Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Limitation can set you free! Limiting choices when improvising on guitar may be what you need – EP495

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, we’ll look at the benefits of limiting your options when it comes to improvising lead guitar. Less is more!

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Comments

  9. Harry B says

    This lesson is a good follow-up to lesson 489 on the simple square pattern a few weeks ago which was all about another way to simplify and limit your options.

    These recent lessons have been a real eye-opener to me in terms of playing in the key of a song which the pentatonic scale allows you to do. If I had had your lessons years ago, Brian, I would be a much better guitar player today.

    I went back and looked at lesson 436 which is all about the pentatonic scale and so much of what was in that lesson began to make a lot more sense to me than when it first appeared which simply illustrates the value of simplifying and limiting your options.

    You’re a great teacher, Brian. Thanks a lot.

  10. JohnStrat says

    Brian,
    Such an importan aspect. So many people think that they have to play a fast succsseion of notes allover the fretboard (known locally as ‘ widley didley’ players) when it is the skilled economy that can make so many memorable blues stand out so vividly. You can hear it all talking to you… just as it should be… a great lesson.
    JohnStrat

  15. Mike R says

    This is what I try to play when I’m alone. You have shown us so many cool progressions like this, I am starting to blend them together. Like EP427 goes great with this one and it has a bass line also. I really like how you punctuate the notes of the 4 chord and 5 chord. This is what I need to learn better, both the individual notes as well as bending to them. As usual these lessons are really making me a much more expressive and thoughtful player. You have a wonderful way of dialing in just what I seem to need each week. Playing and improvising around your lessons each day have become my daily therapy. Please Keep them coming!

    • Greg W says

      Mike – thanks for your informative feedback. I’ll make sure to pay attention to notes on 4 and 5 chords and bending up to the notes. I like these types of lessons as well – trying to tap into the expressive/emotional side of playing versus the fast runs up and down the fretboard. A buddy and I that jam together – have also started to limit ourselves when playing lead by sticking to just 5 notes – or just the two high strings, etc. It really makes you focus more on the nuance of your playing and feeling your way around the beat and chord changes.

  17. pschlosb says

    I wonder, I’d be curious to see the bass tab. I don’t want to be a pain in the neck and i know that by now I should probably be able to figure it out on my own. But would there be any way to get that?

  28. Franc V says

    This lesson is exactly what I needed. Love the ideas around identifying and playing the notes from the chord changes. Knowing what those notes can be and how and when to include them really helps. Also great to know the natural minor scale and blue notes all around the pentatonic scale. So much more than 5 notes in this lesson. Thanks Brian

  30. Biker13 says

    What’t truly amazing (for me at least) is that this would’ve been wildly different had it been played with a pick. The subtleties in your delivery and dynamics have me ditching the pick for this one. Another great lesson.

  31. Paul B says

    I love this lesson. Are any like it in the archives that treat the Major Pentatonic in a similar fashion?

    I’m getting to the point where I’m ready to try soloing at a local bluegrass/country jam I’ve been playing at for a while. Feel like this approach would set me up well to take that step.

  33. Paul S says

    There’s so much expression with so few notes – very cool, Brian. For us flat pickers you can come close to the finger style sound by using an extra heavy pick or better yet, a heavy or extra heavy duralin pick. Both Fender and Gibson make the extra heavy if you prefer their brands, but lots more shapes and sizes in rural in to chose from. Works well for me.

  34. Paul S says

    There’s so much expression with so few notes – very cool, Brian. For us flat pickers you can come close to the finger style sound by using an extra heavy pick or better yet, a heavy or extra heavy duralin pick. Both Fender and Gibson make the extra heavy if you prefer their brands, but lots more shapes and sizes in Duralin to chose from. Works well for me.

  35. Mike P says

    Amazing! I’ve just been listening to some early Peter Green this morning and then this lesson lands that’s all about squeezing expression and emotion out of a few notes, something I think Peter Green was a master of. Anyway, another fantastic lesson Brian and the concept of getting more from less is probably just what I need to work on right now. Thanks!

  38. Mark H says

    Very nice lesson. In general, the minor blues family of tunes occupies a lot of my playing time.

    I take the point of the lesson theme of simplifying. It’s great to make time and space to zoom-in on the subtleties and variations of bending and vibrato within the phrasing. Great demos of some killer licks on the inner strings.

    I had a a lightbulb moment when Brian highlighted the fact that the ♭5 blue note of the I chord (E♭) features strongly among the #V7 passing chord tones before the V7. I’m thinking “So _that’s_ why it always sounds so good”. It was right under my nose the whole time but had not realized it until that moment. Knowledge is golden. 👍👍

  41. Brad S says

    These “you can do a lot with a little” lessons are treasures, Brian. I think they are unique on the Web.

    You would do many of us a huge service if you were able to develop a search criteria for them. I can’t think of a better and more productive six months for me and perhaps for others on the cusp of intermediate play than clustering several of these lessons together and really digging into them. They will reinforce each other, I think.

    If that is not practicable, please say so. In that event I’ll develop the list manually and share it.

    Brad

  43. Randy H says

    Brian:
    You hit the nail on the head. This is why they invented the K.I.S.S system (Keep It Simple Stupid (not you)) Sometimes we overthink and compound the process in order to try and achieve getting better at learning, when if we step back and take another look, we can see the BIG picture. Great idea using what WE already know in one neighborhood and tweaking it a little with slides and bends to make it sound good.
    Great Lesson again………….

    Randy

  53. NB says

    Thanks Brian – this was something I knew I needed as soon as I saw the title – I need to focus on the “less is more” sometimes – it is easy to try and do too much and feel overwhelmed. This lesson is a good reminder to enjoy small steps!

  61. Steve M says

    Another great lesson, Ive found such a lot of sense with this one in particular. Thank you for posting one part free, times are tough and something for nothing is a blessing.

  62. Alan L says

    Thanks again Brian, thumbs up from me!

    I’ll add to the conversation that in addition to encouraging us to play with bends, slides and hammer ons, limitation encourages us to play with repetition and space (vs filling every beat with sound.)

  63. Carl D says

    Another Thumbs up Brian…. I personally like plying in one area of the fret Board, such as this Lesson… And I think you always seem to give us some ideas to expand our learning, and playing…. Very enjoyable Lesson Brian…. Thanks

  64. Mark W says

    Hi Brian this is a Bonza lesson (sorry a bit of Aussie slang but couldn’t help using it). I think one of the most enjoyable for me and not quite sure why but I just can’t stop playing it. Love minor key stuff and JJ Cale probably one my all time favourites so guess I it makes sense that I love it so much. Also enjoyed your little commentary at the end on making the lesson. Thanks for all the effort its an early Xmas present for me. Cheers

  67. Roy L says

    Feeling coupled with simplicity/emotion. Love this lesson that anybody can play. Understand the JJ Cale inspiration . Keep up the great work. Hope you have a great Christmas/Festive season. Roy

  70. Ronald J says

    Hi Brian,
    I spent an hour this AM working on note location along the fretboard….I know the pentatonic scale and patterns. This was an ABSOLUTELY GREAT lesson – the title caught me as well and the lesson was true to the title. Great example of using the pentatonic patterns in a simple and meaningful way. Another great lesson. THANK YOU!!!
    Ron J

  71. Kenneth M says

    Hi Brian: I love these basic lessons. I haven’t practiced for about 2 months. To be honest, I had given up! And I was feeling down on myself for that. Watching the videos for this lesson has given me the inspiration to pickup the guitar again. Thank you so much. To me you are exactly the teacher I need.

    Many, many thanks.

    Ken

  75. Robin S says

    Just renewed sub for 5th? 6th? year. There are masses of really brilliant lessons like this, I do’t know how Brian does it ! Only wish I could play a fraction of them but they keep you trying and something sometimes sticks ! Not far off No.500 now, bet that will be really something !
    Thanks Brian !

  80. John C says

    I love the ‘simplicity” of this lesson. Simple but complex, and cool like JJ Cale.
    Maybe you already said it, what pedals do you use to get such a sweet sound. I can’t come close with my guitar.
    I’m relatively new here and love your lessons. John

  81. John C says

    I love the ‘simplicity” of this lesson. Simple but complex, and cool like JJ Cale.
    Maybe you already said it, what pedals do you use to get such a sweet sound. I can’t come close with my guitar.
    I’m relatively new here and love your lessons.
    This is my first time comment.John

  82. John C says

    I love the ‘simplicity” of this lesson. Simple but complex,.
    Maybe you already said it, what pedals do you use to get such a sweet sound. I can’t come close with my guitar.
    I’m relatively new here and love your lessons.
    This is my first time comment.John

  90. Michael J says

    G/day again, Brian,
    Never commented twice before, but just to say ” Don’t sweat the small stuff! ” What you do is so inspirational to all of us.
    And you do this week in, week out. Do yourself a favour, and take a couple of weeks off with your family over Christmas, in the knowledge that we are so very grateful for your work.
    Michael J. Kilmore, Australia.

  91. David S says

    Brian, I have heard great guitar players say ” The sound is in your hands ” You are so good at showing us this. No matter what guitar you play it always sounds fantastic. No matter how good the guitar is it is the one playing it that makes it sound good. Sound slice is so valuable in helping to learn . Take one phrase at a time,highlight the phrase you want to learn And it will play it over and over again until you want to go to next phrase.,or you get as close to the way Brian phrases it. This lesson is so valuable to learn this. Thank you Brian for helping us to learn this. Merry Christmas to all. Dave

  94. Maxwell E says

    Rather a simple one but it is so powerful ..amazing.
    Just another thing , I have learnt two riffs of pink Floyd’s shine on you crazzy diamond , this was hard for me at first but with all the bending , it has really strenthen my fingers and going back to your difficult lessons ( in a good way ) , I find them much easier to play . I wish I had started playing as late as when your first started your courses , they are just fantastic thanks , thanks and thanks .

  96. DAVID G says

    Great lesson Brian while messing around with a different rhythm as suggested I thought it sounded bit like Black Magic Woman would that be right. Like some of the other comments less is more.yes more like this as it gives you scope to improvise.

  98. Brother Tarheel says

    Bryan,
    For quite some time I have been trying to work out virtually the same tune, in the same fretboard location, using the same chords, using the same call and response, the same rhythm…the same everything. Could never get it right. With your EP495 lesson I did it in two nights. Superb lesson, superbly taught. The perfect lesson for me. Check this: It is the first time I have ever been abler to play with a backing track!
    Thank you.
    Brother Tarheel

  105. Geoff says

    Well I just completed this one and I don’t feel removing limitations necessarily makes pieces like this easier to play at all 🙂

    When you remove limitations one has to start focusing on other things. These were some of my challenges.

    a) Those subtle little strums you do were really hard to emulate. Eventually I found my own way by plucking the strings instead of strumming them, it also works.
    b) I tried to throw my own improvs on this but I just couldn’t make that sound good – when something is already pretty minimal it is very hard to elaborate on it.
    c) I am a classical guitar player, most of the time, but I typically play electric guitars with a pick. It was fun throwing away the pick on this one – gives me an appreciation for the tones one can get out of electric guitars with fingers.
    c) There is that spot around the 32 second mark where you throw in that beautiful lazy sounding bend – Oh boy, did I struggle to get that using finger technique. In the end I could only get close to that by playing a rest stroke with the right hand – if I didn’t do that the bend just came out sounding all thin and reedy.

    Anyway, this lesson was a big inspiration to me. I can’t say there were any ‘lightbulb moments’, as such, but just trying to master the techniques to emulate the sounds was a big fun learning curve and that alone helps to take playing up a small notch.

    I loved this lesson. Thank you so much.

  107. Corinne P says

    Happy New Year!

    Thank you so much for this fantastic lesson. Joining your Active Melody is the best Christmas present I’ve ever given myself! Keeping it simple is right on point for me. I often find myself all over the place looking for what video to watch next. I need structure and to find which videos to watch and practice first. I consider myself an awkward Intermediate player. There is a lot I know, but much more I don’t know. I’m new to the site and forgive me but is there an order to watch the videos, or do I focus on the subject and go back to the first video. If anyone can give me advice I sure would appreciate it. I’m guessing our wonderful teacher might be too busy to respond. I love this site. Best teacher ever!,

  110. John L says

    I am new to this site and really new at picking. This is my favorite so far. I will hang around this lesson for a while until I can get comfortable with the call and response. Thank you…

  113. Dave F says

    Brian.
    I think this lesson has given me a new insight into your music. Please do more lessons like this……………..or even add to this one. There’s so much I can practice in this with the bending and all. Thanks

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