Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Slow country lead using the CAGED System – Guitar Lesson – EP594

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn a slow, country style lead that you’ll be able to easily visualize by relating it to the CAGED System. This lead has lots of open space and lost of classic, pedal steel licks.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

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Slow Walkthrough

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Comments

    • George V says

      Really liked this one. I find myself more and more using this as a style for my lead play. Mixing chord shapes with harmonics, pedal steel licks and pentatonic runs. Trying to get away from going up and down the scales. And thanks for always explaining why these things work and where they come.
      George Van Meter

      • Charles C says

        Oh, yes….and always have circle of fifths handy as, for example, it shows why playing D scales will work over A and G background. Review the concept of the diatonic chords in D(or any) key. The modal references are a distraction although interesting, but still within the circle of fifths milieu.

  3. Ralph P. says

    Hey Brian, Have you ever tried to tackle pedal steel guitar? I’ve heard “normal” humans can’t play them. Pedals, levers, volume pedal, weird tunings, etc. I’d love to be able to talk to a pedal steel guy just to find out how they learned and how they think.

    Excellent Country ballad. Very atmospheric, and loved the little splash of lydian.

  8. Kevin S says

    In case you wonder whether these lessons resonate with us. I recently started playing at a picking house where most of the players are of an older generation. Mostly older country songs with three chords generally. This is a great lesson of what I can do to harmonize during theses songs. Awesome lesson! I will also look up other CAGED lessons for as a brushup. Thanks Brian!

  9. Harry B says

    This is a great lesson, Brian, just because of the sound and composition itself. Another one of your all-time greatest lessons for the sam reason Is EP173 that I have in my favorites file along the same lines is EP173.

  10. Kevin S says

    Another great lesson, Brian. We’re coming up on lesson 600 and you’ve earned a week off. Think I’ll come back and go over this lesson during your down week while I wait for my new Saturday morning fix.
    We’re coming up on the holiday season and you always do a Christmas song. How’s about going outside the traditional and do something with John and Yoko’s Happy Christmas/War is Over? I know it’s a little on the fringe so I won’t be crushed if it doesn’t happen, but it would be a nice way to widen the Christmas music palette.

  13. Klaus G says

    chapeau Brian
    the I IV V progression improvisation at the end of the premium lesson is just the kind of stuff that I am looking for to learn improvisation as a classic player
    I wish to learn more about that kind
    Greetings Klaus

  14. Timothy M says

    Good morning Brian!

    Your lessons certainly do resonate with us! I have been learning so much from your lessons.

    It took me a little while to figure out the best way to learn your material. At first, I was trying to memorize each set piece. Now, I focus more on the ‘take away’s’ and get most of the set piece down. 🙂

    Keep up the great work!

  15. Daniel H says

    Thank your reading our comments Brian. I recently asked for some pedal steel licks and behold! Much appreciated.
    Do you ever listen to any of Tab Benoit’s music? Great guitarist … lots of bayou style blues.

  19. David H says

    Great lesson yet again, Brian. Your lessons are superb and the explanations of how you create music within the different genres is illuminating, as are the backup tabs and backing tracks. You have opened up a whole new world to me which regrettably books don’t cover. Many thanks.

  20. San Luis Rey says

    Oh man Brian! I’m not a country music guy but this lesson might just convert me. The pedal steel type licks sound incredible on your Wide Sky. The lead moving through the chord shapes from caged are getting into my brain the more you expose us to this method. These lessons are a huge help.
    Thanks!

  21. Randy H says

    Brian:
    Could you elaborate on barr 17 C# to D and back to C# as #4 Lydian mode????? Are you still playing in the chord G??? Or is this the 3rd of The A chord???

    Thanks for your help ,

    Randy

  23. Jerry P says

    My Tele thanks you! Matching CAGED with chord forms, scales, and arpeggios is what excites me at 80 which I just hit a week ago. I’d like to be 16 again and be working on this but I am also grateful for the days with Nick Manoloff, Mel Bay, and Gene Leis a long time ago. I am still in email touch with my guitar buddy in 9th grade California who struggled with me to master the dreaded B7 chord. Wonderful memories that make me truly appreciate being able to follow EP594 and play it with feeling. Thank you very, very much, Brian.

  26. Joseph C says

    Hey Brian
    I know you read all these comments. This is not specific to this lesson but an overall comment about Active Melody.

    The first lesson I took from you, about 2 years ago, literally took many months to practice/play and even then, I still never got to a place of “done”. Since I took your 5-part CAGED lessons, my ability to more readily absorb and play the lessons has improved by leaps and bounds. Now instead of months, it takes weeks to practice and learn what you are teaching.

    Further, my own noodling has gone from an internal chatter (while playing) about “the E shape comes after the G shape which is position 1 major and I can bend on the first string up to position 2 etc…” to a more seamless internal understanding of where I am at and where to go next.

    WOW!!! I had had played off and on for 30 years from pre-memorized neck locations that fit into the context in which I memorized them from. If that context deviated, I was lost and so never really felt comfortable playing. Since I have taken your lessons, in particular the 5-part CAGED series, my guitar playing has opened up more in 2 years than the past 30.

    In the past, I asked a few in-person teachers to explain to me why I was playing such-and-such a note and their response was because it just works. Understanding “why” it works and transposing that why to other keys and shapes is really giving me a sense of confidence and achievement about my playing that I never had.

    I know this sounds all sweet and bubble gum, but it is honestly intended as a big thank you for your lessons and thoughtful efforts. You have provided a wealth of knowledge in a digestible format that has lifted my guitar skills to where they never were but I always imagined could be!

    One lesson I would love to see you do, and I have spent countless hours trying to learn, is hand and wrist positioning and finger mechanics. Depending on where I am on the neck and whether I am at the 6th or 1st string, I find, that my hand needs to be positioned differently on the neck in order to play at faster speeds.

    That’s all man, Happy Sunday!

  28. Barbara J says

    Just finished up with the bluegrass rag….which I loved:-) This the next on my list! I have been checking out the Wide Sky lineup and seriously considering this model in a cutaway. How would you compare the neck, feelwise, to your 335, Brian?

  29. Barbara J says

    Adding to what Joseph said above….guess I’m a theory nerd ’cause I love knowing the ‘whys’ so I love your explanations. After years of watching and absorbing your videos I can occasionally predict what you’re going to say….like the ‘Keith Richards move’ in this one. Haha! I work with a private instructor as well and your lessons blend perfectly with the work I do with him.

  30. Douglas C says

    It has been a little time since I’ve got something that I like to play, but I really like this one I picked up a lot. I’d also like you to know maybe three years ago I thought I could never play lead but you told me to keep practicing, now I can play lead In my own style. Thanks very much Doug

  36. Wayne W says

    Great lesson, Brian. I have learned more about playing guitar in the last three years since I have been taking your lessons on Active Melody that I had in my previous 30 years where all I could play were chords but couldn’t play a lick or solo to save my life. My playing has improved immensely. I love your explanations of theory and how to connect the musical dots. Being retired now I have more time to enjoy playing my guitars and your lessons have made playing so much more enjoyable. Thank you for your amazing lessons.

  40. Kirk L says

    For me I some more discussion of intervals — numbers — would be helpful. Bending up to the target note from below for example, describing the intervals involved in that bend; and, then in resolution of the phrase.

  41. Andrae C says

    Hi Brian,
    Fantastic lesson and clear and concise explanations as usual.
    What settings and/or pedals/equipment are you using to achieve this sound for EP594.
    Appreciate your help
    Thanks again
    Kind regards Andrae

  44. Dale G says

    Lovin this one-is going into favorites. Easy to play and expand more sounds and licks within the caged system with explanation as to whys and wheres. Nice change of pace to older sounding country. Never realized how many genres are tied into the caged system. Thanks so much for your awesome lessons!

  45. Ian P says

    Slightly off topic but very much country guitar, what do you think of Albert Lee, Brian? Caught him recently in a small venue, Kinross , in Scotland. 80 years old and still tearing it up. Any chance of a lesson in the style of Albert?

  51. Bill K says

    Greetings from London, UK. You asked for feedback – well, this is another great lesson , up there with the likes of EP269 and EP355 among others. Great way to see how the “CAGED” system moves from dry theory to actual music that is great to listen to. Understanding it on paper is one thing though, while actually playing it like you mean it is another – which is where your lessons are so good.
    I would also like to give a shout-out to the more Americana (we all hate labels but they are a useful shorthand at times) style as exemplified in the brilliant EP 350.

  55. Dennis V says

    Great lesson. Pretty easy to learn and play. Love the pedal steel bends…… I’m a big fan of that Wide Sky with the P-90s. Kind of a semi-hollow Les Paul minus the cutaway, perfect size, perfect sound!…To my taste anyway…I built a Les Paul at Texas Toast in Colorado last week. I highly recommend doing same to your AM subscribers. You learn lots about guitar building and leave with a beautiful guitar. I’ll be returning in August to build a guitar very similar to The Wide Sky, their Icon.

    Thanks
    Dennis

  57. Dilapidus says

    Hey Brian .. lots of fun on this one of course. FWIW I lucked into sliding from the F to G right at the intro and that just helped me remember to stay loose, these are examples, not gospels! I do love the sounds you make so much that I always try to get it perfect. Lesson learned again!

    I am dying to know how you get those backing tracks. Frankly it sounds a fair bit like Band in the Box but with much higher quality. I’d love to see a lesson on how you take a progression to a backing track.

    Thanks for everything.

  59. Alana S says

    Thanks for this lesson, Brian. You mention light bulbs and WOW, yes, that happened for me! It was so helpful to see how melodies can pop out of the CAGED system. You make this look easy and I greatly appreciate your expertise. This lesson was inspiring for me!

  62. Steve R says

    Great lesson. That guitar omg sounds great and your playing doesn’t look impossible.
    I have been practicing cross picking forever and can’t seem to really master it. I may take up caged more as a new goal. If you ever give a cross picking lesson I’d love to see your approach. I just can’t seem to cross pick without going very slow and really concentrating. I mis hit once and the house of cards falls apart. There are players that can groove on cross picking. I work on G B E strings exclusively. I do use your caged theory to execute chord progressions on the high 3 adjacent strings. Cross picking is mesmerizing when well done.
    Thanks much for all your lessons.

  64. Jack S says

    I have stayed on this lesson for a good deal of time. I am applying some of the lead riffs while accompanying another guitar/singer on the Band’s tune “The Weight”. I think it would be cool to actually work on some piano style riffs, similar to your gospel I to IV changes. Nice lesson!

  68. Paul A says

    I really liked this lesson because you incorporate CAGED into a slower more open type melody. I also liked you making the point about improvising verses memorizing. That helps me relax a bit more and play around with my guitar. Thanks!

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