between Chords

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Slow Walk-Through

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Comments

  1. ian55 says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    I just love this can we have more please.

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    • Daniel C says

      June 26, 2016 at 2:29 pm

      Wow…
      I got hooked on the free video on Utube. I’ve been stuck in a rut for many years and this one video really opened my eyes…so much so that it’s rejuvenated my interest in playing…so I became a Premium Member. I’m looking forward to learning much, much more…please keep the lessons coming!

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      • Paul L says

        October 14, 2018 at 2:58 pm

        I feel the same way

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  2. raywilson says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    learned a lot, great lesson, more
    please!

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    • Gaetan says

      January 3, 2016 at 1:32 pm

      EXCELLENT LESSON…WHEN I SAW THE FIRST PART OF THIS ,IT CONVINCED ME TO THAT I HAD TO GO FOR A PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP WITH YOU …

      THAT’S TOO BAD I COULD NOT FIND GUITAR TEACHERS LIKE YOU YEARS AGO

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  3. [email protected] says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Great lesson.  Still working on the Freddie King, though.

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  4. lucianodeoro1 says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    it seems to me that this lesson is a little of jimi hendrix stil.gret stuff its opens my eyes like you said.

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  5. lucianodeoro1 says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Thanks a lot Brian great lesson with you i stardet again playing guitar every. now i play 2 to 3 ours a day learning from your lessons every week i learn something more and that is great.continue like that ok.

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  6. Ruby says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    I found this lesson Very Helpful.  This stuff can go a long way.  Thank you so much for all your lessons and your hard work 🙂

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  7. smake1954 says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Great Lesson, big Step Forward

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    • James D says

      November 8, 2016 at 8:39 am

      Ditto to all the responses!!

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  8. tunaboy says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Great lesson. Would love more of these.

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  9. fresnojohns says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Brian, I really enjoy these lessons. Your Alvarez is very nice sounding!!!! I really enjoy this style, as its great to play with another guitar or just by yourself. Thanks again……

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  10. cuvy says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    More lessons like this please!! This style of lesson helps us expand our music knowledge (my ultimate goal) so we can use our own chord progressions and scales. Thanks for annotating the chords in the tabs. This helps us understand the key signature and figure out what scales your using (major, pentatonic, etc..) in lieu of just memorizing tabs. More lessons like this please!! Thank you

    Gregory

    PS. I also like the slow walk through video. This is very helpful!

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  11. aburommy says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Don’t even know how to thank you, Your clear explanation and your in-depth understanding of the guitar makes it pleasure to watch these valuable videos.

    I love the way you connect everything and you show how things relates to each other, Like how you showed the relation of the major and minor scales to these fills.

    I tried you for a month but I’m going to subscript for a whole year.

    would love to see an easy way to memorize the fret board , I looked into the Triad system by Kiek Lorange , it is helpful but I would love to see your take on it.

    Again, thank you very much for these jewels ,  keep up the Great great work.

    zaher

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  12. cuvy says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Oh my gosh, this is your best lesson ever! the light bulb just went on for me when you explained the relationship between chords and scales. This was a HUGE help! Thank you sooo much.

    Gregory

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  13. alain cotte says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    hello Brian thanks a lot for this great lesson please what is the name of this Alavarez guitar ?

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  14. Brian says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    @alain cotte - it’s an Alvarez MPA70

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  15. Jsal362 says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Brian,

    Awesome lesson, but for me, the icing on the cake was the explanations as to why these licks work in the given positions.  Completely opened up my own ability to create my own licks as well.  Great stuff. 

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  16. colinxy says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Very Hendrix

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  17. jalalo says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    thanks Brian…love this style… more of these please

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  18. Arturoman says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Great lessons for those of us who play the guitar at home.

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  19. Michael Allen says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Thanks Brian.  I love the way you work a little theory into each lesson.  The lessons just keep getting better

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  20. Bluesman5364 says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Brian, I hope you will do many more of these type instructions.  Great and what I’m looking for.

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  21. errolrd says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Brian, All the above. I have been teaching myself with books for a long time. Your plain talk and lesson instructions has been a
    giant leap forward for me at 74. Thank you so much.

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  22. Ne14_activemelody says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Brian,
    Just amazing lesson ;:-) can’t thank you enough. This one lesson you have help me bring these pentatonic scales and chords together which I’ve been playing separately for years.

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  23. robdale50 says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Another grateful would be player , just love these lessons and always wondered how these fills were played! Thanks for your efforts and encouraging lessons!

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  24. Ne14_activemelody says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Brian I just love the lay out for your lesson tab, introduction, explanation as well as lots of goodies + tons and tons of tips.

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  25. Wilson78 says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Please post more acoustic, solo jam sessions.  Filler licks are good too.

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  26. Ne14_activemelody says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    I’m really suffering on the timing and getting those chords to sound crisp and dull all at the same time :-), guess you can’t play blues on a classical guitar . But love playing this piece over and over again.

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  27. ochomarvo says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    This is a fantastic lesson. It’s informative and useful..

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  28. Stobes says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Hi Brian, first ever comment. When you played the D minor pentatonic you actually played the B Aolian shape. If so the key you were in was D Ionian.Therefore to play your riff near the usual D open chord, I could play the F sharpe Phrygiam shape? Or mix that with the E dorian…?

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  29. BrandonCarter says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Great Lesson Brian! If you have anymore of this type please post tthem.

    New Member!

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  30. warren james earp says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Thank you so much Brian that was one of the best lessons ever! please continue to explain why certain Notes fit well with certain chords.. this lesson taught me so much. thank you .  warren

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  31. ochomarvo says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Who’s this Stobes guy ? Why isn’t he teaching if he’s so knowledgeable ? Lol

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  32. Mike Mazz says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    New Member,,,,,, Hello Brain is there any chance of getting mp3 of this lesson.
    Listening to the tracks on the way to work really help out.

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  33. jampwork says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    I have two adult children who are great musicians, but even they didn’t know how to help me with what you have demonstrated so so well in this lesson.  I know a lot of theory but couldn’t quite figure out how to combine rhythmically lead and rhythm.  This is a perfect base to jump off from.  And you opened my eyes so wide to the different connections of scales, chords, etc. that i had not seen demonstrated this way in any theory class before.  Very useful information for the guitarist who wants to just have fun creating music with family and friends.  Thank you so so so much!!!!  I joined yearly today because these lessons are to every normal guitarist.  To someone who doesn’t care about becoming the next Stevie Ray Vaughn(although that would be awesome) but who wants to just understand how to jam.  LOVE IT!

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  34. ScoobySnacks says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Fantastic lesson, thank you.

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  35. Patrick123 says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Hi Brian,
    Just want to thank you for the lesson.  I’m just back from a Hawaii cruse, where I suffered a heart attack and had to spend 30 some days in hospital where I received double by-pass open heart surgery.  As I am not allowed to lift my guitar for another 2 weeks, I will not be able to take advantage of your lessons right away, but I do enjoy watching them and look forward to get back playing.  I just want to thank you for the great work you do in providing these lessons.  Music will help keep us alive.
    Patrick Page Calgary Alberta Canada

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  36. Brian says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Wow, sorry to hear that Patrick, that’s very traumatic.  Glad to hear that you’re almost able to get back to picking on the guitar.  That will be some good therapy for you.

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  37. gulewich says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Just found you. I’m growing and understanding faster than I ever have

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  38. Red Dog says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Just wanted to thank you from all of we home players for enlightening us on elementary theory. You have increased my knowledge of my my instrument 10 fold.

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  39. Bluesboater says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Reminds me of Feels Like Rain by Buddy Guy. One of my favorites. Nice job Brian.

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  40. Red Dog says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Just wanted to thank you for the lessons. You have opened so many doors for we home players. Thanks for giving solid music theory behind the lesson as the lesson moves along.

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  41. brian1974 says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    thanks brian great stuff:)

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  42. Dino. says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    How talented is this guy, lool just love this style of ply, thanx bryan as always ur understanding of this instrument shows in not just how u ply it but how well u teach it.-._

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  43. Dino. says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Plz more vidz like this with sad licks.

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  44. thomasb says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Great lesson to progress from playing ‘just’ rhythm guitar, thanks for that :-)

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  45. gary m says

    August 29, 2015 at 4:31 pm

    Hi brian.
    Gary here from newzealand. Just joined your site today and have learned more in the last hour or so about filler licks than i have learned over the past 10 years of fumbling around with various local tutors and web sites. you have a great way of explaining things and the printed tab is excellent.
    Look forward to working through the rest of your lessons. Thankyou.

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  46. Adam P says

    September 28, 2015 at 1:34 am

    I’ve told about 5 of my friends about your lessons as we’ve all had the same issue… We know the shapes of the scales but “HOW on earth do we use them practically?”… Well I’m glad to say your lessons are showing me how, thanks so much for creating this site, you make a sometimes very difficult subject (guitar scales and modes) simple, you’re a legend!

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  47. David P says

    November 27, 2015 at 5:05 pm

    What other lessons do you have that would continue on with EP054. It was a good lesson.

    David

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    • Erol F says

      June 5, 2019 at 8:31 pm

      Yes, yes we are getting there just dont dare stop practicing…(!)

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  48. Robert T says

    March 2, 2016 at 9:47 am

    Really nice lesson on fills Brian, what model Alvarez is that? . … sounds really sweet!

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  49. Tanner R says

    May 20, 2016 at 9:44 am

    I love this lesson. This really fits my style of play and I would really appreciate more content similar to this.

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  50. TERRY CAHILL says

    June 28, 2016 at 10:02 am

    cool lesson thanks

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  51. Ron C says

    August 14, 2016 at 9:29 pm

    Brian: Really good Lesson. Enjoyed the twining and slides. Again great lesson.

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  52. EJonathanS says

    November 20, 2016 at 3:11 pm

    Thanks, Brian! Just what I needed. I’m so glad I’m a premium member. Worth every penny.

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  53. ray s says

    April 9, 2017 at 11:50 am

    I dont normally comment on forums but felt compelled to do so. Found your lessons 054 on Youtube Brian and as others have said, it seems like a lighbulb moment! You have made the connection between the chords and scales which I have struggled with for years! I have just signed up for the 12 months and looking forward to working through the lessons.

    Thanks again!

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  54. Phillip Z says

    March 9, 2018 at 2:53 pm

    Best decision I’ve made in some time–becoming a premier member. Thinking I might drop my private lessons since I keep working on great stuff like this instead of what I took from my last private lesson. There is so much great stuff–stuff I have always wanted to learn to take my playing up from campfire folks song chord playing. Learning to use triads and part shapes of chords and working in scale notes to build beautiful melodies is the best. In my private lessons I learned the major and minor pentatonic scales (already knew open and barre chords) but this lesson is really the next step for me.

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  55. DABEE says

    September 10, 2018 at 12:12 am

    This was the first video I saw, and I subscribed right away. It’s been nothing but joy. I want to say thank you. Thank you Thank you Thank you Brian

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  56. Noshan G says

    February 13, 2019 at 7:17 am

    Amazing lesson…thanks a lot

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  57. Mark D says

    April 30, 2019 at 11:24 am

    Great, but needs fast/slow jam tracks to practice

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    • Mark D says

      April 30, 2019 at 11:28 am

      I realize we’re playing both parts, but a very basic strum guidance would help me at least

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  58. Elliot A says

    May 6, 2020 at 4:57 am

    Brilliant lesson. Your lessons have reignited my interested in playing which has been on and off for the last 45 years. You’re a born teacher.

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