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How To Improvise Lead By Visualizing Chord Shapes – Guitar Lesson EP223

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson you’ll learn how to improvise a melodic lead (includes a harmonized lead) by visualizing chord shapes. You’ll learn how to play the same licks in different places on the neck, thus playing the chord changes. I’ve also included 2 versions of the MP3 jam track (normal tempo, and a slow version).

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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Comments

  1. JohnStrat says

    September 22, 2017 at 2:58 pm

    This one looks and sounds like loads of fun and as always very useful thanks Brian JohnStrat

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  2. San Luis Rey says

    September 22, 2017 at 5:08 pm

    Looks like a great lesson Brian but I really was wondering if that’s a new Strat. Don’t remember seeing this one before. Looks like an American made with that bridge and nut and lace pickups. sounds great too.
    Mike

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    • Brian says

      September 22, 2017 at 6:26 pm

      Hey Mike, I’ve used this one in several videos through the years. It’s an American Strat from 1990 – all stock.

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  3. Jim M says

    September 22, 2017 at 6:35 pm

    Always game for new musical ideas. Thanks Brian.

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  4. sunburst says

    September 22, 2017 at 6:51 pm

    Another fun lesson !

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  5. Bill W2 says

    September 22, 2017 at 7:34 pm

    Thank you Brian !! I’ve been waiting for a lesson like this !! Keep it going.

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  6. Michael J says

    September 22, 2017 at 10:10 pm

    G/day Brian,
    Ah mate, this is champion. I heard the news there’s good rockin’ tonight.
    Thanks for a great one.
    M.J.

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  7. stephen r says

    September 22, 2017 at 10:31 pm

    Nice one dude

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  8. Rob d says

    September 23, 2017 at 2:16 am

    Hi bryan,

    There is a wrong mp3 file for downloading or playing EP 223- with guitar i think. I hear the track of ep 222.

    nice lesson:-)

    Best regards.

    Rob.

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    • Brian says

      September 23, 2017 at 3:12 pm

      Hey Rob, thanks for the heads up on this. You’re correct it was the wrong track. I have fixed this now.

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  9. Raymond P says

    September 23, 2017 at 10:48 am

    Great lesson, really helps me better understand how to create licks from chords.

    Thanks Brian

    Ray

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  10. drlknstein says

    September 23, 2017 at 4:45 pm

    hey brian

    we don t hate hybrid picking- ,… lol …..we love it..sounds great.- better effect than just the pick but some of us..me for one are just too spazzy to do it..I have tried- still trying–old habits die hard- I can usually work around it with the pic

    nice lesson…it fits right in with a lot of other lessons…great stuff

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  11. wrightclick says

    September 23, 2017 at 10:38 pm

    like it fantastic fun while learning sounds great

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  12. Wilson G says

    September 24, 2017 at 6:38 am

    Brian your teaching is so helpful and practical ,learning so much ,thanks for the great teaching !

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  13. sunburst says

    September 24, 2017 at 7:53 pm

    This is excellent Major progression ascending and descending double stops and triplets melodically harmonically..just a real good exercise and fun lesson !

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  14. StratPlus66 says

    September 25, 2017 at 4:11 am

    Brilliant lesson Brian. Light bulbs for me too! I can see many more of this type coming in the future!

    Andrew

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  15. Bruce M says

    September 25, 2017 at 10:25 am

    Hey Brian, thanks for all your hard work.

    I was wondering if it would be a hassle to include the BPM so we could set our metronomes for practice? Thanks for any consideration.

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  16. Jack J says

    September 26, 2017 at 5:06 pm

    Hey Brian. I’m about 2 days new on this site. I joined the site because of one blues chords video I saw. I’m along for free for now but here’s the thing. One video got me to join. Now, just the second video and I’m intrigued. And I have a question about this video which is great btw. Having a way to visualize a solo or melody or riff or anything is a tremendous thing. But there’s a deviation in your lesson I’d love to get your explanation of. At the beginning while still in the D chord you play the 2nd and 3rd strings on the 12th fret naming it the G chord. And it is. And it SOUNDS GREAT. I get that. But a G chord is not in the A major scale at all. You also through in the term “IV chord”. The G is the IV chord of the D major scale. Is this relevant? I mention this because of the detail you went into about the I-IV-V progression. It seemed obvious you wanted to have that understood. I loved this video and will work on learning it in detail. If these two videos are an indication of what you have to show us you may have another premium member soon. 🙂 First I need to buy my 10 starving kids some new shoes. 🙂 🙂 GREAT STUFF!!! (truthfully, I only have one son and he’s grown 🙂 )

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    • Brian says

      September 26, 2017 at 7:13 pm

      G is not in the major scale but it’s the 4 chord of D. I guess I was trying to make the point that you can play the 4 chord of any chord in a progression and make it work (most of the time that is).

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  17. Ron O says

    September 26, 2017 at 5:41 pm

    Yet another fantastic video lesson, Brian. Thanks so much for pushing me out of my comfort zone. As you know, we can all get into “ruts” by playing the same old stuff we feel comfortable with. Playing off the chord makes so much sense and it sounds terrific. Have a great day.

    Ron from San Jose, CA

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  18. Ron O says

    September 26, 2017 at 5:48 pm

    Incidently, I just purchased a used. Strat Plus like yours a few weeks back. It’s the same color as yours and has become my favorite electric. Love the Lace Sensors, Wilkinson nut and locking tuners. It’s a keeper.

    Ron from San Jose

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    • Brian says

      September 26, 2017 at 7:08 pm

      Very cool Ron – I haven’t seen another one in that color (black pearlburst) I know they made lots of them, I’ve just never ran across one.

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  19. Hyland says

    September 27, 2017 at 8:43 pm

    Yeah, baby. Another winner. We’ll be seeing you on the CMA award show soon !

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  20. oldman831 says

    October 4, 2017 at 7:40 pm

    Another masterpiece from the mind of Brian….incredable😎

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  21. Blake N says

    November 30, 2017 at 7:26 pm

    I followed everything till the end where he played the a in the open position then did the walk up from there with the 2nd and third strings but not on the same frets and said that was still an a chord?

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  22. David B says

    February 15, 2018 at 6:37 am

    What other lessons are similar to this in learning/using chord fragment formations? thanx

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  23. Gilles H says

    February 26, 2018 at 12:43 pm

    Great lesson Brian. Not too difficult and ties into jump blues and rockabilly. Nice melodic solo.

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  24. Paddy C says

    August 12, 2018 at 6:46 am

    So much great information packed into this lesson,excellent Brian thanks

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