Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Using the Major Scale to Improvise – Improvise Using Happy Birthday Melody – Guitar Lesson EP390

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play the major scale in all 5 positions up the neck by connecting it to the 5 chord shapes used in the CAGED System. You’ll also learn how to take a basic melody (Happy Birthday) and learn how to first play the melody straight, and then learn how to improvise by adding fill licks to that melody.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Slow Walkthrough - Happy Birthday - Improv

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Slow Walkthrough - Happy Birthday - Straight

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Slow Walkthrough - G Major Scale Practice

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  3. Mwendabai K says

    Hi Brian, a deep dive into “intimate relationships – within neighborhoods” would be highly appreciated. I know Pentatonic shapes (all 5 shaped), struggle to determine which Pent to apply to which “Stop”.

  6. JohnStrat says

    Brian ,

    I am currently trying to learn to improvise using the major scale and have been making good progress so this lesson will be a bumper harvest of help.
    Perhaps we shall be able to create a jazzy Happy Christmas.
    Thanks for another a great and useful lesson.

    JohnStrat

  8. Mark W says

    I really like the idea of the 5 “stops” lessons and using a melody as a starter. This puts practical use around just memorizing the 5 boxes, scales, arpeggios, etc. While I have memorized the boxes, I still struggle in application and improvisation to actually sound like music. Certainly would be 5 “lightbulb” moments for me. Thanks as always.

  9. charjo says

    Brian,
    I was just about to work out the neighbourhood concept on my own, so that’s very timely. I think Box 1 is relatively familiar to many of us but it would be great to work through the other 4. I can see how the roots of the major and minor chord and scales would be the same in each neighbourhood, and seeing those roots all over the neck would be so advantageous. The pieces are definitely falling into place, thanks for shining a light.
    John

  11. richard p says

    Brian, I’d love a deep dive!!!! If I could pay someone for ONE lesson, here’s what it would be:

    – I don’t think I care about knowing what positions 1,2,3,4,5 are, because those number names don’t equate directly to the GAGED chords… they’re just numbers (I have to do the translation from pattern number to chord name)
    – I’d rather like to see the major pattern for each CAGED chord
    – AND, the major pentatonic pattern for each CAGED chord
    – AND, the minor pentatonic pattern for each major CAGED chord
    – AND, where are the 1,3,5 notes in each of the CAGED chords (although this is easy to find myself after I have the major & pentatonic patterns… and, I think there’s only two 1,3,5 note patterns for the CAGED chords: C&G have one pattern; E,A,D have the other pattern)

    I’m sure that there are some easy relationships between these minor and major scale patterns when we see them all laid out, but I can’t seem to find a lesson that goes through this. Seeing it just on paper doesn’t provide enough context.

    I think this would be a tough lesson to pull off… but, your ability to make beautiful sense of this material constantly amazes me. GO FOR IT.

    • richard p says

      BTW Brian, like ALL of your lessons, I love this one too. It seems like you put tremendous time and effort into making these lessons clear and yet really rich at the same time. The perfect amount of material with the perfect style of explanation. I can’t get enough. That’s why I’d love for you to take on the CAGED positions in more detail… if anyone can explain this clearly and fully, it’s you.

  12. Bradley B says

    Love it Brian! I would like that five part series lesson, that would help out a lot! I have the general idea, however I could use a bit more. I can play up and down the neck of all positions of minor and major pentatonic scale pretty well. Yes I do get stuck and think I need to go all over the neck. I’m a big country music fan especially Merle haggard., love that style playing.

  13. Gary Wilshaw says

    This is tremendously helpful Brian, thank you. I have just spent about two hours playing over the slow version of the major scale jam track, exploring the major scale all over the neck, and noticing how I can connect in different ways, use 3 notes per string etc to move from one ‘station ‘ to the next etc. It’s also a great exercise to further notice how the pentatonics fit into the picture to – as you say.

    I confess don’t practice scales often enough – but this method will change that as it made great it fun & I was enjoyed the little melodies that emerged here & there.

    Fantastic. Thank you.

  15. Daryl F says

    One of my favorite lessons…..I agree that a deep dive into a few or all 5 patterns would be helpful in learning how to switch to minor pattern licks when the feeling strikes, I don’t have that vocabulary in the toolbox yet. Would be awesome if you could do this next week as a great followup to this one.

  16. peter v says

    I love it,too.And I agree with Mark and Richard.I know that you use your “basic ideas” and their relationship in most of your lessons.But using them on a wellknown melodie it makes lightbulbs , at least for me.So I can translate it, on other motivs.
    English is not my mothertongue, So I appriciate the text in your video. I can press the stopp-button and read what you just said so often until I understand.That is more comfortable as to go back many times in the video.What a splendid idea. I even have time to fetch the dictionary if it is needed.Thank you for those textlines.
    A question: Do you create tournarounds and intros also by using your basic ideas?

  17. Don D. says

    Thanks Brian! The train line is a really apt comparison. You can get off, walk around a little while, get back on the next train. Take your time, but keep moving!

    People might want to listen to John Coltrane’s “Welcome” for an ethereal song that uses the last phrase of “Happy Birthday.” It’s in B.

  19. Don D. says

    Thanks Brian! The train comparison is apt. Get off at one station, wander around, get back on the next time it comes around. Take your time but keep moving.

    People might want to hear John Coltrane’s “Welcome” in B. It isn’t far out at all, it’s a solid little ballad that uses the melancholy last phrase of “Happy Birthday.”

  20. Raymond P says

    What a pleasant surprise. When I first saw Happy Birthday as the song this week my first thought was yikes. But after watching this lesson and learning so much on how you can Jazz up and improvise such a simple song like this I was pleasantly surprised to watch this great lesson.

    Regarding your deep dive suggestion, please do, I learn so much from you in depth explanations.

    Thanks again Brian for these wonderful lessons.

    Ray P

  21. Blaine H says

    To echo other comments I think a deep dive lesson regarding developing a blues type melody and structuring a song/solo using major and minor sounds and changing scales to match the chords…. love this approach and trying to get a lot better in this regard…..

  26. Ralph P. says

    Hey Brian, The Happy Birthday Backing Track is one of your finest! Swinging, Gospel, Jazzy, Churchy sounding toe-tapper. I love the B3 organ part. When I first started learning scales I would mindlessly play the boring vanilla major scale in all of the positions, just because you’re supposed to. As I progressed. everything I learned I related back to the major scale, so it’s definitely lays the groundwork for understanding music. You mentioned the “corny stuff” lick at 20:39. I’ve gotten quite a bit of mileage out of that lick, and quite a few smiles from other musicians. You’re right, it is corny, but it’s cool kind of corny. I’m glad to hear you had to “work on it a little” for the improv. I don’t know how some players come up with this type of improvisation in real time. Definitely what we’re all shooting for.

  33. deece says

    Brian,

    YES!!! Please do a deep dive in a five-part series. Would love to get it through my thick skull, once and for all and without having to think about it, how it’s all connected.

    Thanks,

    deece

  38. Randy H says

    Brian:
    I would very much appreciate a “Deep Dive ” into the neighborhood approach . The more I find that the fretboard is the “Train Line” I’m learning to look at the fretboard differently . A little theory and practical hands on makes the picture look easier to understand. Great lesson……………

    Randy

  41. Kenneth p says

    Still trying to understand Modes, so if I use your Major scale Jam track in G and I want to play in the Mixolydian Mode, ( 5th Mode) I use your formula and work my way back to the C scale, where I will then play the C Major scale using the 5 patterns of the Caged system and put emphasis on the G notes, and using the A Jam track I would use the D Major scale with emphasis on the A notes?

  43. Doug T says

    Great lesson, please do the deep dive into the 5 neighborhoods! If plan to play this for my 82 yo aunts birthday next week by video since I can’t see her right now.

    Thanks for all you do!

  44. Les Brown says

    The Deep Dive would be a Godsend. But your diagram depiction of the Major Scale here is the most useful I’ve seen anywhere on the web, connecting the CAGE shapes, the scale, the chord tones, and the root (tonal center) all on one page along with your incredibly practical lesson style is unique on the web. I have spent hundreds of dollars on excellent teachers online because I love all the different perspectives on any theory topic, but yours is always the first place I go. It fills in the gaps that others leave out. You accomplish in one lesson so much that is usually split into several, and you repeat the fundamentals in many lessons, which is what great teachers do.

    Finding the major and minor pentatonics in each “stop” is powerful all by itself. That’s where I’m focusing right now. The many grateful comments you get with each lesson are a permanent legacy. Nice job, maestro!

  45. Chris White says

    Excellent Brian
    I’m counting the intervals and singing the numbers then using your idea of the major scale and playing it in every position
    So starts out 5,5,6,5,7,1 etc.
    love the idea of deep dives
    thanks

    • Robin d says

      My thoughst too, well worth the price of the premium membership and …. my lightbulbs always go “on” after an Active Melody lesson. Brian’s email every week is like celebrating Christmas once a week!

  56. Marvin H says

    I definitely would benefit from a “neighborhood” lesson and when to use what in the “neighborhood.” Thanks, these lessons have been great during covid. More guitar practice time is one of the good positives of the pandemic.

  58. Andreas P says

    Really funny, useful and teaching such a lot, genius!!! And helpful to practice and understand the Major Scale, which I find much more difficult to solo, but so good to stick not always to the wellknown Minor Pentatonics

  64. Robin d says

    Deep Dive please. As soon as you mentioned major/minor pentatonic/major pentatonic scales my 1st thought was … exactly what you said. A deep dive is a must. i dont care too much about caged systems but call it what you will … i just want the ability to stay put in one area without thinking I gotta take the train way down the track instead of to the next station. Thx again Brian

  68. Tim Moran says

    Lots of stuff to noodle through here, but a pretty basic question: How do you know to start Happy Birthday on the note you did? I would have thought to start on the root note, which obviously would have been wrong… Doing it by ear would mean I would have to have a recording of it in that key, or I suppose I could pick any note to start and then figure out later what key I’m in. So I’m obviously confused….

  70. CC says

    Thanks for the great lesson, it just happens to coincide with being ask to play something for a friends “big” birthday (on-line)in early January. Perfect!
    Thanks,
    “A Slave to the Blues”
    CC

  73. Thomas L says

    Brian, I’m a new member and really enjoy the lessons. I’ve been playing a while but would like to get the most from your lessons. Could you recommend where I should start. I’m really weak with the scales so I’m guessing there..

    Thanks

  74. Peter T says

    I am a brand new member and this is perfect for me. I have been studying the major scale positions relative to the CAGED chords for awhile. But, I haven’t been able to find a good chart to study the minor scale positions relative to the CAGED positions. Does this community have such a thing? I really think this community can improve my playing. And best of all it is fun!

  77. Paddyboy says

    Brian, I would love for you do do a deep dive as well, into these neighborhoods or zip codes as you call them because this EP 390 is is really sinking in for me. playing the G scale up the neck and playing Happy Birthday in all these neighborhoods as well as some of my improvising is coming together implementing both the major and minor.

    for me, it seems that when I go from the Major to the Minor though, I have to give the minor a sec to sound good to me then its all good.

    so YES, let’s go for that DEEP DIVE….THANKS

  80. Willie S says

    Thank you for your Happy Birthday instruction. If ever there was an opportunity to celebrate someone it’s on their birthday. This is a perfect way to do it. Do it simple at first then continue with this rendition, it will be a gift they will surely remember.

    I also agree with a deep dive of the pentatonic scale course. For me, it’s a case where more is better.

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