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Soulful Blues Lead Guitar Lesson – Using a Major Chord and it’s Relative Minor – EP290

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a soulful blues lead over a C chord and it’s relative minor (A minor). I’ll explain how you can play the exact same pentatonic notes and they’ll work over both of those chords, making it very easy to solo. You’ll also learn how to easily integrate chord shapes into the lead to create a more melodic sounding solo.

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. OldVet says

    January 4, 2019 at 8:17 pm

    Seems like there is a point late in this lesson where you use that G, D, A string for three successive notes like you did the ending to EP282. However, you were on the tenth fret and used B,G,and D. Which underscores what you do in a lesson is not necessarily lesson specific. I think you reiterate that over and over. The take aways.

    Good lesson. Clever and soulful. Excited about learning this.

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    • Robert Burlin says

      January 5, 2019 at 12:00 am

      Are you hanging out with celestial musicians?

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    • Jack D says

      December 5, 2020 at 11:52 am

      Thank you for the tip on playing the first measure. Of course, I had to get into the song and try it before listening to your explanation.
      Much much easier with your tip. Thanks

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  2. Jim M says

    January 4, 2019 at 8:20 pm

    What a wonderful mellow arrangement …

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  3. tommc says

    January 4, 2019 at 10:44 pm

    Here’s a suggestion for you. I think it would be helpful if you strummed through the chords of the piece. You talk about ‘then the song goes to F’ or ‘the song is going to the fourth’. But, if we really don’t know ‘the song’ it is sometimes hard to hear where you are going. If it’s a simple I-IV-V, most folks can probably get that but when you start throwing in relative minors or ‘a Bflat because I thought it sounded good’, it is hard to hear where your going. Yes, I know it’s on the jam track, but a quick run through up front would be helpful. Just a suggestion. I do enjoy the lessons.

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    • Mathew W says

      January 5, 2019 at 5:35 am

      I couldn’t agree more, backing tracks are brilliant but I would much rather play with another guitarist.

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      • Nigel M says

        March 19, 2019 at 5:30 pm

        If you look at the tab, it tells you the chord progression. Why not record yourself playing the chords or use a looper and play it over that. You will probably learn more doing it yourself.

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        • 6stringer Pete says

          March 30, 2019 at 3:32 am

          That’s a very good idea.

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        • Les Brown says

          November 28, 2019 at 2:20 pm

          Good-on-ya, Nigel! I was just going to suggest that when I read your comment. Excellent advice. Watching the on-screen tab viewer is a great lesson extension. Brian really covers all the bases.

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    • Charles A says

      January 8, 2019 at 5:59 pm

      I agree, the way I learned back when, with full music sheets, playing through the cords always gives me a better starting point to understand then build the lead.

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    • George says

      January 11, 2019 at 2:19 am

      I maximally agree with the previous speakers.

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    • Nigel M says

      March 19, 2019 at 5:26 pm

      You’ve only got to look at the tab, it tells you what the chords are and where they change. It is probably a good idea to play through the chord progression first, over the slow walkthrough so that you have a better understanding before trying to learn the lead.

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  4. kenny says

    January 5, 2019 at 1:32 am

    Just what the majority of us want, a really pretty fairly easy solo that sounds impressive. Bloody fantastic mate, keep em coming

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  5. kenford says

    January 5, 2019 at 3:06 am

    Great lesson Brian, lots of takeaways and loads of licks.

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  6. Martin P says

    January 5, 2019 at 4:19 am

    My Kind of lesson. Love it Brian, many thanks.

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    • Robert G says

      December 4, 2020 at 12:32 am

      Like this lesson! Slow enough for a beginner like me and sounds great. Just what I’ve been looking for from your lessons! Thanks Brian

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  7. Mary S says

    January 5, 2019 at 5:56 am

    So glad I joined Active Meloday. Great lessons. In a couple of different lessons I’ve watched, you have suggested turning on a little bit of overdrive on the amp. My amp doesn’t have a knob labeled overdrive. Any suggestions on how to do overdrive on such an amp (Blues Jr. IV)?

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    • Mike O says

      January 5, 2019 at 7:13 am

      Gain?

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    • charjo says

      January 5, 2019 at 8:56 am

      Mary,
      I think you turn up the volume knob very high to push the pre-amp tubes to get some gain and then turn down the master volume which controls the power tube to tone down the volume.
      John

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    • Matt Blues says

      January 5, 2019 at 2:39 pm

      One solution would be a overdrive pedal. Check Guitar Fetish they have good quality products at a reasonable rate.

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    • Stuart M says

      January 7, 2019 at 11:27 am

      I’m playing through a tube amp (Fender Princeton) at low volume so I bought an overdrive pedal to help get some gain at low volume. Perhaps you could try some and see if that works.

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  8. John B says

    January 5, 2019 at 7:55 am

    Hey Brian- where can i find more about the 2 pattern of major harmony you mention with the “dude, enough..we get it”.. Love this lesson

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    • wrightclick says

      January 11, 2019 at 10:29 am

      Try lesson searches for Double stops and harmonising

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  9. charjo says

    January 5, 2019 at 8:53 am

    My two favourite words with respect to guitar, soulful and easy. Then add a strat on the neck pick up and I’m in heaven.
    John

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    • greg f says

      January 5, 2019 at 10:52 am

      Amen! My morning caffeine! Soulful, Easy and a Strat. My day can’t get any better. Great piece!

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  10. stephen a says

    January 5, 2019 at 11:50 am

    Brian. I benefited from the tone settings talk at the beginning. I could use a similar quick and dirty guide for most lessons (short – maybe a minute?). I am glad to struggle with playing my guitar, just feel like trying to understand my amp settings and which pickup to use when are added layers of mystery that I don’t really want to deal with just yet.

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  11. justin N says

    January 5, 2019 at 12:06 pm

    These “easy” lessons are a great way of getting the soulful feel of guitar playing down. There’s so much “shredding” out there but what stands the test of time is playing with soul and smoothness. You obviously have those two down Brian. Great lesson!

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  12. Raymond P says

    January 5, 2019 at 12:27 pm

    Great lesson Brian. Lots of good info. Please don’t stop your repeat explanations , they help the new bees and I think they are great reminders too.

    Ray P

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  13. scattercreek says

    January 5, 2019 at 1:49 pm

    Killer lesson Brian!

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  14. sunburst says

    January 5, 2019 at 8:11 pm

    This is great for developing soulful feel but only if I concentrate well enough following your timing..going to take my time with this one ty much!

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  15. james f says

    January 6, 2019 at 12:59 am

    Nice lesson. I put the video on 50% speed….makes you look and sound drunk lol

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  16. Ian D says

    January 6, 2019 at 12:53 pm

    Nope… dont stop repeating the harmonised 3rds and 6ths (like you’ve mentioned in previous lessons)…….they can help open up lots of different melodies and playing ideas. When you explain it, now it starting to sink in a bit more !! Thanks for another top lesson !!

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  17. Terry H says

    January 6, 2019 at 3:05 pm

    What type of a nut is on that guitar?
    thanks,
    Terry

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    • Edgee says

      January 8, 2019 at 9:24 pm

      I think that’s a Jeff Beck signature Strat. It has a roller nut which helps the trem stay in tune.

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    • Michael J says

      October 30, 2019 at 3:29 pm

      Be fair Terry, that’s not a nut ,it’s our Brian 🎸

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  18. Terry H says

    January 6, 2019 at 3:44 pm

    Thanks Brian, Great Lesson!
    Great Take a Ways!!

    Terry

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  19. Bill B says

    January 6, 2019 at 8:02 pm

    What an awesome lesson! You continue to deliver a“light bulb” moment with every video you do. My playing has tenfolded over the past year since I became a member and I am forever grateful!

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  20. Robert P says

    January 7, 2019 at 4:29 am

    Definitely my type of lesson keep them coming Brian. Very soulful…..

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  21. Allan says

    January 7, 2019 at 9:30 am

    super cool brian

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  22. Pablo M says

    January 8, 2019 at 12:56 pm

    Thanks for another precious lesson Brian. Beautiful Strat btw – I wish I could lay hands on a lefty version. Very useful the tone part, too. As a GAS victim, I would really like to hear your take on stuff and tone every now and then. Again, thanks!

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  23. Carla R says

    January 8, 2019 at 3:33 pm

    Thanks for putting up one that is good for us “beginners”. Though a played a little as a kid, I didn’t really start to learn until, well, lets just say early retirement. I don’t think these fingers wiill ever move as fast as someone who has played all their life, or is young. This lesson is easy to follow, not so fast, and just sounds cool… Very nice.

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  24. sunburst says

    January 8, 2019 at 6:15 pm

    thanks for the gear talk Brian, so far sticking it out with a Yamaha thr10c amp with the editor which has effects and extra software effects online through yamaha editor usb connection..pretty cool lesson like the new strat tone you get here too

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  25. harry f says

    January 8, 2019 at 8:37 pm

    my kind of stuff, b!!! i can always tell! if it comes close to tears when i hear it— its the real deal!!!! thanx b and keep it comin!!!!!!

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  26. David P says

    January 9, 2019 at 3:25 am

    This is the kind of lesson I really appreciate!!!

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  27. Iman A says

    January 9, 2019 at 6:08 am

    Hi, Brian
    Thanks for lots of info about adjusting pick up and other important major and minor
    Wish you best time in new year

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  28. rainmon1 says

    January 9, 2019 at 6:06 pm

    Brian, I was thinking of getting a Trio Plus Band Creator and wondered if that’s what you use for your backup tracks and if so, what you thought of it.
    Jeff

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  29. John E says

    January 10, 2019 at 6:07 am

    Hi

    Brian, what signature model is the Start?

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    • Brian says

      January 10, 2019 at 12:37 pm

      Jeff Beck

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  30. drlknstein says

    January 10, 2019 at 12:48 pm

    yeah- man! don t stop explaining things..it s a great help..it takes a while for me to get these concepts and surprisingly I get em after I see them in lessons repaeted but in diffrent settings and diffiferent rythms –I got a nice complement recently using the harmonizing 3rds and 6’s from a really good player..so thanks

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  31. dana h says

    January 10, 2019 at 3:00 pm

    I love soulful blues and this one is fun. Thanks!!!

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  32. Chris J says

    January 12, 2019 at 4:04 pm

    Brian – I love what you are doing at 12:50-13:05 (ish) when you jump adhoc between the strum and the lick in C and Am. I can just about play the lick, but I can’t get the timing right nor the sound of the strum and the mute. You’re doing so much with both the left and the right hand (which is so often overlooked) to get that sound and rhythm in the improvised switch between the chords. Can you recommend some of your other lessons where you are doing this? i.e. the switch between the strum and the lick but also the funky sound on the strum with the mute?

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  33. David S says

    January 12, 2019 at 5:17 pm

    Brian, Love this style and the way you explain it all.Keep up the good work.Keep them coming. David

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  34. Winfred W says

    January 12, 2019 at 5:43 pm

    Great lesson….lots of good take away. I’m not sure where and when to use the take away…..maybe you could do a lesson on some of the take away. I really loved how you showed getting from the F chord to the F chord. You did leave out the small lick in measure 9 ending at the start of ten in the second half. However that does give me something new to play if I play it around for a second time. I love your lesson and your insights. Please keep them coming. Great lesson! Thanks E

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  35. Rick B says

    January 20, 2019 at 6:35 pm

    I really like this lesson, a ton of good ideas that can be used else where plus it’s a great soulful blues!

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  36. Robert B says

    January 21, 2019 at 5:53 pm

    At 68 I am probably the slowest student here, but enjoying the lessons. Especially the ones like this one

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    • peter24 says

      March 25, 2019 at 5:17 pm

      Im 64 Robert, and also a little slow, so lets keep at it!!

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  37. frank.borger says

    January 22, 2019 at 4:51 pm

    Hi Brian great lesson… I love the feel with that backing track. Would love to see sometime how to create such wonderful backing tracks

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  38. Paul D says

    January 24, 2019 at 3:35 pm

    A gem of a lesson, sounds easy but to nail the phrasing is quite difficult and it’s those nuances that make this such a great lesson

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  39. richard c says

    February 3, 2019 at 11:48 pm

    I love the music you teach, it sounds so good. I want to play like what I hear so bad, hahahaha I’m getting close. I was lucky to find your site.

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  40. jim b says

    February 24, 2019 at 5:17 pm

    best lessons on the net are right here!

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  41. wolfman says

    February 25, 2019 at 4:55 am

    Another beauty from Brian. Inspiring , thanks.

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  42. Martin G says

    March 9, 2019 at 10:24 am

    The word Brian might have been looking for is “sophisticated “. That’s how this composition presents. And while it might seem like a straightforward composition, the assortment of full bends and hammer on’s along with some demanding timing, makes this piece a challenge nonetheless.

    But the melody is killer and Brian’s interpretation and instruction makes this one a classic for the AM archives.

    Marty

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  43. Sudomaki says

    April 18, 2019 at 3:29 am

    Hey Brian, I just got a tremolo pedal (the Trelicopter) and am trying to get the hang of it. Can you tell us what settings you used on the pedal for this song (depth, bias and speed)? Thanks!

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  44. Gerry T says

    June 7, 2019 at 6:43 pm

    Another awesome lesson from an awesome teacher. Listening to that with my eyes closed, I left my body and went to another place.

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  45. Jeff F says

    June 16, 2019 at 11:22 pm

    How does Bb flat fit in?

    So I’m trying to do this lesson for the June challenge and I actually haven’t really watched the lesson because I want to come up with my own stuff for this backing track. So if my answer to this question is in the lesson I apologize. My question is how does Bb fit in with the chord progression? Playing the notes of the C major/A minor scale and there is no Bb in the scale. Not to get too hung up on theory but this is bugging me.

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  46. David R says

    August 8, 2019 at 10:10 am

    Nice piece! The beaming in bar three makes it unreadable. Beats need to be grouped together. Not everyone can just hear it from the audio, unfortunately and they need to count out loud to get it. When beats overlap in the music, it my play in the file correctly but it can’t be translated by a note reader which one assumes is the point in including it on the lesson.

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  47. George I says

    September 5, 2019 at 11:26 am

    Please comment on use of tremolo pedal vs the arm. I noticed you have the arm off the strat. I just bought a strat b/c of this lesson! Thanks a lot! Hahah. It was missing the arm too. I ordered one online, but wondered why you took yours off.

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    • George I says

      September 9, 2019 at 8:22 pm

      Oh. Nevermind. I understand now. 🤓

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  48. David G says

    October 16, 2019 at 2:38 pm

    I know this was posted much earlier this year, but I just found it and it’s my absolute favorite! Great backing track too!

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  49. Les Brown says

    November 28, 2019 at 2:22 pm

    My favorite parts of many of these great lessons are your “diversions.” How you manage to read my mind with answers to my mental questions is a little eerie. But I’m not complaining!!

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  50. Alexandre C says

    May 29, 2020 at 4:16 am

    Melodia encantadora. Parece mesmo um hino celestial. Essas aulas tem me ajudado muito. Às vezes, ouço só para relaxar.
    Parabéns, Brian!

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  51. scubatan says

    June 7, 2020 at 10:08 am

    I see how it goes now, Brian 🙂

    You tricked us with a beautiful melody that I want to listen and copy. Then, you thew me with curve balls of simple yet useful theories. Now I don’t remember why I was here the first place, and walked away with these new arsenals to apply to other situations, like June 2020 member challenge.

    How sneaky!

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  52. georgia v says

    September 16, 2020 at 3:25 am

    love this !! xxxxxx

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  53. Peter B says

    October 6, 2020 at 5:58 am

    Hey Brian.

    thanks again for a great lesson. just a quick question, you referred to Pattern 1 when playing the opening section. Do you have a lesson on the major and minor pentatonic scale patterns?

    cheers from downunder.

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  54. Walter S says

    December 3, 2020 at 8:45 pm

    Brian,

    I find the music you create for your lessons to be enjoyable but every so often you crush it and knock it out of the ballpark!

    It seems to be those times when you produce something like this tune!

    I can listen to it all day long and it makes me want to grab one of my guitars and play until my fingers bleed!

    I can’t believe you aren’t selling records! Or are you?

    Thanks!

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  55. melanie m says

    December 7, 2020 at 3:58 pm

    Whats the c minor scale. Minor penta on 8 fret? I got confused somewhere. Oh well the song is so nice to play. Good arrangement. Thank you. I didnt know the a and c were the same. So the c minor must
    be the same as a minor

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  56. Drew D says

    July 8, 2021 at 4:03 pm

    time and time again, wonderful lesson Brian. Thanks

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  57. John S says

    August 22, 2021 at 8:46 pm

    I like the lesson. Is anyone else loosing sound in the 14th measure to the end?

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  58. James A says

    January 29, 2022 at 11:53 pm

    Even your software may have become obsolete., Brian? Apologies if this guitar has been mentioned or you know about it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpIjEcejmps

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  59. horatio says

    February 6, 2022 at 3:56 pm

    Brian,

    Long time fan and I want you and the passers by to know that you and your lessons do make a difference in our learning and enjoyment of guitar playing. Now, accolades aside, I would like you to consider adding to your workload and let us know the settings you use on your guitars and amps. I sometimes play my Hamer Studio while you are using a Strat and even Martin to Martin, I can’t quite get there and fumble with settings to find a fit. If we were playing together you would be pulling my plug. I realize it’s a big ask. Thanks for your work and commitment to all of us.
    Ken

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  60. Dale Y says

    May 14, 2022 at 9:40 am

    Just scrolling back through older lessons and found this one. Love it.

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  61. FergalT says

    August 15, 2022 at 7:11 pm

    Beautiful.
    The sound of guitar here reminds me a bit of the guitar towards the end of David Bowie’s Eight Line Poem and also a bit of The end of Nuck Drake’s Time has Told Me.

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  62. Chris H says

    December 30, 2022 at 4:24 pm

    Cool lesson, Brian … your sense of melody is tre chic … I hope you’re getting some session work … if not, those Nashville cats are missing out.

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  63. Penelope c says

    January 31, 2023 at 3:34 pm

    Thank you for a great lesson! Haven’t had my electric out for awhile so was fun and I will probably play it alot more now!

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  64. Walter D says

    April 4, 2023 at 7:36 am

    loved this, so helpful in trying to make my own songwriting more melodic, thanks so much.

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  65. David H says

    June 1, 2023 at 6:38 pm

    Sounds COOL!! Love it!

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  66. David H says

    June 1, 2023 at 6:46 pm

    Sounds COOL!! Love it! And the way you play is awesome! couldn’t enjoy anything more. Thank You!!

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  67. Erick H says

    November 24, 2023 at 8:54 am

    Brian,

    Love your lessons and I am happy to be a member. Can you tell me what exact settings that you use on the Kemper or can you send me some of the profiles that you use most often? Thanks!

    Erick

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  68. Mike H says

    September 20, 2024 at 6:55 am

    Brian, this may be a little late in the day to ask a question in regard to this 5 year old lesson but, I was wondering what, if any, effect the absence of a trem bar has on the tone of your Strat. Is the bridge set to float or is it actually seated down against the body? Does that have any affect on tonality? Thanks… man.

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