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Soulful R&B Style Lead Guitar Lesson – Using the Major Pentatonic Scale – EP222

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to improvise a soulful R&B style lead using the major pentatonic scale. I’ll explain which patterns the notes come from and how to connect them back to chord shapes so that you can start to visualize leads like this when you’re improvising.

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. Jim M says

    September 15, 2017 at 5:55 pm

    Sweet !!!

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    • Daniel U says

      September 19, 2017 at 5:19 pm

      Brian,
      Really like this one.
      Silky smooth.
      Very cool.

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    • Geoffrey R says

      September 19, 2017 at 8:32 pm

      Noice. Love to take a week off work to learn it. Now I’m dreamin’. Great vibe. Thanks

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  2. paul s says

    September 15, 2017 at 6:06 pm

    Another great lesson ! You should teach the Rhythm part as well with all the Embellishments. Truly one of the best guitar websites available and as a premium member I find the value amazing.

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    • fondstring says

      September 17, 2017 at 4:52 pm

      I agree, also concerning teaching the rythm part ๐Ÿ˜‰ would be a lot of fun, and very take-awayy as well …

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    • Rev Bob says

      September 21, 2017 at 12:49 pm

      Totally agree Paul & fondstring, learning the rhythm part would add so much more. Here’s hoping!๐Ÿ˜Ž

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    • David M says

      September 23, 2017 at 6:06 am

      Please do a lesson on the backing track, nice to know all the fills. Can figure out some but your guidance would be great.

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      • Brian says

        September 23, 2017 at 3:08 pm

        David, scroll down on this page – you’ll see the link to the rhythm lesson

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        • BOB K says

          September 29, 2017 at 7:03 am

          WhoDaMan? YOUDaMAN, Brian!

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    • Guillermo V says

      January 22, 2018 at 8:12 am

      The same!! ๐Ÿ™‚ Really beautiful lesson!

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  3. mrdomo49 says

    September 15, 2017 at 6:25 pm

    Awesome lesson, much to steal from this one!

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  4. justin N says

    September 15, 2017 at 7:05 pm

    Super smooth Brian!. I’m glad you pushed it with some of those licks too. It’s nice to have some longer more challenging licks to try to master. Well done sir! Have a great weekend!

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  5. richard t says

    September 15, 2017 at 7:17 pm

    Reached out and grabbed me. One more to add to the list. At least a month of my time will be spent on this one, and it will be worth it.

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  6. Michael Allen says

    September 15, 2017 at 7:49 pm

    I can dig it! Thanks Brian

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  7. flamejob says

    September 15, 2017 at 8:51 pm

    Beautiful !

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  8. vicman says

    September 15, 2017 at 11:46 pm

    Sweet. The weeks need to be longer so I can get more time to work up one lesson before another, just as sweet, comes along.

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  9. adam-quin says

    September 15, 2017 at 11:53 pm

    Great and with so much to take away, I love the challenge!

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  10. [email protected] says

    September 16, 2017 at 2:02 am

    Brian, this is one of the best lesson I have every seen. Congratz man!

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  11. Aussie Rick says

    September 16, 2017 at 3:13 am

    Great lesson Brian, love the lead, especially the part played higher up the neck. I too would love to see a lesson on the rhythm part. We could then play the rhythm part into a looper and play the lead over it. Thanks again.
    Rick

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    • Brian says

      September 17, 2017 at 5:05 pm

      Maybe I could cover this rhythm in this week’s MicroLesson? Consider it done ๐Ÿ˜›

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      • sunburst says

        September 21, 2017 at 7:53 am

        Micro lesson and another lesson like this would be fun! I wish to learn more Eric Clapton licks like this,, I wish to hear the Byrdland too but the strat fit this piece very well! great work with this lesson,, lot of tight licks I felt the Clapton in this especially ! cheers Brian

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      • Rev Bob says

        September 21, 2017 at 12:51 pm

        Please do Brian, this would be great. Keep them rollin, can’t get enough of you fantastic teaching. ๐Ÿ˜Ž

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        • Brian says

          September 21, 2017 at 10:12 pm

          Scroll down – you’ll see the link to the rhythm

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  12. JohnStrat says

    September 16, 2017 at 7:04 am

    Brian Yet another excellent lesson with many useful tips. I think the play back on soundslice as a guitar alone piece sounds very fine too.
    Thanks and regards
    JohnStrat

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  13. Raymond P says

    September 16, 2017 at 9:30 am

    Very nice lesson. Lots of neat licks.
    Thanks
    Ray

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  14. Dug says

    September 16, 2017 at 12:17 pm

    Home run, Grizzly Dude!

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  15. Bob M says

    September 16, 2017 at 12:59 pm

    Very nice Brian….

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  16. San Luis Rey says

    September 16, 2017 at 1:25 pm

    Very nice lesson Brian! Moving up and down the neck and tying in the positions is a great help. Love the major and minor relationships. This is putting things together nicely.

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  17. sunburst says

    September 16, 2017 at 9:36 pm

    I like that reminder do ray me fa so la dee dah stuff..works every time and swear by it! great lesson , start this in the morning, like what you are teaching!

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  18. Robert J says

    September 16, 2017 at 11:58 pm

    very cool. lots of fun and useful. Also, do I sense a little homage to the late great Walter Becker in this one? He’ll be missed. Thanks again for all your awesome lessons.

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    • Brian says

      September 17, 2017 at 5:04 pm

      Good ear ๐Ÿ™‚

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  19. gregd says

    September 17, 2017 at 5:27 am

    Just played the download to the household -so cool -they loved it
    Being playing around with the rhythm -ready to tackle the lead .
    I get so much joy from this
    site

    thanks greg

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  20. Bill W2 says

    September 17, 2017 at 10:14 am

    Thanks Brian ! that short insight (circa 14:00) on how playing the A Major pattern 1 over the F#Minor chord can change the dynamics is excellent. I’ve heard in the past that playing modes can only fully be appreciated when playing along with another player playing the changes (underlying chords).

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  21. wrightclick says

    September 18, 2017 at 1:17 am

    What a piece of music i just wish my internal body clock could feel the groove better , coming in to early on some parts but getting better with improved feel . Listening to the track with no lead that is a great rhythmic piece with some added fills not too much great spaces just right , did you lay the track down Brian or is it automated on a keyboard accompaniment type thingy ? i’d like to see how them rhythm fills are executed would be a great timing exercise .

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    • Brian says

      September 18, 2017 at 12:34 pm

      I created the rhythm track. I’m going to teach that in tomorrow’s MicroLesson since it seems to be so popular ๐Ÿ™‚

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  22. peter w says

    September 18, 2017 at 11:12 am

    Good segment. Might be nice to talk about your rhythm arrangement as well. Tks

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  23. peter w says

    September 18, 2017 at 11:19 am

    Curious. I had not read the other posts and now I see quite a few similar requests re EP 022. and the rhythm and chord voicings…Please share.

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  24. Joel R says

    September 19, 2017 at 11:44 am

    Great!
    It’s really fine to have some “major”leaks to work with.
    To connect with major scales .
    Nice to hear chord tones.
    Good for ear training.
    Thanks for the rythme part as well.
    Joe.

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  25. klox says

    September 19, 2017 at 6:18 pm

    Agreed, an excellent lesson in using the major scale. Makes use of just about every scale position, clearly explained and also integrates application of chord tones (end section).
    Nice one Brian !

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  26. Sean M says

    September 19, 2017 at 8:44 pm

    Thanks Brian. What effects and settings are you using on this lesson?

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  27. Brian says

    September 20, 2017 at 10:07 am

    For those asking about how to play the rhythm. Here’s a link to the MicroLesson where I break it down: https://www.activemelody.com/microlesson/microlesson-034-rb-style-rhythm-guitar-lesson/

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  28. Bret S says

    September 20, 2017 at 2:25 pm

    I think this lesson is one of my top five favorites? Its very Motown esq and my ear naturally favors that sweet major sound, especially when you emphasize hammering on the major 3rd. fantastic lesson!!! also, if your considering a Walter Becker memorial, look up the Pretzel Logic Shuffle. that would be a fantastic lesson. Bret

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  29. Mike M says

    September 20, 2017 at 2:44 pm

    This one will be fun to learn. Good Lesson!

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  30. Stobes says

    September 22, 2017 at 3:05 am

    I’ve worked out how to put the backing track on a Boss rc3 looper pedal! I can now play along to the track FOREVER!

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    • Ed H says

      October 2, 2017 at 8:36 am

      Sure are handy, can use on stage solo also

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  31. Stobes says

    September 22, 2017 at 3:06 am

    Brian, can you upload all the tracks in a .wav format?

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    • Brian says

      September 22, 2017 at 3:43 pm

      No, but you can convert any of the MP3 files to Wav on your end if you need them in that format.

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  32. Rob C says

    September 23, 2017 at 1:33 pm

    Absolutely love this lesson. I really thought I couldn’t tackle it but I’m getting closer every day. My only criticism would be that you spent a lot more time on the easier licks and sped through the harder ones in the second half. Those were definitely more challenging. Thank you for sharing this beautiful song, learning it has helped me break through to the next level. Thank you sir!

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  33. Tburman533 says

    September 23, 2017 at 2:48 pm

    Nice! I’d love to learn the rhythm part as well with all the little changes.

    Thanks

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    • Tburman533 says

      September 23, 2017 at 2:49 pm

      Oops. Just saw there’s a micro lesson on rhythm. Awesome! Thanks

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  34. jlg says

    September 26, 2017 at 8:10 pm

    Great lesson. Lots of ground covered.

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  35. Don F says

    September 28, 2017 at 12:44 am

    This one did it for me Brian. I’m signing up tomorrow.
    btw – You are not only sounding like Clapton, you are beginning to look like him ๐Ÿ™‚
    Cheers, and many many thanks.

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  36. Robert B says

    October 1, 2017 at 6:50 pm

    Brian,
    I have been picking up tid bits off your micro lessons for a while. your teaching style is great and very comfortable.I finally bought a years subscription and already feeling an improvement in playing. This is the first full legnth lesson for me. I love this piece ! I have been working on it for a couple of weeks and am seeing light at the end of the tunnel.I could be wrong,butI think that in bar 18 the tabliture does not show the slide from fret 14 to 12 on the B string.

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  37. Ed H says

    October 2, 2017 at 8:34 am

    Nice, I gotta get this down

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  38. Don F says

    October 13, 2017 at 10:58 pm

    Hey Brian – Is there a way I can increase the vertical size of the viewable tabs? I can only see one line at a time which is very annoying when it jumps to the next line. I see the setting for infinite line but I’d rather see it a page at a time.

    Thanks

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    • Brian says

      October 13, 2017 at 11:12 pm

      Don, on any browser (except Internet Explorer) you can make it full screen by clicking on the gear icon in the bottom right corner and choosing the “Full Screen” option.

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  39. paul s says

    October 14, 2017 at 4:00 pm

    Brian I think this is one of your outstanding lessons. You really put together an amazing solo over

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  40. paul s says

    October 14, 2017 at 4:05 pm

    Brian I think this is one of your outstanding lessons. You really put together an amazing solo over this chord progression. Your website is so professionally designed and thought out that it gives the guitar player every possible advantage to expedite the learning curve. I only wish I had this type of stuff at my disposal 40 years ago when I first started playing. All the best! Paul

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    • Rรผdiger L says

      September 22, 2019 at 4:13 am

      dem stimme ich (im alter von71 J ) gรคnzlich zu

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  41. Chris J says

    October 30, 2017 at 6:30 pm

    Brian, I’ve just signed up for my Second Season with you, ayy. My playing has already ‘skyrocketed’ but I still need ‘more’ polishing ….. thanks for the great lessons. Well worth the money (even thought it’s 30% more for us Canadians )…. the American dollar is so damn ‘strong’. Could you spend some time talking about ‘counting’ and ‘timing’. Cannot read music and that is a ‘major’ weakpoint for me …. cheers Brian…

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  42. Tarek D says

    November 18, 2017 at 1:57 pm

    Hi Brian, I just joined yesterday and I am thrilled with your lessons and the excellent feel and softness you have in your playing. You indeed made me want to improve big time and the way you explain everything is just great. I have spent so much time before going through various websites, and yours is indeed the best!
    I have one question regarding the jam track, it just finishes suddenly without an end, why is it like that? I noticed that most tracks you use end the same way.
    thank you,
    Tarek

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    • Rรผdiger L says

      September 22, 2019 at 4:18 am

      empfinde ich auch so , zu dem die qualitรคt so hervorragend ist

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  43. Han W says

    November 27, 2017 at 12:27 pm

    You’re the man, Brian! ๐Ÿ™‚

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  44. Scott B says

    January 27, 2018 at 8:05 pm

    Great, great lesson. One point that I think would help a lot of people is to point out the location of root, 4 and 5 notes in your licks. With no surprise, the licks typically resolve to the root and/or center around it. I’ve learned the importance of those three notes from other teachers. You always show the location of the notes of the fretboard, but I believe pointing out the root notes would help tie this all to music theory and help to translate to lead improvisation.

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  45. Rudy K says

    January 28, 2018 at 7:01 pm

    Love this one , and working hard to get it down! Thanks Brian!

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  46. KATHY M says

    February 25, 2018 at 4:49 pm

    why cant I listen to any lesson. Says unvalid security certificate.

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    • Brian says

      February 26, 2018 at 9:56 am

      That’s a browser issue. Try either clearing your browser cache and restarting it or try using a different browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, etc)

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  47. Guillermo V says

    March 8, 2018 at 11:20 am

    This is beautiful!!!

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  48. philipp k says

    June 3, 2018 at 2:17 pm

    very cool! thank you

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  49. richard c says

    June 3, 2018 at 9:16 pm

    start playing 15 month ago.
    am 74.
    was my dream to learn for years.
    play 3/4 hours a day..
    and this i can play it.
    imagine my joy….!!!!!
    your site is the best i found.
    all the best from Bali
    Richard

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  50. Michael C says

    June 28, 2018 at 12:23 pm

    Beautiful backing track, great lesson, I got it down in 2 days. Now to another one. Thanks Brian.

    Regards, Michael

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  51. kitchman says

    July 7, 2018 at 2:45 pm

    Brian! This one is as sweet as CHERRY PIE! Thanks Man, for all your hard work!

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  52. Glenn A says

    September 2, 2018 at 8:16 pm

    Hey Brian! I love your playing and how you have your site laid out, but I do have to say that some of your tablature doesn’t match what your playing. One example is in measure #21…in your video you do a hammer on/pull off and in the tablature you don’t have it written that way.

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  53. william zietlow says

    December 22, 2018 at 5:34 am

    Hi Brian, this is one of my favorite lessons. Can’t believe it’s been that long ago since you offered it. Just this a.m. I read comments on rythm section. Very helpful and my suggestion is to post the link on the opening page of the lesson to be able to find it quickly. Keep up the great work, and have a very Merry CHRISTmas. Thanks so much for taking my creativity to a much higher level. God bless you and your family.

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  54. Jeff L says

    January 19, 2019 at 1:02 pm

    This is one of the best online places for learning guitar. Thanks for all you do Brian. I don’t know of any other sight that has this much content for the price. Love It!!!!! And Love this Lesson!

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  55. Bob O. says

    February 27, 2019 at 5:58 pm

    Great Lesson!
    Brings back memories of a song from the 60โ€™s or early 70โ€™s
    Anyone know the name of this Tune
    I think it was a Duet. Male & Female.

    I can hear the words but cannot come up with the Name

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    • pschlosb says

      April 21, 2019 at 2:29 am

      can you gi ve more clues? not very specific…..

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  56. pschlosb says

    April 21, 2019 at 2:28 am

    I absolutely love this solo, it’s awesome. However, after listening to it about 50 times (and learning many of the licks) i still do not think of it as R & B. I think it’s more like country, maybe similar to A Woman’s Love by Alan Jackson in that vein, e.g., smooth country..

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  57. Steven G says

    July 31, 2019 at 3:14 pm

    Best investment of $69 I have ever made!!!

    Brian, you are simply FANTASTIC !!!

    I have learnt so much !!!

    I am an Active Melody’s groupie !!!!

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  58. Ryan B says

    November 12, 2019 at 8:33 pm

    Ah!! Had it ,then I didnโ€™t. Oh well ,back at it tomorrow. Great piece ,looking forward to getting it down and starting another…

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  59. Jeff says

    January 8, 2020 at 5:01 am

    I joined yesterday, Iโ€™m really impressed! Well worth the cost! Brian I do like the way you teach, easy to follow but also very challenging! The song is sweet!
    Thanks Brian

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