Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

MicroLesson: ML107 – The Blues lead “Sweet Spot” for mixing the major and minor pentatonic scales

Description

In this MicroLesson (ML107), you’ll learn how to use the “sweet spot” for mixing the major and minor pentatonic scales, allowing you to dial in a classic Blues lead. I’ll also show you how to transpose and play in any key.

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Comments

  12. Laurel C says

    So much packed into a MicroLesson. It is like a receiving a kit form of components for the ‘Sweet Spot’ pattern and then we can play away to our heart’s content mixing and matching all the variables for days. Not only have we got the composition in 3 keys but the on screen tab during the lesson for composition ideas in what works on the one chord, four chord and the five chord for Key E and Key G. It doesn’t stop there because when using the Soundslice transposing gauge for the arrangement it keeps on giving too. With less is always more and more. The ‘Sweet Spot’ MicroLesson has turned into a course for me. Good stuff,

  15. Daniel H says

    These “bite size” lessons are awesome. I appreciate the new format where you are providing more short lessons. This ML however would have been great before tackling EP604. It would be nice to see your ML’s help lay groundwork for big EP’s like 604. Then the EP helps us practice and use the ideas taught in the ML.

  20. Dale G says

    I’m really seeing this as an extension of what you showed us in ep604 particularly in part 2. Really shows what can be done by blending major and minor pentatonics with just using the sweet spots. Amazing what you can do with just a few notes! Thanks for pointing this out. Helps a lot!

  22. Mark C says

    Thank you, Brian.

    I hope that in some lesson you will talk at the beginning a little about your effects units and what you recommend for non-professional musicians. And as you’re able, talk about how you set up reverb, chorus, delay, etc.so they sound right.

    Great lesson!

  24. Robert S says

    You may have said it past episodes but it’s the first time it hit me when you said “singing with your fingers”. This something I going to work on so that when I am not feeling like playing I can pick up my guitar and play with this no matter what. Thank you

  25. Bruce G says

    Great Lesson! Love the microlesson format interspersed with the regular lessons. Friday night/Saturday morning is my favorite time of the week!

    I really liked your comments on thinking about hearing where you want to go, versus thinking about the various scale positions (flat third, flat seven, etc.). I am really looking forward to practicing this lesson as you suggest, along with going back to a long time favorite–EP303 and playing around with both.

    You come up with great exercises to practice these techniques….any chance we could get a deeper dive into how you think about “hearing where you want to go”? I need to practice this—and have found myself starting to recognize certain intervals—definitely the flat 7—when I’m listening to all kinds of music. Any drills or exercises you have would be greatly appreciated!

    Thanks for all you do!

  29. Lennart v says

    hello,
    i found out that while playin over the a .you also hit pattern 4 minor pentatonic pattern 5 major for a shape in this sweet spot.
    how about the c minor shape? i am not sure butThanks anyway .

  31. Torquil O says

    Nice to hear clean out of that Odell after last weeks dirt (both great sounds!) Blending major/minor patterns within each caged cord shape is my quest. This lesson gives me a grounding in R-3-flat7s to help roadmap my blues journey.
    Thanks!

  36. Scott W says

    Hi Brian,
    Well, I am learning from your lessons. This is simple for me because I can move over the fretboard pretty well. I’ve played the guitar for a pretty long time but never learned much on my own. Yes, I am an index and thumb picker and can play stuff comfortably. But learning new things is grueling until now. I still practice a great deal to sync what you teach into my style of playing. Thanks and appreciation for your lessons.

  39. Georg B says

    Hello Brian,

    You always know how to reduce things to such simple basic elements. That’s perfect. Your lesson finally makes what sometimes seems so complicated to me crystal clear.

    I also thought your old lesson (ep358) was excellent, although you packed quite a lot into it. Your approach of how to build the diminished chords and where to use them is universal when it comes to learning. Languages are often taught in the same way and music is the most beautiful language in the world.

    Thank you Brian,

    Georg

  40. Eric K says

    I had made a mental note to revisit part 2 of EP604 because of some of the things you mentioned in passing. Lo and behold, you brought them up in this microlesson! I hope you use the microlessons to do more of this in the future. I personally love the idea of doing a composition for a main episode and then revisiting it for a couple of ML to dive deeper into certain things and/or present some alternate ideas to work on within the main composition.

  41. Dominique B says

    Thank you ,Brian.I am very happy to see that the last micro-lessons have been enriched with explanations and advice.That is what I needed.and I am very grateful for this.I am eagerly looking forward to the next one!”see you”next Friday (actually Saturday here in France)

  42. Georg B says

    Hello Brian,

    One setting that I am very grateful for is that you have been providing subtitles not only for your free videos, but also for the videos that can only be watched as a premium member. For me as a non-native English speaker, subtitles are very useful, even though you speak very clearly and understandably. Sometimes there are just some English terms that I don’t know or am not sure about. Furthermore, I’m sure you have quite a few members in your community who, like me, are not native English speakers.

    All the best,

    Georg

  43. Art M says

    This was absolutely a lot of fun to take a stab at and now to work on my fluidness. I have been looking to develop my fingering and dexterity so this looks to be just that. Thank you

  44. David G Smith says

    I have played those notes over 12 bar blues for years, even composed songs using all those notes without ever realising that I was blending minor pentatonic (pos 1) and major pentatonic (pos 2). It just sounded okay but now I understand WHY! Thanks Brian.

  50. George H says

    Great lesson for me Brian, following up with a second lesson with the first was great! It reinforced the lesson topic well, it definitely opened the fret board for me, with this lesson along with Shieff’s 3-2 lesson on the pentatonic scale on U Tube, really opened the fret board for me, (beginner +), I would really like more lessons like this with follow up, I definitely do the lesson every time I do warm up for reinforced finger memory, keep up the good work. (How about your version of Shieffs 3:2 lesson?)

  51. Anthony I says

    I’m ok with blues. I tried sounding more country by playing major but never sound country enough. See you play made me realize I need to spend most time on major but sprinkle minor in. Plus double stop slides are a part of the package. Thanks

  52. Stewart K says

    I’m really liking these micro lessons. First of all they are limited in scope and can be applied immediantly in a variety of situations. Second they give a little break between the longer “EP” lessons as it often takes me some time (honestly a few weeks for some) to reasonably learn those and these are a nice break in between practicing those. I think it is a great idea.

  55. Kathryn L says

    Thanks, Brian. I always need to remember that when a demonstration goes to a position that requires “barring” (change from open E chord to G chord with the E shape) that the barred frets correspond to what would be an open string. Years ago, someone gave me that “light bulb” moment.
    I’m just chatting. Hope I’m saying this correctly.
    Kathy L.

  58. Aaron P. says

    Really like these micro lessons. Sometimes I don’t always have the time for a full lesson, and these micro’s give me just enough material to apply to my playing and expand my knowledge of the fretboard. Thank you!

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